The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-02-09
For the Grand Haven News.
THE LYCEUM.

institution would be OF interest TO the
readers of the village papers. Being in
acquainted with its rise and pro-
gress will give you, for the benefit of the
a concise account of its birth,
life, and death.
Long ago, away sin the dark ages" the
boys of this village secretly assembled,
weekly, for the sole purpose of preparing
themselves for public discussion. In pro-
cess of time they, with the information
and practice there attained, appeared,
joined in their efforts by some of the old
or members of our little community, and
formed public Debating Club" This
association continued in its then.constitut-
ed form for series of years. In le47 the
"Lyceum" was organized, the constitu-
ton and bylaws adopted under which il
has since lived, and for the most part pros
pered, and finally gasped and died-giv-
ing relief no doubt, to some at last of its
once active members. Thus for ten years
had the members of this institution sus-
tanned themselves, and in the judgment
of strangers much to the credit of the vii
lage of Grand Haven, not once even
thinking they were cropping in darkness.
But in after years star arose ain the
East" from behind the ample folds of
Kingdoms Queen, and ere this commune
ty were aware of any important era of
light, they tell the screenings of that cru
chile that was destined to melt, purify and
mould not only individuals, but COM
munity and everything thereto appertain-
ing into self modelled perfection. One
item the catalogue of reform was casting
out portion of the code of laws by which
the "Lyceum" had been governed for ten
years, viz: In 1857, to expunge part Of
Art. II, to wit And all negroes shall
be excluded from this Lyceum.'
The members had never acted up to
the strict definition of Webster, were will
ing to concede to that class the privilege
they had often accepted heretofore, by be-
coming listeners to the debates. This
did not satisfy two or three of that stamp
who never made speech Tor prayer if
they ever pray on any subject without
closing by taking the daguerreotype Of
negro from their bosom and sending
forth stereotype eulogy over it, wind
ing up with billingsgate epithets upon
the name ard character Of Washington,
Cass, DC.
The writer of this once voted for ex-
punging, and only for the purpose Of re-
storing the wonted harmony of this long
maintained weekly assembly. But VIC
were fairly voted down by true Jlue mem
bers of the Association. Here were the
seeds of death planted, and they were
guarded as they terminated with a watch.
full eye and nourished with fostering
hand in their growth, trained apparently
with view for scorpion sproutings tc
lash the rascals naked round the world
In 1858 the same scenes were enacted
The vote was taken when many were alb
sent upon the negative side of the ques-
tion-seven yeas, six nays, Vice Presi
dent in the chair deciding il lost, with OF
without his vote, il requiring two-third
majority-but one vote out of the vii
lage, and that from one of the most
punctual and active members. The at
tempt TO revive the Lyceum, the pres
ent winter has failed. The reasons why
are already sufficiently before the public
in the left-handed blessings it has from
time to time received through the press,
and the statement of members and 9th
ers through the same channel.
l have penned this in haste, and if some
of your readers do not find every word or
sentence strictly grammatical, hope their
over nice spirit of criticism will not torture
them in the perusal, when they learn that
| never sojourned in foreign chimes, pen
ming in my scrap-book beautiful sentences