The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-11-27
SUGGESTIONS FROM HOWARD"


Several Special Features offered For the
Consideration of the Members.
DEAR II. L. c.. FRIENDs-I have few
suggestions to offer, briefly, for your con-
sideTation.
AS we are a social and literary organiza-
ton. and while our annual reunions and
holiday socials make pleasing and beau
tiful features in the social realm, and the
interchange of thought on the page en-
courages literary effort, yet this does not
suffice. Weneed some means whereby each
member of the club can reap benefit to
him or herself in good literature; a plan
through which TO secure the reading of
good, pure books, at the least expense.
How can this be done? will suggest a
plan for your consideration. 1t is this:
Start a circulating library, by organ
ling reading clubs in each neighborhood
where enough members can be secured,
say five, one of the number chosen as
superintendent, who shall receive and
distribute the books to the club. and trans
act all business with the librarian. Let
each member OF the club pay a fee, of
say 81. into the library fund. to be ex-
pended for books, to be carefully selected
good, moral, standard works, on vari-
Gus topics, no two alike. Place
these books under the care and
management OF librarian, who
shall put them up in packages, assort-
ed subjects, of same numbers as size of
clubs and ship TO the superintendent,
keeping a record OF package by number,
with title of books contained therein. Each
club being uniform in size, and recorded
with Librarian by name or number, and To-
cation, etc, the books can be shipped by
superintendent IRON club to club as di-
rected by librarian. All, of course, to be
governed by strict library laws. Ii this
can be made practical, it would secure the
reading OF large number OF books at a
very small cost to each number.
\ pleasant social feature of these read
ing clubs would be to meet once week,
to exchange books, discuss their topics,
etc. While we may not be able to accom-
plish this for this winters reading, we can
criticise its feasibility, and if decided prac-
teal can prepare for it in the future.
On another subject | would suggest that
we have the Howard literary club incor-
pOrated under the laws OF the state of In
diana or some other state. The expense
is not great, and it makes the club a per-
manent legal organization. By being
Incorporated under the laws of any
one state, does not imply that it is
a state institution by any means Many
organizations and societies, are incorpor-
ated in one state, and exist, or transact
business, in many other states. The II.
i. c. is bounded by no state lines, but
brother reaches out the hand to brother,
wherever found; and we hope to see the
day when the good influence and broth
erly friendship of the order will be known
and felt throughout our entire country.
| trust all will heed the editors kind adj
monition in regard to preparing manu-
script. In this, it is very desirable that
everyone make it point to write very dis
tinctly and make the nom clearly under
stood, as the editor is not yet familiar with
our names.
1 hope all members will retain their
old mons To change detracts interest
from your letters, and to thus lose your
identity, is like losing a friend l am
more than delighted to see so many bright
and familiar faces in our circle already,
and extend hearty welcome to all new
members. Yours, sincerely,
HOWARD"