The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-03-30
The Butterfly on the Card.

In different parts Of the United States and
Canada there are men and women who are
distinguished from other people by their
possession Of prettily engraved cards. bear.
Ing the likeness of butterfly % an emblem,
and In Greek characters the motto. He
psyche; mai, he ambrotos. The number Of
persons with butterfly cards 10 not large. but
we are informed that It L. increasing. Far
from indicating that Its possessor is devoted
to the triviaities ollie, or Is disposed to fit
from flower to flower. slipping sweets wher-
ever found, and constant only to q con.
slant change. the butterfly certificate sttests
q persevering devotion to tho pursuit OF
phllosophic truth--one OF the most serious
and least fippant pursuits In which human
beings can engage. The cards are the Gre
dentials OF membership in the American
Akademe, an association OF modern disciples
Of PLATO. We have already spoken OF the
Piatonist, tho able organ Of the American
| Akademe. II 10 edited In Osceola, 1T. Clair
county. Missouri. and printed and published
just across the Hudson River. In New Jer.
sey, being entered ut the Orange Post ONCE
rs second-clnss matter.
Tho regular monthly meetings Of the
Akademe are held neither at Osceola nor ut
Orange, but at Jacksonville. Illinois, where
the President lives. His name IL HIRAM X.
JONES, NJ. d. To Jacksonville. Illinois. such
members Of the Akademe as do not live too
far away proceed once month, bearing
their butterfly cards. In order to cooperate
In the dissemination OF the knowledge of
Philosophical Truth, with view to tho cleya-
ton OF the mind from the sphere OF the
sensuous life into that Of virtue and justice.
and into communion with the dviner ideas
and natures" The members who are unable
to get to Jacksonville to participate actively
in the monthly deliberations Of tho Akademe
are supplied with o full account Of the pro-
ceedings through the columns of our es-
teemed contemporary, the Piatonist.
The last regular meeting OF the American
disciples Of PLATO was held on February 10,
at DR.. JoNEs's house. From the official re-
port prepared by the Secretary Of the
Akademe, Mrs. JULIA P. STEVENS, we learn
that it was "a very tempestuous evening,
the wind blowing perfect blizzard" As II
the forces Of nature were conspiring against
the cause of Philosophic Truth, the tempera-
ture suddenly fell from 800 to zero, a severe
storm OF rain, sleet. and snow set In, and the
blizzard hOwled In O manner that would have
kept less devoted disciples at home. Never.
theless, as we are gratifed to hear, 1.-THE
usual number were present, and fourteen
candidates were duly proposed and elected
to membership"
Tho meeting was "purcly Platonic In char
actcr," the Secretary goes on to say. and
the exercises were OF sort that would have
Immensely pleased Mr.. ANGUS DALLAS OF
Toronto, had he been present. That ardent
disciple Of pure Platonism sent ON essay on
Dalectic, which Is officially commended In
tho Hatonist as remarkable, unique in its
mode OF treatment Of the subject, and stir
ring up inquiry like flaming substance from
a distant star upon a dark path" There was
a philosophical poem entitled "The Inlet"
by Prof. LEWIS j. BLOCK of Chicago. The
Vice-President Of tho Akademe, DR.. ALEX
AMBER WILDER, contributed paper, proba-
bly, for the benefit of tho fourteen new men,
bers, explaining that tho butterfly on the
card symboizes psyche, the soul. and also
transating the Greek motto. Tho discuss
sions were edifying, and. altogether. the
members felt that they had not braved the
anti-Platonic blizzard In vain.
When we consider how small In proportion
to the whole population of the country Is
the number OF citizens who are interested in
abstract philosophical speculation, and how
much smaller is the number who care par
ticularly for the ideas Of PLATO. 1t appears
that the accession OF fourteen new members
In single month Is evidence Of vigorous de-
velopment on the part OF the Akademe.
Long may the butterfly wave its gossamer
wings; and many be the new issues of card
certificates bearing that significant emblem!
THE Sun shines for the new North American
disciples Of tho school which has passed
from Athens to Alexandria, and from Alex
andria to Jacksonville, Illinois. Whenever
they hold o convention In Orange We shall
send good reporter