During the Great Depression in 1932, Herbert Taylor, a member of the Rotary Club of Chicago, was asked to take over the near bankrupt Club Aluminum Company. Taylor’s first order of business was to draft a code of conduct to guide all its business decisions.
We know this code as the Four-Way Test. Club Aluminum applied the Four-Way Test to all its business dealings. It declined business that failed to meet the test. The company thrived as a result. Rotary International officially adopted the Four-Way Test in 1943. When Herb Taylor became RI president in 1954, he donated the copyright of the test to the organization.
The Four-Way Test refers to better friendships, not more friendships. Better friendships are built on five attributes: respect, trust, reciprocity, shared experience, and mutual enjoyment of each other’s company. If you desire better friendships, first examine if respect, trust, and reciprocity exist. Without them, it’s unlikely you will have shared experiences or enjoy each other’s company. One advantage of membership in Rotary is you meet people who are easy to respect and trust and who know how to reciprocate. Being engaged in your club provides opportunities to share experiences and enjoy each other’s company.
The preamble of the Four-Way Test is “Of the things, we think, say, or do…” This preamble provides context. Without it, it’s not quite clear what is supposed to be the Truth, Fair, Beneficial, etc.
Rotarians are admired throughout the world because we try to live up to the Four-Way Test. I hope the next time you recite it, you will find deeper meaning and greater inspiration in its words.
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Last August 12, 2022, Rotary Club of Metro Kalibo (D3850) Pres. Romeo Reyes, Jr. led the installation of The Four Way Test billboard at Numancia Integrated School fence. Joining him were club Secretary PP Rosie Reyes, IPP Loida Enero and PP Johnny Retamar.
This story was submitted by Mark DiGiovanni.
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