WELLINGTON-STREET LITERARY ASSOCIATION.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3188, 4 October 1867, Page 4

WELLINGTON-STREET LITERARY ASSOCIATION.

Thb second annual meeting of this Association was he d last evening io the Young Men's Cl.ri.tiau Institute. The Key. Mr. Hill, 8 President of the Association, presiding. Time were about thirty members present. Thoae assembled hating partaken of tea, the bu*inesß of the e»«ung \ YM proceeded with. i tH Wft * *»U*tted for, and admitted as a member of the. Association. Mr. MuiiftAY, the secretary, thea read the following rep^t : _ "sscond aknttal rlport of thb wkllhhjtonstkbbt Literary association. "In presenting this, the second Annual Report, yonr committee would congratulate the members on the increasing success of the Society. In erery particular by which prosperity can be estimated, the condition of the Association at the present time will bear a favourable companion with that at any former period. The following statements will give an account of the proceedings during the year. " In accordance with the unanimous decision of the Society there was a reoess daring part of the months of December and January, and your committee are assured I that this cessation fora few weeks had a good effect on the welfare of the Association, as the members assembled again to prosecute the work of the olass with renewed energy. u The session of 1867 was opened by a very able •ndinterestinglecture by the Rev. P. H. Cornford, From the successful character of that meeting your committee would suggest that every session, if possible, should be commenced in a umilar manner. " Thirty meetings have been held during the year. The following questions hive been discussed ;— " « Is it desirable that the natives of New Zealand be directly represented in the Parliament of the colony?' (Opened by Mows, Eastwood and G. M. Main.) "' Were the Auckland members justified in supporting the Government in passing the Stamp Act?' (Messrs. Clark and Cash.) "' Ought capital punishment to be abolished?' (Messrs. G. Carson and J. Buchanan.) " ' Would it be desirable to introduce the Prussian military organisation into England?' (Messrs. Stevenson and H. Cornford.) "'Would heavy import duties on articles producible in this colony — such as corn, wheat, Ac. — tend to advance its prosperity?' (Messrs, Eastwood and Gorrie.) "' Would insular separation tend to promote the prosperity of the colony of Nsw Zealand ? ' (Messrs. A. Stewart and 3. Bullock.) " ' Would it have beeu better for the future prosperity of this province had the present commercial crisis never existed?' (Messrs. Spragg and Brigham.) " • Ought women to have the right to exercise the electoral franchise?' - (Messrs. Eastwood and Cottrell.) "'Was Napoleon justified in withdrawing his support from the Imperial administration of the Emperor Maximilian in Mexico ?' (Messrs. G. M. Main and R. Laishley.) "From this enumeration it will be seen that the questions whioli have been before the Association have either related to the affairs of New Zealand, or touched some of the important current tuples of the day; and your committee are glad to say that the interest taken in their consideration has been such as to necessitate in almost erery case the adjournment of the debate. " Papers have been read on the following subjects :— « The Crusades,' Mr. H. Cornford ; * Woman, her Value, a Might of Fancy,' Mr. J. Eees; 'literary Women of the Day,' Mr. K. Laishley ; 'The Steam Engine, its History and Achievements,' Mr. John Gillespie; ' Maori Manners, Customs, and Traditions,' Mr. Preece j 'Italy,' Mr. Main j « Architecture, its Influence on the Sooial and Intellectual Progress of Mankind,' Mr, Farrow ; ' Charity,' Mr. Battley ; 'Cheats and Deceits of Trade,' Mr. Bartley ; ' Habit,' Mr. Ewington ; * Female Education,' Mr. Fry. " These essays have imparttd much useful information on the themes examined, and as literary proauctions have been very oreditable to their authors. On every occasion the papers have afforded for animated and profitable criticism. "Readings were given by the following gentlemen : —Messrs. .Eastwood, G. M. Main, H. Cornford, R. Luishley, G. Carson, Ewington, Gillespie, Ellyett, Fry, Spragg, and Brigham. ." The annual soirSe was held on the 17th May, and, as on the previous occasion, was very numerously attended. " The number of members at the beginning of the year was 32. Since then 16 have been admitted, 1 has resigned on aocount of distance, and 5 have been struck off the roll for unexplained absence ; leaving 42 as the present membership. The highest attendance at any meeting has been 24, the lowest 9. The average attendance has been 17, which gives an increase of ten per cent, on that of the preceding year " The Treasurer's statement shows a balanoe in hand of "Your committee would recommend a revision of the 6th and 12th rules. "In concluding their report your committee would express the hope that the encouragement and oooperation which they have received