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"The writer and his wife, while visiting a Rotary club in a small southern city, fell into the hands of a reception committee consisting of a Presbyterian minister, who was the president of the local club, and a Catholic priest, then the vice-president. It would be difficult to find better friends. The Presbyterian's sentences frequently ended with an appeal to the Catholic in the words, "Isn't that so, Gene?"
At the close of the day, the writer said to the president, "You know there is always a mountain peak in every town I visit, Charlie, and the mountain peak to me today is the love of a Presbyterian minister for a Catholic priest." President Charlie's answer was, "I am glad to hear you say that, Paul. My love of Gene is indeed genuine." Then he continued: "I have just been talking to him, and what I said was this: 'You know, Gene, my little girl is to be operated on at the hospital tomorrow morning at nine o'clock. They say it is a minor operation, but there are no minor operations when our loved ones are concerned. Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock I want you, Gene, to be on your knees praying for my baby.' Gene's answer was, 'Charlie, I'll be there.'" In this beautiful relationship, all of the cumulative animosity of generations had been wrung out and tender sympathy and affection only, remained.
Rotary has become an integrating factor. Whether the New England fathers have turned in their graves is a question; perhaps they have been rejoicing with us.
With thoughts and deeds no more pretentious than those above related, the life of a movement, which was destined to circumnavigate the globe with incredible speed and make itself at home in all civilized nations, had its beginning. Some of the early members even now in this day of wondrous achievement and bright promise still hark back to the delightful intimacy of friendship which was at its best in the dear old days." Page 66, This Rotarian Age, by Paul Harris 1935
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