No. 6. • FEBRUARY, 1908. Vol. XIII.

SOUTH PLACE MAGAZINE

Contellts PA GE .

MEMORIAL SERVICE TO DR. CONWAY IN NEW YORK 91

SUMMARIES OF SUNDAY MORNING DISCOURSES

DELIVERED AT SOUTH PLACE CHAPEL 0000. 000 •• 92

THE RELATION OF SUPERNATURAL BELIEFS TO

ETHICS o. 0 0 ••• o' 0 ••••• eo ... ' ... 0', 00000 ••••••••• , 94 R . BRAITHWAITE.

MR, W. J. FOX ON WOMAN SUFFRAGE ..... o' •••••• , 98

J. H .

CORRESPONDENCE ........... 0 ... 0 ........ 0 .... 0 ..... 0 101 The Va.lue of Dr. Conway's Teaching

NOTICES 000. 0 ••• 00000 ••••••••••••• 0" 0 •••••• • • 0 ••••••• 104

Monthly, 2d., OR 2s . 6d. P E R AN NU M j Posr F RE E .

1oll~on : SOUTH PLACE ETHICAL SOCIETY, FINSBURY, E.Co A. & H. B. BONNER, 1&2 TOOK'S COU RT. FURNIVAL STREET. E .Co

'l1Uttr Ilare (fr)tbiraI ~nrietn . ••••••••••••••••

South Place Chapel & Institute, Finsbury, E.C. Object of the Society.

"The object of tbe Society is the cultivation of a rational religious sentiment, the study of ethical principles, and the promotion of human welfare, in harmony with advancing knowledge. "

FEBR. U AR.Y, 1905.

The followit'l, DISCOURSES will be delivered 011 SlII/dl/y 7/lOrlll1l/iS, Se. vice be{!ill1li1l1! at 11.15.

Feb. ~.-JOHN M. ROBERTSON, M.P.-The History of Toleration . 2. Reason as Mitigator.

An/bems I 1. Oh , I wouJ~ sing a song of praise (No. 14.) ... 2. Most beantlful appear (CreatIOn) . ........ .

Hymns 1 No. 39· 0 brotber man, fold to tby beart tby brotber (O.B. 184) No. 47. 0 sweeter tban tbe sweetest Bower (O.B .• 06)

Feb. 9.-JOHN A . HOBSON, M.A.-Evolution as Creator. Antbems I 1. Benedlctus ...

I 2. Tbe manly heart. ... .., ... ... ... Hymns I No. 96. Honour.o blm who freely gives (O.B. 514)

No. lOO. Thougb love be bougbt and bonour sold Feb. 16.-HERBERT BURROWS.-Crime, Criminal. and Punishment.

Antbems 11 • One by one tbe sand3 are flowing (No .6) • . Love divine (Daugbter of Jairus)... ...

Hymns I No . 12.. He who bas tbe truth and keeps it 1 No. 117. Let In IIgbt, tbe boly ligbt.

Feb. '3.-JOSEPH McCABE.-The Awakening of Spain. Antbems I 1. Orpbeus with bls lute .. , .. .

2. Spring's Message ... ... .. . Hymns I No. loB. Ab! bow skilful grows tbe band

1 No. 105. Now comes the light for wblch our souls bave sougbt

SUNDAY SCHOOL.

Flower. Hayd ll.

Schllberl. ,1/o ::a1'l.

Silas. Staillcr.

SfI/liva .. Gad •.

Tbe Children meet at Armfield's Hotel opposite the CHAPEL every Sunday morning, at 11.15, and tb!:ir lesson is given during the discourse. Members and friends wisbingtbeir children to auend the school are requested to communicate with the Secretary.

F~b. 2. Mrs. HARLANn. 9. Mr. W . VARIAN. First Aid (4).

If 16. Miss MARTIN. .. 23. Miss MARTIN.

The Children's LIbrary In tbe class room over tbe Vestry Is open every Sunday morning before and after tbe service.

Librarians: Miss WELLINGTON and Miss Fay. Visitors bllnglng children to the Sunday ~Io[lllng services are cordially Invited to alia,,"

tbem to attend tbe Children'S lesson.

Visitol's Clre ",viled tJ obtaill illjollllatioll 1'egardillg the Society ill the Library 011

Sill/day 1II0rltillt:s. A Collectiolt is IlIade at the close of eaclt Service to mable Visilol's to cOlltribllte to

the expellses of the Society. The Chapel Is licensed for Marriages. Cycllsls desiri1l/{ 10 attelld the Services are illj01med that the Commit/ee have

maae arl'allgellltllts jor hOl/sill/{ their machl1les ill the base/lltllt. Arrangements can be made for the conduct of Funeral Services on applica­

tion to H.e Secretary.

MEMBERSHIP. Any rerson in sympatby witb tbe Object of tbe Society, subscribing tbe application form

for membership, and jlaying for a slUing, is tbereby constituted a Member of tbe Society. Tbose Members only who are twenty-one years of age or upwards, wbose names bave been tw.edlve montbs upon tbe legister, and wbose seat r!:nts for the previous quarter bave been pal ,shall be qualified to vote and to bold office.-Extract /1'0'" Ihe Rules.

C STiHttinga may be obtained upon application In theLibrary, or to Mr. GEORGE ~ ERALL, South Place Charel, Hon. Registrar of Members and Associates.

rh~c::u:rr;.;~~. from IS. to 10S. per quarter. Persons under 21 are charged half

SOUTH PLACE MAGAZINE . • d. Monthly.

28. Od per "'ullum. po," fr('e No. 6. Vol. XIII. FEBRUARY, 1908.

=====---~========~======- --(The writers of Articles appearillg in tMs Magazllte are alolle I'espollsiblc tor

tlte oPilliolls thel'eil£ expressed.)

MEMORIAL SERVICE TO DR. CONWAY IN NEW YORK.

,\lE feel sure our readers will be interested In the following letter addressed to our ociety by Dr. Conway' daughter:-

109, East 78th Street, Sunday, Dec. 15, Ig07.

Dear Friend ,-\Ve had a sweet simpl~ sen'ice over Papa's ashes yesterday morning in my brother's house.

The ca ket was covered with lovely flowers, principally his fayourite flower, roses, and Mama's favourite, lilies, and a laurel wreath.

His old life-long friend, Robert Collyer, spoke very beauti­fully. The hymns "Sweet Day," Papa's ownl hymn, and .. Calmly, calmly lay hirn. down," were sung exquisitely by Franci Rogers. Mr. Howard, who is elected in Papa's place as President of the Authors' Club, spoke in their behalf, and my brother read l\Ir. E. Emerson's beautiful words, as he was ill in bed and could not lean Concord to peak them hims,elf. Mrs. Stanton-Blatch read Papa's own funeral service with great feeling.

There was a fearful snowstorm, but in spite of it, represen­tatives of all literature in J\'ew YOI'k were there paying their tribute and doing homage to his name.

I think I told you we children will t.ake his ashes, and lay them with lama' in Papa's lot, on the hilltop in Kensico Cemetery, where my brother Dana's also arc. I hope you will not feel the link broken between South Place and our family, a I am just as much interested as before. Please send me the SOUTH PLACE ~I."G,"ZJNE as you did to Papa.

Gratefully and sorrowfully, M1LDRED CON WAY SAWYER.

