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

" The OBJECrS OF THE SOCIETY are the study and dissemination of ethical principles and the cultivation of a rational religious sentiment."

SUNDAY MORNING MEETINGS at ELEVEN O'CLOCK. • March rf—S. K. RATCLIFFE—England and Amerioa—Now First two movements of Sonata in G, Op. 78, for Violin and Pianoforte .. Brahms Vivace ma non troppo. ii. Adagio—Piu Andante--Adagio. Miss BEATRIX MARR and Mr. WILLIAM BUSCH. Hymns • No. 25. 0 brother man, fold to thy heart thy brother! No. 81. We may not think that all of good. March 28—No Meeting April 4--S. K. RATCLIFFE—Stop Playing the Camel BOSS Sol0 Caro mM ben ... Giordani Mr. G. C. DOWMAN Soprano Solo: Faith in Spring ...... Schubert MiSS HERE SIMPSON. H ymns No. 147. Earnest words must needs be spoken. No. 123. The man of life upright. April 11—HAR DAYAL, M.A., Ph.D.—Ethical Aspects of Buddhism Pianoforte Solo: Prelude and Chorale .. César Franck Mr. WILLIAM BUSCH. Hymns No. 1. %Be true to every inmost thought. No.45. All are architects of fate. April 18—JOHN KATZ, B.A.—Religion and the Intellectuals Sonata in B fiat, K378, for Violin and Pianoforte ... Mozart I. Allegro moderato. a Andantino. tn. Rondo: Allegro Miss VERA KANTROVITCH and Mr. WILLIAM BUSCH. Hymns No. 73. Out of the dark the circling sphere. No.100. What iS it that the crowd requite. April 25—S. K. RATCLIFFE—The New Problem of Loyalty Bass Solo : Breathe soft ye Winds ... Handel Mr. G. C. DOWMAN. Soprano Solo: Loveliest of Trees ... Graham Peel MiSS HESE SIMPSON. No. 120 and 227. The heart it hath its own estate. Hymns No.28 (second tune). Oh dew of life! oh light of earth!

