Nara-atembers may receive this publication by post on payment of 2/6 per annum. DECEMBER, 1937 The Monthly Record of South Place Ethical Society CONWAY HALL, RED LION SQUARE, W.C.1. Telephone: CHANCERY 8032.

"The OBJECTS OF ma Socirri are the study and dissemination of ethical principles and the cultivation of a rational religious sentiment." Sunday Morning Services at ELEVEN O'CLOCK. November 211..-13. K. RATCLIFFE—Twenty-five Years of South Place Vocal Duets: (a) Constancy ...... Schumann (b) Calm Silent Night ...... Car/ Goetz MiSS HERE SIMPSON and Mr. G. C. DOWMAN. Hymns No. 67. 0 earth! thy past is crowned and consecrated. No. 76, These things shall be a loftier race. December 5—HERBERT READ, M.A., D.Litt.—The Myth, the Dream and the Poem Bass Solos: (a) Who is Sylvia? ... Schubert (b) The Poet's Song ... Parry Mr. G. C. DOWMAN. Soprano Solo : Ye Waves of Beauty and Peace ... Parry Miss BEDE SIMPSON. Hymns No, 17. A dreamer dropped a random thought. No. 28 (second tune). Oh dew of life! oh bight of earth! Deoember 12—JOSEPH McCABE—The Brave New World Sonata in A minor, Op. 23, for Violin and Pianoforte ...... Beethoven I. Presto. n. Andante scherzoso, pin Allegretto. in. Allegro molto. MSS VERA BANTAM/ITCH and Mr. WILLIAM BUSCH. Hymns 3 No. 25. 0 brother man, fold to thy heart thy brother ! i No. 85. Born In each heart is impulse strong. Deoember 18-8. K. RATCLIFFE—Belief and Conduct Bass Solo: Invictus ... Hahn Mr. G. C. DOWMAN. Soprano Solo : The Snow ... Sigurd Lie MiSS BEBE SIMPSON. Hymns ! No. 64. A mbler order yet shall be. 1 No. 32. I heard the bells on Christmas Day. Deoember 28—No Service January 2—J. P. GILMOUR—The Old Year and the New Pianoforte Solo: First three movements of Sonata in E flat, Op. 31, No. 3 1. Allegro. n. Allegretto vivace. HI. Menuetto Moderato e grazioso. Mr. WILLIAM BUSCH. Hymns No. 73. Out of the dark the circling sphere. No. 231. The presence of perpetual change. Pianist : Mr. WILLIAM BUSCH. A Collection is made at each Meeting, to enable those present to contribute to the expenses of the Society. VISITORS WELCOME. OFFICIAL CAR PARK—Opposite Main Entrance. 2

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THOUGHTS ABOUT DEMOCRACY A generation ago it seemed certain that all civilised nations were moving at different paces towards democracy, or Popular self-government, and that backward nations in Asia and Africa were beginning to take the same road. Now the whole movement seems to be reversed. Dictatorships and oligarchies in many countries have seized the reins of government, partly, by force, but also partly by consent. For it is idle to pretend that Fascism and.Nazism have not behind them the general body of public opinion. That opinion may be largely fabricated by lying propaganda, but it is there, among all clasit of the people, rich and poor, educated and ignorant. The common explanation that it represents a capitalist revolt against Socialism or Communism does not suffice. For whatever the merit of Communism mav be in the industrial field, in politics it has hardened into a forcible oligarchy and there is little evidence of reality in the operations of its popular representation. It may be that Fascism and other despotic rules contain inherent vices that must destroy them in time, and that popular self-government must reassert itself. Moreover, in Britain, France, Scandinavia and America, there seem no serious dangers for democracy, in spite of the activities of small anti groups. But defenders of democracy must not be content to look upon dictatorships as products of post-war emergencies, destined to disappear if and when a settled world- peace is established. It is better that they should ask themselves whether the theory and practice of 19th century democracy are adequate to the new conditions of a world in which economic considerations everywhere impinge upon politics in manners and intensities unknown to Victorian Liberalism, or even to the social reform movement of the pre-war period. Readers of the biographies of 19th century Liberals recognise curious limitations in the Liberty, Equality, Fraternity that made up the democratic trinity. The intrusion of a number of middle-class politicians into the Seats of Government, formerly belonging to the aristocracy, the acquisition of industrial power and wealth by a few able and pushful factory workers, the 3 beginning of popular education and of free movement from place to place, industry to industry, seemed to attest the reality of equality of opportunity. Taken along with a general improvement in the standard of living of the wage-earners, the rise of trade unionism and co-operation, and a widening of the franchise, the movement appeared to fulfil the conditions of democracy. This view is no longer accepted by working and middle class politicians. For they realise that in view of the modern development of monopolistic and semi- monopolistic capitalism there is no democratic government in economic life. In order that liberty and equality may be effective principles, they must be made applicable to the life of the citizen as an economic being, a producer-consumer. Now in economic processes they see no satisfactory progress towards democracy. This dissatisfaction tends to make them either into full-blooded Socialists, or else into narrow trade unionists, concerned only with immediate gains in their particular trades. But the point I wish to stress is the need for those who think in terms of political democracy to recognise that definite and important modifications in that theory and practice are essential to the admission of economic democracy. If industries are to pass under public ownership and control, the idea that equal voting 4s)wer for all concerned in the production processes is quite impracticable. The crude notion that the routine or even expert workers in a business are competent to " run " that business will not bear examination. The issue is one of expertism. Democracy has, of course, its place. There should be an intelligent consent of the workers in the control by managers and technicians. But the expert, here as else- where. must be accorded real power in view of his superior knowledge. "But," it will be said, " is not this ' bureaucracy '—a deadly enemy of real democracy?" My answer is that for public industries such " bureaucracy " is inevitable. It has some defects, laziness or abuse of power, even, in some cases, corruption, but the alternative is lower efficiency, narrowness of outlook and planlessness. This last word is perhaps the most significant. Any student of our economic system (as set forth by so competent a Socialist as Mr. Douglas Joy in "The Socialist Case") will realise how much complicated planning in required to get the best result from any business, in its relation to other businesses, other industries and the production system as a whole. The economic education which should belong to our general school system should bring forth numbers of skilled students who can help as middlemen between the mass of workers, citizens and the economic hierarchy. But the notion that the latter can be dispensed with and that a socialised or semi- socialised system can be run on the old general lines of democracy is quite indefensible, except on the exploded theory that human equality means that any man can do any job as well as any other man. An attempt to thrust upon this country, France or America, a sort of Socialism in which these simple truths are not properly accepted and digested will certainly bring either successful resistance on the part of capitalism, or abject failure on the part of labour. J. A. Hoeson MR. S. K. RATCLIFFE ON - SOME IMPRESSIONS OF CENTRAL EUROPE " (Oct. 24, 1937) Readings (1) Thomas Mann: "A Letter of Appeal to Germany." (2) G. W. Russell (A. E.): " The National Being." Mr. Ratcliffe said that on the way to Vienna he had attended the first meeting of the League of Nations Assembly, in the great hall of the new headquarters—a magnificent setting which had an ironical significance in view of the present eclipse, or suspension, of the League. One could not resist the feeling that the proceedings at Geneva were remote from the forces now shaping world events. At the last debate on the Spanish tragedy, in the Sixth Committee of the League, the formal defence of " non-intervention" by Mr. Walter Elliot made no impression as against the realistic argument of 34: Litvinov and the impassioned appeals of the Spanish delegate. But the Committee gave full support to the Anglo-French position. Vienna, externally, was not greatly changed from the old days, but Austria, of course, was in a most difficult situation. schuschnigg was not cut out for a dictator, but his GoVernment was virtually Fascist. There seemed to be little fear of a Nazi putsch, since the Austrian Nazis were powerless without full support from Germany. The question of Austrian independence was necessarily viewed in relation to Italy, Mussolini's visit to Berlin being then prominent in the news. How, it was asked, could Italy abandon Austria, since German dominance to the south-east must mean Germany on the Italian frontier and driving down to the Adriatic? Prague made a striking contrast to Vienna. The Czechs in September were mourning the death of 4 their great man. Thomas Masaryk, and