NoII·Members can Dbtaln thl. publlcatlcn from the Hon. Seoretary, poet f,ee 2/. per annum

FEBRUARY 1926.

Cb~ montbly R~cora of

Soutb Plac~ €tbical SOCi~tPt South Place, Moorgate, E.C.2

"blect of the SocIety • .. The Object of the SOCiety is the cultivation of a rational religious sentiment, the study of ethical principles, and the promotion of buman welfare, in harmony with advancing know led ge. "

MBMBBRSHIP. Any peno. in .ympathy with the Object of the. Society i. oordially in.itod to beoGme

.. member. The amOQllt of .ub.oription .. optional, with a minimum of 21. 6d. per qUJl.rter, Of" lOa. per annll", . Any per.Gn Inter ... ted in toe Society'. work, but not .. "bing to beoom.. a member, may join ... ... A.esoan,.., the minimu", Imboaription being 5 •. per llDDum. Furth.r partioul.... m .. y b. obtained In the Library betore &Dd after the Sunday .enice, or on applioation to the Hon. Registrar, Ml •• R. H.u.L8. Boutb Pi ..... lzurtitot.., Finabury, E.O.2.

SUNDAY MORNINQ SERVICES. The following DISCOURSES will be delivered on Sunday mornings,

Service beginning at ELEVEN O'CLOCK .

.January 31.-C. DELISLE BURNS, M.A., D. Llt.-A New Morality. 1. OrgllJl 1'1010. O",rtore " Jeesonda" SpoILT 2. Reading. 3. Concerto in 0 minor for two violins ... ... •.. .. . Bitch

I. A.llegro. II. Adagio. Ill. Allegro. Violins: Miss JESSIE BOWATER, Mis. GWYlfNETB TRIl'M'ER; PianoCGrte: Mise TllELlfA BRTAN.

4. Hymn No. 50. Do not crouoh to·day .. nd worship. 5. Notices and Oollootion. 6. Disconrse.

February 7.-Rlght Hon. 1. M. ROBERTSON._The Truth about Democracy. Quartet. Truth is great and mtLSt prevail Me1:,~::g:'::. Solo (D.). Truth is not dumb '" ...

Hymno {No. 64. A nohler order y<>t hall be. No. 1. Be trn to overy inmost thought.

February 14. -C. DELISLE BURNS, M.A., D.Lit. - The Frontiers of Experience. Solo (0.). The ,vorlclly hope Lehmann Trio (S.O.T .). 0 Memory Lt'RI"

HYIlllLl } No. 141. 0 star of rnength t I • ..., thee stn.nd. No. 135. How tlRPPY is he borD. and taught.

F$bruary 2L-C. DELlS LE BURNS, M.A., D.Llt.-The Uses of Psychology. 1. Organ Solo. Grand So1= March ... Sm<J.rt 2. Reading. 3. Pin.noforte Son .. ta in F major .. . .. . Baydn

Allegro Moderato: Lnrghetto: Prosto. Miss MAROARElr BARLow.

4. Hymn No. 133. Li open soul t around thoo prnss. 5. Notices and oolleotion. 6. Disconrse.

February 28.-JOHN RUSS£LL, M.A.-Dr. Kirsopp Lake's" The Religion of Ye lit er day and To-morrow."

Qunrtet. .. Make us n. god," mid man ... Collet Duct. Night and Rest } Wa/thew Trio (S.O.B.). The VOiOOB

HyDllloll {No. 221. Fall, fall, yo Rnoient litanies and creed .... No. 94. 0 pure reformer ... t not in vain.

A Hymn Practice~ to which all peraona deairou. of improuinll the hymn .inllintr are invited~ i. held at the clo.e of each Service.

Or"a"i.t: H. SH~B WnSTlm, 63, Loraia. Road, N.7. Vi,ito., ar~ invited to obtain ."lormo.tUm r."aroln" t". Socicty in tlie Librarv on 81M1dall momin" •.

A Collection i, mado at .aoh SONli.8, to enable t"o'e proS'Mt to oont.-I~ute to th' ezpen,c. 01 the Sooiny.

