. Non-Membors can obtain this publication from lhe Hon. Secretary, post fr'lle 2,· per annum

APRIL, 1924. "

Cb~ montbly R~cord \.

of

Soutb . Plac~ €tllical Socj~tPt " South Place, Moorgate, E. C.2

ttb'e~ or the Society • .. The Object of the 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. "

.1',t;MB BHSHIV. Any person in .ympathy .nth tbe Object of the Society i. cordially invitod to beoome

• member. The amount of subsoription i. optional, with a min.imum ot 20. 6d. pe" quarter. or 10.. per annu~. Any perlon intereried iu the Sooiety's work, but not wuhing to becomE' 0. m~mber, may join aa nn Assocu,n, 'the minimUlr' aub&eription being 5 •. per annum. Furtber partioulor. moy be obtaiued in the Librory before and Ilfter tbe. Sunday seni..." or on opplicRtiun to tbe Hon. IWgi8trnr, Miae I •. BURn. Soutb Plooe lnatitubt>. Finsbury, E.O.2.

SUNDAY MORNING SERVICES. The following mSCOURSES "Viii be deliverep on §unday mornings,

Service beginning at ELEVEN O·CLOCK . .

March 30 -0. DELISLE BURNS, M.A.- Why not Commit Suicide?

{ 1. Inviotus

Antbeml 2. ?fan NI b.ia own star ... B. Hull ..

H. Smith Wrb'trr Hymn. {NO. 220. "Wby urge tho long uuequal figbt?"

No. 145. We need it every bour; . .

April' 6.'-Prof. HERMANN KANTOROWICZ (University of Freiburgl.-Germany and the League of Nationa.

{ 1. Wn.lk ye on in love and tnith '" Spallr

Anthem. 2. How lovely aro the messengers ... Mendtlw.ohn Hym"" {NO. 94. 0 pure rdorIT\<:rsl not in vain.

No. SO. Not mth the ;flasbing ,rtool,

April13.- Right Hon. JOHN M. ROBERTSON. - Modern Humanists Reconsidertd: I. Oarlyle.

Antb.m. { 1. pring her lovoly charms unfolding 2. Be watchful o'e'l' your liberties ...

... Hapdn Mcndel.8olm

•. Hymn.a { No. 7. Great Truths ore deArly bought. No. 1<18. 80 here bath been downing.

'The common truth. ., J

April 20 IEaster SundaYl.-No Servioe.

April 27,-0. DELISLE BURNS, M.A. - Art versus Science. Antheme {1. How lovely is th" world around... ...

2. My beart is weary \Vniting for the may

{No. 133. Lie open. soul I Mound thoe pr.~s.

ay:""" No. 112. Tbere is iu every burran ·t,%rt. .

./

SpOl,t' Hile~

.. " Or"an;,t: R. BmTD. WKU~TER. 53;', ~oraille J,t0!f,~, eN.? VII/tor. sr. inv.ud !<J obtat .. intormllt",n regord.ng Ih. 800iol1l in !.h. f,ibr.,.., '"'

8""l;/all. monu"",. •. . . .i C;olleqt,oA i, mad • . at eaoh .$cMJice. !<J Il1\lJb/o' tho ... pf-Olenl «I contrlbut. to U ..

• "'p •• II., Qf t:Ju Spci~.tll '.. . . Clldl,':, d .. i"n" to Gtt~ tha S..,."ic., Or< infoNned ",Bt the COlllmitt •• h ..... lit.'!.

orrangempnt' for hOUl;ng their mac,.ine, III t1to ba~.mont. 'rhe BulllJlrlg Is to be 'et for Moellngs, elc: rorms of .Appllcatlon may he had,

.f the Caretaker, 11. South Place, E.C.; and when filled up should be sent to IWr. N. Lldstone, 98, Blackstock Road, Flnsbu.y Park, N.4 •. :

The C~pel 1$ . lIcensed lor MarrIages. " Arrangement. can be made 10. 1ho ~onduct 01 ·,Funeral Servle .. on application t.

the Secretary. .' . ,.,;'.

Lending Library. The Lending Library is open tree to Members of the Society on Suuday morning.

before and after the Services. Assooiates and Non·Member .. of the Sooiety may under oertain conditions be grantl6d the use of the Library upon payment of a sub.oription of ~. 6d. per a.nnum. 'fhe Oatalogue, including B 8upp~em-ent for 1905-7! i~ on 8ale. price 6d. Sub.cription. toward. the purchase and repaIr of book. ..re tnVlted.

{

\VULtS MANsroRD. "Wnlden." Kingoend Avenue. Rnislip. Middlesex. Hon. Librarians F .• rUlES. 302. Dal.ton Lane. Rnokney. E.8.

MISS V. A. ALEXANDER. 165. A.I,more Rond. Paddington. W.9. TTea8urer... MRS. STEVENS. 147a. C1apton Oommon. E.5.

Bsperanto elrcle and elasa. Tho Oirele ,.i11 meet on Sundays. April 6 and 13. at 3.15 p.m. No me eting on 20th.