the citizens of Prague were, rightly, taking pride in their management of the huge crowds at his funeral—an instructive counter- demonstration to the rigid masses of men at the Nazi rally in Nuremberg. Czecho- Slovakia manifestly, was the most successful of the new States. The country—with its line farms, bright villages, and busy industrial towns—made a remarkable display of competence and well-being. In the Bata shoe factory at Zlin, with Its disciplined workers and completely organised life, they had an example of an industrial corn- inimity carried beyond Fordism. The experiment was still young. Another ten years would be needed for a judgment to be formed on the methods and results. Central Europe lay within the deep shadow. If Nazi Germany were meaning war—what then, for Czecho-Slovakia and Austria? Everywhere anxious questions were asked about England: What was Britain's policy to be? In all the capitals that query was heard. One thing alone seemed to be unquestionable: every line of policy had its dangers, but none could be more dangerous than a policy of drift. Nothing was more clear than this, that the Government must declare itself, making clear to Europe where Britain was prepared to make a stand. PROFESSOR JOHN HILTON, M.A., ON " MY BELIEF IN THE COMMON MAN " (October 31, 1937) Readings : (1) From Gulliver's Travels—A voyage to Brobdingnag. Chapter VI: (2) From Hamlet—Act II, Scene II. Professor Hilton said he would have preferred to entitle his talk just "Tom, Dick and Harry," but this was not dignified enough for the South Place Ethical Society. The phrase faStened itself on his mind in the course of a talk with an old friend, who had asked him what was the thread running through all his various talks on the a:ir. The friend suggested it was a creed—a belief—and he came to the conclusion that the only words truly expressing his belief were "I believe in Torn, Dick and Harry "—also, of course, in Peggy, Jane and Kate, and he wanted to state a vital issue concerning that belief. This was more than a belief in democracy, it was a belief in persons—especially persons held in slight contempt, When the good and ill he had done on earth was weighed in the balance, it would be what he had believed about Tom, Dick and Harry which would bump the scales. Any man who thinks he has a mission and a message must answer that test. Because you believed in Tom, Dick and Harry, you should not deny the importance of Lord Thomas, the Honorable Richard and Sir Henry. The line and clever ones must be given their due. It was true that in war-time the scum came to the top, but in times of peace it was the cream. There they were—the successful ones, cream and scum. Suppose they started throwing their weight about too much and you had to take sides. The future of mankind depended on your siding with Tom. Dick and Harry. It was not that he had mixed a lot with the clever fellows; it was that he believed all must get on together. There were more of the vulgar herd to get on with, and the clever ones were of no use unless they devoted all their energies to raising Tom, Dick and Harry from lower levels. Throwing your weight about was not always the coarse, vulgar way of acting. It was easier to flnd remedies against the brute than against he who turned the screw with kid gloves-on. That kind of bully was always on the right side of the law—sometimes he made it. The world was getting mbre in love with ordering about. Sometimes there was a love to be ordered about—not so much here as in what we called the totalitarian States. We must beware of the type which loves to have power over fellow creatures. We kept them in check in peace-time because we really believed in the common man more than the dictatorships did. As a nation we had an instinctive dislike of giving people too much power over others. Our world had been one in which the people had been protected against the screw. These new Fascist and Communist despotisms had their various symbols— bundles of faggots, swastikas, sickles, hammers—but the screw was a Symbol which suited them all. He was getting political. It was better to get on together. There was the gospel of getting on. It need not do harm to those who wanted to and could, but it was much more important to get on together. If Tom got on at the expense of Dick and Harry, OT left them too far behind, there was a cleavage and a gulf which might break the nation. Tom should give a hand to Dick and Harry. As he looked at our social and economic pyramid he saw the successful, the .middling successful, and all the small people and manual workers. He asked were these people where they ought to be? Sometimes he was inclined to say they were— the ruling few, the gifted few and others not so well endowed. If that was so, let the ruling be done by the superior ones—the wise and expert. But just one moment. Were 6 they all so superior as they looked? Much of the superior look of people up above was only spit and polish. They shouldn't be allowed to flatter themselves too much. Heredity counted for a little, but he saw no reason why on the cardinal issues of life their judgment and sense of direction should be any better than those of Torn, Dick and Harry. It was not learning, but natural poise of spirit, beauty of heart that counted, and in those things Tom was as good as Professor Thomas. Nations needed a plan, and it was wonderful to have a planner with a cow-hide whip. Let a leader come and make everyone have a sense of direction front the big man. There was something to be said for this or it would not have been so successful. Momentary efficiency was on its side. He knew of a committee of unemployed men who had the job of distributing clothing. They were painfully slow about it. They set up sub-committees. They were satirised in a play which ended with the appearance of two smart young men in Uniform, who said: "Enough of all this committee nonsense—we are going to distribute the stuff." No doubt they would do it quickly, but the committees were handling a difficult matter, and the delay was leading to distribution on principles of equity, and every man was getting a sense of responsibility by which he must stand. Two young men in uniform gave a certain appearance, but not so, if you wanted a community of men to endure with the quality we wanted human beings to have, The natural born leader must always be forcing responsibility back on those he leads. So must the rich and powerful man divest himself. The conduct of a community or nation must not be allowed to run away on the lines of a committee of one. It was the same in the Works. He was accustomed to talk to mechanics. He would ask how things were up at the Works. He had had the reply t "Dreadful up there, nowt but a set of dummies. Can't call your soul your own." You should watch your industrial system. It was no good turning out a lot of commodities cheaply if you ruined the character of your workers. Unless Tom, Dick and Harry emerged from work feeling something other than like a set of dummies, you would have mighty poor citizens in your midst. Did he believe in those creatures he saw when he went to the Dogs? He found himself with a spare hour at the entrance to a dog track. He went in. He went back and wrote down : " Are these people of the same race as myself? Yes. Am I my brother's keeper? Yes, I fear I am. It may not be my fault that some of my fellow creatures behave like that, but it Ls My responsibility. A member of this community cannot afford to have people like that." Tom, Dick and Harry had the advantage of being three distinct persons, that is, lf you believed in them for what they were, and not for what you wished them to be. This was difficult in view of what he had Just said, but it was a matter of balance. There was that wax dummy we were all keeping in our mind—the perfect gentleman, the complete character, the model of all perfections. It bore a striking resemblance to ourselves and we fell into the damnable sin of comparing our friends and others with that graven image. "If he were not so mean, or frigid, or outspoken, or morose, or disorderly he would be so nice. Why cannot he be like other people?" And then we got to work to correct those oddities. We tried it on with our nearest and dearest, because if they were not up to our standard they jarred us most and we had the most opportunity of putting the screw on them. What resulted would be nice according to our standards but with oddities lopped off the personality was spoiled. Do not mess Tom, Dick and Harry about. we should resist the tendency to make everybody conform to a specification. He was getting into deep water. Were we to start patting on •he head the bully, the liar and the cheat? There were limits. If his differences amounted to a real nuisance You could not let him be. If his funny little ways hurt other folk to no purpose, he must alter his ways, ,and if he could not do it himself he would give him every help to lop off the socially objectionable habit. If nothing could correct his tendency to cheat and bully, and make warlike orations, he would lock him up out of harm's way and carry on with the job of putting him straight, but he would not punish him. We should never forget that when a man was condemned to be punished, someone was condemned to punish