Kon-mombers eo.n obt&1n thilllubUodion from the Editor, POlt tree, 2/- per &Ilnum
JULY, 1920.
Soutb Plac~ €tbical South Place, Moorgate Street, E. C.2.
C!lblect 01 tbe Society. "The Object of the Society is the cultivation of a rational religious sentiment, the study Ol ethical principles, and the promotion of human welfare, in harmony with advancing knowledge."
MBMBJ.!RSHIV. A.ny person in sympathy with tho Object of tl,e Society i. cordially invited to become
Il Member. Particulars of M~mber~hip may be obtained in tho Library ~rore and after the Sunday servires, or on npplieatlon to tbe Hon. Registrnr, lliss L . .BUlIr(E, South Place Institute, Einshury, E.O. 2.
aSSeel1l.TBS. Any person interested in the Society's work, but not wishing to beoome a lI!em~r,
mny join ns nn associate. Particulnrs In"y be obtained from the Hon. Itegistrar as above.
SUNDAY MORNING SERVICES. The following DISCOURSES will be delivered on Sunday mornings,
Service beginning at ELEVEN O'CLOCK.
June 27.-R!ght Hon. JOHN M. ROBERTSON.-Industrial Ethics. Anthems {1. Wnlk ye on ye hundred thousand
2. Song of Dcstiny .. .
Hymns { No. 1. Bc truc to m·cry inmost thought. No. 51. Haise your standard, brothers.
Spohr no·a/una
July 4.-S. K. RATCLIFFE.-The .. Mayflower" and the Pilgrim Fathers. Ant.hems {1. How Io\?ely arc tho mcs.:.ongers JlJcndels80ILn
2. The Pilgrim's Song TschnikoWBky
lIymns { No, 62. Looms there tho n w land. No. la. Men! whoso boast It is that yc.
July ll.-JOSEPH McCABE.- The Decay of Literature. Anthems {l. Now nriseth the sun of liberty
2. Onward, onward .. ,
Hymns { No.111. There is no <loath for that which dwells apart. No. an. Life is onward-usa it.
JulY 18.-0. DELISLE BURNS, M.A. - International Finance. Anthems { J. Whoso hath this worl<l's goods
2. llnst thon wnndored
Hymns { No. 43. H,,-,t tholl, 'midst Iile's empty noises. No. 121. It surely i!l a. wasted heart.
July 25,-No Service. Organtst: 1I. S'IlTU WEnS'1'ER.
N.B.-The Services will be suspended till September.
.1!o:art S"tltva"
Calkin Cowe"
Vi.itara aro i""ited to obtain .nformation rcgardlllg th. Society in the Library on Sunday morning"
A Col/ection 's made at each Service, to enable tlio.e prosent ta contribute to U,a .. ,pcnse. of tli e Society
Cycli'LI deBiring to attend the Services arc informed tliat the Committee ha". made arrangement. for hOlLsing their machines in the 'basement.
The Building is to be let for Meetings, etc, Forms of Application ma.ybe had of the Caretaker, 11. South Place, E.C.; and when fllled up should be sent to Mr. N. Lidatone, 96, Blac.ltstock Road, Finsbury Park, N,4.
The Chapel lB llcensed for Marnagos, Arrangements can be made for the conduct of Puneral Services on I.Ppl1cation
to t.b.e Secrotary.
Lending Library.
{ \,AtUS MANSFOIlD, Oherry Tl1C<l Court, 53, Aldc rsgat;e P .• JA'fl<:!l, 6. MiflFOII HCR.d, S. nacknc,v. E,9, Mi'"l8 It. LAN"OEJ.AAN. 26. Douglas Hoarl. N.l. Mrs. STEVEN~, 14790, Cln.pton Oommon, E.5.
Rambles.
Str..,t, E .O.l.
Saturday, July 10.- Loughton and High Beech. Conciucted by Miss LANGELAAN. Tal{e return ticket, to Loughton. TraIn from Liverpoo l ::;t-reet. 2.8.
Sunday, July 18 - Totteridge. Con,II1Clc(1 hy M,· •. CU'MI:N'l'S. St . ,·, from 8, Finchl ey ~rn.y. Brent Oarlien Villa!.:c, Nether :)treot, Church Hlln, Finchlcy, at 3.30. F riends liking to bring thei r lunch t,hcre about 1.45 (urtc!' tiOl'vico' will he wolcomed.