92

SUMMARIES OF SUNDAY MORNING DISCOU.RSES. DELIVERED AT SOUTH PLACE CHAl11;:t:.'.

!\ OVEMIlER 24TH: "THE POPE MID MODER~I TIIOl·C IIT."

By HERIlERT BUI~lwws.

Lately the Pope, by means of his Encyclical on what he calls the Doctrines of the Modernists, has made a fierce attack on the emi-rationalistic tendencies ,of the age, and this attack is

marked off, in an extraordinary way, from former Papal criti­cisms of the modern spirit by reason of the fact that it deals p rforce with the growth of that spirit inside the Roman Catholic Church itself, especially amO(lg its prie thood. The Pope ha found it necessary to inform the whole world that unle s the e modern heresies are uppressed inside his Church the foundations of that Church will be broken up . Hi remark­able document is a most striking testimony to the spread and the power of the modern enquiring mind.

The Encyclical itself contains nothing new in the wa~T of dogmatism or that has not often been doctrinally said before by the Catholic Church. Its remarkable features are the alarm which is to be read in every line and the extraordinary remedies \\ hich it proposes for the crushing- out of modern heresy. It once more shows the Catholic Church in its true colours, as the unswerving, relentless enemy of the freedom of the human mind, and as ready as it always was to use e\·ery possible means for the suppre. sion of that freedom. ,

The " Modernism" which the Pope condemns will not per­h:1p appeal to real rationalists as a very virile thing. It re­tain much of what they would char:H:terise as modified super­naturalism, but it is that modification of which the Pope, from his point of view, is rightly afraid. He sees acutely that such a modification is but an inclined plane, and that when priests and people once enter on the path of free enquiry and free thought, \\"it11 the admission of the supremacy of human reason in the region of religious dogma, the only possible end is the complete rejection of the authority of the Church; and this, as he declares, would be the end of Catholicism.

The En yclical i a very able presentment and denunciation of the tenets of the semi-orthodoxy which is so fast gaining ground inside orthodoxy itself, and the line on which it should be dealt with by the Roman Catholic Church are very clearly laid down. As the Pope says, this new thought is " not merely the foolish babbling of unbelievers. There are Catholics, yea, and priests, too, who say these things openly: and they boast that they are going to reform the Church by these ravings! .... Nothing assuredly could be more utterly destructive of the whole supernatural order."

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To prevent that destruction the most drastic methods are to be employed inside the Church. Free speech, free meeting, the free Press, free book-selling, free teachjng, free writing, are all to be most rigidly suppressed by the Chur<:h authorities and by exactly the same pirit which, when il had the power of the secular arm, tortured and burned . the bodies of men. Hence­forth, all over the world, no Roman Catholic man or woman who would remain in communion, with the Church may dare to call their mind, their thought, their soul their own.

It should never be forgotten that all this is of the very essence of Roman Catholicism. Even the saintliness of a John Henry ewman mu t not blind us to the fact that in his expo ition of the doctri:1e of papal infallibility he showed the awful degradation of a great human soul in the complete sub­mission of human reason to the dictum of the priest. Again t the belief in an infallible Church we must continue to set the belief in the sovereignty of the human. mind-against the belief in a dominating priesthood the belief in the brotherhood of man.

DECEMBER 151'11: "TilE PROBLEM OF INDIA."

By HEIWERT BURROWS.

The great law of existence, that no life, individual, social, or national can be lived in water-tight compartments specially applies to professedly ethical people. Outside it there is no meaning in our ethical phrases. To those who claim for their life a higher and a broader moral basis than that on which the generality of life is founded ther comes always a higher and a broader responsibility-the responsibility to regard and to judge every question from the standpoint of conscience rather than from that of expediency.

Spe ially should thi obtain when wc, as part of the nation, are considering the re.lations of nation to nation and race to race. All ethics and all morals in this respect are summed up in the word -right dealing. No individual can rid himself of his own responsibility by hiding behind what is vaguely called national responsibility. It is his business always to try to shape national action in an ethical direction.

No one would be bold enough to assert that our national dealings, e pecially with what are called subject r;tces, are carried on on ethical principles. \Vith regard to this very complex problem of India this is most patent when the real facts of our relation_ with that country are closely examined. It is the most wonderful country on the planet-the cradle of reli­gion, the home of philosophy, the land of mystery and romance, of civilisations which stretch almost into the dim prehistoric past, of a history to which that of Europe is but a mushroom growth, of a psychology which had dived into the innermost

94

recesses of man's spiritual being. when London, was but a few mud huts and our ancestors were barbarian , of a literature the most ancient and learned on earth, of an architecture wbose ruins alone dwarf our cathedrals into dolls' houses. And. thi. country with it hundreds of millions of inhabitants we hold as a conquering ra~e without ever having asked the consent of its people. Unethical to the la t degree!

Outside the Anglo-Indian official class (who with very few exceptions, like . ir Henry Cotton, for instance, live, think, and move in the officia l groove) the testimony is that, as Lord Salisbury said, we are bleeding India to death, and this for our own benefit. This is not a mere party political question, but a real human ethical problem. The recent action of Mr. John Modey in ruling India by methods which are Russian in their autocratic despoti m proves that it is our own good and our own interests which are first sought by the Indian Government. The first duty of a Government is not, as is often said, to main­tain order-its first duty is to enquire why there is disorder and then to do justice. The best friends of India, Engli hand native, hold that justice cannot be done till India is liberated from Briti h dominance and is allowed to govern hcr elf.

This does not mean that in twenty-four hours wc should leave India, but it does mean that our declared aim and object should be the introduction of the elf-government of the Indian people, by the Indian p ople, for the Indian people as _ peedily as pas ible. To this end steps hould at once be taken to e tab­li h the equality of the natives in local, judicial, and Imperial administration, and for the reduction of taxation, the general pread of education, and the lessening of the financial and

economic drain. Periodical conferenc s should be held between leading Hindus and Mohammedans and our best Briti. h . tates­men, irrespective of party or creed, with the express obj·ect of preparing the way for self-government. A foundation might thus be laid for a future India, which, whether federated with Britain on equal terms, or a eparate political and national entity, might do its part in the world's history for the better­ment and uplifting of humanity at large.

THE RELATION OF SUPERNATURAL BELIEFS TO ETHICS.

DISCDSSIO"S on the dependence of ethics on supernatural beliefs and sanctions are apt to be disappointing and unsati factory; and the facts brought forward to illustrate the arguments on either side, in­conclusive: The wh?le subject is very. complicated, and many other conslderatJons and Clrcumstances reql1He to be taken into account in Qrder to re:,lise the true bearings of the facts; besides, one oft.en per-

11

95

eeives that the parties to the dispute ~ave quite di~erent ide~s in their minds, and are not really maJDtalDlll,g and attackIng respectively the same thesis. ,

The strongest advocates for the necessity of theological beliefs would not deny that in every h.alf-civilized country there are thousands wh? , for no other motives than their own safety..> comfort, and success In life quite apart from belief in the supernatural, will strive to be what Mr: McCabe calls" tolerably respectable people," and to avoid overt acts condemned by the bws or by society, and conform at least outwardly to the conventional rules of the community.

Wherever human society exists at all-i.e., wherever mankind ha ' advanced beyond mere barbarism, there is found ome standard of ethics essential to its mainten.ance, enforced by law or public opinion, which it is dangerous to oppose, and which in a few generations come to be instinctively recogni sed and approved by the individual con­science. The relative value of different virtues, or what are con­sidered such, will vary according to the condition and circum tances of the particular community, tribe, or nation, and its moral code will generally become more refined and complex as the nation it elf ad­vances in civilization.