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A DANGEROUS WORLD It is needless to dwell upon the disconcerting acceptance of the fact indicated by this title. A gas-mask for everyone, conscription for military and industrial war services, storage of foods, unlimited expenditure upon armaments. are accepted by the overwhelming majority of people here and on the Continent as indicative of a general war regarded as an early probability, almost a certainty. History is the product of force and chance, a will to war brought into action by some frontier fncident or other opportunity. While no people wants war, every people thinks it may " break out "—a phrase itself expressive of irrational causation. Can nothing be done to prevent it? For though no people wants war, every people can be forced into what their national propaganda will make them believe to be a necessity of national defence. This urgent peril can neither be understood nor guarded against until its common causation is rightly grasped. Though self-assertion and a fighting " instinct " may belong to most men's inborn equipment, or be educated by environment, they would not carry modern peoples into collective carnage, unless they were associated with the economic interests and necessities of powerful political groups, the owning ruling classes in the several nations. For war is not the only danger which oppresses modern man. The periodic slumps and depressions, with their intolerable burdens and wastes of unemployment, are an equal testimony to the irrationality and the inhumanity of our civilisation. But what, it may be asked, is the connection between war and unemployment? At first sight they may seem to be opposed. For both war itself and its preliminary process of armed preparation furnish paid occupations to those who otherwise may be unemployed. It is true that these occupations can hardly be termed economic. 3 The production and consumption they provide consist in the destruction alike of wealth and life. The large sums devoted to our rearmament from taxation and borrowing are taken, in a period of reviving prosperity, from money that would otherwise have been spent on making more consumptive goods or more capital goods for enlarged production. They constitute a substantial reduction of the real income of the nation and, by reason of the rise of prices they cause, of the real wages of the workers. These truths, however, even if accepted by our war-preparers, do not convince. For, it is said here, as in Germany, there are critical occasions when butter must be sacrificed to bullets. " We don't want to fight, but . . . " Why must we7 Because "national honour " is involved in a " fight for markets." The very notion that markets can be objects of and contention seems at first sight ridiculous. Why should nations find a deficiency of markets in their own country or abroad? Why should they put on tariffs to keep out foreign goods, and employ all their forces, financial, diplomatic and ultimately military, to secure " their share" of the world's markets? No nation can gain by restricting the freedom of access to the resources of the world which will enable them to be put to their best use and increase the real income of everyone by free processes of exchange. This free trade logic is irrefragable—but somehow its rationality does not prevail. Why? Because it assumes that consumers are always ready in large enough numbers to purchase and consume all that can be produced. Now this is not the fact. Production is held up periodically by reason of an insufficiency of markets. For though everything that is or can be produced belongs to somebody, who can buy it for consumption or exchange it for something else he would consume, this does not cover a situation where standards of consumption do not rise to keep pace with improved technique of productive processes in manufacture, agriculture and transport. For the classes in each nation which profit most out of these improvements are as a rule satisfied with their current standards of living, spend little more in profitable times, but save for investment a larger proportion of their increased income. So long as they use these savings to pay workers to make more plant, raw materials and other capital goods, the trouble is postponed. But when it is seen that there exists an excess of producing power beyond the limit of profitable trade, then comes a stoppage of production and employment, especially in the fundamental industries and the export trades. This recurrent deficiency of markets, home and foreign, is the direct cause of these barriers and hostilities in trade which are a direct denial of its co-operative nature and which are the secret feeders of international hostility. Each nation seeks to keep its own markets for itself and to keep out foreigners, while at the same time it uses its political power to get foreign markets away from its foreign com- petitors. This trouble arises from a chronic maldistribution of the national income, due to advantages in bargaining which put too large a share of income in the hands of the numerically smaller owning and ruling classes, too small a share in the hands of the larger working classes. Thus economic insecurity and international hostility are fed from the same vicious source. J. A. Housow. PROFESSOR T. H. PEAR ON " THE STUDY OF PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS " (February 28. 1937) Readings : (1) First Epistle to the Corinthians, 12th Verse (James Moffatt's translation of the New Testament). (2) From William James' Chapter on " Self," in his Principles of Psychology." Laurence Hyde in his book " The Learned Knife" said some cutting things about sociologists and economists. He pointed out that the physical sciences had achieved a spectacular success, but that they no longer dealt with real things but with abstractions. To apply purely abstract laws to human problems was impossible. Psychologists were let off lightly in the book, but it would be possible to apply the same criticism to them. Psychologists, in attempting to be scientific, may become too abstract and confuse measurability with significance. Countless data will be collected by second-rate minds data that may have little connection with warm reality. To-day, I intend to speak not of technique but of subject matter; of the living flesh and blood which is the basis of psychology. To begin with, it is necessary to define personality, character, and self. Words are our only means of communication, and a misunderstanding of a word may lead to complete confusion. I shall take Jung's definition of personality, McDougall's of character, and William James' of self. Personality is defined as the effects upon other people, caused by individual persons, in as much as they are distinctive signs of that individual; that is : physique, colouring, clothes, speech, gesture, posture, choice of phrase. 4 Character is the " comparatively stable state of a person's mind, which weaves into a unified pattern his skills, ideals, etc." Self is a total awareness of one's existence, of body, clothes, friends, children. It is easy to see that a man's personality may not coincide with his character. A chauffeur may exhibit one personality when he is in uniform and working for his master; in fact, in a sense, he will suppress any individual traits; but when he is free he may seem an entirely different man. Both these personalities may hide a perfectly stable character. To-day, the study of personal relationships is particularly interesting, because personality can borrow so much from the cinema, cosmetics and other sources, that it may have little reference to the character behind it. Class distinctions play a large part in personal relations. It is patent in such phrases as "To be brutally frank," " To be a snob for a moment," "Between ourselves." A feeling of social inferiority gives rise to class consciousness. It may be one's clothes, one's worldly goods or one's profession. There are interesting exceptions to the rule of class consciousness; one may be democratic in a swimming pool, or in full evening dress, provided that it is immaculate; war, too, tends to eradicate class feeling, so does mild alcoholic intoxication. In understanding personal relationships, it is important to study the problem of manners. One aspect of good manners is the ability to find a solution to a difficult • social situation. Different types of social manners are seen in the offering of food and drink. Some people are extremely sensitive to social atmosphere, and smart for weeks if their advances are not reciprocated. This is especially true of introverts. Heartiness is another way of overcoming the natural shyness of first social contacts. It probably is a good way, but many people, including myself, feel slightly ridiculous on such occasions. This is due very likely to upbringing. Manners sometimes build an artificial barrier between people. The peculiar voice and intonation used by many clergymen make them difficult to approach in a natural manner. Now that language and clothes are becoming more standardised, some of the more superficial class barriers are disappearing. Ultimately all class distinction must go. A classless society should evolve, but it must be a society where cruelty between individuals is bad form, where plumbing is efficient, and where there is plenty of soap. J. L. G. PROFESSOR H. LEVY ON - HERESY HUNTING." (March 7, 1937) Readings : (1) "The Doom of Dogma," by H. Prank. (2) "The Recording Angel," by J. A. Hobson. Professor Levy said that when he was asked to give a title for this lecture the subject of heresy hunting was much in evidence owing to the Russian trials, which were another illustration of the historical heresy hunting to which we had become accustomed. The knowledge we had accumulated during the past century or two gave us a new insight into the whole history of the subject, looked at broadly. We were accustomed to think of particular historical trials that had taken place and of individuals who had stood out against authority, usually in connection with the Church. They had stood out for rather changeable and ephemeral things which nowadays could not be considered to have established any fundamental truth. The particular things which these people, from Christ onwards, felt very keenly about, did not react upon us with the same strength. It was conceivable that the special kinds of truth for which they stood were very closely related and conditioned to the environment in which they lived. The modernist Christian, from whose work his first reading was taken, writing about 1900, and attempting to make a more reasonable foundation for the structure of his beliefs, stated that in the last resort truth and salvation were individual salvation, and were not founded upon the mass of opinion. History has belied that statement; Society was prior to man. With the accumulation of experience, knowledge and understanding held from generation to generation and passed on to each individual in society there arises an accumulation of knowledge en masse and a handing out of it to the individual. When, at the end of the 19th century, writers took up the individualistic attitude, they were looking at a bit of the picture and not seeing it as a whole. In each particular epoch in history the attempt has always been made to cleanse society of its heretical sins. Christ could be regarded as a heretic who stood up against constituted authority to insist on the right of the peasant and 5 underdog. His was a spiritual and sometimes economic upstanding against the constituted authority of a powerful Church. He was swept out of the way. In the late Middle Ages, in the time of Galileo, the experience that had been acquired from navigation. commerce and craft industries during the previous centuries had taught people something about the world, about the stars, about metallurgy. Knowledge was applied to industrial purposes rather than to dogmas and beliefs, and men like Galileo had to ask themselves, after a life of investigation, do I or do I not believe the evidence of my own eyes, or do I believe the so-called established dogmas of the Catholic Church, handed down in an abstract way from generation to generation? Galileo invited professors of universities to look through his telescope at the revolving moons of Jupiter and the spots on the sun. When they were approached by the Papal representatives to agree or deny the truth of Galileo's observations, they said they did not see the moons or sunspots. They knew they did, but they would not say so. The heretic is he who can formulate in precise language a new idea of which he is not the sole possessor. Psychologists know the effect of repressing a certain word. There is a tradition of society which says you must not say it verbally. The heretic says I must say it or burst. Then somebody else says it by saying that the heretic said it. The heretic breaks the ice and makes the bound forward. Galileo's new conception of the earth as a revolving globe rested on the accumulated experience of a number of comparatively simple-minded sailors. Spinoza, a Spanish Jew brought up in Holland, a prosperous country which had broken the fetters of the Catholic Church, expressed a new kind of liberalism, and put forward a philosophy which is to all intents and purposes atheist. He threw off the whole trammels of the Jewish Church and said that man made his own morality and did not need dogmas given by an unknown, unseen power. He was excom- municated. Spinoza lived in the 17th century in a social environment of an advanced type. In England the Civil War of 1640 had made the first challenge to the doctrine of the divine right of kings. In 1688 the king was brought back, but he had lost his divine right and there was a limited monarchy. The Jacobite rebellion of 1715 attempted to bring it back, but in 1745 there was a counter-revolutionary movement which finished it. New ideas had expressed themselves in a new form of government. Holland at the time of Spinoza was closely allied religiously, intellectually and in- dustrially with England. It took one hundred years to quash the divine right of the king. It has taken a hundred years to establish the French revolution. We must not be surprised if there are ups and downs in Russia. The kind of things which might be considered heresy to-day are not religious, they are more fundamental. We belong to a liberal era and think we do not believe in heresy. We say you can do as you like as long as you do not interfere with other people, but there is not a man who does not say : " Well, the limit is so and so," but the limit differs. When we say we believe in freedom for heretics we must say how Much freedom. How much will they get, how much will they have to suffer if they step beyond the limit. The blasphemy laws still apply. We do not burn heretics now, but in some places their books are burned. We do not burn books in this country, but there are many books which could be written, about which we should say that they should not have been written. What is happening to-day in Russia. Germany. England. France and Spain is a clash between people who believe in the system they have and those who do not. There are enormous groups of heretics ready to die for their beliefs. Large numbers of people in Spain are dying to get rid of a kind of society that they think should not exist. There is an increase in the scale of heresy hunting and in the scale of exposing heresy. It has passed from being an individual thing and is a group thing. A new morale comes into being when a man is not alone; a new quality emerges in a crowd which does not exist in the individuals it composes. Instead of individual heretics expounding new ideas, you get groups of heretics saying we stand for so and so. This brings about a social revolution. E. W. CONWAY DISCUSSION CIRCLE DR. HAR DAYAL ON " THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY " (February 23, 1937) Dr. Har Dayal enquired what are the chances of the survival of democracy in the modern world. During the 19th century we have seen freedom developing, but since the Great War the process has suffered a setback. Fascism has triumphed in Germany and Italy. Actually in this country we only enjoy a partial democracy. In a perfect democracy every citizen should base his opinions on proper information, but we do not get that from the Press, or the 13.13.C., or from propaganda lectures. Then there are certain institutions which mock democracy. In England we have the House of Lords and the Royal Family. In America there is the Senate and the Supreme Court. in France a second Chamber. He did not believe the problem can be solved by reference to capitalism. That is only one factor. The immediate cause of the success of Fascism in Germany and Italy was want of agreement among the various Left-wing parties, but fundamentally it was the Great War which caused economic, social, psychological conditions favourable to dictatorship. The policy of France and England in browbeating Germany and treating Italy unfairly was also a factor. The Treaty of Versailles led to a great revival of patriotism. When nationalism has been outraged, people will sacrifice liberty and democracy for national success. The middle classes in Germany are the backbone of the reactionary movement. They have allied themselves with the upper rather than with the working classes. The latter cannot maintain democracy alone. Then there is the effect of the Church. People think that the erroneous superstitions fostered by the priests are insignificant. But such an enormous institution with its prestige and theological background cannot be neglected in politics. It was Dr. Har Dayal's conviction that no nation which belongs to a superstitious church can have democratic institutions in the long run. Superstition is an underlying cause of social slavery. The Christian Church is an institution based on authority. Members learn to obey and look up to priests. It is not possible in a community to obey the Church and love liberty and democracy in the State. He had no hope of establishing a democratic State in a Roman Catholic country. What finally contributed to the success of the fascists was the sheer incompetence of the democratic leaders. It is a peculiar fact that the success of democracy .depends on leadership, because it consists of millions of average people .who need leadership and organisation. It is not the same thing as dictatorship. The democratic leader inspires others. In Germany and Italy the so-called demo- cratic parties were entirely moth-eaten with self-complacency and the inertia which comes of having safe jobs in the capitalist system. Lansbury in Office thought too much of bathers in Hyde Park. That was not a proper use of his powers, but that happens when leaders become entangled in the oligarchic State. These institutions are like so many spiders' webs. The great leaders should not be in them. They should be outside, guiding those who must make compromises in the Government machinery. In Germany there were no great leaders outside the political machinery. On the day Hitler was appointed Chancellor, Vorwaerts wrote : " We will be fair and courteous to the Nazi administration." They thought they would be one party like the others. They were not prepared for any sort of struggle. To go down as the German democracy did was ignominious. Can Fascism succeed in England, France and America? It may or It may not. He believed in people working to make history. The ideal is the establishment of liberty, equality and fraternity in the whole world. We must distinguish our friends from our enemies. All of us are supposed to be democratic, but wealthy people, whether Tory or Liberal, are not democrats—they still belong to 1832. They have accepted reforms unwillingly and would reverse all legislation if they could. The only friends of democracy are the small men economically. There may be a few idealists, but we must base democracy on the small farmer, shopkeeper, professional worker, soldier and sailor, who earn their living and do not exploit. Many of these vote wrongly. It is otir task to persuade them to vote for the Labour Movement. Unless the farmers are with you there will not be a stable democracy. He did not favour Land Nationalisation. The farmer thinks in terms of land and should have his own. There is nothing undemocratic in that. Peasant proprietorship is good. In Sweden to-day there is a coalition of farmers and Socialists. The shop- keepers and the professional workers must be shown how they are exploited by the oligarchies. Soldiers and sailors are a class apart. No revolution can take place without their support. We must impress on soldiers and sailors that their loyalty and allegiance is always to the constitutionally elected government. We must try to have more international trade. Hitler's movement succeeded during the depression of 1929 and through the aggressive action of France. We must Join hands with those small free northern countries which are trying to free trade from its barriers. We must work for peace. One probable result of the next war will be the establishment of fascism. Every infringement of democratic rights must be resisted. If there is bureaucratic action against liberty of speech, association, and criticism, it must be fought, as it was when fascists threatened to march in the East End. People came out into the streets to the discomfiture of Mosley. We must support the National Council for Civil Liberties.

