SHAKESPEARE CLUB.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 798, 22 April 1910, Page 11

SHAKESPEARE CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING. "•■ • ■ The Wellington Shakespeare Club lias now reached its eighth year, and'it is interesting to note that its first most enthusiastic promoters are taking a' leading part in its affairs to-day.-The annual meeting was held on Wednesday night in tho Chamber of Commerce, w.hen there was a good, attendance of members, and Mr. H. E. Nicols presided. The hon. secretary and treasurer, Mt. Gorhain, presented the annual report and balancesheet, which were passed. The seventh annual report, which was read by. tho secretary (Mr. Gorliam), was very optimistic and cheerful. During its existence the society has read fourteen plays, giving to ericli three months of etudy, and it has. decided to read this year ; Bichard 111. and Cyrobcline. . The committee-had''been compelled with rogret to allow tho' competitions, amongst pupils of the' primary, publio schools to lapse; but those for secondary schools ■would be continued. The competitions for secondary schools, held • last year proved very* satisfactory, and the pupils who carried off tho prizes had secured 05 and 93 marks respectively. It had been a matter of gratification when the society became amtiatcd with the British Empire Shakespeare Society, which now numbers 10,000 members. The.general secretary in London from time to time sends ont information which is of value. The report spoke of the value of Buch a society as this in encouraging people not 'only to. study Shakespeare, but to read aloud an art that was generally neglected. : There was, however, need of an increase of membership, and especially were more men required. For soino reason the men of Wellington- did not take -.kindly.'to the study of bhakespearo, but. it was hoped that if members talked about the matter to their friends'they would be able to bring in many new members." ~; ~ The bnliince-sheet showed that honorary subscriptions amounted, lo .£? 185.M., working "members' subscriptions to £® 85.,-and there was. a credit balance ot ■£'i 19s. fid. , ■ A letter.'was received from the ,Welliiigton.Art Club, and was referred to the incoming members. : ; ;.:.'■". .-«. Tlio election of officers resulted m tho following appointments:—President, Mr. H. E. Nicolsj 'vice-presidents. Mrs. Baldwin Miss England, Miss Holmes and Miss Hardinge-Maltby, i and .Messrs,,; V?: B. Book, J. W. Joynt, J. E. Palmer, P. P. Webb, J. C. Webb, and A. C. Webster; committee, Misses M. Butler, Eraser, Hall, Simpson, Van Stavcren, and E. • Young, Mrs.'. Sutcliffe, , Messrs. W: T. Brmiton, J. S. Baldwin, N. Phillips, ,C. W Tanner, i Leo Buckeridße; hon. , secretary and treasurer.Mr. W. D. Gorham; assistant hpn. secretary, Mr. N. Phillips; hon. auditor, Mr. P. P. Webb. ' .-. . At tho conclusion of the regular business there was an 'interesting discussion on the methods of tho society, Mr. Marks claiming that the leaders did hot criticise the reading sufficiently. He knew nien who had como to the' ordinary meetings and who had said that when they closed their books they could : not hear a fourth of what was read. Ho thought the , reading ■eras not so. good as it had been at first, and that it would not improve until tho criticisnis were more severe. Tho ideal of the readers shotild bo to make the playi when read aloud almost as clear as if they wc-ro noted.

.Mr.'.'Joynt dissented from this attitude; and .said that; there were many people who;would never be.good.readers; their voices wero not: sufficiently'strong,. or. they wero. too nervous, but it would be h great lnis'tftlce to discourage them. It T.--R5 also a mistake to suggest that readers were.not'criticisod or that many had nut improved.;:; Ho thought the criticism at their, meetings was, if' anything, o'veraevere, >nd there had been a great improvement in tho reading of many people. After all. the .main tiling w.as .to study. Shalrespeare; aiid arrive at a fuller knowledge arid appreciation , of him; the reading was a secondary.matter.

Mr.-Nicols thought that, members recognised aiid appreciated tho fceiiuties of .Shakespeare.. moTo than they had done in earlier years. Considering the relative value.of ..elocution,, or tho. knowledge of the poet, he placed.the knowledge of the poet highest. The members were.not there to practise elocution, but to learn to appreciate the greatest poet who ever lived.