It will now hardly be questioned that " religion " in its earlier stages-belief in the existence of supernatural beings with whom we have relations- keeps aloof from morals. Then there comes a time. at least in the hh;tory of some nations, when wise and thoughtful men be~in to utilise it for moral purposes; representing the objects of religious worship as interested in the moral conduct of their wor­shippers, and perhaps inclined to punish, in this world, or in some other, flagrant breaches of the conventional rules. A familiar in­stance of this is the teaching of the Hebrew prophets which insists on the moral character of the nationaI"God on his approval of justice and mercy and his hatred of violence and injustice. Hence the idea that injustice to man is also sin against God. Moreover, in the course of evolution, man comes to animadvert on his inward thoughts and motives, as well as on his outward act , and the conviction arise:. familiar even to Herodotus, that the gods punish the thought of sin as it elf sin. Side by side with the evolution of thought is discernibic a development of the emotional side of our natUl'e manifesting itself in care and pity for others, and admiration of right thoughts and conduct as something ennobling and to be desired for its own sake. and also a greater tenderness of conscience. In the words of the Roman moralist,

"Bad men hate sin through fear of punishment; Good men hate sin through \'ery love of \,Htue."

On a very large scale, mankind has suffered from tbe antagonism between so-called" religion " and morality. It is only where religious beliefs have included the view that God-or the gods-are themselves actuated by high moral motives and sentiments (as men understand morals) and approve of human virtue in preference to ceremonies and rites (" I will have mercy and not sacrifice") that "religion'" is of any value at all. Where the gods are supposed to be selfish or jealous partial ?r. cr~el, or '~rapped up in their own glory, or approvers of human .InJustlce, th~ ud'l.uence C?f supernatural. belief is wholly evil- in propor.twn as the InVISIble objects of worshIp are believed to be in

favour of human virtue, the cult of them has, in a certain 'stage of human progress, been found beneficial. .

If this brief summary be at all correct, it follows :~( I) That ethlcs are a product of the evolutionary proce ses: that they. anse fro!TI human gregari~lDism, and that in course of time, though dIfferently ID

different nations, a minority advances through hIgher mental con­ceptions, greater sensitiveness of conscience , broader and deep~r s~m­pathies, to a very high moral and spintual le~eL-'We say a mmonty, for no one will venture to assert that the maJonty ha ever con l. ted of high saint, whatever religion may ~ave been na~ionally profe sed! or whether the n:llion as such be agnostIc or :;uperstltlous--.and the hIgh virtue of the few raises the tone of the many. (2) That supern.atural belief have proved in all nation injurious or helpful to ethic:; accord­ing to the character of those belief .

As regards Theism, if by this i meant belief in a holy God, who approves of righteousne s and is a·loving Friend and Father to the righteous, we cannot doubt that lhi belief has cheered and helped many in their truggles, and that in lJh1.ny mind this belief has become so intertwined with the love of righteousnes it elf, that jf they come seriously to doubt or to renounce this belief a temporary shock will be the natural ccnsequence. Some of us can appreciate the pathos of Profe:;sor Clifford's words: " The Grea t Companion is dead"; and if the belief included :l strong confidence in personal immortality, no doubt the shock will be all the greater.

But even this must not be exaggerated. In the case of such a. Thei t as we have suppo ed, the "love of God" mu t hal'e rested on a belief in His goodness, and therefore a umes a love of goodness for it own sake. cc He that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" As to the majority, in whom there ha ' been no high spi ritual or moral develop­ment, though we may admit that the hvpe of a rosewater heaven or

cc The fear of hell-the hangman's whip To keep the wretch in order,"

may do much, yet observation of the conduct of mankind- where no great hindrance arises from press ure of unjust laws or from necessity of self-defence generating a hateful selfi hnes -shows that common human ympathy," the milk of human kindne s," does a great deal more. This is especially true of the poor. "\Vhat the poor are to the poor," said Dickens, "i known only to themselves and God."

EYen those who. contend for the neces ity of theology to upport ethICS would not, 1f they are thoughtful men, deny the widespread influence of natural goodness in promoting kindness and unselfish conduct. What these people really dispute is whether, in the ab ence of supernatural beliefs and motives, noble heroic self-sacrifice and li\'es devoted to the happinc s of others can be developed. It might be sufficient to quote instances. If religion be really what Matthew Arnold called it: "Morality touched (or transfigured) by Emotion "­even if we add. Enthusiasm-we might ask, for instance: 'What man was ever more truly religious than Charles Bradlaugh ? or what woman than Harriet Martineau? It is thought by some that the ethics of Ag.nosucs and Monist.s appeal. only to the dry intellect, which, as ATI.s~otl~ t~lls us, des1res nothmg, and evok~ no enthusi.asm-that Utlhtanamsm, even as expounded by J. S. MIll_CC the greatest happi­ness of the greatest number "-is rather a guide as to what £$ moral,

than 'art incenti,-e to conduct But the loye of the cc good" and the cc beautiful," which in the Greek mind -could not be divorced, can Tlse

'to be :a pa sion, The desire to at1:.o'lin to it, tq fulfil the highe t law of our heing, the horror of acting unworthily, or as a Roman would have .called it "unmanfuJly," the attraction toward~ a nohle ideal of conduct -these things have proved themselves able to call forth the most power­ful enthusiasm, The theological objectors -seem too to overlook an­piher fact of first-rate importance, to which even their opponents fail sometimes to at1:.o'lch due weight, viz., that side by side with mental evolution goe the emotional-that cc human gentleness and ]oye,' pity for a suffering humanity, what cc George Eliot" rehed .on so much cc one's better feelings towards others," can become so strong and deep and tender as to prove most effective motives for ethical conduct. To some of us it seems that no love of an Invisible God, or hope of per­sonal immortality, can possibly supply a stronger motive for Cl noble ethical life than tbe contemplation of the Yi~ible wrong and sufferIng ()f our fellowmen, The cultivation of the emotional side of our nature is no vain thing, and it was no extravagant or paradoxical utterance, but one founded on deep experience when Swedenborg (or wa it Comte?) said: cc Our reward for loving our neighbour as ourselves is that we shall come to love him better than ourselves."

It remains to notice one motive often urged upon us by the ad­vocates of theology-CC the love of Christ." Love and devotion to him lS said to have produced noble and self-sacrificing lives, and this lS true. But here an important distinction must be drawn between the natural and the super-naturaL "Love of Christ" based on the­ological views of his nature and person, and on a creed which maintains that Christ merits the gratitude and devotion of mankind Jor making it possible for men to escape a doom pronounced on them for an act of their earliest human ancestor, is certainly a uper­na.tural motive, but involving as it does notion of a cruel, or at lca~t, an unjust God, is sure in the long run to do more lu'lrm than good to ethics. On the other hand, no natural influence is stronger to en­courage men to live a noble life, to aspire to a high ideal than the

·contemplation of noble men who have in their own jives realised that ldeal in greater or le s degree, Plutarch knew this welL 'Vc find that, most nations have set up . for their encouragement and iri1italion ~;ome great or good man, whose life or teachings seem to haye had in them cc the root of the matter" and idealised him; and their imagin­ation bas invested him with their bighest ide...'ll virtues; and tbe more their ideal improves, the greater the perfection tbey attribute to their model man-whether Confucius, or Zoroaster or the Buddha, or the Christ. Love and reverence for (the ideal) Christ is undenia bl\' a jjreat and ,valuable mot,ive power-it presents to our imagination, 'our Ideal of nghteousness m a concrete form and challenges u to imit­ation but, as above explained, im'olves no theological or super­natural beliefs. , It remains for ever true that cc Anybody who gives up his life to the

good of others, and takes up his cros , will find bis heaven on this Cfarth "; and, relying on the motives mentioned above, men will become more and more able to resist theology where it is barmful, and to be indeJ,Jendent 0'£ it even in those aspects in which it may be favourable to moral excellence,

R. BRAITHWAITE.

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~1R. W. J. FOX ,ON .WO,MAN SUFFRAGE.

