The Louisiana populist. [volume] (Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish, La.) 1894-1898, 1895-01-18
A Union For Practical Progress.
A Remarkable Meeting at Which
the Foundation is Laid.

mo OF earnest HIGH ANU "'''i
Yesterday afternoon at the How
ard Library to consider plan for
organizing IA union for practical
progress, as outlined by Harry [.
Vrooman, of Boston, who lccturcd
lately at Tulane Hall under the
auspices of the Arena Club, and
on Sunday at the Woman's Club.
The meeting yesterday was called
by Rev. Mr.. Pierce, OF the Unita
rian church. and Rabbi Max Hell
Ter, of Temple Sinai. There were
present. besides these gentlemen of
the committee, Rev. David Sessums,
Rev. Father Lucius ParOli, of the
Italian church; Mr.. Harry {.
Vrooman, DR.. Jas. NJ. Ferguson,
Prof. billiard, of Tulane Universe
ty: Mr.. VIM. Beer, of the How
ard Library; Mrs. j. NJ. Fergu-
son. president of the Arena Club:
Mic. Relen Behrcns, Miss kathe-
rine Mobiles, president of the
Noman's Club; MIR. Evelyn Is.
Ordwav, president of the Portia
Club, anu Mrs. A. L. Pitkin.
tlr. Pierce called the meeting to
order and Miss MOBILES was elected
secretary. Mr. Nrooman was in
troduced, and after outlining the
plan for a union for practical prog
ress. he said that the ideal of the
union of moral forces is forced
upon us by the union of the forces
of evil around. Greed is a center.
We must bring together the ETH
cal forces to meet the problems OF
society, to discuss and prepare to
act on them intelligibly. The union
for practical progress embodies
this idea. 1t was to further this
idea in some practical form in New
Orleans that this conference was
called. The name of the. organi-
zation, the details of the machine
nv, are unimpOrtant. The idea Is
the thing itself, and IL am conf
dent" said Mr.. Vrooman, in con-
clusion, ''that you will adopt the
ideal to your local needs and ac-
quaint the two classes OF society
with each other"
Eloquent remarks on the sui
ject were made by Bishop Sessums,
DIR. Heller, Father Paroli, Prof.
billiard, Mr.. Beer, Mrs. Beh-
rens, Mrs. Ferguson and Mr..
Pierce, in all of which the keynote
was how best to reach the working
people, how to bring together those
who have and these who have not the
people from the Sums and the peo-
pie from the palaces: how to form
unifcation of citizens that will
efface strikes, and bridge the chasn
between rich and poor, between
class and class, employer and en-
ploye. In fine, Bishop Sessums
glowingly expressed it that "Men
might dwell together like brethren
in the cities of men, as well as in
city of God"
The meeting WAS, in many res
poets, one of the most remarkable
ever held in New Orleans. AL
present were thinking men and
women, and the train of thought
evoked showed how near the sub
iect lay to their hearts. But II
was generally conceded that the
subject of organization was toe
important one to admit Of enter
ing into lightly. There were many
questions to be considered before ;
perfect system of organization
could be effected. The subjec
needed to be studied in detail and /;
well-defned idea of the work for
INFLATED. But all felt that thi
preliminary meeting was a step to
wards beginning, for all agre
that something must be done.
So, after general discussion
the meeting adjourned until a fort
night hence, when the subject of
union for practical progress vii