Ramblo on 2ith. Oonversational praotice. singing. and discusaion in Esperanto. Light refreshments.

The C1a.s for beginners will mcet every Wednesduy in April ... t 7.15 p.m.

Rambles. Saturday, April 5.-LoughtOD and Theydon Bols. Conducted \ly Mr. C. J. MACRAIt·

Train LiverpoOl Street. 2·10 p.m. Oheap return Loughtoll. 1/3. Saturday. April 26.-Shlrley and Addlngton Hill •. Conducted by Mr. F. M. OVER~'

l.'rain Cannon ::'troet 2.20 p m. t to hlmer's End. Take cheap rot urn Wood.ido, 1/3.

33rd Baater eo-operative Holiday at Ryde, Isle or Wlgbt. From Thursday. April 17, to Tuc.sda.y. April 22. Member. and friends desiring to

join the party should seud nam ... to Mr. and Mrs. OLEM»NTS. 8. Fincblry Way. N.S. without delny. 'l'bey will be included in order of application a. far as aocommodation cu u be obtaiood.

Names will not be N'Oe'ived aftrr Sundny, April 6, when a mooting (includiDg tea) will be beld at ou tb Pla.oe Institute .. t 4.45 p.m .• at which arrangement.. will b .. mndc. "nd a d"posit of 12s. 6(1. will be l'Cocived from ",,·ch mcmber of the purty by the Tl'CA8Urer. Mr. F. A. HAWKINS, 13. Thurlow Pnrk Road. Dulwioh. S.E.2L Hou.se parties will be JrAde up as heretofol'C. and the occupants of onch house will determine and <Iefray their own ""peo...... It is estimnted tbnt the total oost of the holiday. including return fare to Ryde EsplllJlAde. will not exoeOO £2 15 • .

Head Quarter., 0/0 Mra. Bakcr. 1. MariD<l Terrace. C .... tle Street. Ryde. Isle of Wight.

Membera' Meeting. A Meeting of Membe"" will he hold on Tue.dny. April 8. a.t 7 p.m., for the con·

sideration of subjects lik<>ly to nriae at the Annual G"neral Mooting. The name of tho Dew building and n sugl!"'Btion with rrgard to the Oonwny Memorial Oommittee al'C &mong those considered suitable for dioscussion at the Meeting.

Hon. Secretary. HKLEN M. FAlRDALL. 8. Soa.rborough Road. N.4.

Sunday Vopul"r e •• cort. <ellambor "'uale). 'rh THlltTY·EIGH fH SBASON will be continued every SlInday until Arr1l13. )[arol, SO.-Orchestrnl Concert. Seuth Place Orohe.stra.. Oonductor: Mr. Richard

H. Walth~w. Solo PimlOfortp; Mi.s Dora Bright. Vocalist: Miss Dorothy d'O""ay (ot the Birmingham Repertory O{X'Ta Oompany. By kind perJris.ion of Barry J ,aok.iron. ~sq.). Tbe programme will inelud" MO'!l1't's "Raf'nClr" &'vmphony; Beetbo~en'8 C()lloorto in 0 minor fnr Pianoforte and Orche.stra; Grieg's " Holberg U Suite; Gounod's Oyorture to .. Mirclla.:'

:l.r>rll G.-The Kuteh .. r Quartet: M.cssrs. Samnel Kuteher. Georg<> Whitaker. Leonnrcl Rubimstein. John Bnrbirolli. Pianotorl8: Mi .. Nth.l Bartlctt. Vocalist: Mr. Plunket Groone. At '·he Piano : Mr. :,t. Liddl" . n~ornk·. String Quartot in G: Theme and Varia.tions for String Quartet by Georg<> Whitnker; O6.ar Franok'" PLana Quintet.

April 13.-J, .... t Conoert of th~ SeO .. OD. Vocal Quartet: Mi ... Gladye Mogen. Mi •• ~I.abcl Oorrnn. Mr. Parry Jones, Mr. Robert Chigoel!. The Wood Smith String Quartet : ~r r . Georgo tration. Mi ... Stella Pnttenden. Miss AJioo Grassile. Mr. John FMnols. Pia.noforte: Mr. Richard H. Walthe ...

Hen.oh.rt's Se rbiach.,. Lied.T8piol nnd Wnlthrw'" Three Quartet ... for Four Voices "Dd Piano: Wnlford Davi •• • Six p""torals for Four Voioos. String Quartet and Pinno; G"orge Strutton·. Phnnt..sy String Quartet; Dohnanyi',g Pi...,o Quintet in 0 minor. Op. 1.

Door. open at 6.10. ~ommenoe at 6.S0 p.m. ADMISSION rUM. WITB COLLEeno". For Advertioementa of th .. Oonoert. see" Daily Telegraph" and "Daily Herald"

•• ery Saturday. Tranlferahle 'rieketo. artmlttlng t., Reserver! SOBts to April lit 40. oach (Inclu<llnJ( tl1x).