IN the second of two lectures devoted to a consideration of the question of the People's Charter-in his course of lectures to working people-Fox referred at some length to the subject of Woman Suffrage. South Placers generally would doubtless like to be informed or reminded of the views of their former great leader on this important and very vexed question. Like other controversies, this one of Woman Suffrage has had its fluctuations. Sometimes the mass of the public can hardly be' aware of its existence. At others, and notably during the past year, like quarter-day or the rate-collector, this representative ,,"oman forces herself on our attention, and bids fair, like ]acob· wre tling with the angel, not to let go without a blessing, in the hape of a vote. Or, perhaps, to use a more appropriate'

criptural illustration, she proceeds to pester the unjust judge with importunities, until, out of sheer weariness, he grants her request. Well might half-cynic Byron exclaim of woman :­

Poor thing of usages, coerced, compelled, Victim when wrong, and martyr oft when right.

Just now she also rather reminds us of that floggee whom the flogger always hits either too high or too low. If she-imply petitions she is ignored; if she actively demonstrates.

she is unwomanly! Of course, it is impossible for her to please those who have resolved not to be satisfied. How much better, in passing, would it not be for her pretended friends and honest opponents to adopt the Johnsonian formula, and clear their minds of cant! Adding to that process Napoleon's blunt phrase· that war and government are for men only, and that the place· for ,,"omen is in the home circle. This would clear the air also · -a very desirable thing in such cases. Referring to the text of the People's Charter, Fox said :-

There is one weak point which in the Charter itself, or at least in · the introductory remarks prefixed to it, is marked out for attention. I allude to a passage in the introduction which consists of an address from the Working Men's Association to the Radical Reformers of Great Britain and Ireland. Referring to the suggestions wh.ich had been made to them by various bodies in the country, they say: "Among the uggestions we received for improving this Charter is one for in­cluding women among the possessors of the franchise. Against this reasonable proposition we have no just argument to adduce, but only to express our fears of entertaining it lest the false estimate man entertains for this half of the human family may cau 'e his ignorance· a.nd prejudice to be enlisted to retard the progress of his ow.n freedom . And therefore we deem it better far to L'lY down just principles, and look forward to the rational improvement of society, than to entertain propo itions which may retard the measure we .wish to promote."

The comments which Fox makes on thi are both instruc­ti"e and suggestive. The references in them to then recent, or

99

passing, e.vents serve. to partly indicate how far v.e have ad­vanced or retrograded since his not very remote days. Th extract is rather 10f)g, but it is well worth perusal and con­sideration . He says :-

Retard it no doubt suo;:h a version of. the electoral suffrage would. But if the framers of the Charter had oeen as scrupulous about everr point which might occasion obstruction, I suspect there are sundry others which, upon a similar ground, might also have been omitted. A declaration of principle is one thing. Consulting the expediency of the times, another. But altho,ugh this question of right is waived for a time in the Charter, it is accompanied by a rt!servation of the principle, and a confession of the injustice at present committed, and that, too, in a re pectful and becoming manner, which is in strong contrast with the mode in which women are too often alluded to when introduced in public discussion, When I remember the debate in the House of Commons upon Mr. Grantley Berkeley's motion for allowing women to be present at the discussions in that assembly-when I recollect the affected and tinsel gallantry with which it was advocated, the careless­ness with which it was received, and the hollowness and factitiousness. of the whole proceeding, the want on all sides of any re.') I respect for women-I cannot but feel tbe immense superiority in this respect of the working classes of this country, and the manner in which they have dealt with the subject, and in which they have shown tbe most gen uine respect which can be offered to woman-that of not trifling with her judgment or supposing, as is too generally done, that she is a poor, vain, fickle creature, to be flattered this way or that, but giving her credit for thoughtfulness, moral sense, and something like the dignity of human nature, and as being destined in due course of time to enter upon rights and privileges which, we may be assured. as they exist for the public good, will not be rendered pernicious by their extension to the ,whole human family.

He continues :-I know not whether in this matter a fear of ridicule operated upon

the minds of the framers of the Charter, But, if so, it is vain for them to be apprehensive on that score. Both ridicule and abuse will be cast even upon such names as tho e of Godwin, Bentham, Bailey. the author of "The Rationale of Representative Government "-a\1 great names, and worthy to be cited as authorities. But even theirs will not protect from sarcasm those who assert principles which never­theless are eventually sure to triumph,

Dropping the expostulatory and prophetic strain, Fox then becomes catcchctical and hortatory. He asks :-

Why <Ire women not allowed to vote in Parliamentary elections? What is the excuse for their exclusion from the franchise? I it from want of intellect, or the security of their interests without their own interposition? Security of interests! Why, that is just what the upper and many of the middle classes tell the operatives of England that they m.ay rest contented with. They say, "We will take care of you. You are represc.nted virtually in our votes," But the working classes think-and surely women may form a similar opinion-that interests "re better trusted to their own keeping than to that of others. Besides. in m;my c.'\ses the interests of men and women are not the same.

They are not so in the case of' a married woman earning money, ana who, like Mrs'. Siddons, after having accumulated a fortune by her exertions, may yet have no legal right or power in the disposal of the fru~ts of her own industry and genius; but, like that great actress, be obhged to ~sk her husband, who has been living upon the results of her labonous exertions, not to leave her dependent after his death. :rhe interests of man and woman are not always the s:lme, for how long It took, and what a number of times the Bill had to be introduced, in consequence of the interference between Mrs. Norton and her children, which should allow a woman access to her child even of eight years of age, when separated from her husband; and with what qualification and superfluous carefulness was this privilege at length granted! It is evident that there is in many respects a collision of interests between the two sexes, and the stronger party will be sure to merge the interests of the weaker in its own, until the less powerful has at least a propor­tionate share of the representative government of the country. )