him, but a renovator had quite a good job. It did look as if in the near future we should no longer lock a man uP, but would send him round to the hospital to have his glands seen to. Were we short of the quality of justice? Over the air he had dealt with worries and troubles, and he had discovered how faulty was the mechanism of justice in this land. Our Law Courts wanted to be reformed in spite of what the Lord Chief Justice said. There were things going on under our judicial procedure quite unjustifiable. Those above must be for ever shedding power down and transforming people. Dfd we want a nation of obedient mechanical animals, or a nation of responsible beings, self-reliant shapers of their own souls and destinies? F. G. G. 6 MR. S. K. RATCLIFFE ON " PROGRESS AND CATASTROPHE" (November 7, 1937) Readings: Wordsworth's Prelude; Walt Whitman on the leadership of America; Stanley Casson: " Progress and Catastrophe." Mr. Ratcliffe said that if asked to name two significant points of difference between the common outlook of to-day as contrasted with that of the Victorian Age, many people would cite the disappearance of theological superstition and the fading of the belief in progress. Faith in progress, through peaceful change, was an integral part of nineteenth-century religion. It was supported by almost all the influences of the time: by the discoveries of science, by mechanical advance and the new industrialism, expanding production, popular education, the rise of new classes, increasing opportunity, and the general sense of security. It was reinforced by the most potent and daring of all generalisations, the theory of evolution, which, stated in Darwinian terms, seemed to provide scientific sanction for the struggle for exist- ence and individualist competition. The common belief, too, was encouraged by the material success of the leading nations. Civilised man was obviously going ahead. True, prophetic voices were heard denying all that—Blake and Shelley, Carlyle and Ruskin, William Morris and Edward Carpenter. The Western world, they proclaimed, had taken the wrong turning with industrialism. They forced the inquiry, What, then is progress? Individual capacity and genius, certainly, was not the criterion, for, none had surpassed the greatest men of antiquity. Nor could progress'be gauged by the culture and well-being of the few; it could not be identified with privilege. There could be no progress without social improvement, mental freedom and tolerance, and the widest opportunity. The modern faith in the actuality of such progress had lasted until the collapse of 1914. It went down in the chaos following the war. The present generation lived in uncertainty, in a world where anything could happen, a world which seemed to contain only catastrophe. The outlook of to-day had been greatly changed, also, by the continuous unfolding of the burled life of mankind. The important discoveries of archseology had all fallen within a hundred years. Some of the most exciting, such as the Minoan and Chaldrean, had come within a lifetime. They had revealed a surprising completeness in the great civilisations in the far past; and this knowledge had tended to restore the belief in cycles of civilisation, continuous ebb and flow. Mr. Stanley Casson, from whose book the title of the address was taken, maintained that all the forces which destroyed the earliest civilisations were now at work, and his conclusions were most pessimistic. Western Europe, he asserted, was now undergoing a slow decline com- parable with that of Rome. Its hour had already struck, the grim event had happened, its doom was certain, and nothing was left except the possibility, by positive effort, of salving something from the wreckage. Mr. Ratcliffe asked what were the' evidences of death in present-day Europe. They certainly could not be found in Russia, where a great people was engaged in the most impressive of all social experiments. Nor in Scandinavia, where three democratic nations had built the liberal State and attained a high average. For all the heavy handicap carried by England, there was nothing to show that the nation was dying or the system incurable. If they turned and considered Italy and Germany it was clear that they were not in the presence of death or national decline. The Fascist countries had accepted doctrines and were pursuing policies which, beyond doubt, would lead to disaster if they were not checked or reversed. But it was no less beyond doubt that they were displaying energy and collective will. Evidences of revived barbarism and of lowered standards existed in plenty, while the totalitarian States seemed bent upon war. A partial answer was that standards were not lowered all round; there was always gain and loss; and it was still not possible to say that whole peoples could be kept in servitude to grossly false ideas and barbarous Govern- ments. The future, in any case, hinged upon the menace of war. Europe might be doomed again to that supreme calamity. If not, there was a prospect of renewed advance; civilised man commanded resources never before within his grasp. But it seemed clear that for the time being the belief in orderly progress had gone. Many millions of people were there in Europe to affirm that the violent changes of the past twenty years had produced better conditions. In other words, catastrophe for them meant progress. PROFESSOR B. MALINOWSKI ON THE PLACE OF SUPERSTITION IN CULTURE" (Nov. 14, 1937) Readings (1) Frazer's "Golden Bough." Vol. 1, page 235. (2) Readings of inscriptions and statements of European origin collected by the lecturer, compared with savage customs in Melanesia, etc. Professor Malinowskl said he wanted to indicate why he was deeply concerned about some of the forms which superstition was taking in modern societies, not as a survival of the primitive point of view, but as a by-product of so-called progress. It was essential for those of us who believed in the power of reason and good-will to understand the nature of what we called superstition. In the history of mankind it seemed as though a certain amount of mysticism and emotional reliance on traditional or revealed truth was almost a necessitx and that mankind at large needed some emotional surrender to an authorised body of opinion. From the study of facts we could iind the point where legitimate magic ended and where, especially in modern culture, really dangerous types of organised collective superstition and magic on a large scale began. We, who believed in the power of argument must develop vigilance against this type of emotional surrender associated with the totalitarian states, whose dictators were not satisfied with dictating their own particular truth to their own particular people, but wished to dictate the gospel of force to the whole world. If anything could be said for magic in its primitive forms it was that it helped to integrate the individual mind with the single-mindedness and strength of purpose of temperate submissions to leadership. In modern magic this single-mindedness constituted corruption because, while in primitive states the so-called savage magic never trespassed on liberty, or required the complete surrender of personality and free-will, in modern society magic meant a constant encroachment upon liberty, good-will, reason and ethics. The philosophy of modern mysticism was based on hatred, the doctrine of racial superiority and the persecution of a minority. One dictatorship was developing a mental attitude closely akin to primitive witch-hunting. It was using one race, a small minority, as a scapegoat, and basing on this hatred one of its main tenets of civil reconstruction, over-riding all ethical principles and modern democratic feelings. We, who lived in a country where free discussion was possible, should be on our guard lest we were faced with the issues now being faced an the Continent. Magic was mainly not so much a false primitive science as a legitimate supple- ment to primitive experience and knowledge—a short cut into the supernatural, obtained by man's direct power over nature through the spell. Frazer's view that magic was based on an association of ideas, as a type of activity in which the primitive tried to obtain a result by imitating it in anticipation, was now a common- place of science. In its classicial home magic was the principal spiritual agency, religion playing a relatively minor part. Professor Malinowski gave examples of magic, culled from his own experiences, which showed that the magician, in addition to reciting his formula and performing his ritual, was a practical expert in the sphere in which he exercised hls spells. For instance, the agricultural god magician was an expert gardener, and after he had performed his magic he was expected to organise all the work. A study of the psychological effects explained why magic could maintain itself so long in primitive societies. It was the magician's Job to chant his spell, which was a kind of optimistic formula affirming that all would be well (similar to the Cone formula) and a recitation of man's relations to nature and the deity, especially of the magician's lineage. There was considered to be an almost biological connec- tion between the Magician and a certain natural force. Even the lowest savages