DR. J. C. FLUGEL ON "NATIONALISM AND REASON " (March 2, 1937) Dr. Flugel said that rationalism required that we should, as far as possible, think and live according to reason in all spheres. Religion to-day was perhaps no longer the most important field in which irrationality shows itself, and it has become more and more recognised that many of the feelings and motives which lead to unreason- 7 able belief In religious affairs have passed to the political sphere, and the rationalist should pursue unreason to those other spheres. There is more need in the field of politics than elsewhere. Within the general sphere of politics there is the sub-group of nationalism, which is dangerous because of its connection with war.. Almost everybody realises that war is essentially unreasonable, but you must deal specially with its psychological causes and motives. Reason itself has limitations. It can show us the best way to attain the desired end, but it is desire which dictates this end. When we desire the good. reason tells us how to attain it. The task of reason in regard to nationalism is easier than in the battle against superstitious religion. Nations are man-made, whereas religious dogmas are accepted as intrinsic values. We have to persuade the believer that there are higher values than religious dogma. Nationalism is recognised to be nothing more than a human value. In the tight against belligerent nationalism, the rationalist should show that in so far as conducing to our safety, it is highly dangerous. Secondly, emotional needs which find expression can be supplied by allegiance to a wider whole. And thirdly, that in the case of patriotism even our local patriotisms can still be enjoyed, but with reference to certain ends in social efficiency and national health and happiness, science, literature and art, etc. National law is at present a farce because there is no authority to enforce it. Clearly, if we are to avoid war, there must be a limitation to the complete sovereignty of nations. The League of Nations presupposed that the general desire for peace following the Great War was sufficient to make nations regard themselves as bound by a gentleman's agreement, but events have shown they cannot be trusted to behave as gentlemen. Nations, nevertheless, have their valuable qualities. They are the going concerns which exist from which all further development, has to be built. The nation is. however, often two small for the present world in which communications and transport have increased so enormously. The second point for the rationalist is the question of loyalty to a greater whole. If we are to give up this precious tradition of a sovereign state we must receive emotional compensation in one way or another. We must cultivate this loyalty to a greater whole. The League of fiations should do something to cultivate loyalty to itself. It has a flag, but nobody knows anything about it. We constantly see our national flags and uniforms, but very seldom at any fete connected with the League do we see its flag or hear its anthem. Every time we go to a theatre we have to sing " God Save the King," and thus our loyalties are always being stimulated, but the League is conducted on a purely intellectual basis. Everytime we have a national fête we should emphasise that we are part of a greater whole. At the Coronation the national flag and the League of Nations flag should be displayed together. Are we to aim at the retention of something like the national spirit or at cosmopolitanism? Mr. Wells thinks it impossible to render nations peaceful because of aggressive tradition. Enthusiasm for the wider whole must be aroused. The League has utterly failed in this respect. It was formed by the inclusion of nearly all the civilised nations on the basis of nationality. They were at different stages of culture, and national rivalries and political ideologies had to be cut across. Nazism is a very difficult problem, as it is antagonistic to all except tempoiary federation. A third difficulty is that existing nations differ enormously in size and power. and under these circumstances the larger nations take a leading part, whereas the League treats the various members as individuals. If it were possible to produce a federation of Prance, U.S.A.. and the British Empire. there would be a very important group to act as a nucleus round which smaller ones would collect, but these nations should trust each bther sufficiently to pool their armaments, and there should be economic union. Even that seems very remote. Within such a group there would be no loss of prestige and comparatively little distrust of each other. Smaller nations joining In would gain prestige and power. If we have these national loyalties and are asked to give up certain powers, we can receive emotional compensation to some extent within our own group. There are other than military glories. It is one of the great achievements of Russian politicians that they have stressed peaceful accomplishments. If we are to flfnr. substitutes for military glories, we must dwell on our own very real achievements which we tend to pass over in silence. Examples are the grid electricity scheme, the establishment of the B.B.C., and the creation of the London Passenger Transport Board. In other countries these would have been celebrated as national achievements. We must have the moral equivalents of war. Loyalties connected with aggression are powerful because they call for sacrifice. The need to sacrifice ourselves and put our energy and liveS in the service of some great cause is deep-Seated in the human heart, and the rationalist must see that it is used for good. We must have some big idea for which we can make great contributions to the cause of humanity equal to those afforded by war. F. a G. 8 SOth Anniversary of first South Place Concert MRS. MARY AGNES HAMILTON ON - MUSIC AND LIFE." (February 21. 1937) Readings : (1) John Milton : " At a Solemn Music." (2) Robert Browning : " Abt Vogler—after he has been extemporising upon the musical instrument of his invention." It is probably in the minds of all of you that there is taking place to-day a very interesting celebration intimately connected with this Society. We celebrate the fact that our Sunday concerts, founded with extraordinary faith by Mr. A. J. Cements to give ordinary people the opportunity of hearing chamber music at small cost, have been going on for fifty years. Since Mr. Clements started he has enlisted the co-operation of almost every musical executant one can think of. In these tif ty years an extraordinary change has taken place in the degree to which ordinary people take music into their life. I belong to a generation whose musical education and opportunity lagged extra- ordinarily far behind their reading. At whatever cost, we did get hold of books. We knew something also of pictures. But seldom, if ever, were we taught to read music. If we enjoy it, it is largely in ignorance of its alphabet. It is a common experience to meet a man or woman in the forties who would be ashamed not to have heard. of Browning, but they would not be ashamed not to have heard of Brahms or Beethoven. That has changed, and I am inclined to think that the true historian of the future, who looks at how ordinary people are living, may very well flnd that this general acquisition of some acquaintance with music has been the most important change in our lives. In the schools to-day there is going on a training in music, and broadcasting has been a tremendous influence in enabling thousands of people to hear the best music so as to be able to enjoy music in an instructed manner. I have been interested in the last few years because it has been my work to interview candidates for the Civil Service. In an examination question for clericals, it was asked : "Does broadcasting help or hinder music?" From both groups—cadets and executives—one got the same impression that music was a real fact in their lives. Young men from universities asked as to their recreation, many said : " To take part. in chamber or choral music, or to listen to it." Several asked. "If transported to a desert island, what books would you take?" replied : "Books of gramophone records." Of the boys and girls who came from our secondary schools, mostly children from working-class homes, many said, frankly and rightly : " It hinders music because we have to listen to broadcasting in rooms where other things are going on." That made one feel that, musical appreciation depends partly on housing, but a great number of others said wireless was helping musical appreciation because nothing helps so much as to have listened to a piece on the wireless with the score in the hands. Many had listened with pleasure with the score in their hands. Twenty-five years hence it will be as ignorant not to read music as it is now not to read the ordinary printed word. No one can pretend that the khid of enjoyment which the ignorant get from listening to music is the same or as deep as that which comes when you understand what you are listening to. I have no fear that knowledge of music is going to do anything but immensely increase the enjoyment of music. Goethe said : "He who does not love music is dead." We are not complete without love of music. Music and life has been much more illuminated by the glorious music we have heard this morning than anything else I can say. The value of music increases with me, but I can only read a score with great difficulty, and I speak as one of the enjoyers, but no more. But people like me are still entitled to have a view on what is the biggest controversy about music. This is as passionately pursued as the old controversy about Art and Morals. The modern phase of the controversy asks whether Art, and in particular Music, has any meaning. There is a school of musicians who proclaim that music has no meaning, and is degraded by having meaning imputed to it. Stravinsky is of this school. They mean meaning in terms of anything but itself as expressing anything in relation to life as a whole. They say that the musician is not concerned with the problems which afflict human beings. He is building a pattern which has nothing to do with life. The same practice is followed by contemporary painters, who say painting is a subtle gradation of colour values, just as music is a gradation of tones. But those who say with Stravinsky that music has no meaning are still under the influence of the old literary standards and conventions under which most of us grew up. Those who say that music has meaning and that it expresses and can illuminate experiences, do not imply that you can translate the substance or content of a piece of music into words, and by those words express what is being said. Those who go to concerts must have suffered from the attempts of the programme editor to say what the piece means, or to cast it Into a visible picture. 9 Music can be understood in musical terms. I agree, but you cannot take it out of its own expression into another. You cannot translate a picture into words, or a play into song. Certainly it is true to say that the meaning of a piece of music cannot be translated into words. It is another thing to say music has nothing to tell us about life or to give us about life itself. Those who claim that music is not only unique, but isolated from life, are wrong. Music can tell us something about life—an illumination that nothing else can bring in the same way. I would ask anyone who asserts that music is meaningless : "Is that his impression when going away from hearing one of the great works?" Does any human being, familiar with Mozart's chamber music or who has heard The Magic Flute, not feel he has been in contact with an illumination of life which has brought him into contact with fundamental experiences of life, and that one is receiving some sort of acquaintance with the whole approach to the mystery of our common existence with Mozart himself? It would be interesting for each of us to make a list of the works which have given this experience. The Magic Flute would be one universally admitted. Gluck's Orpheus also, and Beethoven's Fidelio. I do not get it in Parsilal, but I do in Lohengrin : there are passages in it which have just that ramified, tenuous quality and contact with the spiritual. When I pass to the great Symphonies, the list is much too long, but it is interesting to interrogate one's musical experience and ask which have given you a sense of spiritual awareness which one cannot turn into words but is not a vague emotion. Beethoven's Ninth Symphony cannot be appreciated without a sense of the tremendous feeling it gives one of an experience which passing through every range of sorrow and despair enters in that divine Adagio into a complete release from every trace of self-consciousness and then says: " I cannot have this for myself alone, every brother must enjoy it with me." People ask why Beethoven admitted human voices, but do not they express this sharing of accepted experience? That is what great music demands of us. The great Fugue elevates us from the sloppily emotional stage. Beethoven, Mozart, Bach try to convey to their fellow human beings a sense of their total experience of what life meant to them, and how they saw through it and beyond it. To say music has no meaning is definitely wrong. We belong to a period when it is difficult to see any meaning in life. It is chaotic and unorganised. We live in a state of apprehension. All this turmoil and despair means that the artist to-day dares not think of life as a whole, and his experience of life will seek to escape in forms as absolute as possible. There is no accident in the fact that while you have to-day an incredible degree of technical mastery, many Of these masters seem to have little or nothing to say. Technical skill and its exercise is thcn a form of escape. Out of this desire to escape from an experience that cannot be mastered psychologically springs the view that the unique language of music is somehow incapable of, or degraded by. utterance in terms that have anything to do with human experience. But so limiting a view cannot seriously be accepted for a moment. Music has intimate relevance to life. I do not believe it is possible that there exists a great artistic medium whose exponents are not using it to say what they most deeply think. Mussorgsky said Art is communication between man and man. You have got it all there—a passionate impulse to express to the rest of your fellows the sum of your own reaction and experience. Music is a medium of com- munication direct and intimate, subtle and strong, capable of illuminating mysteries the other arts can suggest but not reveal. Where words imprison us, music sets us free.