As to lack of mental power, Fox asks, indignantly:­Want of intellect-will that be alleged a an exclusion of women

from political privilege? If so, shame upon those who have 0 mis­managed the great institutions of the country that the streams of knowledge have not been made to flow in the direction of the female mind, but have allowed one-half of the human intellect to remain uncultivated! But can we with truth say much about this mental inferiority of women, when the most popular expounder of political economy in our country is Harriet Martineau- when the finest of critics upon the female characters in Shake peare's dramas is Mrs: J ameson in her "Characteristics "-when the ablest review of the sciences in their mutual connection is found in the work of Mrs. Somerville. and when education even yet ha produced no works which have superseded those of Miss Edgeworth and Mrs. Hamilton? One would imagine that here at least wa s sufficient evidence of the mental capacity of women, that the class to which these writers belong had at least intellect enough to judge of the qualifications of a candidate for a seat in Parliament. I say nothing of the policy or wisdom of th~s omission from the Charter. I do not purpose, on this occasion, to interfere with that document as a political instrument. They have. g-one further in thi s matter than any other body. I look with gratifica­tion to the respectful way in which' women are alluded to in the intro­ductory address from which I quoted; and hereafter, when all thi s nonsen e shall have passed away- when tho e who even now vote not only in parochial contests , but at the East India House upon matters affecting the government of many million of 1,uman beings , will al so exercise the same right in the election of members of the British' Parliament-when the ple..1. of exposure to tumult will be done away by that abolition of canvas ing which you propose, and the adoption of such a rrangements as will make it as peacea?le. and orderly a thing lO go to vote for Members of Parliament as It IS now to go and say your prayers at church; ~vhen all thi s is accom]?lished, and. the world reaps the benefit which wlll flow therefrom, I belleve there wlll then b~ a grateful recollection of, the fact, that at a period when this ques­tion was only mentioned by other bodies with contempt and scorn, the working clas es of Great Britain treated it r~spe.ctftll1y, hera!ded th~ way for its free and £air discussion and Its grave and nghteous -decision. .

! ,

Tb!

. Here we see, as Mr. Balfour would say, "the ballot adum­brated " and also that seemingly impossible thing the abolitioJ? of' canvassing-a consummation devoutly' to be wished in thc;c days of penny and halfpenny newspapers and a halfpenny post. And here we see, too, how worn er). could even then not only yote for municipal rulers, but also' for the virtual governors of Briti. h India by means of the then existing East India Com­

-pany. But Fox, brave fio-hter as he was, had a sanguine tem-perament, and wa apt at times to endow others too largely with his own spirit. The working men who listened to him with such avidity and sympathetic intelligence were of the .aristocracy of labour-in the sense of character and mental power. They were scarcely fair samples of the whole, as the women whom he so generously adorns with attributes are hardly average of their ex. It is doubtful if he had the experi­'ence of a Course of house-to-house canvassing in a contested election. If he had, his notions of the political intelligence of both sexes might ha"e been rudely shaken. But besides being a thinker, he was a rhetorician, and, of course, was gifted with .a lively imagination. He dismisses the People's Charter with the following word :_

At any rate, I think every advocate of the Charter pledges himself by his political principles to give wh.at facilities of improvement he can to those with whom family or other ties connect him. He should endeavour to abolish the exclusive character of institutions, and to obtain for wc· men the advantages which are furnished in so many ways

for men, for acquaintance with literaturcJ history, or the current topics of the day. He should be neither the flatterer nor the brute, but, recognising in women moral being entitled to political rights, he should demean himself accordingly, in all gcntleness and kindness, appreciating the good done to him while he endeavours to work for others. And thus conforming with tbat harmonious system upon which nature tends to construct society, a combination of the strength which is to toil, ancJ the grace which is to ado rn.

Well, perhaps the day for the realisation of Fox's political ideal is not yet, but we may hope that it is nearing, that the golden age lies in the future, and is

Le s an ancient story told Than a glowing prophecy.

CORRESPONDENCE.

J. H.

THE VALUE OF DR. CONWAY'S TEACHING. To THE EDITOR.

Sir,-To one who had the privilege of hearing Dr. Conway's dis­-courses from the platform of South Plac~ Chapel in the early eighties, at that critical period in the bearer's life when he had become sen­sible tbat tbe Theistic position even of Miss Cobbe, F. W. Newman,

102

J ames 1\1artineau, and Charles Voyey, was beset with difficulties, and who received from those discourses the mental and sp.iritual food at that time" most convenient" and helpful for him, it is only natural now that this great light has v-anished from our firmament to try and estimate what was Dr. Conway's special place among teachers in reference to this most interesting theme, how far he. brought us, and whether or not his uttel;ances on the subject possess the character of finality. It was, perhaps, a special advan­tage to his hearers that during twenty-one years they were able to· follow the various "phases of faith" in the mind of that earnest and candid thinker, so "like a star, without haste, without rest." pursuing its cour e, ever seeking farther truth, ever fearlessly pro­claiming what he found j speaking that truth always in love, never "breaking the bruised reed," meeting bitterness with patience and toleration, m·er seeking to rescue the precious gem hidden under the most direful misapprehensions, and to seize all that was valu­able in the most portentous delusions.

It is possible that no two minds will have made exactly the same e timate of the pedal value of that ministry. The present writer can of course peak only for himself. The religious teachings of the ~ect and churches for generations past had left even down to ~hal period a strong though misty impression on many truthseeking and religiously disposed minds that to come to some definite conclusion on the questions wherein Theists, Panthei ts, and Atheists differ among themselves was a necessary preliminary to bracing oneself witil any hopeful earnestness to a life of noble ervice to mankind, or at lea~t to finding full and satisfying and mentally restful life there­in. It may be that (perhaps very much owing to the labours of Dr. Con way himself and others) such an attitude of mind i rarer than it was in the early eighties. No doubt many a devout soul at that time had learned to echo Arthur Clough's entiment ;-

"It seems His newer will We should not think at all of Him , but turn, And of the world which He hath given us make

What best we can." But, there were deep and agonising conflicts in very many. No one has more forcibly and hone tly expressed that condition of mental struggle than Dr. Conway himself. "The spiritual children of the­Revolution,· he say, "coming of age found their old house of faith. with all its repairs only a mass of blackened ashes. The thinker·s eye sweeping the new horizon, met no eye higher than his own, and life became a hopele s pilgrimage from a cradle to a grave. Then began what I have called the age of Wandering. The fine t minds of Europe went about the world . orrowfully, a king one another for light. Like the Bride in Solomon's ong, they went about enquiring , Saw ye my beloved?' But the only an wer was an echo of their sad question. They said one to another: ' Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out.' But none of them had oil to give, but only sympathetic confession of hi darkne 's and unrest." Now, what was the effective and reassuri\1g mes age Dr. Conway had for these? Surely, this i what it came to. The que 'tions about a "Personal God "-of an Anima Mundi-of a God who is only another name for the Universe-of no God at all-are questions of deep interest, concerning which a later generation mar gain further light than we

103

ht:lve, If you have definite convictions about them, be true to those conviction , and ever ready to learn more , but-for making the best of life in the highest sen 'e for leading a full, a high apd noble life­a divine life- a decision O1t any of tlte abovc questions is not 11ccessary at all. As Matthew Arnold puts it:-

c; Alone, self-poised , hencefor~vard-man Must labour-must resign

His all too human creed , and scan Simply the way divine."

1 venture to think that every reader of this :\Iagazine will feel that I have not overstated this decided element in Dr. Conway's teaching, but perhaps not all will be able to appreciate what a saving go_ pel the above proved to some of us. This message pervaded hi s books, but is, I think, specially concentrated and summed up in a pa age in the "Farewell Discour:,es," which I venture to quote :_H Religion i not agnostic, but gnostic. It is not the worship of our ignorance, but of our knowledge. Religion kno'7lIS no doubt (here we are reminded of Carlyle's go pel). Its province is that we are certain of .... religion is represented in . . . . Thought, Wisdom , Truth, Love"; and then Conway a k : " Have you any doubt about these ? Has it ever occurred to you to say: After all , why should I honour Thought? I s there any solid advantage in Wi dom ? Why should I respect Truth more than fal sehood , or Love more than elfishness and hatred?'" "Here," he seem to say " is solid ground. Here i a rock under your feet , which the waves of Theistic con trover y may dash against in vain. "

For, secondly no one recogni ed more clearly than Dr. Conway that , so far as practical religion and inward peace are concerned , Herbert pencer's" nknown and Unknowable " gives us nothing; and that in the word s of ImmanueJ Kant, " a Supreme Being, the Author of all things by free and understanding action, is the only conception which has any interest for u ."