P'roJ,{ramme suhscription. 3 • . extra. Appllcl\t,tol1 may he made to the Hon . Treall1trnr ot the C"noert, •. F. A. HA Wltl"S. UI. Thurlow Park Road. Dulwlch. S.B.21.l1ccompanled by remiltanc. "nft 'tamped arlcJrellcrl envelope.

"The Development of OIIn.mber MU8io." Thrl'O Lectnr&l by RIOBAlID H. W4L~BE"'. Pri~ 11. net. PORt free 11. lid.

Committee Meeting on Sunday. A.pril IS. after the Oonoort. Hon. Treas.: FRANK A.. HAWKINS. 13. Thnrlo .. Pn.rk Road. Dnlwioh. S .E.!l. Hon. Soc.: ALrR&D J. OtE'oIENT8. 8. Finehley Way. N.S. Hon. ABBt. Soc.: Mr •. OLUIln<T8. 8. Finchley Way. N.S.

3

Soutb JO>lllce t!)rcbe.trll (Twenty-seventb Season). Con<1uctor: RICHARD H. WALTHBW.

1>. Concert will be given by the Orchestra on Sunday, Mn.rch SO (600 Concert Itn· nounccwents).

~'urther particulars respecting the Orchestra moy be hod from the Hon. Secrctltry, ARTnlJR Jan"", 6, Cr08sway, N.16.

eonway Memerllll Lectures. Tile Oonw .. y :M:emorial Lectures, whioh are deliverro. &nnually in M .. rch, were inaugurated

In 1908, as a Memorial to Dr. Moneur. D. Conwny. The Committee is not yet in pos8osion of the neo.s8ary oapital for tlte permanent endowment of the Lectureship, and in the meantim. it makes an enrDest &ppea.l to all read.ers of the MONTHLY RECORD either for subscriptions or donations. to ensure the continu&nc~ of the leotures. These Bhould he sent to the Hon. TrelWl1lrer, Mre. OoOKBlJlIN, Pemdeniya, 18, Northampton Road, Oroy<\l'n.

Fiftern lectures have been given, and copi. s of these cnn be obtained in thc Library.

Hon. SeoretaTie, { En.Nl!ST OARR, . • , Lyndall," 1>0.60.1011 Road, Sanderstoad, Surrey. Mr •. O. FLETCBIm 8lIITB, 35, Station Way. Letcbworth.

=================================================~ The GEmRAf. OOMMITTEE will ",eet on Thursd"y . April S. Correspondence dealing

with matters for oonsideration should be forwarded to F. M. OVERY. Hon. Soo.. S6, Caterham R<>ad, Lewisham, S.E.IS, at the earliest po&sible moment. All matters relating to finance should be addressed to the Treaaurer.

Secret~rioC. of sub·committees ore requested to note that I'ny matter wbioh ~hey wioh to msert 1D the MONTHLY RECORD .honld be in the hand. of Mr. F. W. RBAD not later than 15th of the month. All literary Jratter should be forwarded to the Editor, Mr. O. J. POI.LARD, !lS early in the month as po •• ible.

CENTENARY CELEBRATION APPEAL FUND. Donations to the above Fund will be welcomed by the General Corn­

mi ttee, as they desire to take acti ve steps as soon as possible, to erect the new South Place . Kindly address subscriptions to the Hon. Treasurer of the Fund, Mr. K. Ldstone, 96, Blackstock Road, London, N A.

EDITORIAL. "S. P ." CENTENARY SOUVENlR.-We have already circulMed the

Souvenir uf the Centenary Celebration, an9 the Committee feel confident that it will meet with approval. The mere fact that the Souvenir records in permanent form ~he speeches made at the Celebration and Mr. J. M. Robert on's subsequent discourse "A Century of Religious Evolution" amply justifies its publication. No Society could have its history more worthily and more sympathetically told than it was by the speakers at 1be Celebration, and by Mr. Robertson in his discourse. W'e also think our printers, The Utopia Press, have produced tbe "Souvenir" in a very satisfactory manner. It is a pleasure to the eye as well as ~o the mind. If our opinion of the value and the excellence of the "Souvenir" is correct, we think we may withont reproach ask our readers to send a small sum to defray the cost. Copies are being sent to many friends as well as to Members and AssociMes. One hundred subscribers of five shillings each would partly meet the case. Please address subscriptions to C. J. Pollard, "Shanklin," The Avenue, Chingford, EA.

SUNDAY MORNING DrSCOURSES.-Our readers will observe that the first Sunday morning in April is to be devoted to a Discourse by ProL Hermann Kantorowicz, of the University of Freiburg, Baden, on "Germany and the League of Nations." We have no personal knowledge of the Pro­fessor, bu1 he comes to us with excellent recommendations. We are informed that he "enjoys a high reputation at his University as an exponent of the

4

philosophy of law, sociology, and kindred subjects, and is well kn'own in Germany as a publicist and a stimulating speaker on public affairs generally, international law, and the League of Nations, of which he is a strong advocate. He supports ~he Germa'l Republic, and is in close touch with many leaders of thought in his oountry. He speaks English erfectly." In view of the importance, now generally recognised, of estab­

lishing friendly relations with Germany, and of her inclusion at the earliest possible date in the League of Nattions, the lecture should be of exceptional interest.