2

Lending Library. The Lending Libr..,.,. is open free to Mem bero .of the Society on Sunday 1r'0rDinga

before and after the Services. Associates and Non-Member. of th<l Society may under oertnin conditians be granted the use of the Library upon paynwnt of a subscription of !S. 6d. per annum. The Oatalogu", including BCveral supplement., is on ... Ie, prieD 6d. A written Oatalogue, oontaining up-to-date ndditiona, is av .. ilable for the reference of borrowers. Subscriptions toward. the purohase and repair of book. are indted.

{

W ALLIS MANsroRD, "Tbe OuUook." Kingsend A genue, Ruislip, Middl •••• Hon. Librarian. F. JUII<8, 002, Daloton Lane, Haokney, E.8.

M1II8 V. A. ALUAlO>&R. 165, Aohmore Road. Paddingtoll, W.9. Tr.a,ur.r_" ._. MRS. STBV&I<S, 147 .. , Olapton Oommon, E.5.

Bsperanto elrcle and elass. Tho Oircle will moot every Sunday in February at 9.90 p.lTL Light refre.lur.ents. The OlnsB for beginners will meet cv ry W<'dnesday in February at 7.30 PJIl.

League of Nations Union Branch. The n~llt meeting will bo hield on oMondny, March I , at 7 p.m., in the Library

at Sonth Plnoo Institute. The Annunl Gon.ernl M .... ting will be bald, =d after that, at 7.30, a leoture will b. given. Th. ,snbject of the leotnre nnd other partioulnrs will be announoed later.

Hon. Secretary, HELm It. FAtruULL, 8, Soarborough Rond, Strond G1'OOn, N .4.

Tuesday Bvening Lectures. Tbe following Lectures will be dciivered on the Tuesdn.y evening" in February at

7.30 p.m., under the joint alLspioes of the South Place Ethical Society and the Rntionnli.t Press Assooiation, at the Rooms of the Association, 4·6, Johnson's Oourt, Fleet Stre<'1:, E.O.4. Each Lecture will be followed by Discussion. Februnry 2. Mr. Arthul' B. Moss: .. The Future Outlook of Froethought."

9. Rt'E~~;;n~ :r t~b=n:Of"f~ t~':!'.e f.l"Historical Evidllnoe for tILe

16. Dr. Wn.lter Wn.lsh: "Thei8IIL as I und.:'rstand it." 25. O. E. Ratoli.ft'e: .. Evolution of Re1igion."

Sunday Popular eoncerts (ebamber Mu.lc). Tbo FORTIETH SEASON will continue every Sunday e .. ening until March 28. Janunry 91.-PilJllloforte: Hn.rriet Ooh<ln, R ... Rohertson, Arthur BenjlLDlin. Violin:

Bessie Rawlins. Violoncello: D"vid Sis80nr.an. VoC<£li8t: Gordon Oloather. Solmbert's Pinno Trio in E fiat; Beethoven'", Sonata. d:n G, Op. 98, for Piano and Violin; BIr{lhrns' Piano Trio in 0 minor.

February 7.-PianoftYrte: John.nne Stockma.rr . String Quartet : JeBBie Grimson, Ohnrles Woodl",u ... , Mary Stewnrt, Ohnrles A. Ornbbe. Vo.alist: Ivy Philips. Dvorak'. Pinno Quintet; Ptnnoforle Solo; Ot\snr Franck's Pinno Quintet.

Februnry 14.-00noort of ModC1'1l British Obn.mber Music. Pianoforu: Riob.ard H. Walthew. St7~ny Quartet: Obn.rle.s WoodhOUSIC. Georgoe WhitnJrer, Ernest Yongc, Ohurle. A. Orabbo. Vocali8t: O.mond Davis. Tho ProgrlLDlme will include E. J. Moor3n'. String Quartet in A minor; Frank Bridge's Piano Quintet; Ivor Gurney'''' Song Oyolo, re LucUow and Tome," for Tenor Voice, tring Qunrtet and Pianoforte..

February 21.-TRE WOOD SMITH &ruING QUARTET: Goorgc Strn.tton, Jes,"" Stewart, Alioo Grassic, John FrOJlcis. Solo Pia,wfortc: Edwnrd Isaaos. Vocali~t: He\en H enscl,eJ. DohnMyi'" String Qun.rtet in A..I Raydu's String Qnarbet in F, Op. 77, No. 2.