THE JUBILEE CONCERT The 50th anniversary of the first South Place Concert (20th February, 1887), held on the 21st February, 1937, will remain in the memory of those who took part in it as a gay and festive family affair. The atmosphere seemed to be electric with goodwill. high spirits and the happiness of generous co - operation. All seats were taken, all standing accommodation filled, and hundreds of people were turned away. The unusual happened; reserved seats were filled early; in the unreserved, familiar faces appeared in unaccustomed places, the weekly routine upset by the rush. The Committee members wore spring flowers instead of lettered buttons; the entrance hall foretold refreshments: the seats of Mr. and Mrs. Clements were filled with flowers. Programmes de luxe appeared of size fourfold, the covers adorned with the Secretary's portrait, the inner pages packed with the musical matter to be given by fifteen notable artistes, long and affectionately associated with South Place Concerts. The programme, skilfully built by its organiser from many diverse items was opened by the Rawlins String Quartet, who played Beethoven's Op. 18, No. 4. Among the songs chosen by the singers (Mr. Gordon Cleather and Miss Helen Henschel) were compositions by Mr. Walthew and by Miss Henschel's father, who sang in the early concerts. The veteran, Mr. Ltddle, aCCOmpanied groups of songs and duets. 10 Among the varied pianoforte solos of Mr. Arthur Alexander were Beethoven's Thirty-two Variations in C minor. The climax of the concert was the qubit et of Haensel, annotated by the Secretary, who delights in bringing to notice just such unknown music. An out bor:4 of cheering greeted the appearance of Mr. Clements as 2nd viola with the Griller quartet, who share the general enthusiasm for his work in Chamber Music. Unabashed by the warmth ot the public's greeting, Mr. Clements refusS to be side-tracked from music to oratory. Characteristically, he told a simple story of the small boy, who, when prompted, as he was hesitating to say grace, by the dangenms suggestion, " What would father say? '' answered, "Nah then, git on wif it ! "

