THE OBJECTS 0F LITERARY SOCIETIES.

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1685, 24 April 1883, Page 3

THE OBJECTS 0F LITERARY SOCIETIES.

•„ , ■' 11 *1 ' -' , At the request ot numerous readers we publish the following excellent 'paper, being . the address delivered before the Cambridge Mutual Improvement Association on Tlmisday night, by one of the vice-presidents, Mr R. W. Dyer :— : — . In accordance with what will ere long bo o time-honoured custom, it has fallen to my lot to-night to deliver the inaugural address at the opeuing of this, the second session of the society, and it has occurred to me at the outset; that a short review of the meetings of the last session will not be without interest to this meeting. To say that the past session has been a success would, I fear, be straying rather widely from the truth. The meetings wcic inmost instances remarkable for the paucity of the attendance of members— for theuupuuctualityof those who did attend— with few exceptions a great lack of thought, and care in preparing the subjects which were from time to tune brought before the society. No doubt it was for the liist two characteristics which I have mentioned that the last arose. This, I think, shows that we started, so to speak, at tho wrong end, and that infutnie, instead of waiting to see how many members are attending before we tioublc ourselves about the preparation of our subjects, it would be well for every member who puts his name down on our piogramme as a reader, an essayist, a lecturer, and so forth, to give the matter in hand careful and thoughtful picpamtion. The result, I am confident, will be a large and influential attendance of members. Fiom this it seems to follow in logical sequence that we should treat for a short time of the diilcrcnt objects of the society. These, our iiiles tell us, are the mutual impiovement of niembcis in moral, literary and scientific knowledge. Let us deal with these separately. I must confess that I thought the first, viz., the moral aspect ot the society, was somewhat vague. But a little icllcction soon shows that this is an impoitant feature of our body. For instance, the picpaiation of p.ipers should occupy a large portion of the leisutc time of member, especially the evenings. This will have the eflect of occupying time which, in some cases, would be spent in frivolous pursuits .uid io* 'pastimes of a highly questionable ciluaeter. It will also laiso a healthy tone in the class ot leading membeis select, and will quicken a taste lor the studying of many subjects of interest and profit which many a man, but for the society, would never lu\e thought of dipping into. It, I think, may bo faiily argued from this that the moral tone of members, generally, will be raised by means ol the society ; that leisure time will be more profitably and pleasantly spent, and that crude ideas ol men and things will be gieatly modified and counteracted. The next object of the society is, I think, the most important— the acquiiement of liteiary knowledge. By far the best means to acquire this is, after c.ucful studying of any subject is to endca\our to impait the knowledge gamed to others. To do this it is above all things impoitant to express one's ideas in pleasant and easy language. A man may have read and studied largely, but unless he attempts to acquire a clear manner of expressing himself he will simply give utterance to a number of mere superficial notions, will be listened to with but very little interest, and will give a confused idea ot what he means, and he will very often entirely mislead his hearers. It is a popular idea that the mam object of a mutual improvement society is to acqunc fluency in speaking. Although tins is, no doubt, a desiiable object to be gamed, it is very fai from being the main object. A man who simply talks for talking's sake, who is always holding forth on every imaginable subject by the hour w henever he gets a chance— such a oiu 1 is a nuisance to himself, to all those who are unfortunate enough to be within earshot. The endeavour of us all, I think, should bi 1 , m the first place, to obtain a thorough and aceuiate knowledge of our subject, and to think it out fully before we attempt to speak on it, and then, having thought out the subject, to express our ideas in the simplest language we can. Above all things, it is desiiable to avoid the uso ot big woids, quotations, and a pedantic and unnatutal style. l«'o' specimens of pure English, we should take a3 models the wi i tings of Addisou — the novels of Bulwer Lytton, or such works as Bunyan's i'ilgi mi's Progress, and for giaud, simple stylo 1 know of nothing to equal some poitions ot sciipture. The w liters or translators of all these works are masters ot pure English, and no oiik can help noticing the simple, easy and unaflcctcd style that all of them have m expiossing thenisehci. All subjects that aie brought before the society .should be popular and ofgoncial nitciest, while essay i should not be o\ ci loaded with diy, undisputed fi\cli, but should contain wide lufoim.itiou, and evince a thotough know ledge of the subject. Much of the best literature of tho piesent day is to be found in magazines and lovieus, ami I would most earnestly impious on mcmheis the necessity of loading thcac works if they have any desne to Keep themselves up in the Knowledge and bteiatuie of the age. The at tides arc w ntten by men of Luge and advanced views, and of profc^si d scholarship and learning. In fact I think this is a matter of so much impoitance that I would take the opnoitunitv of (suggesting that a review club should bo stai ted in connection with the society. Membeis may say that they have not the time for review leading, but I fear in most instances it is nioic the want of inclination than the want of tune. I am eel tain of one thing, that until we do take up magazine reading in one form oi another, we shall have a veiy small claim to h.ivc acquit ud liteiaiy knowledge, or be able to discuss. with much degree of comfoi t the many prominent questions of our day. As fot leadings and lecitntions, I think we had great deal too many last session, and I would suggest tli.it they should not occupy so much of our time in futuic. No one is able to read properly without a careful study of the piece beforehand. The reader should have thoroughly taken in and appreciated the sense of his selection before he attempts to read it in public. Does anyone think that the famous actors and acti esses who represent the plays of Shakspere have not made a most careful study of the vaiious characters before they appear on the stage ? Their aim evidently is first to obtain an aceuiate knowledge of the meaning and intention of the author, and then to study the character of the person whom they may have to represent. No one can act successfully without this study, and no one can read successfully without it Cjr. I must say, although I feel that cap very nearly fits myself, that the ings last year showed little or no study ; that they were carelessly read, often without a full appreciation of the subject, and consequently fell flat on the audience. Let us be careful also in the selection of our readings to choose something of a popular character, and yet something that can be listened to with interest and profit. The scientific branch of our society has not been touched on during the past session. It would be well if those members who have cultivated or, possess a knowledge of scientific subjects would deliver essays on them, if possible with practical experiments : such subjects as elementary, electricity or botany would, I am sure, be interesting to tho society. Mr Hawley, for instance, might give us a paper on one of the many branches of electricity, and Mr Hosking another on engineering science. Scientific subjects should not be passed over, nor the importance of obtaining a knowledge overlooked. One question yet remains to be touched on, namely, how are we going to make the society a success ? To start with, let members make up their minds to be regular and punctual in attendance, and also endeavour as much as they c4n to get other people to join the society.