On the second Sunday in the month the Right Hon. John M. Robertson will give the first of a Course entitled" Modern Humanists Reconsidered," takin5 Carlyle as his special subject. The original Course was gi ven on Tuesday evenings 3Jt South Place some thirty years ago; and it is Mr. Robertson's intention to embody in the present Course a consideration of the lalge amount of new material published in the interval, as well as the results of his own more mature reflections. It is hoped that ,these Di s­courses will attract the large audiences which we are sure that they will deserve.

MElffiERS' MEF:TING.-W·e congratulate the Members' Com!pittee on their suggestions for the next Members' meeting, April 8, at 7 o'clock. A preliminary discussion of matters likely to arise at the Annual General Meeting is an excellent idea. Members, who attend the annual meeting but have been unable to keep closely in touch with the questions affecting the policy and activities of the Society, are very glad to have the various points clearly presented, and this result is much more likely to be attained if the speakers. or some of them, have already carefully considered the questions among themselves. Members' Meetings are obviously the proper venue for such discussions

PAYMENT OF SEAT RENTS, &c.-The Committee wish to remind Members and Associates who may desire to pay their Seat Rent, Subscriplion dS

Associate, or Annual Subscription, by means of an order on their Bankers, that a supply of these forms is in hand, and may be obtained on application to the Hon. Treasurer.

HAMPSTEAD SOCIETY.-An intelesting event took place at the Hampstead Ethical Institute on Wednesday evening, March 12, when a presentation was made to Miss J osephine Gowa in celebration of her seventieth birth­day. The presentation was made by Mr. R. Dimsdale Stocker, and he and Mr. Westbury Preston sp.)ke in glowing terms of the work done by Miss Gowa for the Hampstead Society. Miss Gowa and Mr. Westbury Preston were both members of South Place thirty years ago, and Miss Gowa is still an Associate. We offer her our hearty congratulations and good wishes.

NOMINATIONS FOR COMMITTEE, There are seven vacancies to be filled at the Annpal Meeting in May

next . . All candidates must be nominated by two members, and nominations must be in the hands of the Secretary (Mr. F. M. Overy) not later than Sunday, April 27. Forms of ncmination may be obtained in the Library on Sunday morning or from Mr. Overy.

5

LEAGUE OF NATIONS UNION BRANCH. This branch will be established as soon as a few more people who wish

to join it have given their names and a subscription to the Hon. Secretary. The annual subscription for membership is Is., but a subscription of 3s. 6d. gives the member a right to receive" Headway," the monthly organ of the League of Nations Union, each month by post. Those who pay £1 yearly receive, in addition, any booklets or leaflets which may be published during the year. A member of the League of Nations Union m:J3 belong to more than one branch if he wishesc Anyone who would like to hear more about this branch is invited to apply to me.

Hon. Secretary, Helen M. FairhaU, 8, Scarborough Road, N.4.

IMPRESSIONS OF THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION.

As one tries to iot down one's impressions of the celebration of February 1 and to recall the emotions aroused by the festive atmosphere, the meetings of friends and the speeches, it is difficult to pisentangle the many coloured threads of this embroidered evening.

One's first thought is of gratitude to Mr. Wallis MansfQrd, the organiser, and his helpers for their labours. Dear dreary old South Place Chapel was transformed. Festoons of yellow bunting hung from the ceiling and hid the sun burner. The galleries were draped in the same colour above a background of green. Over this fell green ivy leaves in graceful curves, whilst at intervals appeared blue mepallions with the cipher SPES, representing·, as Prvfessor Graham Wallas reminded us, not only South Place Ethical Society, but also HOPE. The platform was decorated with flowers of green and golden hues, and behind the speakers hung green curtains bearing on scrolls the names ·of our heroes, W. J. Fox and Conway. Aloft still soared the South Place molto, "To thine ownself be true." In frorut of the platform as on the altar of a church lay our sacred relics, portraits of past ministers and former distinguished members, letters from famous men, even the pewter chalice and sacramental cups belonging, presumably, to the dim ages of Parlia!llent Court Chapel. On the floor were green carpets.

Green and Gold! Green memories of the past. Golp for ~he many golden hours spent here by those whose heads are now grey or white; memories, fond memories of the past crowded to those who had spent 30, 40, aye, even 60 years in service of South Place Society. But what of the youth of South Place. What do the colours mean ~o them? Green for hopeful youth, and gold for days of happiness now and to come. Can we attract the youth to build a splendid future for our old Society? At a centenary thoughts inevitably turn to the past, and so perhaps it was natural that the speakers should be one anp all on the shady side of the half.century. Yet one wondered should there not have been at least one speaker, say, in the thirties?

As one looked around Ithe hall one was glad to recognise the faces of many old friends whom we seldom see nowadays except at special functions, many, alas, no longer on our membership roll. May we take tbis oppor­tun~ty of appealing to them to come back to us? Never did South Place need the help of all its friends more than at the present juncture. Let tbem join us again, and belp to build our new Jerusalem in England'.s pleasant land.