FebruJlry 28.-Plel>i.soite Oonoort. 'itring Q.Ulrt.ct: J'c.ssie Gri:mson n.nd otber Artists. Schubcrt'" String Quartet in D min.oT (Death nnd the Maid<:n); MaodowoU's Sonn.ta. l'rngicn. for PiOJlo; Brnltm.l>' Pinno Quintet.

For further deta;18 0' the above Conccl·t8 Boe future Programmes . Doors open n.t 6.10, oommence at 6.80 p.m. Admission Free, with Oollectlon. Transferable Reserved Sen.t Ticket., Ss. enoh, for ti,e Ha!f-Soaeon to Maro!, 28 ;

Progrn.mmo Subscription, 3s. extra.. Applioa.tions "hould be made to th.e Hon. Tre",ul'~r of the Ooncerts, F. A. HAWKINS, 13, Thurlow Park Rood, Dulwieh, S.E.21, n.ooompu.nied by romittnnoo nnd "tamped addressed envelope.

Oommiteoo meeting on Sundn.y, Febrnn.ry 7, n.t 5 p.m. Hon. 7'r.a •. : Faun A. HAWII1<8, IS, Thurlow Park Rond, Dulwich, S.B.21. Hon. 8eo.: ALI'Ban J. 0LII1I,.,..,.", 8, FinchJey Wa.y, N.S. Ho" Aut 960.' {M"", D. M. OLau1DlT8, 8, Finchley Way, N.8.

• . "W. B. Y.ADJlOU, 11', Lowndea Sq11.U'>, Knightobridge, S.W.l.

Social Section. The Olub·room n.otivities IU'O held in the Library .. t South Plaoe on Mon<lJtys and

Wednesdays. MONDAY, 6.30 I?m., DISOUSSION. Mt. Fish in charge. The subject ,.m llsu .. lIy be

the preVlau.s Sunday's leotul'o. Mr. O. Deli.le Burns will be pre.ent on February 15 and 2:), the &YII following his lootu~es.

WEDNESDAY, 6.30 R.m., PLA.Y-READING. Under tl", direction of MTS. Wa.tson. February 8 "rho Man with the Lond of Miqchilef" ....... .. A .• hley Dukoa.

10 No meeting. 17 "The Playboy of tha W<>&tern WOl'ld" .... ....... .... J. M. Bynge. 24 .. L' A vocat " ... .... ............ . .... . ......... ..... ... .................. E. Bricux.

The Monthly Soiree on Thursday, February 11, will ta.kc the form of a. Wl,i.t Drive. l'ick('ts, 28. each , including refroshments, from Mns. HAWXINS, or in the Librnry. Play is to begin at 7 p.m ... hArp.

The i\Jonthly Danoe, held at A,shburton Hall, 28, Red Lion Squore, will take plaoe

an Fri<1ay. February 26. from 7-11 p.m. OTCLIFFE, or in the Libra ry. Tickets, 3s., including supper, from. M:s.

H St· {Mr.. fio"""a. M. HAWXDrS, 13, Thurlow Park Road, B.E.Zl. On. eer. line. Mr •. ANmE SUTCLUFe ... Brn.mbletye," Nightingale Road. Rick­

mll.'nSworth.

South Place «!)rch.atra. Conductor: RICHA.RD H_ W A.LTHEW.

Practioe! will be held from 7 to 9 p.m.. every Fri<1ny from JJllluary 8 to March 26. A Ooncert will be given hy the Orchestra on SUMay, March 28. Memoorship.-Th" support of fOl1JDer members and the aooesaion ot new ones, are

deeirod in order that the improvement ot [not sea.son m&y not only be m&intained but .,,,'ended. Subscription.-10&. tor eaoh hnl.t '''',on. Uty further partiouu.rs may be hod from the Hon. Secretary.

F. W. OumING. 63. KingshaU Rood. Beckenh.a.m.

eonway Memarial I..ctures. The Oon .. a.y Memorial Lectur ...... hieh are deliTcn>d foDnuaJly in Maroh ..... re tnaugurakd

.. 1908, al a Memorial to Dr Honcure D. Oon .. a.y. Tbe Oommittee is aot yet in P0811Oalon ot the neo •• la.ry capital tor the perma.nent endOlfmM1t ot tbe Lectureship, and ID the meantime it makea an e8l'1le.t appe .. l to .. n roa.d£rs ot the MONT1lLY lli!CORD either tor IUhacriptions or <1on .. tion., to enlure the oontinu .. noo of the leetureo. n ..... ehould be oent to th" Hon. Tre&l1Jrer, 111 ... OoCKBURN. Peradeniy&. 18. Northampton Rond. OroY<V>n.

