CHRISTCHURCH ATHENÆUM

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 80, 17 July 1852, Page 10

CHRISTCHURCH ATHENÆUM

A meeting, to found an institution under the above tide was held at the Grammar School on Friday evening, the 9th instant.

The opening address of the Eev. 0. Mathias, who had been voted to the chair, stated the object for which the meeting had been called together —the establishment of a geueral Literary Institution, to be called the Christehurch Athenaeum. The Chairman made a candid avowal of the change which his own political feelings had undergone, partly in consequence of intelligence from England, and partly from his extreme distrust of the principles on which the Colonists' Society had been formed, and dislike of the manner in which the arrangements and proceedings of that Society had been conducted. He asserted that many of our friends in England had been disgusted with what he called very childish and ill-regulated tampering with politics, and exhibitions of editorial petulance. He commented severely on the probable effects of such mistakes; he threw out sundry indignant denunciations against the worse than useless tendency of " pot-house politics/ and stated the fixed determination of his friends and himself to set a very different example in a completely opposite direction. Mr. Mathias sat down after a very candid and straightforward," though certainly not a conciliatory, speech. The Rev. Mr. Jacobs then addressed the meeting—the resolution which he moved was remarkable for the rigorous exclus'iveness of its character— the Athenaeum must be an exclusively Literary Institution; he combated the view takeii by Mr. Godley, who, iv a late meeting at Lyttelton, had stated that politics were necessarily, and in fact inseparable from Literary pursuits. The most eminent Literary Institutions of the age were examples of the incorrectness of that assertion. And what would be the substantial value of the political element in an Athenamm ? If any real knowledge of politics is sought to be diffused among the people, it could not be effected by such agency. Information acquired in such a manner was not likely to be valuable in quality, or useful for any political purpose. Such was the hue taken by Mr. Jacobs, in an address which an attack of illness obliged him to read aloud to the meeting: every word he uttered was, it is needless to remark, heard with great attention. Mr. Prichard seconded the resolution, which appears among the advertisements in our first page.

Conversation now took the place of a regular discussion. Mr. Fitton made a most spirited attempt to gain a hearing for the general opinion of the meeting : but this was impossible, as the Chairman repeatedly called him to order whenever he suggested the possibility of differing irom the resolution proposed. The Chairman refused to allow any amendment; it soon became evident that a very large majority of those present, were anxious for a free debate.' Several gentlemen begged to be allowed to take the sense oi the meeting on this point. This was, however, refused by the Chairman-who authoritatively asserted the impossibility of deviating in the slightest degree from the routine expressly laid down for the evening. An abortive attempt at adjournment was next made, which fell dead to the ground, unnoticed by either party. At this moment the meeting was in danger of being disgraced by a violent termination ; Mr. Brittan rising „,id fulminating an anathema against those who had divided the colony, against anonymous newspaper attacks, and particularly against the insolent intrusion of certain parties into that room, where neither their presence nor tiien; assistance were wanted. Mr. Brittan's opinion would, doubtless, have asserted its usual weight in deliberation, had he not unfortunately J»st that command of temper which usually distinguishes that grave gentleman. Called to order by the cna.r, he sate down panting for breath, ana pallid with emotion. The effect of this dangerous exhibition might have been some vioe„t reply had not all agitation been most fortunately allayed by the R ev . Mr. Wilson. I his gentleman in a few words, replete with kindness and good sense, suggested to the meeting the possibility of some triflim- concession from the chair-such as would allow a free debate to take place without sacrificing any mam feature of the plan resolved upon. Had this suggestion found favour with the leading exclusive.^ the meeting might have terminated yevy differently. Some compromise might have ■ been bi! up ,„ ; the rivalry of the two Societies

1 cxm.-rrui.^ii-d, and peace and

union secured to Christehurch : but the Chairman and his friends were obviously distrustful of the professions of the other party; they still affected to doubt whether the latter were really desirous of anything save an ungenerous advantage. In their eyes it was but a pretence to upset the Athenaum, and to humbug its supporters. Never was a greater mistake—as they may, perhaps, have discerned before this time. Mr. Wakefield put it to the chairman whether it was not the height of absurdity to call a meeting to consider resolutions which were already cut and dried. He denied that he or his friends had come there with the smallest feeling of enmity towards the Institution proposed—surely it was one thing to canvass a resolution, and propose an amendment, aud another thing intentionally to defeat the objects held out in the programme. Mr. Wakefield, however, and another gentleman who succeeded him, were silenced like the rest. Mr. Tancred slyly asked whether the advertisement had not been misprinted—whether the resolutions were not intended not to be submitted to the meeting, but to be adopted by it. The Chairman said they were to be adopted. Mr. Bealey then proposed that those alone who were inclined to support the chair, should be considered as really representing the meeting, and a vote taken accordingly—(a roar of laughter.) At this point Mr. Fitzgerald and many others saw the necessity of retiring from a contest from which fairplay was excluded. The room was nearly emptied by the departure of at least twothirds of those who had attended—the remaining section, or rump, then experienced the pleasure of going through the form of passing whatever resolutions they pleased without the smallest opposition or difficulty of any kind.

Such was the celebrated battle in the Grammar School—which, unless some sanitory antidote for wordy wounds and bruises is promptly introduced—is likely to be remembered in Christehurch when the battle of the frogs and mice is clean forgotten. It will be remembered that pacific overtures were grossly miscoustrued and arrogantly rejected: overtures, too, from men, who were making concessions and inviting peace, at the very moment when their mouths were being stopped, and their proposals flung back in their teeth. It will not be forgotten that not one single hard or thoughtless word fell from the lips of any member of the Colonists' Society—that they maintained their equanimity, and repeated their offers for conciliation and union, while they were being browbeaten, silenced, and insulted. It is a pity to see goodness thrown away on the unworthy. It is alarming to see how far inconsiderate suspicion can go, and how a short-sighted grudge may blindfold plausible respectability into defeating its party and annihilating itself.