The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-02-21
THE LITERARY CLUB.
REVIEW OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR THE
LAST FIVE YEARS.

LAST FIVE YEARS.
Essay by y. &. CasOn. Esq. Read be.
fore the Club Friday Evening,
February 10, 1894, at the Home of
Mr.. ]. Allen Smith.
The Club met at the usual hour. Rev. F. Y
Pressly in the chair, and Mr.. w. w. Bradley
Secretary. A full meeting Of the members
were present.
Mr.. Casop read as follows:
On the 18th OF March, 1889, the twelfth an.
niversary meeting OF the Abbeville Literary
Club, 1t was my pleasure to read an essay on
its history from the organization uniii tnas
that the minutes or the meetings IN many
Instances had been carelessly. recorded ana
that there were no records OF some OF Inc
meetings.
With the assistance of different members
and the examination of loose notes sup.
piled these omissions as we'll as l could ana
we now have pretty good synopsis or every
marks By the essayist from the organization
of the club to the date referred to, when my
essay was read at the home of Mr.. A. W:
Smith. This essay was printed BY request OF
the club in the Press and Banner In the issue
Of the 27 OF March, 1889.
In the second minute book of the club, Mr.
MCGOWAN, one OF the secretaries, makes this
note on the second page: the nTst mlnute
utes OF the meetings OF the club and general
Information in regard To It's work up TO
March 10, 1888.
In the essay referred to, 1 made this state
ment at the beginning: ut is my purpose to
give an outline OF the history OF this cluo
especially of the essays read before IL by the
members, thereby, If possible; stirring up our
pride in it's organization and work and In
spiripg our zeal for It's continuance"
l purpose in this paper to follow up the his:
tory of the club till the present time ana
could have no higher motive than was ex'
pressed before.
April u, 1889. The club held It's first meet
Ing after the anniversary mentioned, on thls
date and was entertained at the nome OF
Judge McGowan. Mr.. F. B. Gary read AN es.
say on Robert Burns as Poet and Person.
This paper and the discussion that followed
It's reading were of much Interest and pleas
sure. The subject OF the essay was tne pos.
SCISSOR not only of q great mind, but OF big
heart as we'll and his words OF hre go TO the
hearts OF his readers, awakening pathos and
inspiring admiration. Though not, perhaps
always exemplary in his conduct yet he was
q man for u that.
For the sake OF the editor OF the Press and
Banner l note statement made by the SeGre.
tary in the mintues Of this meeting. 1.-The
ciation of the Kindness of Mr.. Hugh Wilson
in publishing the essay OF Mr.. Cason on the
subject OF the Abbeville Literary club"
May II. The club found It's home at this
msssng eassyse Mr. WV M Msl s whose sa subject war
|"Henry Clay" This was the second time
that the memory of this distinguished states.
man was honored by the club. Capt. j. L,
Parks did the honor The first time In an essay
on jackson aud Clay read at the meeting
on December p. 1857, at the home OF Judge
Cothran.
July 5. The club was entertained by Judge
Colhran at this time. Mr.. L. P. Cothran read
the essay OF the evening. his subject being
THE huguenots." This paper may we'll be
classed with former one by our frlend on
"The Jews" and which received great com
mendation from the members. The essay lists
forte seems TO be In writing up the scattered
and the prosecuted 30 much 81 that the mem
bers Of the club are prone 70 believe that they
are In the descent royal, direct from the Ia
ther Of the faithful or the feers from oioooy
France and settlers upon the banks OF Able
ville's most noted streams. Long cane ana
Little River"
The nintues of this meeting are recorded
on page IS OF the minute book and the nexl
entry was made by Mr.. MCGOWAN as follows
"On december 2G, 1890, the undersigned
against his protest Was elected Secretary o.
the Abbeville Literary Club. l find the min
utes of the meetings have been carelessly >
taken and none recorded In the minute book
for nearly two years. have collected as
many notes OF the meetings as l could and
Will endeavor to record SHORT synopsis OF as 3
The newly elected Secretary, then
states: II think from the incomplete
data before me that the next meet,
ing was held in August, 1889, at the home o.
Mr.. j. Allen Smith," The Secretary Is right
US to the Time OF this meeting. Mr.. +. B.
Gary read the essay on tn occasion on THE
South." Our host, the same at this time, Was
then living at the residence now owned by
DR.. Hill.
October II. The new Secretary still com
plaius. He says: "My data very incomplete
| Judge that no essay was read as Mr.. Wllson
was again principal and Mr.. DeBruhl alter
nate" This statement of the Secretary is o.
doubtful construction.
Mr.. MCGOWAN after writing the above, adds
the following note to the minutes: Slnce
writing these minutes l have found Other
data "(data seems TO have been favorite
ord or the Secretary which show that pr.
+. +. Harrison read the essay-subject, "Hy
geine, or Preventive Medicine"
Nov There are no notes OF this meet;
ing" states the Secretary-data he should
OF Mr.. W. c. MCGOWAN. Mr.. Hugh Wilson
read an essay on Newspapers"
December 81, 1889. This was what Is known
in the club as the Christmas meeting, a,
which the host Is freely forgiven II he violate
the rule Of the club as to the serving OF fruga
refreshments. The host, Mr.. Hugh Wilson
on this occasion needed 10 be much forgiven
The Secretary states that the club was enter mt,
read an interesting paper on the "History O.
Abbeville County,"
February, $780, Mr.. DeBruhl kindly enter
tained The club at this time. Dr. M. F. Game
read the essay, his subject being "Electricity.'
The club was shocked"
March 9l. The club met with Mr.. s. c. Ca
son on this occasion. Rev: l.. F. Beatty read
an interesting paper on "David Livingston
the great explorer In Darkest Africa"
May l6. The home Of MIR. w. A. Lee was
the place OF the clubs meeting on this date
evening on "Henry w. Grady" The essHyist
showed his appreciation of the subject by
falling In love with II and from the tone ol
considered his hero second only to the father
Of his country of whom he wrote little la ter
but must not anticipate,
July4. No notes of this meeting were pre-
served and the Secretary was forced TO make
a very meagre record OF 1t from memory. II
was held at the residence OF Mr.. W. H. Par
ker. Col. H. r., Wardluw read a paper entl'
tied "Southern Literature"
December rs. Christmas meeting. The
club met on this auspiclous occasion with
Judge McGowan. According to the fitness ol
things Mr.. 5. G. Casou. the essayist. read pa
per at this peaceful season, on "War and In.
ternational Arbitration.
February 20, 1891. The first meeting OF the
new year was held at the home OF Mr.. A. w
Smith, and as is usual ut such times passed a
number OF resolutions looking to the improv.
ment OF the club. IT. might be well to refer
TO some Of them In order 10 refresh the
memory or the members OF the club.
|. MIR. Cason NOV ed that a committee be
appointed-the Secretary 10 be one-to revise
and complete the minutes AS far as IL could
be done this work has been performed largely
u. " ~ 49, S44 o thnf tFt,n