Sixteton leetu ..... bave hei!n given. and copies of the.e can be purcha..<;ed at the book mU,

Hon. Secr.t"r'.' { ERNBST OAaR, .. Lyndall,"' Easennon Road. Banderstead, Burrey. M".. O. FLETCnm Ibrrrn, 35, Station Way. Letchwerth.

The GENERAL OOMl.u= will moot on Thursday, F1ebrulU'y 4. Oorrc.spondeuoc d enling with ma.tterB tor oonsideration should be torw .. rded to F. H. Ovxny. Hon. Seo., 36. fl&terh&m Rood. ue";Bha.m, S.E.IS. a.t tbe e&rliest pollibl. moment. All matter. relatlnr to finance Ihould be oddr.ssed to the TreMurer.

Seorctarioe. of nb-oommittee. are requolted to note that .. ny matter .. hioh they .. illl to insert in the MONTnLY RacenD should be in the hand. ot Mr. F. W. RaAn not later than 16tb ot the month. A II literary lutter should be tor .... rded to the Editor, Hr. O. J. POLLARD, "s ... rly in the montb ... po .. ibl •.

EDITORIAL. ErmCAL SOCIETIES' CHRONICLE.-The January issue of this ClIront'cle, the

organ of the Ethical Union, marked its entrance into the third year of its existence, and we wish our fellow journal many happy returns of the day. Having safely surmounted the dangers common to the first two years of life, we hope it will now pass into a prosperous and healthy boyhood. The terms of subscriptions are Is. per annum, post free, by P.O. sent to the Hon. Secretary, Ethical Union, 14, Great George Street, V\7estminster, S.W.I. We run the risk of making an invidious distinction when we say that, in Our opinion, Mrs. He1en Stocker's poems, which have appeared in the Chrollicle, are little gems of beauty and delicate expression of feeling, but the pJeasure they have given us calls for frank acknowledgment.

JOHN ALDRED MEMORIAL FUND, The Committee have pleasure in reporting that with the cO-operation of

the following additional subscribers: Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Clements, Mr. and Mrs. S. G. Fenton, Mr. '11,1. T. Harvey, Mr. C. E. Lister, Miss Raftery, and Mr. and Mrs. Snelling, the fund now amounts to £63, of which £50 has been invested against its need for the purpose in view.

In deference to representations received, the Committee, who are aiming to associate with the memorial as many as possible of John Aldred's friends, have arranged to keep the fund open to March 31 next, the close of the Society's financial year, by which time it is hoped all who desire to con­tribute will have done so.

The Committee will welcome subscriptions of whatever amount the

, donors desire to give. These may be paid in the Library on Sunday morn­ings, or forwarded to the Hon. Treasurer, "Vallis Mansford, The Outlook, King's End, Ruislip, Middlesex; or to the Hon. Secretary, F. W. Read, 65, Harley Road, Harlesden, N.W.10.

THE CHILDREN'S ANNUAL PARTY. Truly a transformation took place at grey old South Place Chapel OD

Tuesday, January 12, for the hall was gay with coloured flowers and streamers, and the floor was covered with tiny dancers in an kinds of pretty or quaint fancy costumes. It was as though a picture of a revel in " Merrie England" had come to life, with the figures on a diminutive scaIe.

A Pierrot danced with a dainty maid in a crinoline; Robin Hood chose a Fairy; a Guardsman, in his scarlet coat and black busby, danced with a Columbine; and among many other beautiful and artistic dresses. were '\\0

which added an unusual touch of vivid colour and variety-national cos· tumes of Bohemia:. The scene was one not to he easily forgotten.

The entertainment provided was as interesting to the adnlts as t', the Children, and reflected great credit on Mrs. Hawkins, who, with her help.~IS, had obviously spared no effort to ensure success.

A dainty little Pierrot troupe, aptly named the" Carpediems," with the Guardsman in the centre, gave a most pleasing "variety" entt::rtaillJl 'l!llt of songs, recitations, and dances. Rudyard Kipling's "Hump" gave 5Ieat delight, so charmingly was it rendered. Then there we~·~ cl "V<;:I sclo dances, songs and recitations, a bassoon solo, and wonderful conjuring tricks, along with many games and dances. Great excitement was caused when the giant cracker exploded and emptied its load of toys on to the floor , and all the children rushed eagerly to secure some memento.