Sunday. July 25.-Marden Par k , Ox~ed, and Godstone. C"n,llIctcil hy Mr. F. M. OVERY, Train fr(\m Charlng Cl'o,s lO'~'" or Londou Ill'idgo (S.N. & C.Ry .), 10.33 Take sing le ticket to Catorham, lIW~.
tV. T. WIXCEY, HOIl. SccrClut'Y, 63, Grovelands Road, Pulmels Green , N,
Sunday Popular eoncerts (ehamber Music). Mr. RICI1ARD H. WALTnRw's ThrEe Lectu res on "The Development of Cl,alllber MlUlie"
may be hnd, price Od. net complete. Post free, 7!d. lioll. Treas. · • FRANK A. HAWKINS, 13, Tburlow Park Rond, Dulwicb, S.E.21. lioll. Scc. . ALFRED J. OLBMENTS, 8, FinchJey Way, Finchley, N.S. Hon. A,st. Sec. - AIrs. CLEMEN'l'S, 8, ~'illchley Way, N. ~.
S outh Place f!)rchestra. Conductor: RICHARD H. WALTHEW.
There arc vacancies for lendiJlg 'Cello unci 2nd Flnte in the above, Pleaso apply to: F. W. CANNING, Hon. Secr etary, 63, KingshaU Road, B<!ckenbam
The GSNERAL COMMITTEE will meet on Thursdny, July 1. Correspondence dealin g with matters for conside ration should be fonvarded to 1'. M. OVEHY.Hon. 15ec .. 36, Oate l'hom
Road, Lewibhllrn, b.B.la, at the earl iest possible moment, .All mattel"S flelo.ting to finance should be addressed to tbe Treasur er
Scor etaries of sub·committees are notifif;'d that hnndbills in~nded to be circula te d with the MONTHLY RECORD .bould !>cdeliveren to tho Utopia Press, 44, Worship Street, E.O.2. It i s hoped thn.t those secl'Ietaries who ho,"c addresses of persons interEsted in their work (other thnn Members and .Associates) \Viii communicate th em, with a view to suoh persons
receiving r,he ]\[ON1'ULY HIWORD r€'g'uln.rly.
EDITORIAL. FRENCH ONVJmSATION CLASS .-One of our members, Monsieur G.
Duchesne, has been approached with the view of obtaining his belp in instituting a French class in the coming autumn. He is unable to accede to this request himself, but Madame Duchesne has very kindly offered to assist in a conversation class-a class for beginners she could not under. take. 'Vc, personally, shall be very pleased to take advantage of this favourable opportunity of studying French, and especially pronunciation, under tbe tuition of a Parisienne, and we shall be g lad if others of a like mind will communicate with us at an early date so that arrangements may be made in good time.
DIVORCE LAW REFoRM.-The Divorce Law Reform Union, 55.56, Chancery Lane, W.C.2, is condUcting a vigorous campaign against the opposition of theology and tradition to the political measures which aim at the reform and amendment of the laws relating to marriage, divorce, and separation. The Secretary of the Union is Mrs. M. L. Seaton Tiede. man, a name well known in the etbical movement, and various leafl ets of the Union have been sent to us by a prominent member of South Place, with tbe request that our MONTHLY R~;COR]) shall call the attention of readers to the activities of the Divorce Law Reform Union . ' Ve gladl " accede to this request, and can only regret that wc personally are not mor~ competen t to do justice to the highly desirable objects for which tbis Union stands. We bope, however, that our readers, who bave not already done so, will communicate with Mrs. Tiedeman, who will, we are sure, be p leased to send them copies of the literature published by the Union and will also give sugge tions as to how its work may be helped. Galsworthy's
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latest play, "The Skin Game," incidentally illustrates luridly one par­ ticular scandal involved in the present divorce law. 'VVe refer to the fact that divorce is impossible without legal proof oL misconduct. This con ­ dition, obviously, was imposed on the ground that, whatever other reasons may justify the cancelment of the marriage bond, adultery must also have taken place. On the supposition that this view is accepted, even then this condition is found in practice to be attended by the gravest obj ections. In the case of men and women of lax morals it simply paves the way for further degradation--one adultery more or l ess matters not as long as release from the existing marriage tie is obtained-while it adds to the immorality of promiscuity the shockingly anti-social immorality of the cold­ blooded arrangement of adultery for the special purpose of gaining legal rights. In the case of men and women oL continent ideals the results are perhaps even more degrading. Tt often leads to an appalling outrage upon decent behaviour, inasmuch as men and women, otherwise truthful and honourable, are tempted, for the sake of obtaining freedom from an intolerable union, to pretend they have committed adulter y when as a matter of fact they have not. This pretence can only serve its purpose if it is so put forward that .the D~vorce Court Judge can accept the mis­ conduct as legally proven. That is la say, somebody must be hired to figure as the co-partner in an adult~ry which never took place, and con­ firmatory witnesses chambermaids, etc., must also be paid to take their part in this most odious conspiracy. Surel y this example alone of the abuses to which the pre ent divorce laws are subject is sufficient to warrant an immediate and drastic change.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. MAY 30, 1920.