from the members in carrying on the business of the Society may be continued to their successors, and that unbroken prosperity may long be enjoyed by an Aisociation so well fitted to confer a lasting benefit on all connected j with it. " On behalf of the committee. "T. L. Mprrat, Hon. Sec" Mr. Cash, treasurer, then read the balance-sheet, which showed that the total receipts for the year amounted to £11 15s. 4d. This had been expended, with the exception of £4 17s. 2d , which remained in the treasurer's bands. It was suggested by Mr. Cash that that amount should be expended in the expenses of that evening, paying for gas, &c. Mr. Cotterei, moved that the report and balancesheet be adopted. The motion was seconded by Mr. Clare, and agreed to. It was moved that in future the yearly subscription should be 2s. 6d., with an entrance fee of 55. ; but, on a division, it was resolved that the press ut yearly subscription of ss. be agreed to. The Rev. James Hill was unanimously re-elected President for the ensuing year ; Mr. Eastwood was elected as Vice-president. Committee : Messrs. Battley, Murray, and G. Carson. Mr. Eastwood, after a few appropriate remarks, presented the following address to the Rev. Mr. Hill, accompanied with a set of Macaulay's works. The address was beautifully engrossed ob parchment by Mr. Hall:— "To the Rev. James Hill, President of the Welling-ton-street Literary Association. "Reverend and Dear Sir,— The second anniversary of our Association affords us the opportunity of gratefully testifying to you our consciousness of the obligations under which we have been laid by the deep and unrelaxing interest you have manifested from the first in all that could promote our individual and united prosperity. We know it has not been without much personal inconvenience that you have so regularly attended our meetings, and highly have we appreciated the patient and Christian urbanity that has invariably marked the part you have io fully and ably taken in the exercises of our Society. As a small expression of our affectionate esteem for you, and our sincere'gratitude for the "intellectual advantages secured to us by • your presidency, we beg that you will kindly accept of the accompanying volumes. " Signed at the request, and on the behalf, of the members of the Wellington-street Literary Association. " A. Stiwart, Vice-President. " T. L. Murray, Hon. Secretary. "Auckland, Ootober 3, 1867." The Rev. Jambs Hill said : Mr. Eastwood and gentlemen, — It is impossible for me to receive this gift, and to listen to these utterances of good feeling, without having strong emotion awakened in my heart. Next in value to the approbation of our own conscience is that of those among whom we live. To me the esteem and good wishes of the members of the Wellington-street Literary Society have a special importance and worth ; and I cannot receive this demonstration of them to-night without experiencing the highest satisfaction and pleasure. I need scarcely say that the thought of anything of this kind being done by the members of our Association was farthest from my mind* From the commencement of the Society I have cherished, I admit, a deep interest in all its proceedings, and have been anxious to do all in my power to promote its advancement, but far more than rewarded have I beenin the great and unbroken prosperity which the institution has enjoyed. Since you have thought meet to increase my reward by the proceedings of this evening, allow me, most heartily, gentlemen, to reciprocate the kindly feeling which has been so warmly expressed, and so handsomely manifested. By this Association I have been drawn closer by the bonds of friendship to gentlemen with whom I was acquainted, , and I can now number Among my friends other gentlemen, whom, but for

the existence of the Society, 1. might never liave personally known. ]t is no slight matter, »nd no small honour tn our Association, to Hay that by its meet'ngs the feeling* of the heart, as well as the powers of the miud, have been called iuto exercise, and that, on that broad basis, mutuality in intellectual taste, and reciprocity of esteem and affection, there have been raised some of those noble structures without whioh our world would not have half its beauty nor half its joy— the structures of true and sincere frieudships, whioh only death can sever. This I oaa say, and I hare no doabt the breast of every one here will beat an earnest and hearty response, that however long our Society shall continue, or I be a member of it, the past has been more than enough to make a grsen spot in my memory throughout the remainder of my life. Glad, I am, gentlemen, that the Association was commenced. To use language common in these days, may I not ■ay that when I originated it, like a luckjr prospeotor, I struck gold ? Y«s, gold I Intellect if gold ; it is the gold of creation— cold whiob, for beauty and worth, nothing oan equal-— gold whioh cannot be stolen, and whioh can never be exhausted, but whioh, when taken from