The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1915-09-30
AN OPEN LETTER TO MEMBERS OF the
PIERIAN CHAUTAuQUA CIRCLE BY
ACLASS &c" MEMBER.

L
ranging the programs for our meetings;
and at the same time to make provision
for those members not facile in composition
who may not be able to prepare suitable
paper at the arbitrary time when their names
may appear on the membership list.
| Under the rule as it now reads each MEM
Der must prepare paper in the order in
which his name appears on the membership
list. If this rule is strictly adhered to, the
older members of the Circle will all be
grouped at the beginning of the season,
while during the latter part of the season the
programs will of necessity be born entirely
by the newer members. AS the membership
is constantly shifting, due to the release of
old members from the institution, and the
admission of new members, time will come
when members but just admitted to the
Circle will be required to prepare papers
without sufficient time in which to be-
come familiar with the course of studies
which we have adopted; which will in
evitably work to the production of mediocre
and Improbable, as we'll as uninteresting
papers.
The older members of the Circle are
familiar with the way in which the interest
of the meetings has gradually waned toward
the end of the year. BY adopting the pro-
posed amendment we will be making it
possible for the President so to arrange
each meeting right up to the last that the
interest and usefulness of the programs will
be sustained throughout the year. That is
the principle object have in mind in sub
hitting it for your approval.
| Another point which should not be over
looked in voting on this amendment is
that the rule as it reads has never in recent
years been strictly enforced. The President
has found it inpractcable to prepare pro-
grams by calling on each member in rotary
order. To prevent, so far as possible, the
programmes from falling flat he has been
compelled to request papers from membeis
who have appeared on the program, before
their regular turn comes up. Last year, for
instance, with over SO members during the
season, and only 40 papers read before the
Circle, several members were called on for
papers 4 or times, while others did not
read paper. Now, if the bylaws had been
| strictly lived up to, this would have been
impossible; and in permitting it to occur
h. orI ubo
doubled on the program were guilty of
! violations of the BY laws.
A law is useful only SO long as it serves
| the best interests of the socieaty to which it
is applicable, and it is useful then only so
| long as it is enforced.
Any law the violation of which is of
greater benefit to the body for which it was
framed than would be its enforcement is
clog in the wheels of progress and menace
rather than protection. When this be-
comes true of any law, and it is clearly true
of the rule in question, the sooner it is re-
pealed or amended the better.
AS reasonable deliberative body we can
votes, and latter condone its violation. If
it be the will of the majority that this rule
| is for the best interest of the Circle, then
| its strict enforcement becomes mandatory
on the part OF the President, and any
deviation from it becomes an offene sagainst
the dignity of the Circle which we shall be
compelled to meet with summary methods
| if we wish to retain the respect and con-
fdence of those who have at heart the in
terest and progress of the Circle.
On the other hand, if it be the will of the
majority that the rule as it reads is subversive
of the best interests of the Circle, the proper
course to persue is to record that will by
| repeal or amendment of the clause in
question. That, gentlemen, is what pro-
pose.
In case there should be any question in
your minds as to the working of the amend
| ments which am about to submit, will
outline them.
1t will authorize the President, in the
| arranging OF the programs, to call on any
member who has read a paper before the
Circle, but whose regular turn to read another
has not yet come to prepare a second paper,
when in his estimation such appearance out
of turn would materially aid in making the
meetings of benefit or interest. Any men,
Der so called upon will not be compelled to
comply, but he may do so in good will
without improperly.
1t will authorize the President to extend
to any member extra time in which to pre-
pare his paper on satisfactory evidence be-
ing given that such extension of time is
needed by the member to prepare a paper.
of greater merit than could be gotten to-
gether in the time which would have been
his by regular turn. In case there should