did not confuse magic with knowledge, real experience and experimentation. They knew how to dig and how to develop fertility by some additional fertiliser, and that they had to protect their garden from bush pigs by fencing it round, etc., but there were certain diseases of plants with which they could not deal, neither could they produce rain and sunshine when they were needed. The line of division between systems of magic and practical work was clearly cut. The virtue of magic was that being connected with practical enterprise it yet never encroached on its reasonable and technically sound aspects. It only worked against mishaps and certain unaccountable factors which no forethought, hard work, or exhibition of strength or courage could prevent. Even then magic very often failed because they knew quite well that magic was an entirely imaginary application of psychological optimism which may act on the human beings who practised it but not on destiny or nature. To account for this they had the belief in evil magic or sorcery. Whenever a magician failed he could always fall back on the happy explanation that some of his enemies, some people 8 generally suspected of being enemies of society at large, had been practising sorcery. It was not only Hitler who tried to find minorities and punish them. The second road to the belief in sorcery wa.s an attempt to account for the evils imposed upon humanity by fate or ill luck. To the primitive, disease and death were not natural phenomena; they were always attributable to evil witchcraft or the vengeance of gods or ancestors. This made them manageable. The same elements were at work in the beliefs of Christian Science, and the Roman Catholic peasant, practising his Black Mass, was very much like the magician who put pins into the effigy of his enemy in order to kill him. Magic could not be dangerous while it developed the optimistic attitude. It contributed something spiritual as long as it was in the hands of a practical expert who could advise and lead. What we called superstition in our own culture, such as superstitions about the number thirteen, were minor unorganised forms of mysticism from which some suffered and others did not. In neither case were these manifestations very harmful. But superstition was more dangerous when it was in a highly organised form as seen in some modem religious tendencies which used the mystical surrender of the individual reason and independence of judgment as the price of health, wealth, prosperity and social advancement. This is in essence rather magical than religious, a primitive witch-doctor will promise these things if paid an adequate fee. The essence of religion, however primitive or developed, was disinterested communion with the supernatural, having no practical purpose unless the salvation of the soul could be regarded as a piece of practical achievement. An outgrowth of the same attitude as was in primitive magic was to be seen In certain typm of modern commercial advertisement. Fraudulent magic did not organise, it undermined and sapped human vitality, and certain products which were claimed to have universal benefits were advertised by methods which were akin to those of the magician who failed to deliver his goods. The words of some beauty advertisements are almost the same as the words used by the magician in Melanesia or Africa. Political propaganda was a glorified and ill-applied type of advertisement. For us at present there was only one main issue—whether we are going to organise for war—destruction of property and life—or should we be able to overcome this and organise our international community for co-operation, mutual tolerance and understanding. In so far as the modern magician of the totalitarian state was faced with this issue he had taken a definite stand towards the affirmation of power and the preparation for war. This was a magic of death and not of life, and the most dangerous type of superstition. CONWAY DISCUSSION CIRCLE MR. S. K. RATCLIFFE ON " THE LION AND UNICORN: WHAT /S HAPPENING TO THE BRITISH EMPIRE ? " (November 9, 1937) Under this heading Mr. Ratcliffe discussed the salient developments within the British system. A small minority of Britons only, he said, realised the import of the decisions that had been made during the past fifteen years. The creation of the Irish Free State in 1922, the Statute of Westminster, and the Indian round-table conferences were cardinal events. They had been followed by developments which were almost unimaginable before the War, and would have attracted a great deal more attention if the European crisis had been less insistent. The Irish Constitution was coming into effect : it niarked a separation /rom Great Britain as complete as was possible without formal independence. The great provinces of India were now under Congress Ministries, responsible for finance, general administration, law and order. To this surprising new condition the Viceroy and the provincial governors must adjust themselves, A self-governing India was at last in sight. Africa in the near future would produce the most difficult imperial problems. The threefold difficulty of Kenya was an obstinate nut to crack, while the South African Union was nearing a crisis over the British protectorates beyond the frontier. The question of responsibility for native populations, in relation to a dominion government not holding liberal views as to the dark-skinned people, was brought to a sharp Issue here. Until recently it was taken for granted by our imperialists that the difficult questions of the British system would be those of the non-selfgoverning territories: the Dominions would offer no very awkward problems. They now knew that Dominion affairs bristled with challenging points—such as immigration, defence, tariffs and the mandates. Dominion nationalism made increasing demands. The weakness of the home Government when confronted by a firm dominion public opinion was manifest, while the resentment of Australians and Canadians against the assumptions of Whitehall and the arrogance of London Society towards "colonials" was a serious faot. Full equality within the framework of the Commonwealth of Nations was the logic of the British system. It could not be denied; but it was producing a crop of troubles. POETRY CIRCLE The Poetry Circle were much indebted to Mr, Wallis Mansford for the excellent programme arranged by him for the meeting on November 18. When Mr. Mansford opened with Claudine Currey's prose review of Swinburne's personal life and romance we, unmindful of the advertised programme, were looking forward to an evening with Swinburne, whose birth took place 100 years ago. All we had, however, was Claudine Currey's long poem " Swinburne " from "Children of Azra." Mrs. Gilkes, no doubt, tried to make the most of it, but it did not enable her to show her powers to the best advantage. It is a question whether this type of poem is suitable for a public reading. Mrs. Gilkes' undoubted powers were best displayed in her very tender and charming rendering of Oscar Wilde's allegory entitled " Giant's Garden." We also, particularly, enjoyed her recitations of Flecker's "Golden Journey to Samarkand," Keats' "La Belle Dame sans merci" and Rupert Brooke's "The little dog's day," "Fish," and "Grantchester." The last three provided the touch of humour so necessary in a programme of this kind. Mr. Horace Gowing (accompanied by Mrs. Grace James) sang songs with words by Byron, Keats, Shelley. Tennyson, Burns and Rupert Brooke—nine in all. We were glad that he was better able on this occasion to adjust his powerful voice to the small space of our Library. Some of the songs were rendered in especially good taste, Mr. Mansford's various introductions and his detailed references to Rupert Brooke were much appreciated. NOTES The death of Mr. Ramsay MacDonald on November 9 cannot be allowed to pass without a note in the RECORD of the connection he had with the Ethical Movement nearly 40 years ago. There is an entry in the Editor's diary for Sunday June 12. 1898, as follows:— " Went to Libra Road" (the premises of the East London Ethical Society in Bow) "where we had a Social Work Committee, a lecture by Mr. Macdonald, and a General Committee meeting." That must have been a busy evening! For the morning of the same day, the diary reads: " Went to South Place where we heard a fine lecture on 'Patriotism ' by J. M. Robertson." There follows a summary of what was said. As no summary follows the reference to Mr. MacDonald's lecture it probably did not make much appeal to the diarist. The occasion is well remembered—a tall, gaunt young Scotsman holding forth learnedly in the broadest of accents to a somewhat bewildered audience of 30. A year or two later when Mr. MacDonald was becoming better known to the general public he took the chair at the Annual Meeting of the Union of Ethical Societies. We can still remember the strength he displayed in keeping in order a certain forceful personality not unknown to the present generation of South Place members. That Mr. MacDonald had not forgotten his old friends was shown at the Jubilee Commemoration at the Ethical Church in Queen's Road, Bayswater, last spring. It was stated that he had wished to attend but found himself, at the last moment, unable to do so.