The whole wound up with " Auld Lang Syne," when tiny tots crossed arms with adults, who had to bend low to take hold of the small fingers. No wonder the Children's Annual Party is an event eagerly anticipated by children and grown-ups alike. None could have the " Hump" after such a night of enjoyment. A.S.

Reprinted !1·om " The City Press," January 16, 1926. CHILDREN AT SOUTH PLACE.

A very delightful party was given to the children of the four L.C.C. Schools in the district by the South Place Ethical Society, at the Institute, on Wednesday. The entertainment has been held each year for close upon half a century, having been organised in the first instance on the suggestion of a little girl, who attended a party given to the children of members, and who thought that it would be, in her own words, " jolly" for poor children to enjoy like fun. Wednesday's party was on the usual complete and gener­ous scale, and altogether some 250 boys and girls participated in the hospitality of the Society. Tea was followed by a musical programme and a variety show. Especially delightful features were the clever dancing of a boy of 18, who introduced a qllaint dummy dancing partner; and the once famous song and dance, " Sausage and Mash," contributed by two dainty little ladies of seven summers. Before leaving ·each child received a present and a " mysterious parcel." Before long the Society will be moving to new heaquarters in Red Lion Square, and consequently this week's entertainment will be in all probability the last of its long line at South Place.

The following letter was received from one of the girls at the Compton Street School:

DEAR MADAM,-We thank you very much indeed for the grand time we

6

had on Wednesday, 13th. The girls enjoyed the whole of the entertainment, but performance they liked best was the Boy Dancer.

We mostly want .(0 thank yon for the lovely tea we had and the very n ice gifts we received afterwards.

I am writing on behalf of all the girls who came from Compton Street. Wishing you a very Happy New Year.-I remain, Yours sincerely,

To Mrs. Hawkins. Ivy V\7ILLrAMS.

SUNDAY POPULAR CONCERTS. The first half of the season terminated with the customary orchestral

concert, the programme of which was given up, with the exception of some of the songs, to compositions by tbe great musicians of the past. Mr: Arthnr Cranmer's choice of modern vocal works w?-s a bappy one for he Included sllch tuneful and well-known songs as Val~han \Yilliams' "Linden Lea," \Valthew's " Eldorado," and Somervill's " vo Not, Happy Day."

The programme beginning the second half of the season opened with Mozart's Divertiments in B fiat, performed by the Wood-Smith String Quartet, with Emil Borsdorf and Vincent Burrows playing the horn parts. Miss Christine McClure sang a selection of British songs and folk songs belonging to Britain and France.

On January 10, sixteenth and seventeenth century musicians were much in evidence on the programme. Miss Cartherine Stewarts' songs and some of Miss Ethel Attwood's piano solos both belonged to tbat period.

H. B. CORRESPONDENCE

Respo,uibi/ily for lire opinions erpresud under t"is luading r,sls solely wilh Ihe wrNus.

To the Editor at THE MONTHLY RECORD. TOWARDS A RATIONAL ~ELTGIOUS SENTIMENT.

Sir,-I have read Mr. Blundell's brief letter in the January MONTHLY RECORD several times, with a growing conviction that his adhesion to my advocacy of the form of religious service at Soutb Place, has been largely nullified by the concluding stalement, that if Fox and Conway were alive, its religious character would be preserved. If anyone bad suggested to Fox that the sacramental rite ought to be continued because of Winches_ ter's example, and to Conway !that prayer ongbt to be maintained because of Vidler's practice, we know what sort of answer would have been mad-e. And is it not clear that the mental atmosphere ox our time is more remote from that of tbe days of Fox and Conway than their outlook was from tbat of Winchester and Vidler? The appeal to preserve those elements of the past Wihich we have inherited cannot be convincing unless they are deemed 10 harmonise with living needs.

