The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-21

brothers. and consider what influence this
not made you a wiser and doubtless a
better man? Is not your life and the work
you are doing the richer for its influence?
1t is by such influence, sweet as that of the
Pleiades, that life is wrought out for most
of US mind acting and reacting upon mind;
virtues, manners and examples all work
ing together TO make character and pass
ing their force on from generation TO gener-
alton
JOHN L. GRIFFITHS SPEAKS.
John L. Griffiths responded to the toast,
THE Club and the CITY," saying in part:
Men have always felt the need of associa-
ton They meet for the exchange of ideas,
widening of their minds, and for good fell
lowship which flows from good companion
ship. The man who lives alone becomes
selfish and morose. Club life aids those
who desire that good fellowship. 1t re-
quires time and effort to make club You
cannot found it over night any more than
you could build a university in a day. In
a sense. the Indianapolis Literary Club was
only DoEh ,gb yesteraay of SHo SecaI II IS
strong and vigorous and combines the best
men Of the commonwealth While striving
to inculcate love of pure art we refuse 10
be accountable for many OF the addluOns
of the monument. We have been panied to
hear that a QUO Vadis Cinch Club has
been organized. Notwithstanding this dis
solution, better books are being read and
there is general uplifting largely due to
this club. How shall the influence or the
club be measured when opinions are never
given? The influence of such a club is the
influence eXerted by its Individual members
1t has lifted high the gates and allowed
young men to enter. They have been drawn
to each other by their love of good litera-
ture Whatever we believe, that have We
spoken. What we have gained, that we
have endeavored TO share. II Is not 50
much the influence of the club upon the
city as the royal hours we have spent to-
Sether.
MR. MOORES AND MR.. POTTS.
Charles w. Moores spoke on 1.-The Young
er Members" He said that this is theme
that can only be treated in personal way
The significance of that keyword younger"
depends wholly on the point of view of the
one that uses it. ITO speak learnedly, not
to say intelligently. of this abtuse subject
we must define it. Who are the younger
members? If the word did not imply older
members, too the answer would not be far
TO seek But the older members cannot
be found No roll call however loud can
reach their reluctant ears. If none is old
then all are young, and the subject must
be expressed automatically by the cipher.
We are bound to suppose the existence of
such persons, but by what standard shall
we measure them and set them apart? His
tory tells US that nothing is so flexible as
youth. Some are born venerable. Youth
has to do not with the number of years,
but with how the years are spent.
Youth, then. is truly not a relative term.
1t is a condition of soul rather than a
physical fact. 1t is Independent of any
arbitrary measurements of time. The
younger members are they who have
tasted of the waters of eternal youth, in
whom, they have added year unto year,
there has been drawn UP out of the begin
nings of fame the sap of bOyhoOd: who
still look out life with the wide-eyed
faith Of the boy; who are become as little
children and have carried their childhood
upward with them toward the doorway
through which some day they shall see the
eternities with a clear vision of childhood.
face to face
The closing toast, 1.-The Clubs Future. -
was responded to by Alfred L. Potts, who
said in part: Il suppose / must deal in
the futures and there will be no one 10 call
me TO make my margins good. Gentlemen
OF to-day who take their families to the
club are in direct opposition to the saVages
who took their club 10 the families. News
papers, magazines and books contain bet
ter reading matter than they did some time
ago and more of il. Indiana will soon be able
to supply more books than the entire con-
sumption of the country. Your critic may
say your literary club is a waste basket
for rejected manuscript. Our club may
be termed an intellectual clearing house,
upon which we may draw for our facts.
l shrink from the task of looking for
ward to future. We need not have any
fear for the future of this club. so long as
there is a surplus in the treasury, so long
as men of science and art seek men with
similar tastes"
Vice President Demarchus c. Brown read
several letters from absent members of
the club, who expressed their regrets be-
cause of their inability to be present.
Charles Evans, the first secretary of the
club, wrote an interesting letter, which
was read by Mr.. Brown.