But, thirdly, Dr. Conway enabled tho e of us who~e as ociations and sympathies run much into the past to reali se that we were in fact I$'iving up less than we supposed- that e.g. , that part of the teachlDg attributed to the F ouncler of Christianity which we can mo t safely rely upon as gen uine, before his doctrine was pervel:ted by a vain E schatology, and by sacrificial theories imbibed from pre-exi st­ing Pagan" Mysteries" and theological puzzles based on antiquated metaphy ics and byystem s of acerdotal domination , was really most in accorcl with a tureZ" Inlllzanitariall relif{ion , and a s an object of devotion , an object to be lived for, " di stinctly rai sed humanity above God."

One point more. The great lesson that the doctrine of moral evolution is strictly scientific was brought out and made convincing 10 numbers by Dr. Conway's ministry- numbers who would probably have never attained to a clear conception of it without him. That the highe t mora) ideal is a nece . ar)' evolutionary product is now a fam iliar scientific fact for us, and Dr. 1I aeckcl and his translator Mr. McCabe are certainly not the least illu strious prophets of this go~pe1. Now we know there is no di stinct gap between our race and those of the higher animal -that 0 soon a ' we have reached even the earliest manifestations of reason and a moral sense, the principles upon the observance of which . ocial existence can alone be healthy

104

and enduring are the same as our own. This has been brought home to the most unscientific among us by such illustration as those of Ernest Thompson Seton. I am at this moment referring chiefly to his article in last November' number of the Century Illustrated 1I1onthly, where he gives, as the result of his own observations, most interesting and abundant evidence that the moral principles recognised by all cultivated nations are those which all the higher mammalia accept, that they flourish and survive in proportion as they follow them. Such considerations seem to give a new and more scientific meaning to Matthew Arnold's now wel! known phrase, "a power not ourselves which makes for righteousness," and appear to show that we cannot help, if we would, finding ourselves in sym­pathy with those who cling to the idea of "an increasing purpose" running through the ages, however great the mystery which over­shadows us all. We think of Mr. E. P. Powell's lines and repeat them to encourage one another;-

"Strike the spike of gold, to bind the bands of steel And thus the age of iron to the age of gold anneal; Through the heart of elder evil, the love of brutish strife, Drive the pike of human progress , and a loftier, truer life. Gird the world! The nations blend! Peace and love proclaim. To evolve a nobler man is the world's predestined aim."

Yours truly, R. BRAITHWAITE.

NOTICES.

Treat to Poor Chlldren. - The Committee responsible for the treat to poor children from four of the C. C. Schools in the vicinity of South Place, which was held in January, desire to thank all who so kindly helped either in clothing or by contributing to the fund. The children had a most enjoyable evening; and tbe teachers who accompanied them expres ed their gratitude to those who provided the treat.

Lending Library.-The Librarians have much pleasure In

acknowledging the following gifts ;-From Mrs. C. Fletcher Smith; the works of Jane Austen in fixe

volumes (I11us.), 1856; "Sense and Sensibility," vol. 1.; "Emma,' vol. H.; "Mansfield Park," vol. Ill.; " Northanger Abbey" and " Persuasion, " Vol. IV.; and "Pride and Prejudice," Vol. V.(O [I ).

From Mr. C. Hughes; "Uraina," by Camille Flammarion , Tr. (Illus.), 1891 (0 u); "The Kaiser as He Is," by Henri de Nousanne . Tr. , [895 (N6).

From the Compiler; "Anna Swanwick-A Memoir and Recol­lections, 1813-1899," ccmp. Mary L. Bruce, 1903 (06).

The following books h..1.ve been added to the Library;-c'The Convert," by Eliza1::eth Robins, 1907 (09) i "The Country

House," 1907 (0 I I), and "The Man of Property," 1906 (09), by John Galsworthy; C The Irrational Knot," 1905 (0 J [), and" Dramatic

;r,P5

ppinions and Essays, with an Apology," 2 vols., 1907 (07), by G. Bernard Shaw; "Robert Owen," by Fran.\;: Podmore, 2 vols., IIlus., 190Ci (N 3); "Shakesperian Tragedy-Lectures on Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth," by A. C. BradlCy, 1906 (03); "Green Mansions," by W. H. Hudson, 1904 (09), and "Memories of Hall"­thorne," by Rose Hawthome Lathrop) 1~.97 (03).

Members and friends will be glad ·to hear that by the Dramatic Entertainment in Novem1:er last, a sum of over .£S was reali ed for the benefit of the Lending Library. The Committee desire to heartilr thank all those who helped towards this successful re ult.

The following books have been kindly presented to the Children's Library by Mrs. Turner, Mr. Baxter, Mr. D. J. Rider, ~Ir. J. S. Rendle, and an anonymous member of the Society:-

"A Garland for Girls," L. M. Alcott, 1888, IlIus. (08)· "Wonders 0f Creation (Volcanoes)," 1875, III us. (08); "Wonders of Animal Instinct," Mennalt, Illus. (09); "Romance of Insect Life," Ed. Selous, 11)06, IlIus. (08); "What Hilda Saw," P. Leslie, III us. (P 9); "The Madman and the Pirate," R. M. Ballantyne, Illus. (P 9) ; "The Dog Crusoe," R. ~1. Ballantyne, 1905, IlIus. (013); "Hunted and Harried," R. M. Ballantyne, III us. (P 12); "The Boy Crusoes," Golschmann, IlIu. (P 9); "Heroes of the Goodwin Sands," T. S. Treanor, Illus. (0 I I) ; "The Cruise of the C Midge,' " Michael Scott, TlIus. (P 11); "The Rajah of Monkey LIand," A. L. Knight, Illus. (P 10); "The Nugget Finders," H. Alger, Illus. (P 10); "Topsy's [ravels," Isabel Wortley, III us. (P 12); "Three Girls on a Ranch,"

B. Ma.rchant IlIus. (P 10); "Over Land and Sea (Afric,1.)," Illus. (P 9); "Seagull Rock," Jules Sandeau, 1890, IHus. (P 9); "Not one of Us," Author of C A Little Stepdaughter," lHus. (P 12); "The Earth and its Garment," IIIus. (P 9); c'School Life at Bartram's," L. C. Silke (P 9);. "Benjamin Franklin," III us. (0 13); "A World Beneath the Waters," G. W. Bancks, Illus. (P 12); "Famous People and Places," IHus. (P 12); "Linda and the Boy's," C. S. Lowndes, 1907, lllus. (P 12); "In Jacobite Day," .\lrs. H. Clarke, IIIus. (P 12); "The Gold Thread," Norman Macleod. 1887, Illus. (P g); "The Land of Play," Mrs. Graham \Vallis, 1906, IIlus. (0 13); "The Story of the Amulet," E. Nesbit, 1906, Illus. (0 10); "The \Vard of King Canute." Ottilie A. Liljencrantz, 1904, Illus. (09); "Hazard and Heroism," IC)O.J., Illus. (09); "Adventures of Harry Rochester," Herbert Strang, 1906, rllus. (010); "Tom Tufton' Travels," Everett-Green, 1898, lllus. (010); "Rhoda," E. L. Haverfield. 1905, IIlu,. (0 TI); "Teddy: Her Book," Anna C. Ray, 1C)08, IIIus. (P (3); "The Follies of Fifi," May Baldwin, 1907, Illus. (P 13).