Members should alii tid 7 i their utmost to render the meetings lively and interesting, especially those who are down on the programme as taking a prominent part in the proceedings. They should remember that a number of gentlemen aro going to assemble to listen to their essay, to gain something from their reading, or to be instiuctqd by their , lecture. I think also that, provided a quorum is present, the meeting should always start at the proper time, and not be delayed to see if more members will turn- up. It gets members into bad' habits, and they will go in this respect from bad to worse. Every member bhould also make a point of lopping up the subject of the essay or dispiissioiiufor , the evening, 110; matter whether his name is on the ' programme for the evening or not. Sharp and pointed criticisms should be given, and no one should bo foolish enough to take offenpo at any hard hit he may get during the debate. 1 have simply now to express a hope that the Cambridge Mutual Impiovemcnt Society may have a long and extended course of usefulness, and with a sincere desiie of furthering a good object, I have jotted clow n a few ideas on the subject; crude they may be, but none the less earnest and well intentioiied.

A &IMIKRK open to all.— The atmos-' phere. Dn I?ahry, Bishop of Dover, was " licacl boy"' of llugby w hen the late Archbishop of Cantmhury was head master there. Ax equestrian group of all the commanders in the late Eiryptain campaign is being painted by Chevalier Desanges. Lord \Volsclcy, u hos,o portrait occupies the centre of the composition, sat to the aitiston Jan. 11 for the completion of his> likcnoss. The Pyramids in the backgtound localise tlie scene. Dn Scjiui'm \\s* has received permission fioin the Hellenic (iovcrnment to make excavations on the .north- west of Athens, near the old Academy, where those who fell in war were buiied, and were the grave ot Pericles is supposed to be, After exhausting this legion, the learned doctor intends to tiaiisfer his labours to the island of Crete.