Mr. J ohn Aldred was appointed Chairman. The following letter from Mr. Herbert Burrows to Mr . Overy was read to the meeting: "As you know I am too ill to attend, which is a matter of very deep regret to me. I always like to attend, and especially did I wish to do so this year, in view of the new departures which the ociety will soon have to face. I need not say how heartily I wish them success. I am looking forward a little curiously, but still with confidence, to the coming results. Much depends on the way the members throw themselves heart and soul into the new venture, and on the way also in which we can gather new, eager and active spirits round us .• This, of course, we are sure of: that ethics and the movement whatever happens will go on. Sometimes I sit in my sick­ room and pis:ture to myself the r eal strength of ethics and the movement, and I am bold enough to paraphrase Tennyson, 'Our littl e systems have their day and cease to be, but Truth is wider far than they, and Truth can never cease to be.' Truth is the essence of the ethical movement, and Truth can never cease to be; as long as human beings r emai n Truth must be the foundation of all real life. For that Ethical Life we have two firm stays never to be sh aken, the Brotherhood of Humanity and the promotion of human welfare. These depend on no system, but are the continual widening out of the true human heart. Tn the certain confidence and hope that wherever the physical home of South Place Ethical Society is this will be its real aim and that whether its members be young or old they will ever have it in view, I remain, with love and best wishes to you all, Your sincere friend, Herbert Burrows."
T'he Ch airman, in moving the adoption of the Repol·t, said that the minutes of the previous meeting made him think somewh a t sadly that the bright prospects to follow the ,Var which were then anticipated had not materialised. Dealing with the sale of the site Mr. Aldred remarked that the facts were known to many members. The site was about to be sold to the School of Oriental Studies, and, although the negotiations were not completed , it was hoped the technical difficulties would be surmounted at an early date. It was also expected that we should be able to obtain the tenancy of the Chapel for, say, a yeflf or two, at a reasonabl e rent, but no definite arrangement had yet been actually settled . Turning to other
4
matters, the Chairman claimed that the high standard of the Sunday morning lectures had been well maintained, both with regard to the subjects chosen and to the method of treatment. He wished to refer parbcularly to the Tuesday evening Lectures, and in this connection to congratulate heartily one of our own members, Mr. Christie Tait, on his series of lectures on Modern European History. He also congratulated Mr. elements on the great success of the Concert Season just concluded, while in deploring the loss the Concerts had sustained by the death of John Saunders, he was able to add his personal testimony to the affection and admiration with which John Saunders was regarded in musical circles. In speaking of the Lending Library Mr. Aldred paid a tribute to the unremitting work of Miss Mary Rawlings. He thought tbe Library would play an important part in the joint scheme with the Rationalist Press Association. It was proposed to house it in the same room with thc H.P.A. Library and make that room a kind of club rendezvous for visitors from the provinces and from all parts of the world. Heferring to the impending resignation of Miss Florence Law from the post of Registrar, he expressed the gratitude of tbe members for her work, and emphasised the importance of the office of Registrar, especially in welcoming and introducing new members to tbe Society. In speaking of finance ,he warned the members against a misapprehension that there was no occasion to appeal for funds in view of the forthcoming proceeds of the sale of the site. It must be remembered that we must not live on our capital. Our forefathers had pro­ vided us with a home. It was our duty to keep that inheritance intact and to pay our way from current income as we went along. In his concluding remarks Mr. Aldred .leplored the loss of old members by death, and added that we needed young members to carry on the work.
The Treasurer, Mr. F. W. Read, emphasised the Chairman's advice as to the necessity of maintaining the means of the Society, and commented upon the chief items in the accounts, explaining that the favourable financial position of the Society last year, as compared with that for the year under review, was due to exceptional circumstances. This year we were about £90 worse off than last year, there being a deficit of about £40. He also reminded members that tbe investments as set out in the present accounts were entered at market value inst£ad of at cost as previously.
Mr. Wallis Mansford spoke of the success of the Rawlings Presentation Soiree, and paid a tribute to the valuable work of Mr. Aldred in the negotiations for the sale of the site. He suggested that Literary Soirees should be organised in bhe forthcoming autumn, and said that the Soiree Secretary, Miss Gowing, had approved of his proposals.