ALFRED E. CLEMENTS Honorary Secretary, 1887-1937

'Phis the quhitet did. When. :it [he end, the cheering was renea:Mr. Clements remained uncorrupted, and, instead of reminiscing, gave the terse reminder, "Business as usual next Sunday." All wished that Mr. plunket Greene could have lived to sing and to speak at the Jubilee concert. Ill the speech-of-grace before the collection, Mr. Thistleton, in referring to him and his work, thanked the Society for the help it had given to the two causes so dear to his heart. the Musicians Benevolent Fund and the Music Festival movement. During the interval, the artists' room was thronged by artists, critics and committee, whose faces -were illumined by the 50-candle power of a fine Jubilee cake 11 made by one of the Committee members as a tribute to Mr. and Mrs. Clements. Mr. Gordon Cleather, at their request, with his professional breath de-control, blew out the 50 candles in one breath. The cutting and consuming followed easily and merrily. The vocal duets and the great Schumann quintet, with Mr. Walthew as pianist making his 215th appearance, brought the concert to a cheerful close. Mr. Clements seemed to have renewed his youth, and all anticipate that he will fulfil his ambition to reach a Diamond Jubilee and equal his father's record of playing years. C. K. 0, REPRINTS FROM THE PUBLIC:PRESS A NOTABLE PROGRAMME The South Place Sunday Concerts celebrated yesterday in Conway Hall the 50th anniversary of the first concert which was given on February 20. 1887. The programme for this occasion was exceptional in quality and quantity, the crowded hall bearing evidence to the popularity of an institution as highly creditable to its founders and organisers as to the artists who invariably reserve their best for this most appreciative audience. The South Place concerts are now a London institu- tion, and our music would be much the poorer without them. Yesterday two quartets took part in the programme—the Rawlins String Quartet played Beethoven's Op. 18, No. 4: the Griller Quartet contributed a quintet by a composer forgotten to-day, Pierre Haensel. Between these interesting and admirable performances two singers—Helen Henschel and Gordon Cleather—sang with impeccable taste a number of songs well contrasted in character: Ethel Hobday and Albert Sammons gave a warm and finished interpretation of Elgar's Sonata for piano and violin. and Arthur Alexander played brilliantly a programme of pianoforte solos which included Beethoven's 32 Variations. The second viola part in Haensel's quintet was played—and played very creditably —by the 77-year-old secretary of the concerts, Mr. Alfred J. Clements. The evening concluded with Schumann's quintet far piano and strings, in which the piano part was played by the well-known composer, Richard H. Walthew. F. B. The Daily Telegraph, February 22, 1937.

SOUTH PLACE JUBILEE Conway Hall was filled last Sunday when the fiftieth anniversary of the first South Place Concert was celebrated. A programme of great variety and of really fabulous length had been chosen, and among the performers were some who now give lustre to South Place, others to whom South Place is still a necessary encouragement, but all owing a profound debt to an institution without which London's musical life would be the poorer. Alfred J. Clements, who has been organising secretary since the first concert on February 20, 1887, played himself in a quintet by Pierre Haensel. How many chamber music societies have been founded and have collapsed since Mr. Clements' enterprise was begun? To his vision and determination must be attributed in large measure the unique record of the South Place Concerts. We hope he and his great work will prosper for many years to come. The Observer, February 28, 1937.

