The success achieved served to stimulate ambitions for greater things. The welding of the forces into a national unit encouraged dreams of an international unit to include many, if not all nations. Dreams might prove valueless, but they were inexpensive and there was no valid reason why they should not be indulged to the limit. So imagination was permitted to run riot and random shots were fired in all directions in the interest of extension, and in the hope that some one of them might hit a vulnerable spot.

No longer was the success of the movement dependent upon the efforts of men of any one city. Voluntary propagandists were well scattered throughout the land and new cities were frequently being enrolled. Nor were the efforts of enthusiasts confined to extension. Many useful ideas were submitted. The most important contribution of the period was the platform which was submitted by the Rotary Club of Seattle. It was adopted at the second convention (Sheldon’s slogan, “He profits most who serves best,” having been added to it) as the platform of the National Association of Rotary Clubs.

The platform accomplished an important purpose in that it clarified the vision and tended to give the movement a better sense of direction. It filled a place not covered by either constitution or by-laws. It emphasized the importance of fair-dealing and high standards in business.

Naturally, Canada presented the most logical field out side of the United States for extension, and chance made Winnipeg the most available city. The bombardment of Winnipeg’s ramparts began in 1909 and never ceased until capitulation in November, 1910. Thus the movement was provided with an excuse for discarding the name, “National Association of Rotary Clubs,” and appropriating the more pretentious “International Association of Rotary Clubs.”

It takes more than one swallow to make a summer, but one Canadian Rotary club sufficed to internationalize Rotary. In fact, the fever was at the time running so high that it is questionable whether even the inclusion of Winnipeg was necessary; Rotary simply had to become international somehow.

After Rotary had penetrated into Canada, Great Britain seemed in the eyes of optimism to be waiting just around the corner. The pessimists were, nevertheless, running true to form. To them, the hope of winning the British to the movement was sheer naïveté. The British were caste-ridden, and far too cold. Fancy Sir John becoming chummy with a retail tradesman, his greengrocer, for instance. Time has revealed, however, that the Briton is not so stratified as was supposed. Sir John has shown himself human and deeply interested in the problems which confront his fellow-members, whether their stations be high or low.

It is not the purpose of Rotary to make social, religious, or racial composites of its members. To attempt to do so would be to attempt a disservice rather than a service. To attempt to erase social, religious and racial differences would be an attempt to deprive civilization of one of its most promising methods of progress. Under existing conditions each social, religious and racial group constitutes a proving ground on which to test its theories, with the result that civilization is enriched and thought raised to higher levels.

What a pity it would be, for instance, if the colorful lives of the various European nations were blended into one. Where then, could be found the fascination of travel?

Who would be interested in a garden containing flowers of one species or one color only? Variety has been truly said to be the spice of life. Sameness is monotonous, depressing.

Rotary brings men differing in social status, religious beliefs and nationality together in order that they may more intelligible to each other and therefore more sympathetic and friendly.

Rotary does not function alike in all nations. Climatic differences frequently account for temperamental differences. Sunny skies are conducive to light-heartedness, buoyancy, and impetuosity; dull skies to thoughtfulness, reticence, and reserve. The use of given names is an overture of friendship in some countries; the use of family names an overture of friendship in others. Such considerations are not of the essence of Rotary. Friendship is of the essence of Rotary and customs best calculated to promote its growth are encouraged.

The opportunity to plant Rotary in the British Isles was not long in coming. A Boston Rotarian, who had offices in London and Manchester, was induced to cooperate with a Chicago Rotarian in the organization of a club in London. Their efforts were successful and the enthusiasm of those who were watching and waiting in Chicago knew no bounds. Dreams were indeed coming true.

They assumed that their representatives were the first to obtain results in Britain, but they were destined to experience a surprise. Indirectly they learned that a native of Dublin, who had for a brief period been a member of the San Francisco club had returned to his native country and established a club in Dublin, and was engaged in organizing another in Belfast. The story seemed too good to be true, but it was true. A stray spark had blown across the seas from the huge bonfire in San Francisco.

The mysterious but wonder-working Irishman was soon broken to harness and set to work in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liverpool, and Birmingham. Those cities having been gathered into the fold, the British situation was taken in hand by a scholarly gentleman of Edinburgh.