6

~f the shades of past members haunt the scenes of their former labours, they must have smiled to see that their successors are still omnivorous for speeches. Twelve speakers in one evening seems to savour of dissipation, yet nobly the audience endured, and still the applause rang out in full measure. The speeches are reported in full elsewhere, so tha.t readers may judge of their quality and substance. It is not for me to appraise amid such abundant fare, but my own impression is that seldom, indeed, have I heard such excellent matter in so small a compass, and surely it is a tribut~ to .the platform that more than two hours of speeches produced no tinge of boredom. And here we owe a further debt to Mr. Mansford, for he had carefully arranged that each speaker should deal with one particular aspect of South Place history. Mr. Robertson was an ideal chairman, and delivered an admirable short summary of the influence wielded by Fox and Conway during their successive lninistries. On Sunday, February 3, he delivered the masterly discourse printed in the Centenary Souvenir on "A Century of Religious Evolution," which will be treasured by all who listened to it. Everyone regretted the absence through illness of Mr. Delisle Burns, but a characteristic message from him was read by Mr. S . G. Fenton . An affectionate letter from Conway's daughter (Mrs. Conway Sawyer) was read by Miss Mary Rawlings, whom we were delighted to see once more on South Place platform.

At the conclusion of the speeches the floor was cleared, and many of the younger members indulged in dancing. So enped a most memorable festival, which will long be remembered by all privileged to take part therein. If one might venture a word of criticism, it would be an expres­sion of regret that so little was said of one important part of the Society's work, the Sunday Concerts, carried on with such enthusiasm and success by Mr. Alfred Clements and his helpers for thirty-seven years.

Special words of thanks are due to Mr. Smith Webster for the organ ,ecital, to Mrs. Lidstone and her assistants for the excell~ncy with which refreshments were served, to Miss Alexander for a large amount of clerical a sistance so cheerfully rendered, and to M;ss Burke, Mrs . .Tames, Miss Gertr de POllard, and Mr. Robb Snelling for their work in beautifying lhe chapel. Finally, we owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. G. E. Wymer and Mr. F. A. Richards for their excellent verbatim report of the speeches.

F. M. O.

PRESENTATION TO ALFRED J. elEMENTS. February 24 should row be known as St. Clements' Day to lovers of

South Place Sunday Concerts. Many of us have felt for years that a tribute of admiration and affection should be paid to Alfred Clements for his magnificent work in the cause of Chamber music at South Place. The delightful little ceremony which took place at the concert interval on this e"ening was a fitting recognition of thirty.seven years cheery, strenuous activity.

Before the speeches commenced a bouquet was presented to Mrs. Clements by Miss F. M . Ville on Lehalf of the presentation committee. Mr. Plunket Greene presided. He read a letter from Mr. Thos. F. Dunhill, who much regretted his absence, and paid a tribute to Mr. Clements' worJ< for chamber music, adding that if there were saints in art, a special halo should be reserved for him.

Mr. Plunket Greene said that we met to express our thanks to a man who for thirty-seven years had catried on a great work. This work had been carried on, without any failures, in spite of many difficulties. Even

1

tbe air raids bad avoided South Place Concerts. He remembered one occasion on which a violinist fell ill, and the Secretary, after fruitless efforts to obtain another, had to announce that the concert would finish early . But there bappened to be a lady artist in the audience, and directly she heard the announcement sbe rushed home in a "taxi" for her fiddle, and returned in time to carry out the programme. He believed good luck followed the man wbo did the right tbing. Mr. Clements had kept the flag flying. The artists loved South Place Concerts best of all, because they were what chamber concerts ought to be, and the organiser of them had wou a place among the immortals. It was not a question of money, but of goodwill. The British professional musicians were the best in the world, and were always willing to -help concerts of this kind. Alfred Clements had great qualities. He never had rows, he had tact, good temper and a sense of humour. He had no self-consciousness, or he could not have accomplisbed such a task. He had no thought of himself. He did not mind asking people to do anything, but not for himself . He (the chairman) was always glad to see a letter from Alfred Clements. He looked at his letters in the morning when he awoke, and if he saw the long thin yellow envelope of the income tax or an unpaid bill he turned over disgusted, but when he saw our friend's thin spidery handwriting he felt "bucked" and cheered up. To use an Irish expression, "He spit on his hands and got out of bed." Alfred Clements had that divine gift, " Personality." He was a very remarkable man, and Chamber Music owed him a debt it could never pay. Mr. Plunket Greene did not wish to forget those who had helped our friend in his work, and in particular he must mention Mrs. Clements. She was a cbarming woman who, when she came into a room, brought smiles with her. She had been a great help to her husband, she had a business head, and the speaker had a specially warm corner in his heart for her, as she came from the same country as himself. He would give them both a Teal Irish blessing. "The Lord kiss ye and the divil miss ye, may ye be three days in heaven before the divil knows ye are dead, and may everyone of the hairs of y're head turn into wax candles to light ye to glory."

