The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-10-16

were largely attended, and the thought
there grew dangerously liberal-danger-
Gus to her freedom, at least, for she was
banished from Massachusetts.
There are numerous and unmistaka-
BILE evidences of hunger for new thought;
of desire for study and investigation,
which has been growing since the adj
vent of the new era. 1t would seem
eminently proper and wise in the lib
eral church to turn to account, as we
ordinarily say, this thirst, this tendency,
and institute, alongside with its other
supplementary societies, one for general
study, discussion, and conversation.
There are such immense fields for
study and speculation outside the
strictly religious feld-art, history, the
histories of nations, and the histories
of ideas, science, social and political
problems, the literatures of various ma
tions and eras, and host of subjects
any one of which opens an enticing
vista-and our ordinary social life gives
so little opportunity for discussion, or
any real conversation, or any stimulus
for improvement, that there seems an
absolute want of some new and more
favorable conditions for intellectual
progress and companionship.
1t is easy to say general society ought
to afford this opportunity, but it is i'm
possible to so shape it that it will be at
all favorable. American society is so
largely composed of youth in the first
flush of life, and eager for good time, or
of the "newly rich" who care more for
the sparkle of diamonds than the sparkle
of thought; more for social prestige,
than for intellectual ideas that general
society can never afford satisfactory or
profitable companionship for intellect
ual people or any stimulus for intellect
ual growth.
There is still another reason for the
existence of clubs for study. Many of
our American people of to- day entered
upon their busy careers so early in life
that opportunities for study were cut
off, and indeed such opportunities were
much less favorable years ago than to-
day; and now when more leisure has
come with the years of prosperity,
many of these men and women are glad
to find the encouragement and stimu-
lus Of an association, or a club designed
for study and discussion.
If such groupings occur under the
fosterings of the church, they serve the
double purpose of intellectual develop
ment and of acquaintanceship among
those who, perhaps, had been neighbors
in church for years, with wall of 81
lence between them.
1t is pleasant to contemplate a possi-
BILE ideal society of intellectual men
and women; gatherings superior to
fashionable parties which are babels of
incOherent sounds, and bewildering
blazon of dress something different
also from the gatherings of youth,
which rarely rise above mere gayety and
frivolity, but gatherings of thoughtful
men and women who wish to know
something of each others opinions
want to get wider outlook over the
thought-world, who would enjoy meet
ing to consider together what has been
going on in the universe, and what is
likely yet to transpire, and what are our
relations to it all-who wish to be
aroused, encouraged, electrified by con-
tact with other minds; gatherings where
there would be no confused gatherings,
but real conversation, where deferen-
tial attention would be given to every
thought advanced; where wit would
sparkle and humor glow; where wild
speculation even would not be repulsed,
but calmly considered, and where there
would be such perfect freedom and
ease, that even the novice and the
stranger would dare-nay, wish to ex-
press their opinions gatherings which
would have somewhat OF the flavor of
the clubs in Johnson's day, only there
would be women and not wine there,
or which would have somewhat of the
spirit of the famous French salons,
which became the birthplace of ideas,
the cradle of many volume, the source
of inspiration of many statesman and
poet. Would not such meetings be
vastly more satisfactory to people of
intellectual tastes than what is to-day
called society" where women talk of
their servants, and of picking and pre-
serving" and gossip about each other,
and men talk of bargains and base ball,
and money prospects.
The glitter and blare of gay social life
may be all right. Perhaps they are
necessary. l think they do serve a
purpOse-there must be some foam on
the current of life-but let us not mis-
take this foam for deep waters. And
does it not become evident that it is
necessary to facilitate other groupings
in society, affording opportunities for
people who care nothing for the glitter
of life, bnt have social instincts which
crave companionship and intellectual
tastes that deserve qualification. Do
we not need more of this finer kind of