COMPLIMENTARY PARTY TO MR. AND MRS. A. J. CLEMENTS On Friday, March 5, a party to celebrate the Jubilee of the Sunday Concerts under Mr. Alfred J. Clements' direction was given by the General Committee in honour of Mr. and Mrs. Clements. There was a reception in the Library, followed by supper which was served in the large hall to about 200 people—musical friends of Mr. and Mrs. Cements, past and present members of the Concert Committee and of the General Committee, and others. After supper the Chairman, Mr. C. J. Pollard. said that Mr. and Mrs. Clements had received numerous telephone messages, letters and telegrams of congratulation. He appreciated the honour of presiding over this historical occasion in the annals of South Place Ethical Society, which was to be congratulated on having attracted the hero of the evening to membership in 1880, when he was in his 21st year. Mr. Clements had always been an exponent and upholder of ethical ideals, freedom and free enquiry in accordance with the principles of the Society. Mr. Pollard wished to testify that Mr. Clements was a marvellous committee man and a particularly fine member of the executive body which he served. He had individual and virile judgment combined with toleration for the opinions of others. Mr. Pollard was delighted to have the opportunity of showing gratitude for the splendid work Mr. and Mrs. Clements had given to the Society and appreciation of their charming 12 personalities. This gathering was not only a tribute to Mr. and Mrs. Cements, but it reminded the members that a Society which could attract the suvport of a man and woman such as these for so many years must be congratulated upon the nature and force of its appeal. Mrs. Hawkins, speaking for the Concert Committee, said she joined the Society in November. 1921, and the following Easter. when on the holiday at Ryde, had the good fortune to be domiciled at headquarters with Mr. and Mrs. Clements. Shortly afterwards she was invited to join the Concert Committee, and she had been a member ever since. On the Committee she had met all kinds of people—literary, good organisers, good musicians and some excellent, critics. It was the happiest Committee in the building, the people being hold together for the purpose of giving the finest music available at minimum cost, The Committee admired Mr. Clements' simplicity, Integrity, devotion to his cause and capacity for hard work, The finest thing about him was his ability to forget not only himself but the self of the person he was talking to and to demand the best that could be given. He was not attracted by marvellous personalities nor overcome by glamour. For 50 years Mr. and Mrs. Clements had left their fireside on Sundays. The finest thing that could happen to a man was to have a wife who was actively and intelligently sympathetic with what he had at heart. Mr. Clements could not have done what he had without the help of Mrs. Clements. Mr. Wallis Mansford spoke of his long friendship with Mr. and Mrs. Clements and the enjoyable holidays he had spent with them. On one of these they had heard John Saunders, who was afterwards invited to play at the concerts and he did so frequently up to his early and regrettable death. Mr. Clements' 50 years' continuous service had provided untold pleasure to countless thousands. It was a unique experience in the • realm of music and one of which the Society might well be proud. He concluded by wishing Alfred and Dora Clements continued happiness and success In their altruistic work. Mr. Richard Walthew said that Mr. Clements' reputation extended far beyond the bounds of the frequenters of these concerts. Wherever professional musicians were gathered together the remark was heard that Mr. Cements had done more for chamber music than anyone else. Mr. Walthew was grateful for the opportunity Mr. Clements had afforded him of hearing his own works more than once. A critic once called a new work that was produced in South Place '• Reminiscences of South Place," It was intended to be scathing, but taken properly it was very complimentary because reminiscences of South Place would be most interesting and amusing and he hoped Mr. Clements would one day write a book with that title. One .of Mr. Walthew's most cherished memories of South Place was his frequent asSociation with that great violinist John Saunders and his quartet. one of the original members of which, Mr. Ernest Yonge, was present this evening. Mr. E. J. Fairhall said that during all the time they had been working, Mr. and Mrs. Clements had had the affection and regard of the people with whom they had come into contact. Although the concerts were their major work they seemed to go in for duration records in all directions. Mr. Clements was the first secretary and leader oi the orchestra started by a small band of enthusiasts over 39 years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Clements were interested in 'the Rambling Club and arranged the Hyde Easter Holiday with largely the same people, for something like 40 years. The Chairman then read a letter from the Cements' Party Sub - Committee stating that a number of South Place and Concert friends rejoiced with Mr. and Mrs. Clements in this celebration and wished to give them a present as a token of their affection and appreciation. Many contributors thought that a suitable gift would be a combined wireless receiving set and gramophone attachment, with some chamber music records, but in case Mr. and Mrs. Clements would prefer something else the Sub-Committee asked them to accept a cheque in the meantime, and hoped that they would have many years to enjoy whatever they decided to buy. Mrs. Watson, the secretary of the Sub-Committee, then presented Mrs. Clements with bouquets from Dr. Stanton Coit, who was one of the guests, and from the Sub-Committee. Mr. Clements, replying, recalled that on the occasion of Harry Plunket Green's 70th birthday there was no time for any music, after the speeches, except "God Save the King," He did not propose to make a long speech. So many beautiful things had been said to Mrs. Clements and himself to-night that he wondered they had any heads left. He thanked Mr. Pollard and the other speakers, all friends and the General Committee for thinking of and carrying out so admirably this delightful gathering. He found life good and he wanted to have as much of it as possible. He and Mrs. Clements hoped to reach the Diamond Jubilee of the South Place Concerts. Talking of the influences on his life, Mr. Clements said that his mother was so kind and loving that she very nearly spoilt him, but before she entirely did so he Met the young lady whom he married. The union of Ireland and England in domestic life as in politics had not been unruffled. Mrs. Clements could trace a long ancestry, but Mr. Clements could not get beyond Whitechapel; she had a vivacious Celtic tempera- 13 ment. he a slow Saxon one. Then there was the difference between the woman's standards and the man's. Mrs. Clements' were most exalted upon every subject and he could not get near them. However, these differences were not deep and the 50 years they had had together had passed very quickly. He thought that the sad and serious state of affairs in the world to-day were caused by women not being sufficiently considered. If they were and their kindness and human feelings were regarded, we should have a much better world, but they were encouraged to bring children into the world very often for devastation and destruction. First among the men who had meant most to him in his life was his father, a remarkable man the depths of whose character he had not been able to probe, although he lived to within three weeks of 88. His father took him to the old chapel in St. Paul's Road, where he came under the influence of Dr. Moncure Conway. Later they both joined South Place Ethical Society and his father continued to attend until he went to live at Bournemouth. Mr. Clements remembered with gratitude John A. Hobson, whose wisdom steered him through a private financial crisis and from whom he learned that no amount of financial trouble need touch the vital and enduring and most beautiful things in life. Then there was Dr. Delisle Burns, who said that the important thing was what England could give, not what she could get. Many happy years were spent under the inspiring leadership of Dr. Stanton Coit at the Neighbourhood Guild in Kentish Town. Mr. Clements said this work of 50 years would have been quite impossible without the support of the artists who came to play. He particularly wished to mention John Saunders (who played at a third of all the concerts, given up to his death), Richard Walthew, Jessie Grimson and Harry Plunket Greene, the greatest vocalist we had had and who would have sung at the Jubilee concert and to-night if he had lived. The work could not have been carried on without the loyal co-operation of the Com- mittee. Frank Hawkins, as treasurer, had extraordinary business ability, and Andrew Watson could not better him except by living longer and being treasurer for a longer time. His long experience of life had taught him that one must lose oneself in order to find oneself. Enduring happiness could otherwise not be achieved. He was convinced that to get true peace and happiness all must put service before self. Mrs. Clements thanked the Committee, the workers and helpers for a delightful evening; she hardly realised that she and Mr. Clements had so many friends. She also thanked all those concerned, for the Cheque. Referring to the personal remarks made about her by Mr. Clements, she could tell stories about him too. She deplored the terrible collar buttons and studs, and hoped that the next man she married would be able to dress himself I However, he had not been a bad husband. Her father attended South Place when Wm. Johnson Fox was there and he sang in the choir. Her mother went to Dr. Conway's services in Cincinnati; her father followed her mother out there and they were married by Dr. Conway. Her father took her to South Place and made her a member in 1884. After the tables were cleared a gramophone record of a talk by Mr. Clements on " Chamber Music and Life " was played. Then Miss Viola Morris and Miss Victoria Anderson sang exquisitely together with Mr. Samuel Liddle at the piano, Miss Winifred Small and Mr. Reginald Paul played piano and violin duets, and Mr, Richard Walthew and Mr. Wm. Busch pianoforte solos A short period of ball-room dancing brought a remarkable event to a close. Thanks are due to the members of the Party Sub-Committee and to all helpers who worked so hard to promote the success of the evening. E. w. NOTES We are glad to be able to publish what is nearly a verbatim report of the eloquent lecture delivered on the morning of February 21 by Mrs. M. A. Hamiliton in connection with the 50th anniversary of the First South Place Chamber Music Concert. Mrs. Hamilton speaks exteMpore, with few, if any, notes, and very kindly she not only revised our reporter's draft, but also went over the printer's proof. We did not observe any large number of the supporters of the concerts at the morning meeting, but in view of the difficulty many people have in being present at both morning and evening assemblies we quite understand their preference for the concert. At the same time we are sure they will read with much appreciation the words of Mrs. Hamilton. Mr. Clements was an interested listener. It is significant of his strong attachment to the Society that he is so frequently to be seen on Sunday mornings, in spite of the further attendance he must give the same evening during the Concert Season. He is indeed to be congratulated on the retention of vigour which enables him at his age tO bear such continuous straim We are privileged to publish Mr. Clements' photograph, and we hope that this number of the RECORD, with its descriptions of the Anniversary Concert itself, and 14 detailed account of the proceedings at the Complimentary Party on the night of March 5 (for which special thanks are due to Edith Washbrook), will provide a pleasing souvenir for all who are in sympathy with our Society's work on behalf of music. There have been several references to the Jubilee Concert in the public Press. With the courteous permission of the Editors we are glad to reprint those which appeared in The Daily Telegraph and The Observer.

