Hymnody in Rotary: Camaraderie and Reinforcing the “Service” Spirit

It was fitting that Rotarian Roger Nutt should deliver a captivating explanation of hymnody at the Rotary Club of Marlin’s regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. Hymnody is defined as “the singing or composition of hymns,” and everyone knows that Roger Nutt is a talented singer and hymnody enthusiast.

The history of hymnody is thousands of years old, evolving from ancient Near Eastern chants to modern congregational songs. In his presentation, Rotarian Roger Nutt elaborated on hymnody in different cultures, different parts of the world. And as hymnody continues to evolve, with older hymns being restored or adapted to fit contemporary theological and cultural perspectives, Rotary International has its part in this

history.

While not a religious organization, Rotary International uses these musical traditions to promote its core values of service, international understanding, and, through various fellowships, education in music; Rotary International has its own Rotary Hymn. “No less a person than Franz Lehár, the great master of the operetta, composed this hymn for the Rotary community. In 1926, a year after the Rotary Club of Vienna was founded, whose world famous member Lehár was, he dedicated this Rotary Hymn to his club. Originally it was composed for baritone and piano. Later the text was written by Dr. Fritz Loehner-Beda.” (German Rotary Magazine “Der Rotarier”, December 2001, by Hans-Gerd Bruns, RC Oldenburg- Ammerland, District 1850, Germany) “Brothers of Rotary, forward to work […], friendship and love are forgotten; great is the grief of mankind today! Sow the seed! Turn the wheel around the world happily in service! Help with advice and deed! Endless turns the big wheel!” (“Der Rotarier”, December 2001, Hans-Gerd Bruns) Hymnody in Rotary is about camaraderie and reinforcing the “service” spirit.

Worldwide hymnody serves as a universal, crosscultural medium for expressing faith, emotion, and theology, functioning as a “patchwork quilt” that stitches together diverse cultures. It acts as a powerful tool for community building, social justice, and theological reflection, ranging from ancient Sumerian and Indian hymns to modern, diverse global expressions of worship.

At the conclusion of Rotarian Roger Nutt’s program presentation, Rotary Club of Marlin members shared their experiences and memories in their appreciation of hymns. All agreed, “excellent program on hymnody!”