Mr. W. Varian regretted the sale of the site and criticised the action of tbe Society In selling in view of the fact that so small a proportion of the members were present when the decision was made. He wished to know what obstacles were impeding the completion of the sale. Were the facts being kept back from the members? He then denounced what he considered to be the unsanitary condition of the Chapel, and asked why we should not rebuild on the present site in co-operation with the School of Oriental Studies. He thought the Trust Deed might present difficulties in the sale of the site.
Mr. C. J. Pollard said that if ever he felt inclined to vanity and pdde with regard to the Society he al ways felt chastened in spirit after listening to Mr. Varian. As for keeping facts back from the members, he knew no Society whose Committees were more keen upon taking the members into counsel whenever important 2_ction was contemplated.
Mr. F. W. Read pointed out that whatever technical difficulties there mig·ht be with regard to completion of the sal e, there was not and never had been the slightest doubt as to our power of sale under the Trust Deed. The reason why we could not resist being rated was not because we could not claim to be a religious organisation, but because the Chapel was not wholly devoted to religious worship.
Miss F. A. Law, referring to our Sunday morning lectures, thought too many of them were political or semi-political in character.
Mr. H . W . Unthank also pleaded for a greater number of scientific lectures.
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J
The following members were appointed to the General Committee: Miss Burke, Miss G. Gowing, F. James, 1Iiss Langelaan, Mrs. IIolyoake Marsh, Mrs. Stevens, D. C. Tait, and E. Snelling.
C. E. Fairhall and W. T. Wixcey were appointed auditors. The present five lecturers of the Society were re-appointed nemo con .:
C. Delisle Burns, M.A., IIerbert Burrows, John A. Hobson, M.A., Joseph McCabe, and S. K. Ratc1iffe.
Sub-Committees for the year 1920-21 have been appointed as follows: Bllildillg.-Messrs. Errington, Lidstone, \Vallis Mansford, Snelliog, and
F . H. Mansford (S e,,·etary). COllcert COlllllliftee.-Miss A. Bentley, Miss L. Burke, Mrs. Clements,
Miss n. M. Fairball, Mi ss l'. Fenton, Mrs. Hicks, Miss H. Hochfeld, Miss A. M. IIowship, Miss H. Langelaan, Miss L. M. Simes, Miss E. ·i.Jnons, Miss F. J. imons, Miss P. Sne1Jing, Mrs. Tait, Messrs.
F. \V. Canning, E. unningham, F. A. Hawkins, H. C . S. Hicks, I'. James, A. Jermy, C. E. Lister, W. Maidstone, F. St. Aubyn, D. C. Tait, "T. \ Tarian, S. H. \Voolhouse, and A.1- Clements (Secretary).
Discussioll.-Miss Fairhall, Miss Langelaan, Miss A. Law, Miss F. A. Law, and Me srs. V\allis Mansford and C. J. Pollard .
Lelldillg Library.-Miss L. Burke, .Miss G. Cowing, Miss R. Halls, Miss A. IIowship, Miss F. A. Law, Miss F. J. Simons, Mrs. \Vade, Miss \Yellington, Mrs. Stevens (HOII. Treasurer), Miss H. Langelaan, Mr. F. James, and Mr. Wallis Mansford (Hon. Librariall).
i11embers .-Miss J3urke, r-.1iss Fairhall, Miss La'1gelaan, Miss F. A. Law, Mi s F. J. imons, Mrs. Unthank, and Me srs. A. J. Clements and C. J. Pollard, Miss A. arpenter (Secretary).
i11usic.-Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Clements, Miss G. Gowing and Mr. H. B. Gowing (Secretary).
PlIbllcatiolls.-Miss Halls, Miss IIlmman, Miss Keyte, 11rs. Holyoake Marsh, Mrs. Unthank, and Messr . Unthank and E. Snelling (Secretary).
Rambles.-Miss Fairhall, Mi ss G. Gowing, Miss Langelaan, Mrs. Richards, Mrs. Tait, and Messrs. Errington, Lidstone, Richards, Tait, Unthank, \Voolhouse, and \'\T. T. Wixcey (Secretar,')'
Solr8( .-11iss L. Burke, Mrs. F enton, Mrs. Lidstone, Mi,s Langel~al1. Miss Raftery, and Messrs. Gowing, Vlallis Mansford and C. J. Pollard, Miss G. Gowing (Secretary).
Tuesday J.ectllrc.<.-Miss Bentley, Miss Fairhal1, Miss Langelaan, Miss F . J. Simons, Mrs. Tait, and Messrs. James, C. J. Pol1ard, and Tait.