All the four men associated with Parliament Court and South Place belonged to the Christian tradition, combining with it the Nonconformist doctrine of private judgment; they could not be other than they were. And although Conway emerged from the journey through the forest of dogma on to the plateau of free thought, he never divested himself altogether of certain characteristics which, by implication at least, involved the con­templation of Cbristianity as a permanent institution. His attitUde was invariably that of a preacher; his Lessons 101' the Day are sermons: tbose Published in the memorial volume are so described. When he resigned his ministry in 1884 he left the " Soutb Place Religions Society." He was not in favour of disestablishment_a prominent question in the eighties of the last cenlury, and one on which freethinkers were virtually unanimous. There is no sign that he recognised lhat the movement against the Anglican C.hurch was mainly political and social, which explains why it has now d.lsappeared. Like the man in Maupassant's story, who tho.ught tbat educa­hon had been chiefly remarkable for its revelation oJ; the latent silliness of the ordinary mind, Con way seems to have concluded that religious freedom Was responsible for the anarchic tide of Anglo-Saxon sectarianism which ran riot in his native country. He distrusted the attempt to found any

6

institution to replace the churches as centres of social activity, arguing that free thought could only really perform the task of criticising theology. "Wert: it to build up any institution, it might be founded on scientific doc­trines necessarily transient, and imitate the pious hahit by fortifying and defending some particular form of unbelief." The confession in his Autobio­graphy that he knew nothing of the English working classes, and his peculiar obsession with the Sabbatarian question, might be cited as belonging to the limitations of his experience, but the important point in connection with our problem is, that he and his predecessors imbued South Place with the spirit of the protesting preacher to such a degree that it has remained with us as a permanent possession. WlJen he returned to America he was, for a time, a member of the New York Ethical Society, but resigned because the society did not protest against the war with Spain. Until the other day we had lecturers who preached to us, although not theologically, and during the regime of the Black and Tans, we felt it incumbent to call a meeting to protest against their activities, in spite of the circlllllstance that nearly the whole of the Press had anticipated us in accordance with the usual " stunt" method.

It is now as plain as the noonday that our traditional task with refer­ence to theology has heen accom'pljsh~d, not because there is nothing left to criticise, but for the reason that an audience cannot be obtained for an oral presentment. In the public parks, a speaker who is concerned to maintain the thesis that there is no God and no future life, and " that our fathers were apes, and our mothers winhles," cannot maintain his ~round against a competing Bolshevist or Communist. The union of freethmker and mili­tant politician, which was incarnate in Charles Bradlaugh, has ceased to exist; the workman does not care whether his comrade believes in God or not; he is only concerned that he should disbelieve in the capitalist. Edu­cated persons have either adopted an attitude of disbelief and have ceased to think religion a matter of practical significance, or have decided that it is a problem of personal taste, so that a man may, if he chooses, be an atheist, and yet worship strange gods. The Press and literature have completed the transformation, not so much by the secularisation of ideas as by the method of presentation; the only essential is that whatever emanates from the Press should be of such a character that some one will pay for it. The practical reflection of these conditions at South Place is in the fact that our oldest and most distinguished lecturer, with an international reputation as a freethinker, invariably addresses the smallest of our Sunday morning audiences.

I pleaded for the retention of the form of service as a justification for our claim to assist in the cultivation of a rational religious sentiment; I ought really to have urged that it now fu~nishes the only basis for our assumption of such an object. 1£ the service were discontinued, a modern Diogeoes ith an acetylene lantern would be hard put to it to discover any sign of the process of cultivation. We have latterly found it necessary to let our visitors know tbat we are not consciously providing them with an entertainment on Sunday mornings, by exhibiting notices requesting them not to applaud; this ac.tion brought to Jig ht the circumstance that a few of our members shared the mental impression of the visitors. Such a result might have been e.xpected to fo11o,w our long ~eglect t.o maintai~ th~ collective emotional expresSlOn of the soclety at an lmpresslVe and dlgmfied level. In the present state of religious chaos and indifference, it is conceivable that the society might be transformed into a medium for intellectual and artistic entertainment, but unless all the indications in the world of mental recrea­tion are delusive, such a transformation would be fatal. We are confidently told that opera does not pay, that the higher drama spells ruin, that orchestral concerts and chamber music do not pay expenses, that choral music is given at a loss, and that even vocal music, apart from artistic stars, is unremunerative. In certain special cases, entertainments can be main­tained on the basis of a subscribing membership, but it is uolikely that we could furnish sufficiently attractive fare to compete with existing agencies. Meanwhile it is worth noting that at a time when only the most trivial and contemptible forms of amusement are profitable, the humblest and most obscure religious sects are able to find enough money to maintain a regular propaganda: the magic of the age-long tradition is still all potent.