The " At Homes " in the Library on the third Sunday afternoons have been made additionally enjoyable this year by the new plan of inviting certain Circles to provide short entertainments. The Literary, Play Reading and Poetry Circles have all made effective use of dramatic items. The Play Reading Circle, which has been established much longer than the others—we have recollections of its readings in the Library of old South Place Chapel—is celebrating its twelfth birthday on Thursday, April 29, and, to use the words of its Hon. Sec., it proposes to " go gay." We do not know precisely what this means, and it is hoped that desire on the part of members to satisfy their curiosity will result in a large attendance. An interesting and enjoyable evening may confidently be anticipated. Attention is called to the request on page 15 that those proposing to attend will say so in the manner indicated.

Special attention is drawn to the inset of an invitation card issued to members of S.P.E.S. by the Council of the Ethical Union for the Jubilee Commemoration of the English Ethical Movement at The Ethical Church, Queen's Road, Bayswater, at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. April 13. We are asked to remind members that it is much hoped that as many as possible will avail themselves of this opportunity to be present.

The Hon. Treasurer of the Conway Children's Circle gratefully acknowledges the receipt of donations from Mrs. Herbert Mansford, Mr. W. P. Toussaint and Mr. Julian Roney, and the sum of £7 2s., resulting from the conjuring entertainment at Conway Hall on December 7. 1936, organised by Mr. Sidney J. Green. There is still time for members and friends to send articles to Mrs. Hart for • inclusion in the Jumble Sale at the Peel Institute on April 2. The Committee is relying upon the proceeds of this sale to enable them to give the children some happy outings during the summer.

We reprint the following from The Times of March 18:— House OF COMMONS (Monday, March 15).—The Speaker took the Chair at a quarter to 3 o'clock. Fear of Aerial War f are—Mr. Mothers (Linlithgow, Lab.) pre- sented a petition which, he said, had been organised by the Federation of Progressive Societies and individuals, drawing attention to the universal apprehension that existed with regard to the fear of aerial warfare. The petitioners prayed the House to reopen the disarmament discussions at Geneva which were suspended in 1933, and to prepare for the submission of arrangements for international ownership and control of civil aviation, thus paving the way for complete disarmament. Bravo I F.P.S.I. NOMINATIONS FOR COMMITTEE AND AUDITORS The Annual Meeting will be held towards the end of May. Nominations for seven vacancies on the Committee and for two Auditors must be in the hands of the Secretary (Mr. S. G. GREEN) not later than Sunday, April 25. Each candidate must be nominated by two members. Nomination forms may be obtained from Mr. S. G. GREEN.

THE SOCIETY'S ACTIVITIES Matter for insertion in the Ma.y issue of the RECORDshould reach the Editor early in the month, and in any case not later than SATURDAY,April 17. "AT HOMES."—The last Sunday afternoon monthly "At Home" in the Library of this season will be on April 18, at 4 p.m. Mr. F. G. Gould will show many kinds of Daffodil, and talk about them. Tea is provided at a nominal charge of 13d. The Club Room is available on Sundays for those who wish to bring their lunch. CHORAL GROUP.—After March 23 there will be no further meeting until Tuesday. April 27, at 7.30 p.m. Subsequent meetings will be on the last Tuesday of the month. There are vacancies for all voices. Further information from Mr. Ft. Snelling, 51, Church Road, N.W.4. 15