But he who has once given himself to dreaming is not easily satisfied. The flying start in the land of Anglo-Saxons spurred to further undertakings. Letters were written to German and French representatives of American business houses, and to lawyers in Australia, but without material results.

A Chicago member, who was about to make a business visit to Cuba, was prevailed upon to attempt the organization of a club in Havana. He did his best, but his efforts were doomed to failure. In a spirit of hopefulness he had undertaken his mission; in a spirit of despair he returned, contending that Rotary was solely an Anglo-Saxon idea; that it never could be appreciated or understood by other races. Those who have been privileged to become acquainted with the splendid Latin American Rotarians know how erroneous were his conclusions.

Members from Tampa, Florida, brought Cuba into the movement and while still in the hot flush of victory, duplicated their efforts in Spain.

After the dissipation of the Anglo-Saxon myth all things were possible. One after another, clubs were established in South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and in the islands of the Eastern seas.

In the main, Rotary’s missionaries have been members who, imbued with the faith, have volunteered to carry the message. As a rule they have even paid their own expenses. Several have been of very high standing. Among the distinguished men who have rendered voluntary service in the extension of Rotary are: Dr. Wilhelm Cuno, once chancellor of Germany; Sir Henry Braddon of Australia; Sir George Fowlds of New Zealand; Federico Pezet, Peruvian Ambassador to the United States; Umekichi Yoneyama of Japan; and the ambassador deluxe, James W. Davidson of Calgary. These Rotarians were moved to take up their tasks because of their confidence in Rotary and its ability to bring about better understanding between nations. Back of it all was the desire to be of service to their own countries. Dr. Cuno is reported to have said that he would rather promote the interests of Rotary in his country than be chancellor of Germany.

Eventually the desultory character of Rotary extension gave way to orderly, systematic procedure. The question of the universality of Rotary’s appeal having been satisfactorily settled, the next question in order was how large must a city be in order to be eligible. It was at first contended that clubs must be limited to cities of not less than fifty thousand population. Experience soon demonstrated that so drastic a limitation would be unnecessary. By successive stages it was reduced to twenty-five thousand, ten, five, two; and eventually the conclusion was reached, that it was not so much a question of population as it was a question of the character of the men making application. Since arriving at that conclusion, successful Rotary clubs have been established in towns of one thousand inhabitants and even less.

While the record of extension has constituted one of the most interesting chapters of Rotary history, the development of ideals and practices has gone on apace. Deeds preceded the written word. After service had been rendered in manifold forms, the word “Service” with all its varied meanings and implications, was written in the Rotary plan.

Succeeding the platform came the code of ethics, the product of the minds of a devoted group of Sioux City Rotarians. As the slogan, “He profits most who serves best,” constituted the climax of the platform, the Golden Rule, “All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them,” constituted the climax of the code of ethics.

The retention of the Golden Rule as a summation of the hopes and ambitions of Rotary has recently met with serious opposition from different quarters. It is not that any appreciable number lack faith in the Golden Rule as a guide in the affairs of men. The objection most frequently heard is that it has so long been identified with religious movements that its adoption by Rotary affords reasonable grounds for the assumption by the uninitiated that Rotary is in fact a religion. It being the case that Rotarians do not consider Rotary a religion, it is probable that the use of the Golden Rule in Rotary literature will be abandoned.

During the course of the life of the movement, many misconceptions as to its origin and as to its motives have arisen, not the least persistent being the belief that Rotary is an offshoot or auxiliary of the Masonic order. There are, of course, Rotarians who are also Masons, but there are also Rotarians who are Catholics. Whatever they may be outside of Rotary, inside they are friends.

During the year 1915, Guy Gundaker of Philadelphia wrote a booklet entitled, "A Talking Knowledge of Rotary." He sought, as his predecessors in the literary field had sought, to express Rotary as it was, rather than to set up new ideals and standards. Within the limitations set by its author, it was a valuable contribution to the cause and it was helpful to clubs both old and new.

For some years, “A Talking Knowledge of Rotary” constituted the most available chart; in fact, it has not been entirely outgrown at the present time. It has, to considerable extent, been superseded by a flood of pamphlets treating at length of various subjects.

The idea of mutual helpfulness had given way to the idea of general helpfulness, epitomized in the term “service.” International service, which looms so large at present, then ranked as a by-product. It was expected that international understanding and goodwill would be the natural consequence of working together at common tasks.