this world, may and ought to increase in brightness and brilliancy in the immediate presence of the God of Truth for ever. The leader struck is a broad and deep one, and by the crushing process of oritioism and debate the returns have been considerable. A few weeks after the formation of the Society I was both astonished at, and gratified with, the amount of real downright sterling ability which had been brought together. With several such institutions I have been conneoted during my life, but to the credit of Auckland I have to say that, for ability, either in composition or discussion, the Wellington-street Association excels them all. In speaking thus I have not forgotten my first love— for the members of the first Sooiety of the kind I was ever in have still a place in my memory and heart. I but speak the words of sober truth. And the spirit which has animated the olass has been commensurate with the talent. There is many a fine micd in the world socially lost, because of the want of spirit to lead it on to development. They are like machines without a motive power. What can they do ? where can they go ? Only downhill; aad even for that they need a push from others. There are doubtless many youths in our city whose minds would hare a width of grasp and brilliancy of conception that would make them an honour to themselves and a blessiug to the community were they duly cultivated : but they have not the desire to go forward, or, if they have, they have not the spirit necessary to adopt the requisite means, and to battle with the difficulties which are to be met in carrying them out. For the want of energising force they are actually lost. This essential element I coon saw was wanting in no degree in those who had come together. There was plenty of motive power, and likely to be as permanent as strong. Seeing myself, surrounded with this combination — this fine amalgam — the gold of intelleot associated with downright earnestness and spirit, T felt it to be my duty to do all I could for the benefit of the Sooiety; and, like all duty earnestly discharged, it has been accompanied with sincere pleasure, and, I believe, permanent profit. In your address you speak of intellectual advantages. Let me assure you these have not all been on one side. By many of the papers read and discussions engaged in, my mind, like yours, has been turned to topics which otherwise would, not have been considered, and thus much interesting and useful information has been gained. Though thus accompanied, however, with both pleasure and profit, I have to say that my duty I have felt to be not a little difficult. My position I have ever known demanded considerable caution, skill, and prudenoe. It has been my work and my wish, as president, to take some part in the criticisms and discussions, but I have felt that it was proper for me to go only a certain length. To have criticised freely like the others would, in all fairness, have exposed me to free criticism in return. This the members might not have quite cared to do, and, therefore, I might have been making attacks from a position which the members were unwilling to .assail with all their powerful batteries of sarcasm, wit, and argument. Besides, I have erer felt it was necessary for the good of the Sooiety that the president should be {on the best of terms with all the members — that he should have their confidence, and, though I speak of myself, their respect. To secure and preserve these essential conditions, T made up my mind strenuously to try, in any remarks I might make, never to utter anything fitted to displease or irritate, or provoke a desire for retaliation, which is so apt to arise in a literary sooiety. That has been my purpose, and, in accordance with it, I have frequently refrained from saying what otherwise I might have expressed. This confession, however, I fear I must make, that lately I may have gone just far enough in the direction of danger and daring. My natural combativeness, which, I suspect, whatever phrenologists may say, is not small, —developed in debating societies years ago,— has, I fear, led me across the prescribed mark in some of our recent discussions. It is a dangerous thing, you know, for some animals once to have tasted blood. To restrain my old propensity in this direction is sometimes like curbing the warhorse when the trumpet is sounding for the battle ; and on more than one occasion during these few past months so completely was I controlled and overpowered by it. that I had nothing else to do but, like my neighbours, to go into the thickest of the fight. And yet I may well ask myself why I should be so timid on this score. There are some people in the world who can literally stand nothing. Their position or their ability is such, that it is dangerous to touch them. They ate like farthing candles — to blow on them is simply to extinguish them. Hot of such stuff is our club made up. As with all illuminating bodies that have abundance of material, to attempt to extinguish the