The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1905-07-13
1900. L. S. c. ANNIVERSARY.-==l9O5.
An Epitome of Pierian History.

~.
four inmates of this institution.
The 10Th day of June in the year 1890
saw the charter members assembled
for the initial meeting and within
one short hour they launched a craft
that has weathered the storms of fif-
teen years while making ports of intel
lectual opportunity on the high seas of
the worlds best thought.
That their deeds were not character
lied by haphazard methods but bore
the unmistakabIe stamp of coherent
purpose is attested by the fact that,
once they had assembled, they pro-
ceeded to the election of officers; they
chose the name that today symbolizes
the circle; they selected class motto;
they adopted constitution; and that
their works endure is evidenced by the
fact that that same constitutions even
now, in effect, and continues to set
forth the primal purposes of the organ
ization, as follows:
"The aim of this circle is to i'm
prove the moral and intellectual
faculties of those who experience a
desire to improve their minds by
elevating and instructive litera-
ture, and by Systematically pursu-
ing the course of readings arranged
by the G. L. s. G. each year; to en-
courage individual discussion, of
the various subjects under consid-
GRAFTON, and thereby attain that
knowledge which is essential to all
who aspire to an honorable posi-
tiOn in the world, and which is, in
itself, rich guarantee of future
good citizenship"
AT that Initial meeting Mr.. Lloyd
Porter was elected to the presidency,
and Mr.. P. J. Fortune to the secretary
ship, of the infant organization, and l
am indebted to charter member for
information to the effect that Mr..
Fortune, especially, was unremitting
in his efforts to place the organization
upon stable basis. In recording the
connection of the aforementioned per.
sons with the early history of the
Pierian Circle it may we'll be matter
of pride with us that all of their antici
pstions of its benefits have been full
filled, or are in process of fulfllment.
And thus the work of organizing an(
perfecting has progressed Throughout
all of these years; the circle has with
stood the tests of time because it EN-
bodies so much that cOmmends itsel
to all ight-thinking men and it has bee1
valued by the average member in tn
exact ratio that he has appreciated it
aims and contributed to its well-being
To enter upon any discussion of def
mite results seems far beyond tn
J proper limits of this paper. In its ed
I ucative usefulness the circle ma
r truthfully be said to have had a mer
: torious career. During the fiftee
f years of its existence the circle ha
/. conducted three hundred and fit!
T eight sessions, having total atten(
a ance of ten thousand seven hundre
and forty out of total membership {
Il eleven thousand four hundred an
= fifty-six. Thus the average membe
!. ship has been thirty-two; the averae
n attendance thirty.
! The membership has necessari
n been an ever-changing one and, wit
,e few exceptions, the members have NJ
q. been enabled to complete the require
a.. four years course of reading. To M
II E. L. Hefter, a former president of tt
r. circle, belongs the honor of havil
been the first to finish the course, al
n on October the 2Sth, 1894, he receive
a his diploma in the presence of t
II. circle and was invested with t
is Garnet Ribbon.
~ ~ Paragraph three of the constitute
~ sets forth the fact that:
~ rAny inmate of this institute
ss whose conduct and desires tend
an ward moral and intellectu
,r- Improvement, is eligible for me-
On bership as provided int the bylaw
n. And notwithstanding that the me-
ID. bership has been recruited from eve
at conceivable rank and condition in /
he the personnel of the circle has, from
,et date of its inception. admittedly n
lte resented the best element in the prise
Lea Educators, authors, journalists, pt
tv- fishers, clergymen, bankers, attorne