7

There are, of course, abundant signs of decay in particular places and areas. At South Place we are one of the dissenting meeting houses for which the City of London was once famous, although we were late in point of time. When we leave there will only be two chapels left in the City, and one of them seems hardly likely to survive very long. In Central London and the near suburbs SOme of the old chapels are being turned into cinemas or furniture warehouses. Others are meeting with an even stranger fate in view of their historical origin. For the Mass has made its way into

onconformity, as into the Anglican Church, and the thing abhorred of the saints of Protestantism is being exalted as the highest symbol of faith and worship. The political tumult in which we are living has naturally invaded both the orthodox and dissenting temples, but so far as is known to me, only a Dissenting congregation has definitely exchanged religion for politics. In this instance the politics have been taken from Marx and Lenin, with a mental outlook which is quite contemptible, and the propa­ganda has reduced even the building in which it is carried on to a complete ruin. The political menace is not altogether remote from us at South Place. The disappearance of most of the Ethical ~ocieties has been largely due to political disruption, and the decay of' Positivism owes something to the same inRuences. It is one of the most trite reRections that, if you are convinced that there is no heaven above, you naturally try to create a heaven on earth. But it is a matter of observation that this conclusion is usually viewed in the spirit of Protestant individualism; an earthly heaven for everybody looms in the mind as a peculiarly difficult aChievement, not to be accom­plished, if at all, bu t by many generations of effort.

This may appear to be a rather lengthy exordium to a very slender thesis, but in truth the problem involved is not merely whether we should sing hymns and anthems, but whether it is, or is not, possible to have a rational religion. To Emerson, eighty or ninety years ago, the issue seemed a very simple one; to many now the mere posing of the question suggests an impertinence. Yet ~f anything is certain, it is that religion will not die out in any measurable period of time, and if a reasonable faith is not available, men and women will fall back on irrationality and superstition; intelligent souls cannot be permanently nurtured on trade-union conditions of life and the exhilaration of political partisanship. It has long been obvious that inside the churches there is a great body of opinion favourable towards a naturalistic faith, but it is stifled by the dead-weight of mass unintelligc'nce ; intelligent outsiders look on because they are outside, and alongside them persons who exult in their freedom pass into the meshes of Spiritualism, Christian Science, or Theosophy. What, a spectacle to the veteran freethinker is that of Mrs. Besant inviting an audience of three thousand persons to rise in affirmation of the belief in a new Messiah!­and they do so forthwith. There are said to be frequent instances of the children and grandchildren of rationalists returning to the churches. Every one knows that the problem of ;tdolescence has been frankly given up by advanced thinkers-as a matter of organisation. My conviction is that the fundamental trouble with reference to the rationalisation of religion lies in the expressing of emotion. Feeling has either been regarded as a deadly element to be repressed, or trimmed out of all semblance of spontaneIty. There is no question of entering into the fantastic gymnastics of theatrical and journalistic persons who seek to make God out of the life force, or the abstract sum of things, nor should reasonable beings seek to construct ratiOnalistic imitations of things ecclesiastical. So far as doctrine is con­cerned we should stand four square to all winds on the basis of human reason' and experience. But we are children of the past, and should have no he~itation in admitting our religious descent and using COurageously .the masterpieces of Christi~n music, e.xact!-y as they were written, for Inspiration and adornment; If our doctrme 15 not adequate to prevent allY misapprehension it will. be very badly expressed. The ~or~ religion is, histOrically, a very tle~nble. term, and can be. ma~e to SIgnIfy what any COnsiderable group of mtelhgent persons put Into It. It can be made to mean duty and self sacrifice, loving kindness, justice, pity and beauty, if there are enough persons to realise the conception. But it is a matter uot of argument, but of «;ffort. I should like the South Place Ethical Society ~o rnake it.-Your obedIent servant, A. S. rOllS.

8

Rc!)Nc!)RRRY 6PP((~ERS.

'l'rea& .... er '" ... C. E. LISTER, 21, AbboltB Park Road, Leyton, B.IO.

