1916 Yearbook
Source URL
Title
1916 Yearbook
Description
The Bensonian Society
THE BENSONIAN Society can make no boast of glories past, nor
can she count her members artists, who can play upon the
human emotion with the skill of a Cicero or a Bossuet. We
have readers, but no Irvings. The mysteries of Dante, the
beauty and depth of Shakespeare, we have left to those who
are capable of finding these masters finer and keener delights.
No, our efforts have not needed the spreading wing; we have
kept near the earth.
However, we offer no apologies. We are beginners. The greatest things in
the world have had but small beginnings. In the school of logic, oratory, and
dramatics, we are children, so we have left strong meats to the strong and have
been satisfied with weaker foods.
The Bensonian Society was organized and held its first meeting on the thirtieth day of September, nineteen hundred and fifteen. It was called the Bensonian Society in honor of the distinguished convert and Catholic novelist, Robert
Hugh Benson. Since the membership of the society is composed of the students
in the Preparatory and Junior Commercial classes it might seem more appropriate to have chosen a patron of a more businesslike type. However, we are of the
opinion that the pursuants of commercial life, so far from being able to find no
delight in the author of "The Friendship of Christ," or so far from seeing in him
a model unsuited to their study and imitation, may spend many a pleasant, restful, and profitable hour with this novelist, who had a deep appreciation of and
lively sympathy with the problems and interests and pleasures of his fellow men,
as well as a keen realization of the truths of faith and an enthusiastic love for
the better things of life.
To turn out finished debaters and orators has not been the purpose of the
Bensonian Society. Its aim is rather to initiate the members into the practice
of parliamentary law, to enable them to overcome their disinclination to speak
before an audience, to awaken in them a taste for good literature and an interest
in the current events and problems of the day. In order to foster the spirit of
true patriotism a number of programs have been devoted to the lives and works
of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. A preliminary contest in Elocution has made it evident that the society possesses not a few members who have
all the requisites for efficient public speaking. It is hoped that during the coming years, when they have become members of the senior societies, they will do
their part with honor.
Messrs. Edward Smith, Louis Barnes and Frank Blanke have capably filled
the offices of the society during the past year. THE C0MMITTEE
THE BENSONIAN Society can make no boast of glories past, nor
can she count her members artists, who can play upon the
human emotion with the skill of a Cicero or a Bossuet. We
have readers, but no Irvings. The mysteries of Dante, the
beauty and depth of Shakespeare, we have left to those who
are capable of finding these masters finer and keener delights.
No, our efforts have not needed the spreading wing; we have
kept near the earth.
However, we offer no apologies. We are beginners. The greatest things in
the world have had but small beginnings. In the school of logic, oratory, and
dramatics, we are children, so we have left strong meats to the strong and have
been satisfied with weaker foods.
The Bensonian Society was organized and held its first meeting on the thirtieth day of September, nineteen hundred and fifteen. It was called the Bensonian Society in honor of the distinguished convert and Catholic novelist, Robert
Hugh Benson. Since the membership of the society is composed of the students
in the Preparatory and Junior Commercial classes it might seem more appropriate to have chosen a patron of a more businesslike type. However, we are of the
opinion that the pursuants of commercial life, so far from being able to find no
delight in the author of "The Friendship of Christ," or so far from seeing in him
a model unsuited to their study and imitation, may spend many a pleasant, restful, and profitable hour with this novelist, who had a deep appreciation of and
lively sympathy with the problems and interests and pleasures of his fellow men,
as well as a keen realization of the truths of faith and an enthusiastic love for
the better things of life.
To turn out finished debaters and orators has not been the purpose of the
Bensonian Society. Its aim is rather to initiate the members into the practice
of parliamentary law, to enable them to overcome their disinclination to speak
before an audience, to awaken in them a taste for good literature and an interest
in the current events and problems of the day. In order to foster the spirit of
true patriotism a number of programs have been devoted to the lives and works
of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. A preliminary contest in Elocution has made it evident that the society possesses not a few members who have
all the requisites for efficient public speaking. It is hoped that during the coming years, when they have become members of the senior societies, they will do
their part with honor.
Messrs. Edward Smith, Louis Barnes and Frank Blanke have capably filled
the offices of the society during the past year. THE C0MMITTEE
Date
1916
Rights
St. Ambrose University, 518 W. Locust St., Davenport, IA 52803
Identifier
http://cdm16810.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16810coll2/id/3490