Ex-Officio .- Joticps of m etings should be sent to the Hon. Treasurer and Hon. SecretaTies of tIlt' Society, who are membel's of all these sub­ committees.
CONFERENCE OF MODERN RELIGIOUS THINKERS.
JUNE 4 AND S' 1920.
Mr. Harry SneIJ, the indefatigable Secretary and Treasurer, at the close of the onierence, said he was glad it was over. He did not mean in any sense that the Conference was a thing well out of the way, but that he was pleased the work and responsibility of organising it was over, and more particularly h~ was thankful to be relieved of Ilhe great anxiety he had felt as to its success. Even until the opening day he had wondered with trepidation if more than a very few people would attend. Mr. Snell's natural anxiety as to the public support the Conference would receive was we imagine entirely dissipated. The spacious and decorative Council Chamber of Caxton Hall was filled at all the four Sessions by an audience who maniiest?d the )(eenest interest in the papers read and in the subsequent disC'l1ssions. Tbe speakers were of varied and diverse views. There were present members of many religious, ethical and fre· thought bodies, and we were addressed bv Catholics, Anglicans. Nonconformists, Unitarians, Theists, . piritnalists,- Theosophists, Po. itivists, Ethicists, Secularists, also
I
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Buddhists and Moslems. The Conference was for the time being a league of faiths, even if the bond of union were only a desire for friendly discussion of subjects of common interest. To tbis limited extent the Conference was an actual fulfilment of a leading aspiration of the Com­ mittee responsible for calling it together, that of union among groups holding progressive religious views. But against this aspect of the Conference must be set a tendency among the speakers to attack unsympa­ thetically the faiths of otbers present. Hostile criticism bas, of course, an important and valuable part to play in the intellectual life, but is surely out of place in a Conference intended to promote unity. Does not the chief hope of success in such an endeavour lie in the direction of emphasis­ ing points of agreement rather than in accentuating points of difference?
Vve do not propose to attempt an account of the Conferenc" . The official record of the proceedings, including reports of the papers read, will appear in "The Humanist" for July. We strongly recommend our readers to obtain a copy. We arc confident they will find it most interesting and instructive reading, while it will also provide a notable chapter in the history of modern reli~ious and ethical thought. \Ye wish to add only a few personal impressions. In our opinion the Second Session, which discussed" Tbe need for a common ba is for a universal religion: personal and social," was the most fruitiul in arousing thoughts bearing upon the main purposes of the Conference. Tbe question raised in this Session is on a large scale the same problem which confronted those who sought, by means of this Conference, to develop the idea of unity among schools of modern religious thought. It now behoves the members of this Committee, after due reflection upon the results of the Conference, to ask themselves the question, "Is there a basis sufficiently common to all concerned to justify further similar action?" We are strongly inclined to give an affirmative answer, but a constructive and detailed reply is also needed. ' Vill some mind with a gift for harmonising diverse bel iefs and the varied intellectual and temperamental idiosyncrasies of human nature kindly build up a common platform from the papers read and the speeches made? It appears to the present writer than such an endeavour must seek to discover the essential principles of each school which are common to all. It must then re-state these essential principles in terms of ordinary, cultured criticism of life, abjuring as far as po sible the use of language of sEctarian significance. And finally, it must discover whether such a presentment of desectarianised principles is generally acceptable as a basis for a certain measure of united action. C. J. POLLARD.
LITERARY SOIREES AND THE LENDING LIBRARY.
In view of the contemplated holding of th ree Literary Soirees in the autumn, dealing with the Life and Work of Rupert Brooke and Ch arles Dickens, and John Drinkwater's Play, "Abraham Lincoln," it has been suggested it wtlUld be helpful if these authors were more f ully represented on the shelves of the Society's Lending Library, and to this end the Librarians desire to say that the following books will be specially wel- corned: •
« Collected Poems of Rupert Brooke and Memoir," 105. Gd. net . "Rupert Brooke's Letters from America," with Preface by Henry J ames,
TOS. Gd. net. "John Webster and the Elizabethan Drama," including Rupert Brooke's
Fellowship Dissertation, Kin g's College, Cambridge, 19s. 3d. John Drinkwater's play, "Abraham Lincoln," and other works of the
same author . Works appertaining to the Life and Work of Charles Dickens. Gifts of books or money to aid in the,ir purchase will be gladly wel­
comed by the Honorary Librarians, who are desirous of making the Library a useful adjunct in connection with the forthcoming fixtures.
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ESSENTIALS: THE THINGS THAT BELONG UNTO OUR PEACE.