luminaries of the Wellington-street Literary Association by blowing on them is just to make theii light the brighter, and to cause their warmth to be all the more forcibly felt. The results have proved it. Everything that I have uttered at the meeting! has been taken in the same spirit in which it has been given. Though occasionally differing from my opinions on the questions at issue, never has a word been uttered fitted in the least to lessen the harmony between the members and myself. Our meeting to-night, though a very gratifying one, is in the principles which guide and control not an exception ; it is not a new era that has dawned upon us, it is but the light of the same sun that has illumined our path all the way long ; it is but the fruit of the tree that has ever flourished in our midst: like a plant which we have cared for and nourished, the good feeling that has ever prevailed has to-night just blossomed into reciprocal acknowledgment. And let me express the hope that with the appearance oi the blossom the roots have spread out and struck the deeper down. May encouragement to us all be the result of this night's proceedings. My most earnest wish is that our Association may continue to prosper, that all connected with it may receive yet more fully its advantages, and that many others may come to share. There is — is there not? — a fascination in intellectual culture which only those who have caught the contagion can ever know. What a treasury to be unlocked before the mmd — the facts of history, the wonders of science, the discoveries of travel, the beauties of poetry ; what a work to perform, to examine, to compare, to separate, to group together, and what a power to gain, to reflect, to reason, to infer, to call up thoughts worthy of such theme? and employ words suitable to such thoughts ! Who that has entered on such a path can ever seek to retrace his steps, or feel that the road is tedious and uninteresting? True, it is up-hill, but are not the men that have gone before an honourable company — are not the streams which run by the way refreshing — are not the flowers that bloom on the path beautiful and fragrant, and is not the tableland that is to be reached commanding and surpassingly grand in prospect ? What a view from the summit to which knowledge can raise— a view over both the world of matter and of mind. How different the thoughts and feeling! up on these heights from those which reign in the breasts of men down in the valley of ignorance and sloth, and the substantial joy experienced there, from the false and fleeting enjoyments with which myriads are satisfied. How can adoring praise to the Great \ Jehovah but burst from the lips of those who gain these heights ? Ignorance is not the mother of devotion. It is on the wing of intelligence that the mind can rise from nature up to nature's God, and bow with acceptance before Him. That is the eminence that is before yon — it is worth a climb : you have begun to climb — climb on. Nor is that all, great as it is. By your gains in the path of knowledge, and your experience on that intellectual eminence, the better fitted shall you be for the duly you have to perform, and the work you have to do, in the great business of life* Men speak of money power, and the power of rank and station. I admit that these are great, but the power that moves and controls the world is, after all, as it should be, the power of mind, from the hour that man received from his Maker a living thinking soul, mind has asserted and proved its right and its might over all material things. This mighty power that rules the world has been given to you. Kbt yours may it be to receive the homage of your fellows, because of wealth or station, but yours it is, if you choose to be respected and to be felt, because of the force of mind. Shame upon the. youth who can xc:

main in intellectual darkness, when there u such a flood of light ready to burst in on his afoul— who can engage his powers with trifles, when the vast temple of truth with its open door is standing before him— who can go forward to tbe future ill-fur-nished and ill-equipped for the duties and battles of life. Realise then the might of the jiower of mind and th« responsibility it brings with it. Make it what it maybe, what it oufijht to be ; give ib the force of exercise, of development, of enlightenment, and, above all, over use it for the good of man and the glory of God. Thus shall you fulfil life's high and, solemn mission ; thus iball you leave the world better than you found it, and with a mind and a heart fitted for a loftier and nobler service, you shall pas* away at last to spend a holy and happy existence in the immediate presence of the Almighty and the Eternal. I thank you, gentlemen, most sincerely, for the gift you have presented, and the good feeling towards me you have expressed, and I assure you I shall ever retain a grateful remembrance of your kindness, and cherish an earnest desire for your welfare. * The meeting then terminated.