1908 South Plaee Season Ticket -Intending sub. cribers are reminded that the list for the 1908 issue will be shortly closed. The ticket will be found a convenience to those ""ho take an acti,·e interest in the subsidiary activities of the Society, a it embraces among t other tbe Monthly Soiree, Summer Rambles, and Sub. scription to the Magazine. Application sbould be made promptly to tbe Hon. Sec., Wallis Mansford, Cherry Tree Court, 53 Alders. gate Street, E.C., or in the Library on Sunday mornings.

School of Ethic!\.-(Under tbe auspices of the Ullion ~f Ethical ocietieo.) 19. Buckingham Street, Strand, \-'·.C.

106

The following course of lecture will be Q"iven from February to April, 1908 ; each lecture followed by di cus ien :-

Plato. - :dondays, weekly, at 8 p.m., commencing February 3· Ten lectures by :\1r. Cecil D. Burns, M.A. Course ticket, 7s. 6d.; 'ing-Ie lectures, I s. each.

Po -itivi -m and the Ethical Movement.-Tuesdays, weekly, at , p.m., commencing February 4. Seven lectures by Mr. Philip Thoma. Admission free. Collection.

Spinoza's Philosophy. - \;>'7ednesday , fortnightly, at, p.m., com­mencing February 12. Five lectures by Mr. Henry J. Golding. Course ticket, 45. 6d.; ingle lectures, I . each.

Eugenics.- Thursdays, weekly, at 6.15 p .m. , commencing February 6. Ten lectures by Dr. Stanton Coit. Course ticket, 75. 6d.; single lectures, IS. each.

Full ~yllabu can be had and ticket purchased at :my London Ethical ociety, at the School, or by po t from the Secretary, ::'vIi ss Florence \Vinterbottom, 19 Buckingham Street, Strand, v,-.c.

Tuesday Evening Lectures.-The Institute Committee again call 'pecial attention to the course of four lectures on the" P sychology of ocialism," which :vfr. John A. Hobson, M.A., is giving on Tuesday

Evening' at 7,30. It is earnestly hoped that the scientific treatment 'o f this great subject by uch an able exponent as Mr. Hobson will .attract large audiences. The three lectures in February will be delivered on the 4th, II th, and 18th.

Members of tbe Soutb Place Ethical So('iety who may wish to help in any part of its work, are cordially inviteJ to place themselves in 'communication witb the Secretaries of the sub-committees baving -cbarge of the activities in wbich they are interested.

Advertisements in the Magazine. -It having been suggested that outh Place members wbo have apartments to let might find it con­

venient to advertise them in the Magazine, the Magazine Committee are willing to accept such advertisements at a charge of 2S. for the 'tirst 24 words, and Id. per word after.

To Correspondents. -All articles, correspondence, or other matter for the Magazine should be addressed to the Editor, Soutb Place Institute, Finsbury, E.C., or 65 Harley Road, Harlesden, N.W., and should reach him not later than the 15th of the month. The Editor will be glad to insert letters on subjects of general interest to the readers of the Magazine, but correspondents are requested to condense their remarks as much as possible. All communications should be written on one side of the paper only. It is desired that articles and letters be signed.

The SOUTH PLACE MAGAZINE is published for the Committee by A. and H. B. Bonner, I and 2 Took's Court, Chancery Lane. It is for sale in the Library of South Place Chapel, and also on the bookstalls ~f the following Ethical Societies: The West London at Kensington Town Hall i and the South London at the Masonic Hall, Camberwell.

Prinled by A. BONNK". I & 2 Took's Court, Furnlval S treet, London, E.C.

ASSOCIATES. Any pen on io sympatby witb the Objects 01 tbe Society, but unable to attend ,be services

regularly, may become an Associate upon payment of an annual subscription of not less tban five sbillings, wltb tbe privilege of receiving tbe monthly magazine and sucb otber publications as tbe Committee may from time to time determine. Subscriptions may be paid in tbe Library or sent to the Hon. Registrar of Members and Associates at above addrEss.

LENDING LIBRARY.

The Lending Llblal y Is open free to Members of the Society and Season Ticket Holders on SlIllday mornings berore and aftf'l' the Services. Associates and Non-Members of tbe Society may under certaill cOllditions be granted the tJl;e of the Library upon payment of a subscription of 25. 6d. Pfc'l' annum. Tht:: Catalogue including a supplement for 1905-7. is now OIl sale, price 6d., interleaved copies 9d. Borrowers may procure copies of the new supplement gratis on application. SlIbscriptions towards tbe purcbase qnd repair 01 bool<5 are Invited.

H L·b . 1 Miss MARY RAWI.INGS, 406 Mare Slteet, Hackney, N.I!. OIL • ,n1"l1IS WAT.I.JS MANSFORIl, Cbe! ry Tree Conrt, 53 A1del'sgale Street, H.C.

MONTHLY SOIREE. On Monday Feb. 3, Ig08, a PIIM}, Lantern Leoture, written by A. A. l\Iilne (assistant editor

of P,,,,,},), entitled A Peep into Punch will be read by Mr. A. E. Fenton. Ticl,ets 6d. eacb. 7-10·30.

At tbe March Soir~e a Guessing Competition will be beld. Pbotograpbs of buildings and monuments in London will be Ehewn on the screen and prizes will be awarded to tbe most successful competitors.

TUESDAY EVENING LECTURES. Tbe cours~ol four Lectures on The Psychology of Socialism, by J. A. Hobson, M.A., will

be continued on Tuesday Evenings at 7.30. 4 Feb.-Individual Stimuli under Socialism. II " -The Political MOlives under Socialism. 18 " -SOCit:lY as Moral Organism.

Admission.-Single TlckHS, I' .. 6<1., and 3d. Course Tickets, 3/-, 1/6 to 6r£t aDd second seats. Tickets Olay be had in ,be Llbral y, of any member of Institute Committee, or of

Hon. Sec. J. HALL,"', rS SI. Mark's Crescent, Regent's Park, N.W.

DISCUSSIONS. Wednesday, Feb. Ig, 1908. Should we Abolish the Censor? Opened by Mr. Robb

Lawson. Doors opened at 7 p.m. Commence at 7.30 p.m. Admission Free.

Hon. Sec ., W. C. WAnE, 107 Engle6eld Road, N.

SOUTH PLACE READING CLASS. The Class will be beld on Mondays, February 10, 17, ~4, at 7.30 p.m. Text book, Mr.

J. A. Hobson's Social Problem. HERBERT BURROWS, 99 Sotbeby Road, Higbbury Park, N.

ETHICS CLASS.

Meetings will be beld on Feb. 5, 12, and 26 at 7.30 p.m. Book under discussion is Spencer's Data of Etbics. Copies 01 tbe book may be purcbased at the cia ...

Hall. Sec., Miss M. P'TTS, 9 Clarence Road, Wood Green, N.

SUNDAY POPULAR CONCERTS .