Mr. Herbert Howells said we were too much inclined to take things for granted, things like the Alps or sunsets, and we were too much inclined to take Mr. Clements for granted. 'Ve don't say "thank you" often enough. We seemed to think that thrP.epenny bits falling into the plate would do instead. He believed that Mr. Clements was one of the hardest workers in London. Why did South Place Concerts appeal to the British composer? In the first place, yc,ung composers were always welcomed at South Place. In the old days British composers were sUPI?o!'ed to be neither seen nor heard. Now they were seen and heard, and this was largely due to men like Mr. Clements. Secondly, composers could come to South Place without a taint of commercialism, and they could there enjoy the interpretation of their own works. There was no wirepulling at South Place. They were free of the politics of music, and they had no axe to grind. He remembered in the days of his youth when he first came to London, and was blessed with more ideas in his head than coins in his ~ket, he often had to choose between going to an expensive concert at Queen's H all and then walking home to his lodgings in Fulham, or coming to and from South Place on a plutocratic 'bus and contributing the meanest s ilver coin to the plate. He usually decided on South Place, which had always provided the best Chamber Music. He was thankful for the privi­lege of being allowed to speak and express his thanks and congratulations to Mr. Clements.

8

Mrs. Fletcher Smith said she served on the South Place Committee in 1887, when it was decided to take over these concerts, and she remembered that a few objected to the revolutionary idea of Sunday evening concerts. Mr. Clements then undertook the Secretaryship, which he had help ever since. The Society had undertaken the financial responsibility, but they had never been called upon to meet it. She could testify to all that had been said that nighl in praise of Mr. and Mrs. Clements, and she wished them long life and happiness.

Mr. Frank A. Hawkins, -to whom we are indebted for the organisation of tbis tribute, then read the illuminated address printed below-which had been bound into a book with the names of subscribers-and presented it to Mr. Clements together with a cheque for £250.

On rising to respond, Mr. Alfred Clements v;as received with loud applause and musical honours were duly rendered. He said khat such a reception was enough to knock all ideas out of a man's head, but being an economical kind of chap, he had for several weeks been thinking over what he woul!l say to.night. When he and Mrs. Clements first heard of this idea, they gave the ad; ice given by "Punch" to those about to marry, " Don't!" When they found that this advice y.ras not taken, they felt very unhappy about it, and they wrote to their friend, Frank Hawkins. Like Brer Rabbit, "He lay low and said (nuffin.'" When, however, they met him, they learned that the idea had been pressed on him by the audience and the artists, and that altered their unhappiness to happiness. He pro· posed to deal with his subject under three heads: 1. The Artists. South Place was under a deep debt to them all. One <;ould only mention a few, but first and foremost was the late John Saunders, to whose magnificent devotion so much of our success was due. To-night several of John Saunders' friends were performing, Charles Woodhouse, Richard Walthew, Ernest Yonge, Charles Crabbe, and G. O'Connor Morris, nor must we forget our absent friend, Miss Jessie Grimson. On the Vocal side were the chairman, Plunket Greene, Gardon Cleather, and many others. 2. The Audience. They were our greatest asset . True we had our critics. One gentleman told Mr. Walthew that it was an insult to play Mozart in public now. Another said it was impossible to listen to Mendelssohn after Beethoven. Nevertheless, we had heard them all, and thoroughly enjoyed them. We may differ in our opinions about the music, but all the artists agreed that the South Place audiences v·ere perfectly lovely. He did not wish to make them blush or suffer froffi swelled head. They must rather preserve their reputation and thoroughly squash those few who might attempt to sully their record. 3. The Concert Committee. Too much had been said of him personally and too little of the committee. They were a happy band of people working for the love of music. The work could not he carried through without the Committee. He wished to mention one man, ::VIr. Wm. Varian, the only other member of the original committee. Un­fortunately he was absent, and very dangerously ill. Their workers varied in time and intensity. Many h1l.rl worked very hard indeed. They had not been without some rifts and disharmonies, but these were small and un­important. He remembered particularly the work of the late Mr. J. H. K. Todd, treasurer for the first seven years. Their present treasurer, Mr. Frank Hawkins, was a great worker. He had seTYed longer than the four previous treasurers combined, and was still" going pretty strong." If he might add a personal note, he found the zest of life as keen at sixty­five as it was at sixteen. He was determined to have a good shot for his own centenary. But the Conc~rt~ were more important than individuals. There were not enough concerts of this kind, and young people were needed to continue the work. The work was worth doing . He would say to younger men, "Don't look after number one, look after a thousand others." His last words were, "Business as usual next Sunday evening."

9

MTS. Clements expressed her -thanks for the flowers and all the kind things which had been said about her. Sbe did not deserve them, but she knew her husband did, and she had done her best to help him. The work had been a real labour of love, and she boped someone would come forward to take part of the burden from her husband's shoulders and follow in his footsteps. He knew "all the ropes," and would be pl~sed to show them to him-or her, the fulure Hon. Secretary of the South Place Concerts might be a woman. F. M. O.

