Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-04-01
ANNUAL ADDRESS
TO THE
CULTURE CLUB.
By A. ]. NURRIs.

VOU have heard the official reports Of
/ the Club for the past year, dcducting
the long winter vacation Of three months,
leaves us nine months Of successive meet
ings which carried eut the program without
a break save one, when was unable to be
with you, and the meeting was turned into
q social affair.
The statistic side Of my report is ncces-
rarily mpsgre. Of the forty meetings ex-
tending from March Goth 10 December
18Th, was present in the chair thir'y-nine
times, though never coming to the class with
that complete preparation which is coudi'
toned on fuller library and greater gen,
ius than that which equips your leader, she
vet can tru,hfully say, she never has came
wholly unprepared. nor without ut least, rs
full preparation as library or time would
permit save perhaps once.
The past years program has covered the
following topics: Six lessons in the Duties
of Women; twelve lessons in SHAKESPEARE;
twelve lessons in Emerson; four lessons in
Politics; one on Dress Reform and four on
ROmolO.
1t might prove interesting chad we tIme)
to hold an experience meeting, discussing
the comparative merits and derived benefits
from these various subjects, each member
freely confessing which one has most helped
her, and whyf 1t would at least set us to
earnest thought for a brief moment, and
might prove an invaluable guide in our future
studies.
Speaking of myself personally, I will say
that while have been much interested and
greatly helped in all tho themes mentioned,
yet regard our study of Emerson as the
most helpful and uplifting to myself Wheth-
or or no because was less familiar with him
than with the other subjects, l shall not stop
to consider, but his philosophy has been both
An inspiration and strength in my moods
Of weakn IS and dscourngement.
The question we may ask ourselves when
we look over the past year and see the me''-
gre outward results is this: Does it pay!
Have we profited, either mentally or other
wise? Young ladies', whether or not 1t pays,
depends upon the point OF view. Remember
this; in club as in church or indeed in all
high work, the finest results cannot be tab
u)ated in black and white. If we count our
success by hurrah meetings, swelling attend
ence, the number of conquests made. the
reputation or prestige gained, by the lovely
times and lots of fun We have had, 1t certainly
hasn't paid, nay more, it has been total
failure But il we measure success BY our
wOrthiness of aim, Oh eager desire to learn,
an earnestness Of purpose, high aspiration
for soul culture, if we gauge our success by
loyalty to obligations assumed, by faithful
ness in attendance and persistence in study;
if. ] say, we have endeavcred to put all these
qualities into our-wOrk, then | declare EN-
phatcally and with all my heart, 1t pays
every time II the past years study has
given us a thirst for wider knowledge, If we
have gained frmer grip however small
upon ourselves, if we can face the coming
year with added courage, with little more
zeal, with greater tenaclty Of purpose, if
1t has taught us the desire TO prove little
more loyal to the club, more just to ourselves.
more persistent in study more faithful in
attendance, then it pays
Again, if we have come to know one an
other better, to respect the individuality of
our neighbor, if we have gained little more
charity toward those of different churches or
set or party, then 1t has paid us. For in
this the club should co operate with the high
aim Of the church in stopping short of moth.
ing less than eoul-culture which is some
thing more than mental culture. And that
is the one serious objection to name of Club,
the hitherto restricted use az well as the
abuse Of the word culture. 1t is too often
used for superficial or mere smattering of
knowledge with thin vcneering or society
polish which serves to hide the selfish heart
beneath. Culture in its broadest sense, stands
for the whole man physical, mental and
moral, embraces heart as well as head, and
that mental culture which doesn't react upon
the heart and increase the ethical sense, is
Of little avail and is what an ancient philos
opher would call 'vanity Of vanitics" The
word in its highest sense, stands for self cult
ure which gives more than knowledge. 1t
gives wisdom and wisdom is synonymous
with love- We need more charity ard love
for one another. One of our members tx
pressed to me her greatest gain in this direc-
ton, saying, she had learned to know and
understand others, esteemed them more
highly, and had thus made friends CT some
who had misunderstood, and formerly stood
aloof from her. She couldn't have meant
it in any other sonse than that she had learn
ed to love more. The heart factor, the so.
cial force in club life, is not to he Sighted
! wish had the time and place for Il whole
paper on that topic alone. The Club as an
agency for drawing together women any
where and making them acquainted with
each other and best of ALL with themselves.
The inherent power IN club work to de.
velop in woman the latent capacity for
friendship, which has hitherto been too ex-
clusively maintained only between those of
opposite sex. Perhaps one Of the chief
benefits gained from our association together
is that subtle atmosphere Of friendly regard
and general goodwill ditfused among mem
beers of differing creeds and parties.
/ might sum up all the results that can
not be included in the figures of your Secy,
by saying our greatest gain has been gen.
eral broadening process all along the line of