TEMUKA LITERARY SOCIETY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2052, 29 May 1890, Page 3

TEMUKA LITERARY SOCIETY.

The -firsts meeting of the , Teinuka Literary. b obiety this season was held evening. The President, the Re?. J. Dickson the chair. - The .attendance was not so large as on former occasions. The; President in his opening address said: My Christian friends, let me, in following ■ the usual custom of g reading :tbe "presidential address on this the first ordinary meeting of a new serision" of the Literary Society, say just a wocd or two, partly of congratulation, partly of advice, -and partly pf hope, L must congratulate you upon, the position which , your society has. now attained. When it was first launched into being some prophesied' for it a very short-life,'but their prognostications have been falsified. It,lived .through the - whole of the season, was full of energy, and at the.close displayed even more vitality thab at the.beginning, and.now your association is beginning to be . recognised as a mental and moral force in the community., There is no reason why it should not go on and prosper. There is. a. place for it in society. There is a danger in this age and in this age, ;and in this , light and exhilirating climate, of giving too much attention to the - development of the physical powers, " Prizes are given for running and-leaping, , and other feats of agility, "strength and" endurance, hut' how : few' outside the school are given tor superior mental attainments, and, yet the mind isthe.nobler part, of man and conduces most to our happiness and well-being. The; social element in our organisation is not to be overlooked, ‘ Many a man who has made a mark in the political or professional world began his career in such a society as this. Rivalry stimulates, opposition draws out, practice gives confidence, and debating developed powers Bometimesrwhich bo one dreamt existed. Rr. , Parker said the other day of minister, “11 would advise ' his .office-bearers to hire | someone and’send him to the gallery to dispute his statements of Divine truth if they Want to know what is in him.” . I .hope pbr session this year will b® characterised with the same interest taken, .the same wholesome rivalry, the same good feeling, that all personalities will be studiously avoided, that nothing will gome in to mar our peace and comfort, and that good in every sense of "the term will be the result. As it happens that I shall claim your attention further on, I shall conclude at this stage by saying that we shall take up whatever business is to be transacted, and first will I**»ome the election of new members. Two new members were ejected. Tfre rules prepared by the committee were then read over, and on the motion of Mr Mogridge, seconded by Mr inderson, they were adopted, The president then read a very able and interesting paper on the unity of man, a report of which will appear in a future jsiuq.

Mr Bryars congratulated Mr Dickson on the ability displayed m the paper, but with the exception of the few remarks he made it elicited no further discussion.