THE ADDRESS.

'Cito 1I.lfred at. ~"ements, HONORARY SECRETARY OF THE SOUTH PLACE SUNDAY POPULAR CONCERTS,

SOUTH PLACE ' INSTITUTE, LONDON, E.C.

WE, the undersigned, desire to place on reoord our grateful appreciation of the inestimable services you have rendered in the cultivation of the taste for Chamber Music and bringing its benign influence within the reach of all classes throughout the period you have been acting so happily a the Honorary Secretary of the South Place Sunday Popular Concerts-· of which period this evening (February 24, 1924) marks the completiou of the thirty-seventh year and the 922nd Cc:lcer!.

We recall that these Concerts were first instituted by the People's Concert Society in 1878. That Society relinquished their undertaking in 1887, and it was then yc.u so nobly took up the work with the cordial co-operation of a small but enthusiastic Committee, giving your first concert on February 20, 1887.

In those early days, in addition to the anxiety of meeting the expenses, the taste of the public was undeveloped, and it was thought desirable to split up the longer instrumental works, interspersing songs or solos between the variou, movements in order not to tire th~ audience, but this practice was soon abandoned at South Place, and the progress has been so marked and continuous that for many years past our audience has been ac1mow­ledged by the artistic world to be of the best for its intelligent attention and scund critical instinct.

Gifted with a genius for programme making, unerring tact, and filled with lovp. for your self-chosen task, you have been wholly successful in building up this l0ng series of concerts to such a high standard that it is unequalled throughout England. You have been the means not only of introducing the world of Chamber Music to your fellow men and women, but also of implanting in them an ever-growing taste [or all that is best in music with its elevating influence. With characteristic open-mindedness, you have also given to young British composers a chance of hearing their works admirably played at a time (now happily past) when great prejudice pre\'ailed against native music. With such a record, you may well have every reason to be proud and satisfied with the achievement of your life's work.

We regard with joy your continued vigour and the pure flame of enthusiasm that burns within you, and trust these conditions may continue for many years, and that you will bring to fruition the plans you are already contemplating for the thousandth concert, due to take place a few years hence.

To Mrs. Clements we owe a deep debt of gratitude for the noble and unstinted help we ore conscious she has always afforded you. May she be spared many years to enjoy the success her devotion has helped to produce.

In asking your acceptance of the cheque which accompanies this address, we are fully ccnscious that such fine service as you have rendered to your fellow beings cannot possibly be measured in terms of money. Even if it c~uld be measured in that way, we know such recompense would be m.ost dIstasteful to you. We therefore merely offer this as a heartfelt expreSSlOn ?f goodwill and gratitude for the happiness you have so abundant~y brought lUtO our lives and to the li ves of many others, and we trust It may be utilised entirely for your own pel sonal enjoyrnent_

10

SUNDAY POPULAR CONCERTS. At the last concert in February, Mr. Clements was of even greater

importance than he usually is. He not only took part in the musical pro­gramme, but he was also the central figure in the presentation of an address 1D appreciation of his work as secretary of these concerts for thirty-eight seasons. Mr. Plunket Greene, Mr. Herbert Rowells, and Mr. Clements himself all spoke wittily. The musical programme consisted of Schumann's Dichterliebe, sung by Mr. Gorcon Cleather, a Quartet by Mr. Walthew, and Jada5whn's Sextet with its graceful piano duet. Mr. WaJthew and Mr. Rorace Bowles were at the piano, Mr. Wood house and Mr. Clements the violins, and Mr. Yonge and Mr. Crabbe completed the string quartet. It was a memorable evening.

At the first March concert the instrumentalists were the Wayfaring String Quartet, who gave us an opportunity of hearing Dohnany's second piano quintet again. Mr. Rae Robertson played the piano part, besides a Rachmaninov duet for .two pianos with Miss Ethel Bartlett.

The concert on March 16 was marked by a fine performance of the Beethoven septet, with its six fascinating movements and their familiar melodies. An equally fine rendeling was given ot the immortal Schubert Octet. H. B.

"A DOLL'S HOUSE "-AND AFTER. A few weeks ago a statement appeared in the newspapers that a Danish

authoress, Mrs. Kieler, had claimed to be the model for Nora in Ibsen's Doll's House. She said that in consequence of her husband's illness she got into debt wi.thout his knowledge, and a false report was circulated that she tad committed forgery. The rumours came under Ibsen's notice, and he used them as the basis of his drama. The lady says that her husband for a time took" Helmer's view of the affair," and when the play became famous, her grief was increased by the knowledge that she was the original of Nora. Her friendship with lbsen was iOllerrupted, and when she saw him three or four years before he died, and he knew the real facts, she says that he wept for the sorrow his play had caused.

The lady is now seventy-five years of age, and Ibsen has been dead for nearly eighteen years. Her statemen<t has presumably been made in view of scme prominence accorded to her on h~r birthday. There are two letters in Ibseu's published correspondence addressed to her, one as early as June, 1870, with reference to a story she had written, entitled Bra1ld'r Daughters, as a continuation of Jbsen's Brand, the other in July, 1888, concerning her play, Men of Honour, which provoked much difference of opinion.