CONCLUSION OF LECTURE DELIVEREP BY JOH.'! RUSSELL, M.A., MARCH 28, 1920.
A single shipwreck-nay, a thousand shipwrecks, though they rob us of all we hold dear, bring no doubt of the trustfulness of the sea--only a renewed sense of its difficulties and dangers, and a renewed determination to overcome them.
We know how little at the best we know. And we know also that, even while most earnestly seeking to know) there will be much failure and much suffering-failure and suffering from which there is no escape. In that provisional, inevitable suffering it is our wisdom to acquiesce. That is life as we know it-not as it will always be, but as it is now. That is a part of the price of life. And to pay that price without grudging is perhaps the first of the essentials of our peace.
But that price is not to be paid, that peace is not to be attained (though I need hardly say so here) by shutting out the world, by retiring into some spiritual desert for solitary meditation and self·cleansing, but rather by going down again and again into the arena, girt with more and more of knowledge, with more and more of love, and with more and more of faith-faith in the ultimate reconciliation of men.
That unceasing strife, and that unbreaking faith, are also (I hold) among the essentials of our peace.
By "essentials," then, I mean spiritual essentials. Material essentials there are none. Material needs, yes, from bread and butter to the faces we love. But we shall be judged, in the supreme court of Humanity, not by the material things we possess, but by our spiritual uses of them. And from those spiritual uses there issues--or there does not issue­ our spiritual peace.
Do not misunderstand me. I believe in material things. I am no ,sce tic. I do not mortify the fie h. I place the pleasures of the senses, indeed, if not abused, among the legitimate satisfactions, the legitimate aims, of life. I have had much material enjoyment, and I look forward to more. But that enjoyment, in itself, bears no essential relation to, is no essential part (if any part), of my peace. The greatest blackguards alive (it would not be easy to find them) would almost certainly beat any of us ordinary folk in the satisfyings of the flesh, yet be left far behind in the satisfyings of the spirit-in which alone is peace.
It may be urged that food, at least, is materially essential to a man's peace, because, if that fails, he will starve and his peace with him. That is true. But it is equally true of the material earth on which we tread, of the material sun which sustains that earth, of the material universe which sustains that sun. Those are indeed material essentials, but so obvious, and for the most part, so beyond our control, that for my present purpose I may ignore them.
"Beyond our control"! Have I at last, almost by accident, hit upon the word of words, the key·word to all I mean, the great word of moralists in all ages-self-control? Yes. But I want the control of self, wbich already makes most of us decent citizens, to be carried further, into the deeper spheres of the spirit, where its working would transform the merely decent citizen into the decent neighbour: parent and child, schoolmaster and pupil, employer and employed, seller and buyer, brother and sister, friend and friend, husband and wife.
And now to a close. For all my experience, I am still a believer in that old saying of the wise that "experience teaches "-in spite of the modern youthful cynicism that it teaches very badly.
And so I have no hesitation in offering for your guidance to you, especially who are only now setting out on life--our sea of troubles-some of the deepest lessons from the experience of one who has voyaged before you and is already coming into port-weather·beaten and unseaworthy but in his heart all the old joy and a deeper peace. '
The first lesson is this: That one of the greatest sources of our personal unhappiness is that in addition to the inevitable suffering that results from
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the basic conditions of life (ignorance, selfishness, pain, death) we almost unconsciously create for ourselves (and others) much unnecessary additional suffering by the undue importance we attach to things that in themselves do not yitally matter. When something goes wrong (not exactly as we would have had it go, that is), it is a most salutary spiritual discipline to ask ourselves, first, how far the wrongness really matters to any of the vital things of life (truth, justice, friendship, health), and second, how far it can be corrected (if worth correcting) without blame, or anger, or sarcasm, or revenge, or any other of the instinctive and traditional reactions-in_ fallible provokers of hurt feelings, and, too often, of reprisals. A frank friendly discussion on equal terms (human being to human being) of such mistakes or wrongs as must be discussed, and of the possibilifies of righting them; and the exercise of a generous forbearance by the spiritual superior (there is no other) and the broken peace may often be mended.
Another of the deepest convictions of my life is this-that whatever our chart of life, there is but one unfailing star, goodness, and one unfailing compass-our own soul. Custom, convention, tradition, public opinion, authority even, may have their uses. If we are free, they may serve us. If they enslave us, we are lost.
Again, each of us is a spiritual self, adventuring among other spiritual selves. All selves are equal. Good is the love and service of others in :Sorgetfulness of self. Evil the love and service of self in despite of others.
And again, body and soul are one. Exalt the body, you exalt the soul. Degrade, misuse the body, and the soul sinks in a deeper degradation.
