Non-Members may receive this publication by post on payment of 2/6 per annum. OCTOBER, 1936 The Monthly Record of South Place Ethical Society CONWAY HALL, RED LION SQUARE, W.C.I. Telephone: CHANCERY 8032. OBJECTS OF THE SOCIETY. " The Objects of the Society are the study and dissemination of ethical principles and the cultivation of a rational religious sentiment." SUNDAY MORNING SERVICES The following DISCOURSES will be delivered, the Services beginning at ELEVEN Q'CLOCK. October 4-Professor F. AVElING, D.Sc.-The Human Will in Post· Renaissance Thought First Movement of Sonata in B flat, Op. 45, for Violoncello and Pianoforte ... Mendelssohn (Allegro vivace ma non troppo) Mr. PETER BEAVAN and Mr. WILLIAM BUSCH. Hymns { No. 82. Ah, happy they who feel their birth. No. 65. Born in each heart is impulse strong. October ll-HAR DAYAl, M.A., Ph.D.-Japanese Imperialism: Its Cause and Cure Soprano Solo: Music when soft voices die ... Besley Miss HEBE SIMPSON. Bass Solo: The Sun God ... William James Mr. G. C. DOWMAN. Hymns No. 112. There is in every human heart. No. 28. Oh dew of life! oh light of earth! (second tune) October l8-JOHN STRACHEY-Is Collective Security the Way to Peace? Pianoforte Solos: Two Intermezzi ... ... Brahms (a) Op. 76. No. 7 in A minor. (l» Op. 119. No. 2 in E minor. Mr. Wn.LIAM BuscH. Hymns { No. 45. All are architects of fate. Nos. 96 Tune 220. Why urge the long unequal fight. October 25-W. B. CURRY, M.A., B.Sc.-War, Sadism andlEducation Soprano Solo: On Mighty Pens Haydn Miss HEBE SIMPSON. Bass Solo: Ethiopia saluting the colours ... .. Charles Wood Mr. G. C. DOWMAN. Hymns No. 38. Work! it is thy highest mission. No. 73. Out of the dark the circling sphere. Pianist: Mr. WILLIAM BUSCH. The Committee request the audience to refrain from applause. A Collection is made at each Service, to enable those present to contribute to th.e expenses of the Society. VISITORS WELCOME. OFFICIAL CAR PARK-oPposite Main Entrance. 2 MEMBERSHIP Any person in sympathy with the Objects of the Society is cordially invited to become a MEMBER. The minimum annual subscription is 10s., but it is hoped that Memoers will subscribe as generously as possible and so assist the Society to meet its heavy annual expenditure. Any person may join as an Associate, but will not be eligible to vote or hold office. FurLher particulars may be obtained before and after the Services, or on application to the Hon. Registrar, Miss R. HALLS, Oonway Hall, Red Lion Square, W.O.1, to whom all subscriptions should be paid. HONORARY OFFICERS Treasurel O. E. LISTER, Con way Hall, W.C.I. Sunday Lecture Secretary S. G. GHEEN. Conway Hall, W.C.I. Minutes Secretary... Mrs. F. H. W. WASHBROOK, 33, Claremont Close, N.1. Registrar of Members and { Miss R. HALLS, 121, Studdridge Street, Parsons Green, Assoczates ...... S.W.6. Editor 0/ MONTHLY RECORD F. G. GOULD, Woodrising, Trapps Hill. Loughton. Essex. Librarians {F. STUTTIG, .. Enmore," 12, Durand Gns., Stockwell, S.W.9, MISS D. W. PITT, 32, Albany Road, N.4. GENERAL COMMITTEE O. BARRALET. H. LIDSTONE. Miss D. WALTERS. J. P. GILlIlOUR. Mrs. LISTER. I F. W ASHBROOK. J. A. GRAHAM. Miss E. D. PARTINGTON. Mrs. WATSON. Mrs. HAWKINS. Miss H. D. ROMANEs. I F. C. C. WATTS. G. HUTCHINSON. Miss F. J. SIMONS. Miss F. WILKINS. Mrs. JAMES. F. STUTTIG. Mrs. WOOD. Mrs. LINDSAY. Miss TRESIDDER. W. E. WRIGHT. Secretary: S. G. Green, Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, W.C.I. MARRIAGES. Oonway Hall is registered for marriages. FUNERAL SERVICES can be arranged by the Society. Applications should be addressed to the Secretary. • • • • The SOciety does not hold itself responsible for views expressed or reported tn the .. RECORD." MR. S. K. RATCLlFFE ON" THE FOLLY OF THE ABSOLUTE .. (July 26, 1936) Readings from Bernard Shaw: .. Man and Superman," and the preface to .. On the Rocks." Mr. RatclifIe said this might seem to be an inappropriate topic for South Place Ethical Society, which stood. for the rule of reason, the duty of free inquiry, for the middle way knows that the Absolute meant unreason and tyranny. But the return of the Absolute in world affairs was a great fact and danger of the. age, and England was not secure against it. The elders of our generation had lived through a time when various forms of thought, involving an acceptance of the Absolute, had made a strong appeal. This had been encouraged by the break-up of orthodoxy and the movement from dogma to philosophy, by the opening of the world of Oriental thought and the later movements of science-although not, most recently, by the speculations of certain popular astronomers and physicists. It could hardly be maintained, how­ ever, that among our people there was much likelihood of theories of the universe affecting conduct or the daily outlook. The great