The ordinary reader of "A Doll's House," knowing nothing of its basic origin, has easily discovered a number of flaws when the mirror of reality has been held up to it . Helmer, the noodle husband, is not alleged to be deficient in business capacity, and even in Norway it is improbable that a man would be appointed as the manager of a bank wi,thout exhibiting elemen.tary acumen. Yet this man, who in the opening sentences of the play expresses the deepest concern at the mere possibility of dying in debt, and keeps the closest supervision over his wife's expenditure, when his health broke down seven years before, and he had no money, was -taken away to ltaly for a year, accepting the story that funds had been furnished by his wife's father, who had moreover died befOl"e the money was given. It is further 5tated that a Norwegian wife could not borrow without her hus­band's cOllsent, and presumably a lender advancing money without such sanction would have no power to sue. Yet the creditor lends mqney to a married woman, who cannot legally borrow, on a document which has been signed in the most casual way, and in which it was obvious tbat the borrower had signed the surety's name as well as her own, and also inserted a date after the surety's death, which in a small community would be a well known fact. The threat of publicity, the suggested dismissal of the bank clerk, the coming together of Mrs. Unde and Krogstad, all belong to a theatrical atmosphere that will not bear the light of the common day,

11'

When the play was first produced, it was generally regarded as the tragedy of a wife oppressed by a stupid and tyrannical husband. Those who witnessed the original representation in London will remember the wave of emotion which swept through the theatre when Miss Janet Achurch, who took the part of Nora, retorted to the statement of Helmer that no man would sacrifice his honour for the one he loves-" Millions of women have done so" (according to the printed play Ibsen wrote, "It is a thing hundreds of thousands of women have done "). When the writer again saw the play some quarter of a century afterwards, it had become a feminist pamphlet to the audience, and the various "points" were applauded as if the dramatist had been _promulgating a new gospel. But onl y (he other day a writer in an Irish magazine was asserting that the play was not a tragedy, but a comedy.

Stnctly speaking, the Irish writer was correct, though it was not a comedy in the intention of Ibsen,- who Iiad no comic faculty. Teither was he a feminist, except in WaIt Whi,tman's sense, though his individualistic bias compelled him to accord freedom of development to man and woman alike. As an oppressed wife, Nora is not a real woman, but a stage figure, an element in a dramatic thesis. When the play was first produced, audiences generally took her for a real person, and there was clamour for an alteration in the closing scene. Ibsen was obliged to consent to a change on the performance in Berlin, and Eleanora Duse desired a change when taking the part of Nora in Italian representations. In this country Sir \Valter Be~ant wrote a sequel to the dram.a, in which Nora retur.ned to her husband and children. The wri,ter remembers an indication of the same temper at a performance of Rosmersho/m, when a friend came away stunned by the final catastrophe, declaring that there was no reason why Rebecca and Rosmer should not have mauied and lived happily. The answer was that in real life this would dc ubtless have happened, but in the drama the thesis obliged them 1(0 commit suicide.

The rapidity of the stage action disguises the psychological chasm in the character of Nora; there is no preparation for the aspiration towards self.development, neither does it grow out of any p~evjous ao~ion .. Under the influence of religion, and sometimes of lower thmgs, famIly bes have been looked upon as hindranc~s. "About this time," savs a Catholic saint, " my husband and children wele removed, who were a great hindrance to my spiritual progress." But self-development is an abstraction, and it has not si{lce the days when men went into the desert to save their souls bee.n deemed to need solitude for its cultivation, rather is it a growth of association nourished by sympathy and service:

These considerations suggest some reflections on the springs of .ad~lt popular education. Our reforming forefathers were under the conVIctIon tha.! un ivf:rsal education would evoke a spirit of serious study, and create a public sentiment which would rival the ancient religious temper in its zeal for a real fraternily. We have learned that modern democracy ;s only a new name for human tendencies, which have suffered very little Change in historic time. In regard to education, it is abundantly <;lear that the democracy does not desire what it ought to do, but what It hke;; . [~ence the vogue of a large mass of journalistic, literary, and dra~~1Ic 11terature which is not prompted by a desire to express the eternal venbCl), but to exhibit that fraction of the tru1h which will obtain the full~st appreciation. Large masses of the public who furnish the market for this output are quite unaware of the function they are discharging as recipients; some of then. envisage its purveyors as shenuous devotees of the midnight lamp in their search for the highest veracity. We have reached a stage when quite intelligent persons derive much of their public inspiration from the novel and the theatre; history from G. K . Chesterton, sociology from Mr. H. G. Wells, and morals from Mr. G. B. Shaw; the old Biblical legends have been discarded in favour of new ones which have been deliberately invented. . Underlying these considerations there is the very difficult problem of '.nducing people to listen ,to unpalatable truths, but this is a large ques­tion, and may be said to belong not to time, but to eternity.

A. S. TOMS.

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