Mr. Ernest Carr, Hon. Secretary of the Conway Memorial Lecture, informs us that Lord Horder, K.C.V.O., M.D., has consented to give next year's lecture. Further particulars will be announced in due course.

There was a specially good audience on October 31 to welcome Professor John Hilton's first appearance on our platform. The music was well chosen, and the readings excellent. Professor Hilton's rendering of the scene between Hamlet. Polonius and the Players was magnificent. Hamlet had instructed Polonius to see the players well bestowed and well used, whereat Polonius had replied: "My lord, I will use them according to their desert." Hamlet then utters the famous words: "Odd's bodikin, man, much better: use every man after his desert, and who should 'scape whipping? Use them after your own honour and dignity: the less they deserve the more merit is in your bounty. Take them in." This speech may be said to have served as the text for Professor Hilton's dis- course, We have tried to give an accurate account of it, but its undoubted effect on the audience was due in large measure to the Professor's manner of speaking and to his own striking personality. It is to be hoped that he may be induced to come again, 10

Notwithstanding a cold, foggy day there was quite a good gathering of members at the monthly " At Home" in the Library on Sunday. November 21. Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Clements were the guests of the afternoon. After Mr. William Busch had delighted the company with his performances on the piano Mr. Clements spoke for about ten minutes on the value to himself of his long association with the Society. He emphasised the importance of the Sunday morning services as the central feature of the Society's work, and he expressed the view that the word "service" better than any other expressed the significance of these gatherings. It implied that those taking part were actuated by a common desire to render service to their fellow men and women.

A member of the Society has informed the General Committee that he has from time to time certain letters available for certain Hospitals and Societies. In other cases he has certain votes he can give in favour of anyone applying to these institu- tions for admission. Particulars are as follows:— Central London Throat, Nose and Ear In-Patient Letters Hospital Out-Patient Letters Western Ophthalmic Hospital Out-Patient Letters Royal Dental Hospital of London Patients Letters Royal Surgical Aid Society Letters Royal Blind Pension Society Votes Royal School for the Blind Royal United Kingdom Beneficent Association British Home and Hospital for Incurables Seaford Convalescent Hospital. Recommendations All applications and letters as to these should be sent to Mr. Julian Roney at 42, New Broad Street. E.C.2, or 62, Christchurch Road, Streatham Hill, S.W.2. We have also been informed by Mr C J Pollard that he has two votes for the bi-annual election of pensioners of the Royal Blind Pension Society. Application should be made to Mr. C. J. Pollard, 25, Woodside Road, Woodford Wells, Essex. The next election will be in May, 1938. CORRESPONDENCE THE MRS M. L. SEATON-TIEDEMAN TESTIMONIAL AND DINNER 92, Elm Park Gardens, London, S.W.10. To the Editor of THE MONTHLY RECORD DEAR SIR,--R has been suggested that the many friends and admirers of Mrs. M. L. Seaton-Tiedeman, Hon. Secretary of the Divorce Law Reform Union, and those who have benefited personally from her untiring and unselfish work for this reform, should give a dinner in her honour on Saturday, January 15, to celebrate the passage of the Matrimonial Causes Act, and further, that a testimonial be Presented to her. If any of your readers are disposed to co-operate, will they be good enough to let us know at their earliest convenience whether they wish to attend on this occasion and/or contribute towards the presentation? Tickets for the dinner will be 5s. 6d. each, exclusive of wines (vegetarian menu if desired). Time and place will be notified later. Evening dress optional. We sincerely hope many will lend their support to this suggestion and so help to make the occasion an unqualified success, but in the event of some of them being unable to attend the dinner we should be grateful if they would send us a contribu- tion towards the testimonial. Cheques, etc. (crossed " & Co."), should be made pay- able to The Treasurer, " B.T.T. Fund" and sent to the above addreSs. A. ANGHINELLL BEATRIx HOLMES. Joint Secretaries.

"THE PROPER USE OF FORCE" To the Editor of "THE MONTHLY RECORD." Dear SM—There are two points on which I ask to be allowed a word regarding the letter from Mr. William Busch. The German Government's Internal Policy. Its desire for peace. The letter mentions the internal policy of Russia. This progressive country now asks only to be left alone in peace to work out her own policy which she 1s, in fact, 11 doing with great success. The German Government. on the other hand, seeks to force its will not only on the Germans but upon countless others outside Germany. Its policy seems to be one of hatred for all except Nazis, as witness the treatment meted out to Catholics, Jews, Masons, even the Salvation Army, boy scouts, trade unions and other harmless organisations. Hitler promised to better the conditions of the working classes to which he once belonged. Now one of his lieutenants tells them "Guns before Butter." He preaches justice and freedom. What measure of either has he given to those who fought for Germany? It is estimated that 24 millions fled the country because of his tyranny. As to his desire for peace, in this respect he has proved so insincere that it is no wonder he is mistrusted and his preachings not taken seriously, which accounts for other nations as well as ourselves indulging in a vast armament Programme. Germany is now busy on the most tremendous programme of rearmament in the history of the world. Why, if Hitler is such a lover of peace? Is he, or is he not, preparing again for "Der Tag "?---Sincerely yours, HARRY BROWN. THE QUESTIONNAIRE ON HYMN SINGING The result of the enquiry is to show that 49 members wish hymn singing to go on. while 48 are in favour of stopping it. About 300 members have not replied. Each of those who do not want any alteration attend, on the average, 26 Sunday services annually. The corresponding figure for the objectors is 19. Only 14 Associates have replied. Of these, 10 with an average annual attendance of 21, desire no change, while 4 with an average annual attendance of 25 vote for discontinuance. Non-members were given an opportunity to express their opinion, and 26 availed themselves of it. Half favour the singing and half do not. If heads be counted, irrespective of status, 72 people are for hymn singing and 65 against. In face of these figures, the General Committee are clearly unable to recom- mend an alteration, and a resolution to this effect will be moved on their behalf at the Members' Meeting on NoVember 30. About half of those who answered the questions have written rernarks. Those who favour the hymns lay stress on their value to themselves. They say those who sing feel better for doing so. The hymns inspire and encourage; they remind the singer needfully of moral teaching; they contain helpful and stimulating thoughts, and help the individual to self-expression. They want as much poetry and music as they can get. The hymns give people who like to sing the opportunity of doing so to decent words and music. The hymn book is a fine collection of poems which mean something. They have a bearing on everyday life, and are unorthodox. They say that singing binds the audience together and stimulates the feeling of fellowship. There is frequent reference to the importance of the audience making some