The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-01-05
A REVIVAL OF
THE old LYCEUM
Many Members Of Former Well
Known Society Spoke.
ALL ANXIOUS To DEBATE
Believed 10 Be Useful Training for Younger
Generation 10 Think and Talk
on Feet.
ALL ANXIOUS TO DEBATE

. -
lin Lyceum. In Ia years was held Many
more OF those who remember the inter
2 esting sessions OF the lyceum as former
ly conducted would have been present haa
z Al been possible for them TO have gotten
back from the various portions OF the
Z world 10 which they have wandered.
y As II was when the session opened IN
Swartz lodge hall some Of those who have
y achieved much OF success and can lay
= their success 10 the starts obtained I'm the
y old meeting days were on hand Among
: those who were on hand 10 make the
= gathering more notable. were three ex-
+ governors. an ex-congressman and several
= OF the city and state officials who have
climbed up the ladder OF success, and now
z stand as Rhode Islands leading citizens.
3 The fire OF debate and inspiration burned
3 brightly again In their hearts and as they
Q recalled 10 old times there was a sparkle
9 OF reminiscence I'm their eyes that told
fervently OF the old love burning there
2 The organization relapsed In 1891, but last
evening those who were there started
IN as IL there had never been break In
the meetings. and tho only reason there
were no longer debates than there were
was because the subjects had not been
distributed and there was no time for
tmpromptu arguments OF length.
The first thing done after the calling
OF the meeting 10 order and the narrating
OF the past performances OF the organiza-
ton. was the election OF officers. and the
short business session. During this time,
however, many OF the old horses OF de-
bate unwound their tongues and 'cut
loose" as far as they were allowed and
showed that there was still much vlgor
;n their speech and much readiness for
opposing arguments
DR. Edward NJ. Harris. president. called
the-meeting 10 order shortly after
O'Clock. and for some time there were
F, short addresses by various members or
the lyceum as known rs years back.
4 President Harris called first on ex-Gov.
4 Charles Warren Lippitt. who spoke
, strongly I'm favor Of revlving the society.
He stated that he had learned that there
IS a room at the public library which is
suitable fer the purpose and which could
be secured for a meeting place of the ly-
ceWm. He thought that young men would
be attracted TO join the organization, and
there was fair opportunity that the So
clety could be revived and be as useful
IN the future as IL had been In days gone
by
Ex-Chief Justice John II. stiness was
the next speaker. and gave an interesting
review OF the history Of the lyecum. He
stated that formed i'm 1881, IL was dis
banded during the '9Os for n period Of
perhaps three months. but was later reor-
ganized and continued active existence
until 1891. "
Judge stiness was heartily in favor OF
reviving the lyceum
d HENRY J. SPOONER A SPEAKER.
Ex-Congressman Henry J. Spooner was
the next speaker He referred to tie dis
cusslons which were held I'm the old ly-
ceum hall, which, he said. mad their effect
/ upon the government OF the city and
state He believed that an Organization
y,hicf today would talk over matters ot
public interest would be Of great advant-
age 90 the community. II tha FRANK
I'm Lyceum had been in existence he
said do YOU suppose that the electric
railway franchises would have passed ihe
general assembly almost unauestioned?
Colonel Spooner mentioned other topics of
vital interest at the present time as Mt
ting questions for discussion @hen the
iyceum should again be in working or1er.
Ex-Governor Charles Dean Kimbau fcl.
4 lowed Colonel Spooner, and. like the for
mer speakers. he favored the plan OF re-
viving the society. He pointed out how
ever. the fact that It will be no easy task
70 do this and recalled an enort that ne
and some other members made along
similar lines few years ago which ef-
fort was unsuccessful
He was followed by Ex-Governor Gar
win. who stated that he became interested
IN the lyceum early in the '70s, and ne
judged that IL was in its prime prior
TO that time even. lie named Harmon >.
Babcock Gilbert II. Whittemore, Walter
T. Angel all of whom he called gradu-
ates OF the lyceum, and stated that many
men who have since welded great innu-
ence I'm the affairs OF the city. state and
even country had received their rudiment-
ary education in debate and parliament
ary law i'm the Franklin Lyceum, mention
ING United States Senator Nelson ". Al
drich and others as examples.
John O. Masse expressed himself In
hearty accord with the movepent. As
sistant city Solicitor Albert a. Baker fol-
lowed with remarks. during which he said
that nc thought Il would be an excellent
idea to get the debating society underway
again, not. perhaps. with the idea OF re-
forming the state. but to give the young
men OF the present generation the oppor-
tunity OF acquiring training In thinking
ipon their feet and thinking rapidly
enough to speak with some degree OF elo-
auence. Col Henry 8. Olney and Gen.
Hunter G. White also expressed them
selves along the same lines.
Gilbert e whittemore then spoke his
mind as 20 why the old Lyceum had gone
down.
BALANCE IN TREASURY.
Treasurer Nathan H. Truman made a
statement concerning the finances OF tho
organization, saying that Is years ago he
had deposited SIO.3S In the MechanlcS
Savings Bank and that this had accumu-
lated ever since until II now amounts TO
s5S66 Other members followed with re-
marks, and finally on motion OF Mr.. Baker
n was voted that n committee OF nve be |
appointed TO look into the advisability OF |
revivng tho lyceum with power to act !
the following members 10 constitute the |
committee: Nathan " Truman, Gen. |
Hunter G. White IudRe Thomas u. Lee,
Albert A. Baker and President Edward NJ |
Harris. The meeting then adjourned. and |
the remainder OF the evening was spent In /
the enjoyment OF collation. and social !
converse
The Officers chosen st the meeting 10 /
years ago were: President. DIR. Edward NJ. /
Harris: vice president. Thomas l.. Hutch /
ins. secretary. Charles " SWEET. tressur- !
sr nathan ~ Truman. all ~ whom were \
present last evening Among others also \
IN attendance were the following All Of \
uhorn u-ere more or less active M tha tavs