Lastly, peace, like the kingdom of heaven (it is the kingdom of heaven) is within us. There is no peace, nor ever will be, in the world. The strong spirit, for all the evil, breathes an atmosphere, is a child, of peace. The weak spirit, for all the good, breathes the atmosphere, is the child, of war. And the strength of the spirit is conditioned by three states of faith: a faith of loyalty to the material universe (in all its indifference); a faith of reverence for the body and spirit of man (in all their frailty); and a faith of contribution (in all the impenetrable darkness of eternity) to man's unceasing growth in wisdom and happiness.
A spirit so compact is a spirit that can never fail. Whatever the buffetings, it will pre ently swing back to its poise of peace.
IN MEMORIAM.-W. F. THOMAS. \Ve regret to have to announce the death of Mr. VV. F. Thomas, of
.
Mr. W. F. Thomas attended South Place regularly when Mr. W. J. Fox and Dr. Conway were the ministers, and even up to recent times came at intervals when his health permitted. His generous support to the Society enables us to recall that one sign of his attendance was the presence of gold in the collecticn.
He was ducated at University College, invented the Thomas sewing machine, and many other contrivances for the saving of wearisome manual labour, and when he retired from business in r885 he handed it over to his employees in its entirety, allowing them to continue to use his name. For the last 30 years he lived at Bishopshalt, Hillingdon, and his beautiful home and grounds were always open to those who could claim his acquaintance, and the present writer and members of his family retain pleasant recollections of his old world and kindly hospitality when showing them over his beautiful conservatories and flower gardens.
Space will not permit of detailed references to hi many interest, astronomy, photography, gardening and horticulture claimed his attention, and he took a keen interest in local matters and was one of the founders of the National Liberal Club .
It is well to record th e loss of such a friend to the Society, for although he was not personally known to many present day members, when well over 80 years of age he persevered in his attendance on Sunday mornings, notwithstanding the long journey to and from the City from Hillingdon, near Uxbridge. WALLIS MANSFORD.
9
ORIENTAL SCHOOL IN LONDON. SOllTIl PUCE INSTITliTE BouenT.
The Governing Body of the London School of Oriental Studies, Finsbury Circus, has purchased tbe South Place Institute, tbe headquarters of the Ethical Society, for additional class-room accommodation.
The institute abuts on the lecture baJl of the school. The number of students has grown to nearly 300, and the ,8 class-rooms are all too few, so that further provision has to be made in passages or lobbies never intended for the purpose. It is understood Lhat the purchase price is remarkably moderate, having regard to the value of the site for business purposes. But it is in keeping with the traditions of the Ethical Society, now that it is moving westwards, that the building, with close on a century of history behind it, should be used for purposes calculated to promote understanding and goodwill between different raczs.
South Place Chapel was built in 1824 for William Johnson Fox tbe Unitarian preacher, politician, and man of letter, and it pas ed later to the control of the Positivists. The name of Moncure D. Con way figures prominently in its history. In recent years it has been best lmown for the cia sical 'unday evening concerts whicb have brought the best music within reach of the poorest, sinGe seats have-been free. The details of adapting the institute to its new purpose have to be settled and it may not be taken over for some months. Meanwhile an appeal will be issued for providing Lhe cost and building up a substantial endowment fund for the school.
Another gratifying announcement is that the Treasury, on the recom­ mendation of the University Grants Committee, have increased the annual grant from £4,000 to £7,000 for the next two years, pending the quinquennial readjustment. The additional resource is to be utilised for augmenting as far as possible the salaries of the teaching staff with a view to approximation to the standard set by the University of London.
Sir Denison Hoss, the director, has received from the Sultan of Egypt the Order of the Nile, Second Class, for his work for the encouragement of Oriental studies.-" The Times," April 22, H)20.
N .B.-Mr. F. M. Overy wrote to "The Times" correcting tbe statement as to outh Place having passed to the control of the Po itivists, and the correction was duly published.-ED.
CORRESPONDENCE. RcspoIIsibilily for I!le opilliolls e.rpress,·" IIl1der lhis !lcadill,!.!, resls ,olcl)' wil!l
tile 7t'rilcrs. To the Editor of the MONTnLY RECORD.
L TERNATIONAL MORAL EDUCATION CO);,GRESS AND THE LEAGl'E OF KATJOK .
HE VISCOUNT BUYCE'S LETTER.