contribution to the proceedings other than by discussion. The hymn singing enables people to take part, and this is better than to be a listener all the time. A young member remarks that the hymns help to lessen the difference between the services of the Ethical Society and of the churches. The Society's services, says another, should not be violently different in character from those to which religiously- minded people are accustomed. Omission of hymns, the argument proceeds, would cause our services to lose in dignity, reverence and influence. The services would be devitalized and we would become merely a Sunday lecture society. The hymns and readings, says one, are sometimes the most satisfactory part of the meeting. The lectures can be boring. The hymns reveal the cause we stand for. They well express the spirit of the Society. They help to cultivate a rational religious sentiment and are thus consistent with the objects of the Society. Those who would like hymn singing to be discontinued include members who assert that the singing is badly done, that the words are uninspiring, and savour too much of the churches. They contend that the hymn singing is a mimicry of religious ceremonial; it is not In accordance with modern progressive thought, is an anachromism alien to the Society's ideas, dead traditionalism, incongruous, and a relic of the Past. It creates a sentimental or emotional atmosphere, and is said to give offence to many. Some say they are fond of singing themselves but notice that the majority of the audience do not take part. One remarks that he is in sympathy with hymn singing in so far as It tenth to give the Sunday meetings a religious rather than a 12 secular atmosphere, but the hymns are commonplace. Another likes singing but suggests a different sort of book. It is stated by some that more new members, and especially young people, Would be attracted if singing were discontinued. Some would like the platform music developed, others would prefer it to be withdrawn and discussion of the lecture substituted. There is a suggestion that poetry should be declaimed by a good elocutionist rather than sung by the audience. Another is that ideals should preferably be expressed by readings or by a choir. After reading and summarising all the remarks, the impression left on the mind of the writer is that those who like singing do so much more actively than the objectors dislike it. The latter seem to include many who do not join in the singing —one admits he cannot sing a note. Some base their objection not so much on singing in principle, a.s on the way it is done. They go to listen—not to take part. Those who do sing probably enjoy it, and do not think about the quality of their performance. It would surely be a pity to deprive a substantial body of fellow-members of something they value—especially when the non-singers may escape the hymns by attending about ten minutes late as some admit they do. While it may be true that the singing deters certain people from joining us It seems as likely that it attracts others into membership. F. G. G. PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED THE RATIONALIST ANNUAL, 1938. Watts. Is. The diverse interest' and entertainment contained within the familiar orange covers of this issue cannot be adequately noticed in a brief review. Fourteen exponents' of heterodoxy contribute as many papers, differing widely in scope and method. They range from Professor Haldane's study of the abstruse mathematical speculations of Professor E. A. MiMe, whose cosmology not even Professor Haldane's limpid style can make plain for at least one reader, to Mr. Bertrand Russell's reminiscences of the religious influences of his solitary and studious youth. Lighter elements are provided by Mr. Llewellyn Powys' swashing blows at the " Sophistications of Christianity "; a delicate study by Mr. Gowans Whyte of the conflict between religion and science described in Gosse's "Father and Son "; and Mr. Troughton's memories of Herbert Spencer, whose private secretary he was for many years. Of that eminent philosopher gravely (and unsuccessfully) over-printing with red ink the blue flowers he disliked in a carpet, or donning his " topper " for his visits to the Atheneum, we are given diverting glimpses. Mr. John Rowland makes a strong case for his contention that our leading novelists of to-day are mainly heretical; Mr. Gerald Bullett pleads in temperate terms for the recognition of something other than a mechanistic explanation of the Universe; and Mr. Thurtle boldly claims that Lawrence of Arabia—" the most romantic figure which has appeared in our midst for years "—has earned by his profound insight and his " ceaseless striving to keep intact the integrity of the individual" the status of a secular saint. Other papers there are of an interest no less challenging than these—notably Mr. Langdon-Davies' study of the religious element in the Spanish War—but con- siderations of space preclude their discussion here. "The Rationalist Annual " for 1938 is a worthy member of a 'long and admirable series.

THE POPULAR DIVORCE Gyros By Alfred Fellows, BA. WattS. Is.• Mr. A. P. Herbert's hard-fought and necessarily partial victory for reform in the marriage laws, taking concrete form as the Matrimonial Causes Act, 1937, will come into force on January 1, 1938. The handbook under review, written by a barrister who is Vice-Chairman of the Divorce Law Reform Union, is thus timely and apt. It Is more—it is a clear, sound and most useful exposition of the divorce law as amended by the new statute. The law, of course, remains complex and difficult; a patch has been sewn upon a crazy-quilt of Acts of Parliament, Rules of Court, and leading cases, dating back to the abolition of Ecclesiastical Courts in 1857. Through this tangle of law and precedent Mr. Fellows steers his course with admirable clarity and concision: hinting only at still-needed reforms and concen- trating on the position as it exists, explaining technical terms, indicating precedents and stressing the uncertainties inherent in the new measure itself. Here the lay reader may find " much riches in a little room." ERNEST CARR. THE ONE SURE FOUNDATION OF DEMOCRACY There are probably many people who have not yet read the Conway Memorial Lecture delivered by Dr. Cott at Conway Hall on May 28: "The One Sure Foundation for Democracy." The lateneSS of the date seriously affected the 13 attendance and the sales suffered accordingly. Copies are still available. The book form of the lecture (cloth 2s., paper Is.) has reached America. and the following review by our friend Mr. George E. O'Dell, published in "The Standard" for November, 1937, may be of interest to our readers. In this, the Conway Memorial Lecture for 1937, Dr. Coit pleads for ethical education of children EIS an essential of a secure and progressive democracy, and for the conversion of middle-class intelligence and idealism as equally necessary if democracy is to establish economic and social justice. He quotes those notable passages in Kant which speak of the natural human interest in morals and of the moral insight and enthusiasm possible even to young children confronted with examples of integrity and self-secrifice; nor should knowledge of evil be denied them, since a merely sentimental goodness may result from ignorance of the moral dangers with which the predatory and designing may surround us with advantage to them- selves. We need alit° to be taught to see into the significance for good or evil of groups and group interests. In training of moral insight alone is there safety in the long run for democratic institutions, for it is not positive badness so much as moral blindness and deadness which render the masses subject to the artifices of selfish