Ju'.tar.... . •. { MRS. C. FLE~·ORER SMITH, 35. Station Way. Letchworth, F. M. OVERI, 36, Caterham Hoad. Lewl.ham. S.E.13 ,

flunday Lecture Secretary F. W. RUD, 65, Harley Rood, Harlellden, N.W.IO. Minut. S.creta'l/ ... ... Mis. V. ALEXANDER, 1Gb, Ashmore ]toad, Paddington, W.9. Reui,tra, of )l,mbe,. and}, IT ""oDiate. MIss R. ilLS. 21, Estcourt Road. Fulham, S.W.6 .

• "ito, of MOXTBLY RaCOBD O. J. POLUBD, .. Shanklln," Th. Annu". Ohmgford, E.'.

Llbr.ric"" Middlesex, {

w ALL1S MAN8FOllD ... The Outlook," Kingsend Avenue. Ruillip

... F. JU(&8, 902, Dalston Lane, Haekney, E.8. MI88 V. A. ALuilm •• , lQ.5, Aehmore Road, Podding1:on, W.I.

Secretaries of Sub-eommlttee • .

BullldinC Concert Conway Memorial Discussions Esperanto Music Publications Rambles

F. :a.BBI.1tT Jd.UfBroRD, If Walden," Kingsend Avenue, Ruis1ip. ALI'RJID J. CL.MINTS, 8, Fincbl.y Way, Finabley, N,S.

E. OABR, 6, Essendan Road, Sanderstead, Burrey. J. J. MUBPRY, ~l, Southwood A ... nue, Highgate, N.G.

S. J. S1I1TIl, 49, Hornsey Rise Gardens, N.19.

Mls. F. J. SIMONS, 20, Granville Road, N.4. E. SlOLLUIO, 8, Amberley Rood, Leyton, E.10.

MI8S E. SIM01'lS, 20, Gran-rille Road, N .•.

80010.1 {Mr •. F. M. HAWEIl<8, 19, Thurlow Park Road, S.E.21. Mr •. J. E. SUTOL1Fr&, .. Bro.mbietye," Nightingale Road,

Riekmn.nsworth

A. J. CL.1II1N'I'8

e(!)MMITTEE. MRS. LIDSTOl'IE MUB 11'. J. SIUONII

S. J. SMITH. B. OUl<l<INORAM E. F. ERRIl<O'IOl< J. FtSHBR F . .rUlES MRS. J.Al\IES Mus. LANGFORD

New Member:

Mn.s. LISTER J. J. MURPHY 0, J. l'OLLARD MRS. RICDARD8 F. A. RICHARDS MJ'S E. 51>10l<S

Mi.&s S. TOMS, 143, Highhury Hill, N .5.

Changes of Address:

E. Bm:LLll'IO MRS. SUTCLUF& J. E. SUTOLIFFE MRS. W ... TSON A. E. WATSON

Mr. PRY:"!CE O. HOPEINS, Copped Hnli, Totileridge, HertB Mrs. VOYSEY, Farmhouoo School, Mayortome :lI1nnor, Wendover.

Death: Mr. G. W. WILSON, Tb .. Factory, Market Harborough.

DUlRY Pc!)R PEBRURRY.

2 Lecture (see page 2) 3 Play· reading (see page 2) 3 Esperanto Class 7.30 p.m. 4 GI'n. Committee meets 6.30 p.m. 7 Service... • •• 11.0 a.m. 7 Esperanto Circle ... 3·30 p.m. 7 Pepular Concert 6.30 p.m. 9 Lecture (see page 2)

10 Esperanto Class 14 Service ... 14 Esperanto Circle 14 Popular Concert 16 Lecture (see page 2)

7.30 p.m. II.O a.m. 3.30 p.m. 6.30 p.m.

17 Play-reading (see page 2) 17 Esperanto Class 7,30 p.m. 2 I Service... ... 11.0 a.m. 2 [ Esperanto Circle ... 3.30 p,m, 21 Popular Concert .. , 6·30 p.m. 23 Lecture (see page 2) 24 Play-reading (see page 2) 24 Esperanto Class ... 7.30 p.m. 26 Monthly Dance 7 p.m. 28 Service ... ... 11.0 a.m 28 Esperanto Circle •. _ 3.30 p.m. 28 Popular Concert 6.30 p,m.

I'rlstied anol Pnbli.bed by TB. UTOPIA PRZ89 LTD. .., Worohip Street JIJ.O.S.