Wichita eagle., 1888-10-10
UNITY CLUB.

At the initial meeting of the Unity club
for the coming season plans of study for
the season were discussed by K. A. Sanky,
G. c. Mastin, Dean Gordon, B. l.. keenan,,
j. V. Dougherty and'others The general
opinion was toward special lines and more
thorough work than was done last year.
Some wanted to take nothing but science,
others English literature, others. again,
history or fiction or some special author,
as Emerson, Darwin or John Fisk. The
constitution previously adopted attempts
to provide for both classes of students. In
accordance with its provisions persons de-
string to cooperate in some general line of
study such as that of literature, music, the
drama, or the art of sociability, may or
ganze as a section, choosing its own pre-
siding officer, who shall, by virtue of his
position, be vice-president of the general
organization of the Unity Club. Each
section may form classes Of not less than
five persons for special work under that
line indicated by the title of the section. A
literary section, of which Mr.. Dean Cor
don was elected president and Mr.. j. V.
Dougherty secretary, was organized.
Three classes, one for the study of Elmer
sons writings. one of philosophy of evolu-
ton as interpreted by John Fisk, and one
for the History of English Literature,
were formed. The different classes met
at their separate places and chose
respectively, as for their books
of study, Tains History of English liter
ature," Emerson's Representative men,
and for the science class, John Fisk's
"Cestiny of Man." and Darwin's "Orlgin
of speeches" a class to continue the
study, commenced last year of the best
fiction, and others for the study Of history
and natural science will doubtless next be
formed.
Public exercises will be given by one sec
ton or by a union of some or all the sec
tons from time to time. The public exer-
cises are supposed to represent some of the
results of the special work done in differ
ent classes. The club is organized so as to
become member of the National Bureau
OF Unity clubs, of whico Edward Everett
Hale is president. This bureau col
lects plans and information con-
corning Unity club work from all
over the United States, for the
benefit of any club which is a member of
said organization. The lecture depart
ment of the national burea arranges for
the securing of first-class lecturerers at re-
duced rates, feature which the Wichita
Unity club hopes to take advantage Of
during the coming season.
1t will be seen by the books so far chosen
that no department Of learning is forbidden
in the club. The idea Of the club is not
like that of the Chautauqua society to give
to studies certain tendency or to thought
a certain direction, but to develope in each
person capacity for the highest truth.
whether in science, history, philosophy,
morals or poetry.
The public exercises that will be given
from time to time by the united effort Of
the different sections OF the club are very
creditable. as there are some able gentle
men of the city whose addresses viii be
quite interesting.
Ii is expected the club, when completed,
will number far into the hundreds, hav-
ing in its members some of the best liter
AIRY, dramatic end musical talent Last
years work was highly satisfactory, the
vote of the ten best novels given below
showing the taste and Judgment Of the
club. The vote was as follows: LES
Miserabeles Il, lyanhoe u, Copperfeld IL,
Ben Hur 5, Scarlet Letter 5, Last Days OF
Pompeii :. Vanity Fair Q, Romola G, Adam
Bede :. Middlemarch ).