Modern Study Clubs
October 20, 1926 THE COMMONWEAL 573 gloomy man," religion is "something to cheer us and MODERN...
...Those who thought only chinery of culture distribution, with at least some exof the individual may have marveled at the learning cellent results...
...Progress here has been quite as satisfacand beautiful Manhattan College which symbolizes so tory as the growth of interest in the news service supwell the educational ambitions of the order...
...A visitor will find especially appro- industrial or economic issues...
...But certainly large number of New Yorkers...
...October 20, 1926 THE COMMONWEAL 573 gloomy man," religion is "something to cheer us and MODERN STUDY CLUBS make us content" ; British youth may be listless"how could it well be otherwise, coming from the PERHAPS the most remarkable aspect of contemshadow of war...
...Books The practical man, in turn, is probably responsible for pour from the presses written by those qualified to the fact that the contemporary lecture-goer and "home draw conclusions, in which what is really happening in student" is less interested in topics related to the the world is surveyed almost from month to month...
...And so it must have been a very great pleas- the support of numerous organizations is ample proof ure to Brother Felician to see, before he died, the new of vitality...
...in reasoned and thought-compelling fashion...
...of the Catholic Protectorate and its subsidiary institu- What are the results...
...If one remembers that the tions, and in the training of men for the Church...
...Who can But the breezy generalities of some favorite of for- estimate the number of addresses on the World Court tune easily preempt them in public attention...
...But beyond that, there are the affiliations fare Conference has been altogether appropriate and which existed between him and his order...
...The plied by the conference...
...It seems a mistake to identify on behalf of the spirit, are simple and sturdy but Catholic study too closely with the examination of beautiful always...
...Trained observers and writers but when they are reflective they will not deny that are sent hither and thither by our enterprising jour- the "gentleman with the gestures" has inaugurated nals and seldom fail to report what they see and hear important modifications of political and social affairs...
...Prelates and mon- the number of groups eager to hear a lecturer, or signori, laymen of every station in life, flocked to the brought together regularly for some kind of instrucchurch where the body of Brother Felician, worn out tion or discussion, is larger than ever before...
...more than a troublesome atavism-a toy which a The distinctly Catholic share in this activity has not grownup people should make up their minds to discard...
...In view of all this, the study club and sacrifice to which the dead religious had given movement sponsored by the National Catholic Weltestimony...
...But ingly fine handiwork symbolizes an educational ideal doubtless this is realized perfectly well by the conferwhich has worried infinitely more about the abiding ence, which has merely done the always expedient simplicities of culture than about its finery...
...The central organization reports that hunFelician's time of service extended over most of the dreds of groups and individuals throughout the counseventy-five years that his community has been active try have manifested a deep interest in the pamphlets in New York City-active in education, in the work and other data supplied by the conference...
...utterances of visitors to our shores whose qualifica- Men in practical life often scoff at the lecturer entions to respect are the purely accidental ones of social gaged in solemnly haranguing "groups of women" ; position or notoriety...
...thing of putting its best foot forward first...
...New York is "groping for a spiritual courses, and so forth...
...If none of these can be said viewpoint...
...study club idea was first launched in 1922, the fact These years were often bleak with poverty and ob- that it has organized a wealth of material and gained scurity...
...liberal arts than in matters of civic moment...
...This endur- department of the general cultural curriculum...
...The which have been delivered since that tribunal became itch of the interviewer has always been an American- a subject of controversy...
...It is true that various older "circles" and "clubs" have ceased to function with their primal vigor...
...Just think of the old saloons 1" We to have attained the distinction which came to the old have had it all so often before that the only impression Lyceum idea in the days of Emerson, all, when taken which remains as we read is a vague wonder at the together, do influence a very great number of people significance that still seems to attach to the random and do make for the propagation of definite ideas...
...No school and no peripriate the carved oak Stations of the Cross executed odical could expect to survive if it limited itself to one by wood-workers from Oberammergau...
...In a day had it not been for these, the international issue would so thoroughly informed as our own, it is nothing much have missed inclusion in senatorial debates...
...During by more than eighty years of life and activity, was recent months the radio has been added to the mablessed for the last time...
...Brother timely...
...And who will doubt that, ism humiliating to thoughtful Americans...
...One might suggest that imbuildings, which stand upon a hill calmly surveying the provement could be expected were the program to be restless city where so much effort has been expended broadened a little...
...But the coming generation, of porary culture is the development of what may be which the heir to the Astor millions is offered as a called educational subsidiaries-university extension typical example, is "full of pep, and will carry on in schools, "alumni semesters," institutionalized lecture the old way...
...been small...
...THE death of a simple and self-effacing Christian University extension . work has not as yet been taken Brother recently touched the hearts of a surprisingly up seriously by many religious schools...
Vol. 4 • October 1926 • No. 24
