Posted by stew - Mon, Apr 10, 2006

Gazette & Courier - Monday, February 1, 1875
(Greenfield) The Greenfield Lyceum attracted another crowd of people on Fri. eve. It being the time for the monthly election, choice was made of the following officers: President, F.G. Fessenden; Fi

(Greenfield) The Greenfield Lyceum attracted another crowd of people on Fri. eve. It being the time for the monthly election, choice was made of the following officers: President, F.G. Fessenden; First Vice President, J.A. Aiken; Second Vice President, D.O. Fisk; Secretary, J.D. Bouker; Treasurer, E.L. Munn; Executive committee, J.H. Sanderson, Miss Jennie M. Rowley, Miss Belle A. Brackett. The literary exercises were opened by the reading of a critique of the previous evening by Miss Carrie Sawyer. It was an admirable paper, abounding in choice hits and witticisms. E.L. Munn, Mrs. C.H. McClellan and Mrs. Chauncey Bryant were appointed a committee of decision on the debate of the eve., and Miss Emily Potter was selected to prepare a critique to be read at the next meeting. The question of discussion, "Resolved, that the Statutes of Massachusetts sufficiently protect the rights of women" was opened in the affirmative by F.M. Thompson, who quotes from the laws to show that the ladies were not only protected, but had privileges that the men did not enjoy. In the absence of the regular disputant, B.S. Parker was called upon to lead the negative. William Elliot, W. Johnson and W.S. Lee gallantly pleaded for further rights for the ladies, while Judge Conant, Edward Barney and Luther Miller recorded themselves on the side of the affirmative. The debate, which was principally a discussion of the suffrage question was made very interesting. The committee of decision gave the argument to the negative, and a vote of the lyceum on the question stood 18 in the affirmative to 19 in the negative. The next feature of the evening’s programme was the reading of the first number of the "Beacon", which was under the editorial direction of Mrs. B.S. Parker. Its varied contents, prepared with excellent taste and care, was listened to with the most pleasing and appreciative attention, and the future numbers of this bright and cultured paper will be eagerly looked for. Mrs. W.S. Severance was appointed to conduct the next copy of the "Beacon", and the question for this week’s discussion will be, "Resolved, that a return to the former District School System in this State would be a benefit to general education", to be opened by J. Johnson in the affirmative and Rev. J.F. Moors in the negative. Dr. C.L. Fisk, Senior will read an essay. The lyceum, which organized with a membership of 7, now has 69, and the audience of the last meeting numbered nearly 200.

Subjects: Amusements, Clubs, Education, Elections, Greenfield (MA), Jokes, Law and Lawyers, Literature / Web Pages, Massachusetts, Religion, Suffrage, Women, Work