Yes, most people approve of a League of "'ations to eliminate war from the world. All people approve of genuine, true, coin; but all disapprove of counterfeit, base, metal. An increasing number think the existing League a decoy, a deceit, not at all so innocent as Viscount Jhyce and others think . Like the great American nation many object to the" Form and Content of the League of Nations Covenant." Do the authors themselves believe in it? Their acts show that they do not. In what respect are things changed as a result of this League? Less armies, less navies, le s secret diplomacy? Less fears, more trust and confidence, more friendship between nations? I trow not.
Look at one of its term. The Briti 11 Empire is to !have six votes in the Assembly: all other peoples one vote. Is it to be wondered at that America and others have" discovered ' this precious Covenant. 1 am convinced that many who approve tbis League have not read, much less studied, the Covenant of the League.
It is a fraud, an "exit," designed to fail, and by its failure discredit a real League.-Truly, R. F. MACr;:.
10
HeNeRllRY eFFH~ERS,
Trio, .. ,.... ... ... F. W. RUD, 65, Harley Road, Hn.rle.den, N.W.IO. Seortt4rie. {Mrs. C. Fr.RTCRER SM:ITR. 17. Sydenbam Park. S.E. 26.
... }'. M. Onmy, 36, Caterbam Hoad, Lewisbam, S.E.J3. neui.trar 0' Members and}
Auociate. ... MI~S L. BUl'RP, 131 Sunderland Rood, Forest ITill, '.E .23.
Edilor of MOlllhly Reeo,'(/. O. J. POLLAnD, .. Shanklin," Th. Avenue, Obingford, E.4.
{ WALLIS 1I1ANsronD, Cherry 'rree Court, 53, Aldersgate St., E.O.I.
TAbrarian. ... F. J AMES, 6, Minson Road. S. Hackney. ]]),0. Miss H. LONGEr.AAN 26. Douglas Road. N.!.
Tr.amre" and Trustees { JonN Atnn.D, 53, Berners Street. Oxford Street, W.l. 0' the Rebuilding Fund E. CONNINGBAM, 52, Bow Lane, Oheapslde, E.OA.
MISS . \. BENTLEY lllSS JJ. BOnKE .\. J. CJ.DIO/1'S E. OUNNING llA)I
E. To' . ERltINGTON. Jl[rbs H. M. FAIRllALr,
Bullding Concert
New Members:
e(,)MMITTEE.
MISS G. COWING " '. ~r . HA-RYEI' ]', J A~IES MIliB H. TJJ\NGELAAN l\11~S :F'. A. TJAW
". CmSTONE Mus. HOLrO,lse MmSD
Secretaries of Sub.(!ommltteclI.
lIf,s T,. Ill. SDltS ?\hSH }', J. ,lUONS E. NEtLING MRB. • T.:YEI\S MRS. UNTH4.~~ D. C. l',\]T
F. H"UnlnT MANsFonD, Wnlden, Kingsend, Rui.lip. ALFR"D J. Or .• MENTs, B, Finchley Way, Brent Gorden Village,
Churoh End, Finchley, N,3. MissH. M. P.UlIHAI.L,8, Scnrboro Road, NA. Miss A. CA nPENTEll. 356, Camden Road, N.7. H. n. GOWTNG, 53, Stamford Hill, N.I6. E. SNttl.ING, B, Arnoorley Road. Leyton, E.IO. W. T. WrxCF.Y, 63, Grovelands Road, Palmers Green, N.13. Miss GnAcE GOWING, 302. Dlllston Lane. Haekney, E.B. J,.. M, OVEnr, 3G, Caterharn Road, Lewishom, S.E.13.
1111', J. W, NEW'l'ON, 15, Lady Somerset Read , Kcntlsh Town, N.W.S. Mr, A, G. PIU1'cHAnD, 3, Pont Street, ITnmpstead, N.W.3.
New Associates: Mr. ll. GmsoN, c/o Messrs. W. llcfford It Sons, Ltd" Cambridge,
Changes of Address: Mr. W, T. llARVEl:, 91, Rosemary Road, C1aeton·on Sea. 1II1ss T. SWORN, Wilton Jlouse, 16:;. ITighbury New Park, N.S. Mr. A. E. ANDERSON, .. Persevere," 75, Stockwell Park Road, S, W.9.
JULY
I General Committee 6.30 p.m. 4 Service ... rr.o a.m,
10 Ramble: Lon,ghton and High Beech, meet Liverpool St. 2.8 p.m.
II Service r 1.0 a,m. 18 Service ... 11.0 a.m,
18 Ramble: Tolteridge (see page 2). 25 No Service ...... _ 2S Ramble: Marden Park, Oxted,
and Godslone. Charing X 10,25, orLondon B'dgc. 10.33 a.m.