Article #65 - Lyceum Meeting Place and Discussions

Friend Editress

                                    There seems to be an effort among some of the members of this association

to change its place of meeting; that is, to meet at this and some other convenient place alternately,

yet there are those who think it hard that the association shall be taken away from them. I would not wonder at this were it not that those very persons who desire that it shall not be moved contend that it is not worth walking very far for I would say let those have it who are intarested [sic] in it & who think it worth something as those who regard it of so little value cannot take that amount of interest which is necessary to keep it alive.  

            I think I know the feelings of the greater part of the members of this association & am fully persuaded that there are but few that will not say that it is worth going several miles (providing the weather be good) to attend.

            It has been urged that we might gain as much, and even more by occupying the time that it takes to attend Lyceum in studying some scientific work, but admitting this to be a fact (which I very much doubt) how many among us will apply the time in this way; but it is not only to enlarge our intalect [sic] that this Lyceum is useful, for since we are social beings, why not improve & enlarge those faculties in this, much more than in some other manner that will contribute nothing to our intalect.

            That the Lyceum has been of great use who will for a moment doubt.

            It learns us to think for ourselves & not to be dependent upon some one else for our ideas, or (as some would say) to be the dog of some great leader & that person or persons who says otherwise must be of a very peculiar organization & I hope that the influence of this Lyceum may be the means of clearing away the film that obstructs his mental vision. I did not intend in commencing this to discuss whether we should gain more by attending the Lyceum or staying at home, but to concider [sic] the expediency of a division of this organization; as some of those peculiarly organized persons would have us do (or perhaps I am the peculiarly organized person). Yet regardless of this I would say that it is my firm belief, that if this Lyceum should be

divided that it would be the prelude to its total overthrow, that interest which is now manifest would disappear and this now flo[u]rishing association would gradually fade away. The wreath of honor & fame that seems to hover over it would be destroyed & the neighboring lyceums

(which still continue to shine with undiminished lustre) would point the finger of scorn at the people of this neighborhood since much as they are praised for their intalectual endowments they cannot sustain a Lyceum.           

                                    Zeb