The TWENTY-SECOND SEASON will be continued every Sunday evening until further notice.

Tbe following are the arrangements for February, as far as at present made:-Feb. 2.-Jnst,umelllali,ts: The New Trio (Messrs. Richard Epsteln, Louis Zimmermann and

Paul Ludwlgl. Vocalist: Mr. Gerald Alien. Tbe Programme will Include Dvorak's " Dumky" and Haydn's .. Gipsy" Trio for Piano and Strings.

Feb. g.-To be announced later. Feb. 16.-SPECIAL CONCERT by the LONDON CHAMBER MUSICIANS. - Violi, .. ·

Mr. Ferdinalld Welst-HIIl; V.ola: Mr. Ernest Yont:ej Violo"ccllo: Mr. T . E . Weist­Hill; Doubl. Bass: Mr. Glaude Hobday; Flute: Mr. Je;1i Hudson; Oboe: Mr. A. Fore. man; Clarinet: Mr. Emlle Gilmer; Basso"'t: Mr. Edward Dubrucq; Ham: Mr. A. E. Brain, Junr. Tbe Programme will illclude the Nonets for Strings and Wind by Spobr and Rbeinberger. fourther particulars to follow.

Feb. 23.-To be announced later. Doors open at 6.30 p.m. Concerts at 7. Admission free witb Collection. Transferable

Ticket 2/6 admitting to tbe Reserved Seats every Sunday to Mar. 22 inclusive, or 3/6 including Programme, post free weekly.

Committee MeetinRs on Feb. 2 and , 6 at 6 p.m. punctually. :Hon , Treas., FRANK A. HAWKINS, 13 Thurlow Park Rd., Dulwlcb, S . B. HUll. Sec., ALFREn J. CLEMENTS, 25 Camden Roael, N .W.

ORCHESTRA.

Hon. Conductor: T. EUSTACR BARRALKT.

The ELEVENTH SEASON is now in progress ."d practices will be held on Fridays from 7 to 9.30 p.m. (the extra half-hour from 9 to 9.30 being for strings only). Suhscription

i Five Shillings for each Half-Season, payable in October and January. An Orchestra Concert w!J\ he given on Sunday, March 29, at 7 p.m ,at whicb Mr. John Sannder. (Solo Violin), and Mr. Ricbard H. \VaIthew (Solo Pianoforte, will appear.

Ladles and Gentiemen wisbing to Join the Orchestra are requested to attend on Friday evenings, or send their names to the

HOll. Sec., A. J. CI.EMENTS, 25 Camden Road, N.'V.

RAMBLERS ' DANCES.

Tbe usual Fortnlgbtlv Dances will be held at Armfield's Hotel. South Place E.C., on tbe following Saturdays: Feb. 1, '5, and 29 (Leap Year DaDce), March '4 and 28. Dancing 7-'0.30. Eacb dance 2." Season Tick.ts available for the fi ve dances, 716.

HOll. Stc., Miss H. M. FAlRHALL, 8 Scarbocougb Road, Stroud GreeD, N.

PUBLICATIONS.

The folloWI1Ig lI/IIMgst other p"blicatiolls are 011 sllle i" the Library, Farewell Discourses, by Dr. CONWAV; gd. Centenary History of South Place, by Dr. CONWAY; 15. 6d. (redJced price). Workers on their Industries; IS. lId. ReligIOUS Systems of the World; 45. National Life and Thought; 2s.6d. British EmpIre (Sunday Afternoon Free Lectllles). 6 vols. Crown Bvo, with Maps .

Charts, etc. 4S.6d. each volume. The Religion of Woman: An HIstorical Study, by JOSEPH McCAnE,2s. Tbe Reprints, etc., of the Rationalist Press Association are also on sale, price 6d. Lessons for the Day: 49 Discourses (unround), by Or. Conway, 9d.

Tbe GENERAL COMMITTEE will meet on Thursday, February 6. Correspondence dealing WIth mallers for consideration should be forwarded to F. M. Overy at tbe earliest possible moment. All matters relating to hnance should be addressed to the Treasurer.

HONORARY OFFICERS. lreasflrer: W. RAWL'NGS, 406 Mare Street, Hackney, N .E. S c tta its· I Mrs. C. F,.ETcnE" SMITH, 40 Higbbury Place, N . er' . FRANK M. OVERY, 42 Algiers Road, Lewi,bam, S.E.

R,gistrar oj ltfembers IUltl Associates: G. CATHERALL, 7 Soutbboro' Road, South Hackney, N.E.

Editor 0/ Magazi,," F. W. READ, 65 Barley Road,!. Harlesden, N .W.

L'b ' {MISS MARY RAWr.INGS, 406 Mare :,treet, H.ckney, N.E. ,ra"mlS WALLIS MANsFoRn, Cherry Tree Court, 53 Aldersgate Street, E.C

R b //,. F '1" \ I. R. CARTKR, Court field. Ross Road, WalJlngtol1, Surrey. ,. " 4 &fiR' UKt rUl lIS E. CUNNtNGHAM, 61 Chcapside, E.C.

Mrs. ARKLAV. C. R. BRACE. M,s. BLACKDURN. J. R. CARTER. A. J. CLEMENTS. E . CUNNINGHAM. Dr. A. DELVE.

l::Suilding Concert Decoration .. . Discussion .. . Finance HOllse InRlitute ". Publications MagaZIne ... Music Rambles ... Season Ticket

Soiree

Sunday School

M embers of Gellcral Committcc. E. F. ERRINGTON. N. LIDSTONE. T. GANTER. C. E. L'STER. Miss E. M. JOHNSON. J. METCALF. Mrs. L. KUTTNER. F. W. READ. G. KUTTNER. B. S\'MONS. Miss F. A. LAW. E. WILI.IAMS. Mls. L'DSTONE, THEO. R. WItIGHT.

Secre/llI'tes of Sltb -ColI/lllil/ees. c. R. BIlACE, 62 Chancery Lane, W.C. ALFRKD J. CLRMKNTS, ~5 Cam den Road, N.W. Miss H. HARRINGTON. 22 Gascoyne Rd., N.E. W . C. WADE, '07 Englefield Road, Canonbury, N. Dr. A. DELVE, 5 Hi~bbury Crescent, N. Mrs. LmsTONE. 96 Blackstock Road, Flnsbllry Park, N . J. HAI.LAM, 18 SI. Mark's Crescent, Regent's Park, N. W C. E. LISTER, 41 Cleveland Road, South Woodford. MISS K. JAKR&TT, 10 Alconbury Road, Upper Clapton, N.E . B. SYMONS, 57 Chancery Lane, W.C. H. F. ERRINGTON, 22 Gascoyne Road, N".E. WAI.L'S MAN.FOllO, Cherry Tree Court, 53 Aldersgate Slreet, E .C

I Mrs. F. M. O"ERV, 42 Algiers Road, Lewisham. S.E. Miss HONOR LrosroNE, 96 Blackstock Road, N. MISS 1'. A. LAW, 59 Montpelier Rd., Peckham, S.H.

Organist H SMITH WEDS'rER, I>g Ilrecknock Road, N. The Huildm, is to be let for Meetin,., etc. Forms of application may be had

of the Ca.retaKer, 11 South Place, E.C.; and when filled up should be sent to NI r ~ N. Lid.tone. 96 Black.tock Ro.d, Finsbury Park, N.