Page 135 - YB1902

Irving Literary Society. " " ,. HE days when a man was admired for his much learning are past; we now demand that a man be able to put his knowledge to some O use if we are to consider his clays in college well spent. It was in response to this demand that Irving Literary Society was founded, and for many years this body has been carrying out the work of fitting young men to go out into the world and face its problems and con- tingencies with cool heads, quick wits and ready tongues. Here men have been brought to the final test of knowledge-the occasion for producing in- telligible form, on the spur of the moment, the information which they have been acquiring in the class-rooms. There have been in this society in the past men of great ability, and with all our pride in the prosperity which the society has enjoyed during the 'past year we do not forget how much we owe to the men who laid the foundation for all that we have accomplished and then passed into the sterner school of life,leaving in our hands a sacred trust. We believethat we, the Irvings of to-day, need have no shame in ren- dering account to these, the Irvings of yesterday, Irving'[has been a power in the past, bnt we feelconfident that still greater things are in store for her in the future. Certainly she has never enjoyed greater material prosperity than at present. The splendid hall which is now the home of our society has been improved almost beyond recognition during the past year; we have added largely to our library and have kept the hall supplied with the best current literature of the day. Our annual entertainment was well re- ceived, and financially very successful. But, after all, it is 110tin money or mater-ia} possessions that the wealth of a literary society must be measured; such a society finds its true existence in the hearts of its members, and if these be cold and indifferent to her welfare no hall, however splendid or however richly furnished, can atone for their neglect, Looking back over the past year, we fecithat our society has waxed strong, not only in the things made with handsvbut also inthe more precious wares of enthusiasm and affection, as manifested in the attitude of her members. On the whole, we await the rapidly approaching close of the year, feeling well satisfied with the past and cherishing high hopes for the future, 119