The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-10-04 00:00:00

Cbe -F-gotariba Obserber,

SATURDAY. OCTOBER 4 b, 1884.

CONGRESSES.

THE departed philosopher who wrote over
thirty volumes in praise of the virtue of
silence would, if he had lived until now,
have had material for more than one further
outpouring on the same theme. The num-
ber of Congresses on various subjects which
assemble in the United Kingdom in the
autumn of each year, is ever on the increase,
and as, with each succeeding season, this is
more apparent, it is not greatly to be.won-
dered at that some among us should lift up
their voices in a mild kind of protest against
so much talk being devoted to so many
topics. But the protest is only half-sincere,
because nearly every one among us is inter-
ested in some way or other, direct or indi-
rect, in certain of these gatherings. The
British Association (whose meeting at Mon-
treal this year was an altogether exceptional
occurrence) provides material for reflection
to those of a scientific tarn of mind, while
less gifted mortals, whatever their tastes,
can find something to interest them in the
deliberations of the Social Science Congress.
The autumnal meeting of the Iron and
Steel Institute, or of the Associated
Chambers of Commerce., appeals directly to
men of business, while the gatherings of the
Church Congress or the Coneregational
Union, or of the conference of any other of
the great religions bodies, sweeps a wider
field, and has for audience all in these islands
who are interested in the spread of religion
among the masses. The most important of
the friendly societies, such as the Oldfellows,
the Foresters, and the Free Gardeners, meet
earlier in the year, but in the autumn, to-
gether with such as have been miss tioned,
there are many assemblies affecting different
trades and professions. The Trades 'Union
Congress and the meetings of the Bricish
Medical Association, the Pharmaceutical
Society, and the Dental Association, are in-
stances in point, and all go to complete the
proof of the assumption that the age in
which we live can certainly be called an age
of Congresses. Unless all human experience
can be held to be wrong, the consequence of
this state of things cannot but be of good. All
who have been present at such meetings
can tell of more than one instance of mis-
appliel zeal, of visionary talkers, and of
aimless talk; but just as a perfect Parliament
—a Parliament which should do everything
to everybody's satisfaction—has never yet
been chosen, so a perfect Congress—a Con-
gress at which no one has spoken who would
better have remained silent—has never yet
assembled. But, allowing everything that
can be said upon this point, does it all
amount to a proof that the trouble taken in
organising such gatherings is not amply re-
paid. On the contrary, it must be held that
the objections which can be made on this
score are a testimony in themselves to the
work that is being done, seeing how small
a proportion of that which is unworthy or
useless can be brought up in judgment
against them. Nothing better could be
wished for the advancement in knowledge
of any body of men than that they should
periodically assemble and discuss fairly and
fully, and with all the advantage of techni-
cal knowledge, the subject of deepest inter-
est to them as philanthropists or of import-
ance to them as traders. The clashing of
intellects produces sparks which illuminate
much that would otherwise remain in dark-
ness, and which set light to a deal that in
other circumstances would be dead and cold.
Unfettered debate upon topics of general
interest is the greatest possession of modern
English life, and the annual Congresses
which we now see so thickly around us are
striking exemplars of the usefulness
and the importance of such a state of
things.