CONWAY DISCUSSION CIRCLE.-Meetings suspended. Sec.: Mr. E. Thurtle, M.P., 4-6, Johnson's Court., Fleet Street, E.C.4. COUNTRY DANCE GROUP.-After Easter, practices will be held in the Library every Monday from 6.30 p.m. The charge is 6d. per evening. The dates arranged by the Folk Dancing Society for dancing in the parks will be announced later. Further particulars may be had from the Hon. Secs., Miss H. Shott, 31, Horsham Avenue, N.12; Miss P. Snelling, 8, Amberley Road, E.10. CONWAY CHILDREN'S CIRCLE meets at the Peel Institute, St. John Street, Clerkenwell, E.C.1, the Girls' Club on Tuesdays, and the Boys' Club on Fridays, from 6 to '7.30 p.m. A Jumble Sale in aid of the funds will be held at. the Peel Institute. 65, St. John Street, E.C.1, on Friday, April 2, at 3 p.m. Clothing, boots, furniture, kitchen utensils, toys, books, pictures and all kinds of odds and ends will be welcome. It is hoped that members of the Society, and other readers of the MONTHLY RECORD, will help the work of the Circle by sending contributions for delivery by April 1, either to the Peel Institute or to Conway Hall, addressed to the organiser of the sale : Mrs. E. P. Hart. Hon. Sec.: Miss N. Wootton, 2. Gledstanes Road, W. 14. CONWAY MEMORIAL LECTURE.-This has been postponed until Wednesday, May 26, at 7 p.m., when Dr. Stanton Coit will deliver his lecture on "The One Sure Foundation for Democracy." The chair will be taken by Dr. G. P. Gooch. Hon. Sec.: Mr. E. Carr, " Lyndall," Forest Drive. Kingswood, Surrey. LIBRARY.-Open Sunday mornings before and after the Service, and on Mondays during the Country Dance Class, Free to members and associates. Non-members may borrow books on payment of Gs. per annum. A slip must be filled in for each book borrowed. When books are returned they must be handed to the Librarians, and not be replaced on the shelves. LITERARY CIRCLE meets monthly in the Library on Thursdays at 7.15 p.m. April 15.-A Shakespeare Evening. Mr. T. Wyatt : " Shakespeare's Sonnets." There will also be short papers by Mr. E. P. Hart. Miss F. Wilkins and other members of the Circle. An interesting evening is being arranged and it is hoped that there will be many visitors. May 6.-Mr. A. A. Burall : "The Pleasures of Poetry." Hon. Sec.: Miss F. Wilkins, 7, Evelyn Mansions, Queen's Club Gardens, W.14. PLAY READING CIRCLE will meet in the Library on the second and fifth ThursdaYs at 7 p.m. Membership open to members and associates of the Society. Subscrip- tion : Is. for the half season, January to April. April 8.-" Sheppey," by Somerset Maughan. April 29.-Play Readers' Party, to celebrate the twelfth birthday of the Circle. On this occasion the P.R.C. will " go gay." There will be competitions and dancing. All members and friends welcome. A charge of 6d. will be made to cover cost of refreshments. It will greatly help arrangements for refreshments if members and friends who intend coming will write their names on a paper, which will be put on small notice board, for the purpose, in the vestibule. Hon. Sec.: Mrs. Hinchliff, 23, Russell Gardens, N.W.11. POETRY CIRCLE.-Meetings suspended. Hon. Sec.: Mrs. Marianne Idiens, 85, Windsor Road, Forest Gate, E.7. RAMBLES.-Good Friday, March 26.-No organised ramble is being arranged but, if sufficient names are given in advance, ramblers could join the "Ramblers' Special " at 9.30 from Victoria to Bramber and Steyning, 4s. fare. Easter Sunday, March 28.-All-day ramble in Bucks. Train : 10.25 Euston to King's Langley. Cheap Day Return, 2s. 8d. Tea at Miss Knight's. Leader : Miss D. Winter, will meet party at King's Langley. Sunday, April 4.-Ramble in Kent. Train : 1.25 Charing Cross to Bexley. Cheap Day Return IS. 9d. Tea at Bridge House, Eynsford. Return from Dartford (excess fare), 6d. Leader : Miss M. Ellis will meet party at Bexley station. Sunday, April 11.-Ramble in Herts. Train : 1.5 King's Cross to Hayford. Cheap Day Return 2s. 2d. Tea at " Rose and Crown," Tewin. Leader : Miss R. Bush. Sunday, April 25.-Druids Grove, Ranmore Common, and Box Hill. Train : 1.20 Waterloo to Leatherhead. Cheap Day Return 2s. 3d. Tea at "Railway Arms," Bexhill. Leader : Miss D. Winter. Ramble subscriptions for 1937 are now due : Is. 6d. for members of S.P.E.S.: non-members, 2s. 6d. Hon. Sec. • Mr C S Newsom, 9, Homefleld Rise, Orpington, Kent.

16 SOUTH PLACE STRING ORCHESTRA.—Practices suspended. Hon. Sec. : Mr. E. J. Fairhall, 18, Golden Manor, W.V. STUDY CIRCLE—Last two meetings of the season at 7.30 P.m. April 2.—Mr. J. G. Briggs will open a discussion on : " Monetary Reform." April 16.—Miss Mavis Ellis : " Colonies, Dominions and Empire—What They Mean." Hon. Sec.: Doris Partington, 32, Churchill Road, Edgware, Middlesex. SOUTH PLACE SUNDAY CONCERT SOCIETY THE FIFTY-FIRST SEASON of the South Place Sunday Concerts will be con- tinued every Sunday (except March 28) to May 2 inclusive, March 21—The Birmingham Ladies' String Quartet : Muriel Tookey, Dorothy Hemming, Lena Wood, Elsa Tookey. Clarinet: R. S. Walthew. Quintets for Clarinet and Strings by Coleridge Taylor and R. H. Walthew. March 28.—(Easter Sunday) No Concert. April 4.—Stratton String Quartet : George Stratton, Carl Taylor, Watson Forbes, John Moore; Piano : Johanne Stockmarr; Vocalist : Nora Gruhn; At the Piano : Hermann Grunebaum. Beethoven's Quartet in B flat, Op. 18, No. 6; Cesar Franck's Piano Quintet; Chopin's Piano Sonata in B minor, Op. 58. April 11.—Violin Brosa; Piano : Franz Reizenstein; Vocalists : Veronica Mans- field and Basil Parsons; At the Piano : Cecil Belcher. Cesar Franck's Violin and Piano Sonata•; Bach's Chaconne for Violin alone; Group of Violin Solos; Piano Solos; Songs and Vocal-Duets. April 18.—Blech String Quartet : Harry Blech, Edward Silverman, Douglas Thom- son, Maurice Westerby; Solo Piano : Lance Dossor• Vocalist : Seymour Dossor; At the Piano • Mary Dossor. April 25.—Griller String Quartet : Sidney Griller, Jack O'Brien, Philip Burton, Cohn Hampton; Clarinet : Pauline Juler; Solo Piano : Phyllis Sellick. Arthur Bliss' and Mozart's Quintets for Clarinet and Strings; Dvorak's Quartet in A fiat, OP. 105: Schumann's Etudes Symyhoniques for Piano. May 2.—Last concert of the season. Members' Tickets 3s. each, admitting to Reserved Seats every Sunday to May 2nd (except Easter Sunday, March 28th) may be had at the Concerts or from Andrew E. Watson, Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, W.C.1, by sending Crossed Remittance and Stamped Addressed Envelope. Doors open at 6.10. Concerts begin 6.30. Admission Free. Silver Collection. 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 Sq., W.C.I.

New Associate Miss S. KEEN, 11, Powell Road, Clayton, E.5. New Members Miss R. BERNSTEIN, 124,,Stoke Newington Road, N.16. Mrs. C. E. DOWNS, 150, Ivor Court, Gloucester Place, N,W.1. Miss D. GODFREY, 37, West Bank, N.16. Mr. E. T. WILLIAMSON, 30, East Street, W.C.1. Changes of Address Mr. C. S. HODGINS, 11, Tunley Road, Balham, S.W.17. Miss C. Soromow, c o Mrs. Cripps, 89, Hillfield Avenue, Hornsey, N.8.

DIARY FOR APRIL. 2 Jumble Sale (Peel Institute) 3 p.m. 15 Literary Circle 7.15 p.m. 2 Study Circle...... 7.30 p.m. 16 Study Circle 7.30 p.m. 4 Lecture...... 11 a.m. 18 Lecture... II a.m. 4 Ramble (see page 15) 18 "At Home " 4 p.m. 4 Concert...,.. 6.30 p.m. 18 Concert... 6.30 p.m. 5 Country Dances... 6.30 p.m. 19 Country Dances... 6.30 p.m. 7 General Committee 6.30 p.m. 25 Lecture... 11 a.m. 8 Play Reading Circle 7 p.m. 25 Ramble (see page 15) 11 Lecture...... 11 a.m. 25 Concert... 6.30 p.m. 11 Ramble (see page 15) 26 Country Dances... 6.30 p.m. 11 Concert.,..., 6.30 p.m. 27 Choral Group... 7.30 p.m. 12 Country Dances... 6.30 p.m. 29 Play Readers' Party 7 p.m. Printed and published by THE FARLEIGH PRESS (T.U.), 17-29, Cayton Street, E.C.I.