Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-06
ROLAND S. MORRIS
On Spread Of Forum Idea

DIIILADELPIIIA is taking a conspicuous
= part in the development of the Forum
idea in the United States, according to
Roland s. Morris. former Ambassador to
Japan and chairman of the Forum organ
ization in this city.
The idea Of Forum" said Mr.. Morris.
us really the coalition OF several "iueiS
diversified forces. all. however. looking TO
common end, each Of which has cxerted
powerful influence upon the thought OF the
country for a long time past. lheSe torCeH
have not all been coexistent. but nave
shaped themselves and their policies accord
ing 70 the trend Of thought OF the people
at the time when they were respectively
organized. Some Of these organizations dld
not always keep pace win the changing
manner of thought of the American people
and were, therefore. succeeded by others.
The University Extension
'For quarter of a century the Society
for the Extension of University Icachlng
tourishcd throughout the country. but rs-
ucCially was this the case in Philadelphia.
The local organizations in many other large
ccntcrs of population appeared somewhat to
lose their hold upon the people, but TINS
was not the case Of the Philadelphia Or,
ganization. where the iatereSt was sustained
to an unusual degree.
"Apother form in which this tendency for
tho requirement OF greater knowledge was
manifested was the immense growth OF in
terest in public affairs on the part OF the
woIncn This received tremendous sum
illus with the passage of the Nineteenth
Amendment. giving women the right OF SUI
frage Naturally. every woman who mad
the interest Of her country. Stute and city
nj heart as most Of them have to as high
a degree as men, felt Immediately the desire
TO look more carefully into these matters
in order that she might use her ballot in
.,ni1 interests
"Still another manifestation and closely
allied with the movement of the women was
the series Of lectures given at th" civic
I'lub under the auspices Of the women S or
ganlzation. These proved to be very popular
and accomplished much good.
"A fourth form of the widespread nature
Of this interest was demonstrated by the
popularity of the evening and MONDAY lee
lures Ar the City Club. These were devoted
largely to timely subjects and matters o.
rontcmporaneouS interest.
among all these sources nearly every
branch of intellectual effort was covered. but
cspcciallv wider knowledge OF hnc arts,
notably music and literature, better knowI,
edge Of public affairs, international and
DationaI and a higher sense of citizenship.
'''To all Of these was added another last
yoor when. after the reorganization OF the
Academy of Music, some lectures and Forum.
discussions were given Independent of the
thcrp for working TO exactly the same end
tho spread of information on vital subjects,
nrpsented by the best authorities it was
nUssible TO secure.
The Forum Appears
"WhIlc all these were doing work Of the
hirLest importance, 1t became apparent that
th"rc was duplication Of effort, together
With conflict OF dates and various other
conditions impossible to avoid
'Thercfore. it was decided that II these
almost identical interests could be con-
solidated into a single increased course,
which would comprehend the best of the
I'niyersity Extension work. deal with liter
ary and scientific subjects and similarly
take the best Of the work Of the other move.
mcnts there could be offered to the members
Of ali Of these organizations, and in
limited measure to persons who were mem
hcrs Of none of them, a consolidated Forum
course. which VIC hope will be the center of
more widely disseminated and accurate in
formation on all important and pending
ouestions Of interest, International, nationui
and city.
with this object in view, the four or
qanizations appointed four representatives
each these forming a joint board, and this
hoard has completed a course for the coming
winter months approXimating seventy FIVE
events which collectively will cover Lrac-
tically every branch Of art, science, litcra-
ture and public affairs OF every description.
This Is a more or less spontaneous move
ment along the lines developed by the Uni
versity Extension idea, which today are
finding expression in Forum discussions all
over the country.
1T may furthermore be considered as the