Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-08-15
"TARRIERS' ROCK CLUB y
a SHORT HISTORY OF ITS ORIGIN,
AIMS AND WORK.
'cP. Duff" Says Its Name Is the Lyceum
of Social Science and Gives Few
Instances of the Many Men Who Rose
in the World Through Its Training.

OF Social SCIehCe anu u1Nes IL rev
Instances of the Many Men Who Rose
in the World Through Its Training.
UPPER LEHIGH, Pa, August 13.
EDITOR TRIBUNE The Lyceum of
Social Science, known in vulgar circles
as the "Tarriers Rock Club" has receiv-
ed considerable notoriety in your columns
of late. In justice to the organization
and the numerous readers of the TRIBUNE
who are unacquainted with the facts in
the case, short history of its origin and
aims are appropriate at this time. This
organization is an old landmark in
Upper Lehigh, as old as the village itself.
In the days gone by this noble organiza-
ton exerted a wholesome influence on
the social atmosphere Of this rugged
mountain top.
The organization from its inception has
been original in the extreme. The only
qualification for membership consists in
being man. Color, creed, race or pre-
vious condition of servitude are no bar
to membership in the lyceum. The
pagan forms and ceremonies that char
acterize limitations in modern clubdom
are completely ignored. The lyceum
meets on the historic "rock," where the
members can enjoy the only bounties of
nature that remain uncornered-God's
pure air and bright sunshine. No mill
tary appendages in the shape of sentinels,
| or no meaningless secret pass preclude
admission to its councils.
Regular attendance at the meetings of
the lyceum, and an active interest in the
subjects discussed are the only pre-
requisites to membership. Democrats,
Republicans, Prohibitionists, Christian
socialists, philosophic anarchists, op-
timists, pessimists, and all other isms
commune together on a common level.
The lyceum is non-partisan and nom
sectarian, and while all subjects are
is free to follow the dictates of conscience
in regard to the duties he owes to God,
his country and his neighbors.
In the early days of your borough
hood, when many wise-acres prophesiz-
ed that "Freeland would never amount
to anything" we sent trained and COM
petent men fresh from the lyceum TO
take charge of your affairs and instruct
the first burghers in the science of govern
ment. These men proved very efficient
tax-collectors, policemen and borough
constabes. In the days gone by we
supplied Foster township with officials,
and the services of Messrs. Mccarthy
and Oberrender as auditors-at-large were
not needed, for the public business was
transacted in such way that the town.
ship accounts could be audited in few
hours where 1T takes six months now.
Yes, Mr.. Editor, the Lyceum of Social
Science hasn bee the alma mater of great
men, past and present, and any effort to
construct a modern "lime-kiln club" on
its ruins must necessarily fail. Hon.
VIM. r. Jeffrey, Hon. James Collins,
and Hon. d. M. Evans received their
early tuition in the lyceum and are yet
honored members on the rolls.
Some years ago the apparent tendency
OF population to press against subsistence
was thoroughly discussed in the lyceum
1t was this discussion that enabled Hugh
Malloy to see that mans rapacity must
Gf not restrained) eventually exetermin-
ate food, animals, birds and fish, hence
his heroic efforts to prot 9ct game.
Hon. Judge Lynch visited the lyceum
while on fishing excursion to the
famous Nescopeck, and was so impress
ed with the standard of intelligence dis
played that he appointed one of our
members to be master of velocity in the
state boss factory, where mine foremen
are turned out to order on the Bellamy
plan. This factory is now going full
blast in the city of Hazleton. At the
intentions and in order that your numer-
GUS readers, many of whom are common
everyday people, may obtain clearer
conception of the composition of the ly-
ceum and the standing of its individual
members, a clearer idea of the workings
of the boss factory becomes necessary.
We all know that in the days past,
when individuals managed their own
business in their own bungling way,
considerable care had to be exercised
and considerable time and money were
spent by the coal operators in breaking
in" refractory Western mules and "train-
ing" mine foremen. But now things
have changed, thanks to the rapid strides
made by Christian socialism in the Key
stone state.
The boss factory is modern institu-
ton in the full sense of the word. 1t is
not our purpose in this article to 60 into
, details. Suffice it to say that you take
any ordinary chunk of humanity and
throw him into hopper, then "press
: the button" and "whizz'' goes the
machinery of the state, with the result
} that full-fedged mine foreman, with
tape, compass and level is safely evolved
into the inishing-room, where the mine
inspector is in waiting to brand the new
conner with the great seal of the state of
Pennsylvania and present him with a
, hat and lamp.
But am DEPRESSING. The lyceum met
in regular session last evening and de-
bated the following: "Resolved, that
Hines, English and McGinty have had
their share" The debate that ensued
developed the fact that all those gentle
men have many friends in the lyceum,
but the preponderance of argument
seemed to favor the affirmative at least
the judges so decided. Resolved, that
marriage is failure" will be debated
pro and con at the next meeting. Two
prominent young men have promised to
take the affirmative, while Prof. H
and another recently-made benedict have
volunteered to debate the negative. 1t
is probable that this much discussed
problem will be solved for all time.
p. DUFF.