persons and classes. Dr. Coit refuses to fasten on the notion of fundamental human goodness without acknowledging also to the full how the human heart can be " desperately wicked." Only an intensive training in perception of right and wrong and the habit of putting oneself on the side of the right, can prevent human degeneration to the level of mere obedience to authority, which itself may be immoral in its purposes, In the final pages of this compact essay the author sharply analyses the concept of freedom. Truth binds tte, and so do the moral and aesthetic orders. " Irt democracy the only freedom will be bondage to fact and to the principles of art and humanity." And, ignoring those who so habitually misunderstood Dr. John Dewey's particular variety of pragmatism, he closes with a reference to him. "Dewey draws a happy illustration" (for his insistence in " Authority and Freedom" on the danger of supposing there is any legitimate sphere for mere wilfulness) " from the respectful attitude of private initiative in scientific research to the organised authority of the whole body of scientific investigators. Here is a perfect fusion or interpretation of authority and individual initiative. So must it be throughout the entire life of a democratic community." HALF-YEARLY MEMBERS' MEETING Tuesday, November 30, at 7 p.m. Election of Chairman. AGENDA Resolution to be moved by Mr. C. J. Pollard. on behalf of the General Committee: " That in view of the equally divided expression of opinion in reply to the questionnaire on hymn-singing, the General Committee recommend that no action be taken." Resolution to be moved by Mr. A. 0. Orrett and seconded by Mr. F. Washbrook: "That in all the Society's publications the Sunday morning gatherings be described as ' meetings,' that the use of the word ' service ' in that connection be discontinued and the resolution to the contrary effect passed at the Annual General Meeting on May 29, 1937, be hereby rescinded." Resolution to be moved by Mr. Ambrose E. Appelbe: "This meeting appreciates the efforts of the Committee to add vigour to Sunday morning meetings. It desires, however, a still wider range of speakers, and subjects more related to the practical and urgent problems of the day—for instance, Town Planning, Popula- tion and Housing Questions, Business Ethics." Resolution to be Moved by Mr. Ambrose E. Appelbe: " This meeting congratulates the Conway Children's Circle upon their work and would like it to consider the possibility of using Conway Hall during the day as a creche at which working mothers in the district can leave their children at a nominal charge. It believes that the Society would benefit by justifying its ethical principles in the midst of a poor district by giving opportunities of practical work to its members." Any other business. EASTER CO-OPERATIVE HOLIDAY Although Easter is some months ahead the arrangements for the Co-Operative holiday have now to be considered. The value of these holidays is the unique opportunity they provide of cementing into closer friendships the contacts that are made during the multifarious activities of the Society. The aim of the Rambles Committee is to maintain the high standard which has 14 been the feature of past holidays, and as there are now many competitive organisa- tions the holidays we provide must be interesting, fresh, and above all, good value for money. The freshness can be obtained by finding a new centre each year. The Interest depends, in a small measure, upon the lead given by the host and hostess, and If we can obtain different hosts each year then their varied abilities will ensure that the " interest " or type of holiday will vary and so tend to suit a fresh section of the Society each year. The objectives can only be achieved by an organised effort, and the Rambles Committee ask the members of the Society to pool any knowledge they may possess of possible centres or rambles, and also to advise the Rambles Committee if they are able to act either as host or hostess on some holiday occasion. At present the greatest need is means of transport in order that suitable centres may be examined and the walks worked out. Friends who have cars are asked if they will spend one Sunday in two years driving in the country and taking a party to investigate a proposed centre. Can you provide the means of transporting one party? If you can do so, please send your name to the Hon. Sec. of the Rambles Committee, or to Mr. B. 0. Warwick, 93, Falmouth Avenue, E.4. THE SOCIETY'S ACTIVITIES Matter for insertion in the January issue of the RECORDshould reach the Editor early in the month, and in any case not later than SATURDAY,December IL " AT HOMES."—The next Sunday afternoon monthly " At Home" In the library will be on December 19, at 4 p.m. The guests of the afternoon will be Mr. and Mrs. S. K. Ratcliffe.. The Sunday "At Homes" provide a pleasant opportunity for social intercourse with fellow members. Tea is provided at a nominal charge of 6d. The Club Room is available on Sundays for those who wish to bring their lunch. BOOKSTALL.—A variety of books and pamphlets are displayed for sale on Sunday Mornings at the Bookstall. Any book not displayed will be obtained. Orders should be left at the Bookstall addressed to its Secretary at Conway Hall. " Civil Liberty." and the various reports issued by the National Council of Civil Liberties are on sale at the Stall. CHORAL GROUP.—The next meetings will be on Wednesday, December 22 and 29, at 7.30 p.m. Mr. R E. Snelling, 51, Church Road, N.W.4, will be pleased to furnish further particulars. CONWAY CHILDREN'S CIRCLE meet at the Peel Institute, 65, St. John Street, Clerkenwell, E.C.1, the Girls' Club on Tuesdays, and the Boys' Club on Fridays. from 6 p.m. to about 7.30 p.m. Visitors are welcome. The Jumble Sale in aid of the funds of the Conway Children's Circle, which was held thy kind permission of the Warden, Mr. B. A. Campbell) at the Peel Institute on October 26, was very successful. The sum of £12 was raised, and the mothers of our children, who attended the sale in large numbers, obtained much excellent clothing very cheaply, which will be of great assistance to them in the coming winter. The Committee of the Circle wish to thank very warmly all friends who contributed by gifts or personal service to this result. The Hon. Treasurer gratefully acknowledges donations from Miss Snelling, Mrs. Mansford and Mr. J. C. Millington. The children have arranged a programme of plays, country dances, boxing and a gymnastic display, for their parents on Tuesday, December 7, from 7 till 9.30 p.m. Members of South Place Ethical Society will be warmly welcomed to this event at Peel Institute. Contributions of tea, bread and butter, cakes, sweets, or money for the refreshments which it is desired to provide during the evening will be much appreciated. Members who are willing to assist with gifts are asked to communicate with Mrs. Hawkins, 9, Asmuns Hill, N.W.11. (Speedwell 2535.) Hon. see.: Mrs. E. P. Hart, 18, St. Albans Road, N.W.5. CONWAY DISCUSSION CIRCLE will meet in the large hall at 7 p.m. on alternate Tuesdays. Dec. 7.—H. Wickham Steed: " The Risks of Peace." Dec. 21.—Dr. E. J. Dingwall: " The Present Position of Spiritualism in England." Dr. Dingwall will show how, while the cruder forms of imposture are becoming increasingly common in this country, the tendency to attract workers in psychology is leading to academic interest being aroused. In this connection he will pay some attention to the recent claims that both telepathy and 15 clairvoyance can now be shown to be facts, demonstrable by experiments and by the mathematical calculations arising therefrom. Secretary: Mr. E. Thurtle, MP., 4 & 6, Johnson's Court, Fleet Street, E.C.4. COUNTRY DANCE GROUP.