MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETIES.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2245, 18 July 1870, Page 2

MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETIES.

To the Editor of the Evening Star. “ A little learning is a dangerous thing.” Pope. —I bog to offer a few remarks anent the Question of “fruits” of Mutual Improvement Societies raised by your correspondent “ and in doing so shall willingly accept his statement in reference to the purity of his intentions. I may at the same time brim,' before his notice the dangerous nature of the motto which he placed at the top of his letter, Icing that which I use in the present instance, as a missile that may be readily thrown back and may bo used more or less effectively against Improvement Societies, “J.M., ” or "“any other man,” the Twickenham bard not excepted. According to your correspondent the fruits of this spurious tree of knowledge are of three kinds —lst. Pedantic conceit : 2nd, Surface information : 3rd, Irrcligion. I do not disavow the presence of these noxious elements in debating societies, but I do think little diligence and discrimination would be required to discover others, more enohling, more satisfying, and less vitiating in their character, and likewise to determine whether or no Mutual Improvement Societies may be fairly charged with propagating and fostering those evils. The truth is a great portion of that “popular literature” which is so much belauded bv your correspondent, is more to be blamed in this matter. Young lads, after bidding the schoolmaster good bye, fancy ftbemsclves released from their studies, at once dive into the literary sops of the day with a keenness and relish more to be regretted than censured. The “ appetite grows with that it feeds on,” and in a few years the young man knows more of the adventures of Roderick Random, the witty slang of the day, or the plot of the last new novel, than he knows of the historical evidence as to whether Mahomet was an impostor. Possibly in addition to this stock of knowledge he may have sonic ace 'inplishments — may be able to move correctly in a dance, recite “Toll’s address,” write love poetry, and echo political opinions. It need hardly be said such a man is vain. The teachings of youth is coated over with these gaudy attainments, and I apprehend it is one of the aims of Mutual Improvement Societies to break this crust and raise the mind to a more manly standard. Such a process necessarily involves in the llrst iustoncc “ surface information,” but 1 cannot accept an implied assertion by two letters of the alphabet that well-read men are never members of these societies. Such a statement to have any weight must be supported by a name that commands credence, and not by somebody in Cargill street, who may possibly be an unsuitable associate for “well read men.” Indeed the membership roll of the Dunedin Society may he appealed to on this point, and the minutes and reports of its meetings will likewise testify that members are not always complimented on their productions, that surface information is fearlessly exposed, and that a spirit of competition is sufficiently engendered to insure progress. To say a man skims a hook so as to know little of what is in it, and again to say he is so improved as to make him irreligious, is a contradiction, and requires no refutation.

Yours, &c.,

W-M.B,

York place, July 13. ?