peril for our time was the return to Europe of the aggressive Absolute, and the persecuting spirit that was inseparable from it. In that there was one constant contradiction-the absolute dogma embodied in the narrowest sectarian forms. The liberalism of the 19th century was imperfect enough, but it had certain positive merits. It acoepted tolerance and discussion, recognising that no parly in Church or state could have a monopoly of the truth. At least it stood. at the opposite pole to the new brutal Absolutes, based upon dogma made terrible by completed organisation; founded in unreason and embracing violence for the establishment of the totalitarian state and the fantasy of the pure race. There was in this develop­ ment one new power of which Europe had hitherto had no experience-namely, an organised lower bourgeoisie, the .. little man" of Hitler's earlier politiCS and of the 3 English caricaturists. The aristoCJ.'acies had fallen, the professional bourgeoisie had to some extent surrendered, and the weight was being revealed of a class which had never before been subjected to ruthless organisation and discipline. Not the least disturbing fact was the welcome given to ignorance: mankind, more or less willingly, gOing back to prison and turning the key upon the mind. The absolute dogma was grotesque, as was the organised worship of the demigod ruler; but it had to be recognised that the ,builders of the new absolute states had rediscovered a few important actualities: e.g., the great bodies of men and women did not want self­ government, but passionately desired to be led and ruled, and that in ·the idea of the organic nation there lay a most powerful appeal to the common mind. By Britain, it was manifest, the challenge must be met, and in positive terms---which certainly could not be non-resistance of the Lansbury-Sheppard order, or a movement of the revolutionary Left. Mr. Ratcliffe said, in conclusion, that as July 26 was the 80th birthday of Bernard Shaw, it was fitting that a word should be said about him in relation to the subject of the day. As the author of the saying: .. The golden rule is that there is no golden rule," they could hail him as a conspicuous opponent of the Absolute during a full half-century. Of his sixty years in London, devoted to unremitting work, forty had been a period of increasing renown. His voice had been heard on a large variety of subjects, for he was the universal satirist and critic, and until the last stage it had been always on the side of justice and kindness---one of the few strong and fierce voices of Europe. Although an embodiment of the critical and relative spirit, it was noteworthy that he had taken an Ilibsolute stand on two matters-€conomic equality and the avoidance of flesh food. We had to accept him as he was---a remarkable example of the intellectual life, of living every day to the limit of phYSical and mental power. MR. S. K. RATCLlFFE ON" OURSELVES AND THE SPANISH CRISIS" (September 13, 1936) Readings: The Book of Joel; Lord Snell's .. Men, Movements and Myself." The important events of the past fifteen years might be roughly classified into those tlhat were clearly predicted and those altogether unforeseen. Under the first heading came the results of the treaties of 1919. It had been foretold by men of different parties that those treaties were not instruments of peace; Europe could not be rebuilt upon a basis so unreal. Among the unforeseen results were the fierce rebirth of nationalism in Fascism and Nazism, and the emergence of Mediterranean Powers as a danger to world peace. Two years ago Germany and Japan were regarded as the only Powers likely to enter upon military aggreSSion. Mussolini's African adventure had altered the picture. For the first time since the establish­ ment of Britain's supremacy on tlhe sea, her position in the Mediterranean and in North Africa was challenged. In British imperial policy one thil1g at least had always been taken for granted, namely, that the sea route to India via the Suez Canal was vital to the British system. Nothing during the past year or two had been more surprising than the failure, for the first time in history, of our Imperialists to respond to the old appeal. The coming of Fascism had broken the unity of a policy which was formerly thought to be indivisible. The Spanish crisis provided a further illustration. The class sympathy in England with the insurgents was a SigD.lificant phenomenon. If the Spanish Government, which of course was not Communist, were to win, the Blum Govern­ ment and the Popular Front in France would be greatly encouraged, and a new wave of hope would sprellid through the smaller Powers which at present Ilire living in fear of the growil1g power of FaSCism, while Hitler would need to admit a check.