—Lessons in the Library on Mondays, at 7 p.m., under the supervision of Miss A. Gloyn. General dancing, 7-8.; advanced 8-8.30 p.m. The fee until Christmas is 10s., or alternatively an entrance fee of 2s. ikl. and ls. per lesson attended. All payments to be made to the Hon. Treasurer, Mrs. Lindsay. Further particulars may be had from the Hon. Secretaries, Miss H. Shott, 31, Horsham Avenue, N.12, Miss P. Snelling, 8, Amberley Road, E.10. DANCES.—Saturday, December 4.—See under "Members' Party." Saturday, January 1, 1938.—In the Large Hall, 7.30 p.m. Grand New Year Carnival Ball. Spot dances. Special prizes. Novelties. Fancy dress parade. Carriages 11.55 p.m. Tickets 3s., including refreshments, ready now at Conway Hall, or from Hon. Sec.: Mr. C. E. Barralet, 34, Clarendon Way, Chislehurst, Kent. LIBRARY.—Open Sunday mornings before and after the Service, on Mondays during the Country Dance Class, and at the Sunday "At Homes." Free to Members and Associates. A slip must be filled in for each book borrowed. When books are returned they must be handed to the Librarians or left with the hall-keeper, and not be replacod on the shelves. Mrs T LINDSAY, 33, Dawlish Ave., Greenford, Middx. Librarian s I Miss D. W. Prrn 32, Albany Road, N.4. LITERARY CIRCLE.—Meets third Wednesday in each month. Wednesday, Dec, 15.—A social evening, and a farewell to Mr. J. L. Green on the eve of his departure to New Zealand for twelve months. There will be dancing and an entertainment. Refreshments at 6.30 p.m. Members and friends welcome. Those intending to be present are asked to notify Hon. Sec.: Miss F. Wilkins, 7 Evelyn Mansions, Queen's Club Gardens, W.14. MEMBERS' PARTY.—December 4, at 6.30 P.m. The Social and Dance Committees have pleasure in announcing that the Annual Members' Party and the December Dance are this year being combined. The programme will be as follows: 6.30.—Light music and songs. Mr. Scot Joynt (Miss Irene Evans at the piano). 7.20 (approx.)—" The Crimson Coconut." An Absurdity by Ian Hay. Produced by Mrs. Marianne Idiens. 8.0 (approx.)—Interval for refreshments, 8.30 to 1130.—Dancing to the Harlequin Band. Spot dances, prizes, novelties. The Library will be available for cards, etc. Admission 2s., including refreshments. Tickets from the Dance Secretary, or at Conway Hall. Please order tickets in advance to assist the Committee in making catering arrangements. It is hoped that as many members as possible will be present. They are invited to bring friends. In view of the programme timed to commence at 6.30 p.m., punctual attendance would be an esteemed courtesy. PLAY READING CIRCLE.—Meets as a rule in the Library on 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 7 p.m. Season October-April. Membership open to members and associates of the Society. Subscription for season 2s. 6d. Plays are chosen for literary quality as well as dramatic interest. Informal discussion and refreshments follow the readings. Visitors are welcome. Dec. 9.—" Parnell." Dec. 23.—No meeting. Hon. Sec.: Mrs. Hinchliff, 23, Russell Gardens. London, N.W,11, POETRY CIRCLE.—Meets in the Library on the third Thursdays, at 7.30 p.m. Dec. 16—Mr. H. Crossfield: "Some reflections on modern poetry." Selections from the Oxford Book of Verse will be read. Hon. Sec.: Mrs. Marianne Idiens, 85 Windsor Road, Forest Gate, E.7. RAMBLES.—Sunday, December 5.—London walk. Lunch in Club Room. Walk through parks. Tea in town. Sunday, December 12.—Walk by River. Park and Heath. Train 1.29 P.M, Waterloo to Richmond, cheap day return 10d. Tea at Duke of Cambridge, Kingston Vale. Leader: M. Orrett, Sunday, January 2.--Ramble from Whyteleafe. Train 1.23 p.m., Charing Cross (1.30 p.m., London Bridge). cheap day return 2$. Leader: F. A. Bowan. Leaders are wanted to take short walks in January. Volunteers are asked kindly to send particulars to Hon. Sec.: Mr. C. S. Newsom. 9, Homedeld Rise. Orpington, Kent. 16

SOUTH PLACE STRING ORCHESTRA.—Conductor: Richard H. Walthew. Practices are held every Friday evening 7 to 9 p.m., in the Small Hall or Library. No meeting on December 24 or 31. It is very necessary to increase the numerical strength of the Orchestra, and members of the Society are asked to recommend the Orchestra to their musical friends. Full particulars may be obtained from Hon Sec.: Mr. E. .J. F'airhall, 18, Golden Manor, W. 7. STUDY CIRCLE.—All members of last year's Study Circle, and their friends, are cordially invited to a meeting at Conway Hall on Tuesday, December 7, to renew acquaintance and discuss future plans. Meet 8 p.m. Adjourn for coffee later. Hon. Sec.: Doris Partington, 7, Clifford Way, Donis Hill, N.W.10. YOUNG PEOPLE'S PARTY.—Monday, January 10. The programme will include games, ballet dancing and ballroom dancing. It is hoped there will be a children's play. Tickets Is. 6d. for adults, Is. for children (including refreshments). SOUTH PLACE SUNDAY CONCERT SOCIETY THE FIFTY-SECOND SEASON of the South Place Sunday Concerts will be continued every Sunday, except December 26 and January 2. Nov. 28.—New English Trio: Gwynneth Trotter, Audrey Piggott, Dorothea Aspinall; Vocalist: Henry Wendon: At the Piano: Geoffrey Corbett. Piano Trios: Turina No. 1, Mendelssohn C minor; Dohnanyi's Piano and Cello Sonata; Brahma' Sonatensatz for Piano and Violin. Dec. 5.—Stratton String Quartet : George Stratton, Carl Taylor, Watson Forbes, John Moore; Oboe: Evelyn Rothwell; Solo Piano: John Hunt. Oboe Quintets by Arnbld Bax and George Stratton; Mozart's Quartet In B flat, K. 458; Piano Sonatas : Beethoven C minor. Op. III, Schubert A minor, Op. 143. Dec. 12.—Griller String Quartet : Sidney Griller, Jack O'Brien, Philip Burton, Colin Hampton; 2nd Viola : Max Gilbert; Solo Piano : Mary Noble. String Quintets : Brahms 0, Mozart C, K 515; String Quartet; Schubert's Piano Sonata in A, Op. 120. Dec. 19.—London Piano Quartet: Wilfrid Parry, Joseph Shadwick, Lena WOOd, Johan C. Hock; Vocalist: Nan Maryska; At the Piano: Ella Ivlmey. Piano Quartets: Brahms A, Dvorak E fiat; Dohnanyi's Piano and Violin Sonata. Dec. 26 and Jan. 2.—No Concerts. Members' Tickets 3s, each, admitting to Reserved SeatS everY Sunday to Dee 19, may be obtained at the Concert or from the Hon. Treasurer of the Concerts, Andrew E. Watson, Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, W.C.1, by sending Remittance and Stamped Addressed Envelope. Hon. Treasurer: ANDREW E. WATSON, Conway Hall. Red Lion Square, W.C.1. Hon. Secretary: ALFRED J. CLEMENTS, 8, Finchley Way, N.3. Hon. Assistant MRS. D. M. CLEMENTS, 8, Finchley Way, N.3. Secretaries; ; GEORGE HUTCHINSON, Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, W.C.1.

New Members Miss N. H. SAND, 24, Parliament Hill, N.W.3. Miss T. WHITE, 89, Amherst Park, Stamford Hill, N.16. New Associates Miss L. HARDING, 111, Warren Road, oricklewood, N.W.2 Mrs. A. QUENNELL, 100, Regents Park Road, N.W.1. Changes of Address MiSS THORNEF.RY, 143, Harvist Road, Queen's Park, N.W.6. MISS E. M. ROTHERHAM, 46, Chepstow Villas, W.11. Miss C. S. HODGINS, 20, Belsize Park, N.W.3.

DIARY FOR DECEMBER I General Committee 6.30 p.m. 12 Ramble (see page 15) 2 Literary Circle.. 7.15 p.m. 12 Concert..• . .• 8.30p.m. 3 Orchestra.. 7 p.m. 13 Country Dances .. 7p.m. 4 Members' Party .. 6.30 p.m. 15 Literary Circle .• 7.15p.m. 5 Service 11 a.m. 16 Poetry Circle • 7.30p.m. 5 Ramble (see page 15 17 Orchestra.. • 7 p.m. 5 Concert.. 6.30p.m. 19 Service.. • 11 a.m. 6 Country Dances, 7 p.m. 19 At Home .. • 4 p.m. 7 Discussion .. 7p.m. 19 Concert.. 6.30 p.m. 7 Study Circle 8p.m. 20 Country Dances .. 7 p.m. 9 Play-Reading Circle 7 p.m. 21 Discussion 7 p.m. 10 Orchestra.. '7 p.m. 22 Choral Group• • • 7.30 p.m. 12 Service.. 11 am. 29 Choral Group• • • 7.30 p.m. Printed and published by THE PARLEIGH PRESS (T.U.), 17-29. Cayton Street. E.C.1.