Show WHAT W WE THINK K I II By B FRANK D DIXON i I t I In the thc town in which I live a group of or men meet every two weeks to discuss some question of the times The subject for the next meeting js is always S announced at the close of the meeting that the he i members who care to may study up on the question and be better prepared to discuss it at atthe atthe atthe the following meeting i The TIle idea was originated by the superintendent su sup rint of schools who be be- be began began gan by il eight or ten men mento mento to his home one evening After the first meeting the group proceeded to meet at the homes of o 0 the van val valious I ious bus members of or the group in turn In filling the membership of the I I I I I I I group care cue was taken by the mom memo bers to propose for membership those th se persons whom it was known would be interested in a study of or this kind since the suc sue success success cess of the venture depended upon the sincere interest of every mem mem-i her ber of or the group in studies of memI mem-I this this' kind I I I The group which started with eight men soon grew to number i twenty four or thirty nUmber I The topic for consideration for Cor Corthe forthe the evening e is presented by two members of or the group who receive their assignment at the previous meeting One member prepares on the affirmative ve side and one on the negative side of the question These preparations are either read or given from a previously prepared outline Following the presentation a general is held My town numbers about in in population yet et it was not long until the group numbered around thirty an discussion showed that without exception the men were sincere students of c the ques ques- questions questions of C the day The project did a number of things It got together a group of kindred spirits who enjoyed dig dig- digging digging ging into matters of this kind and presenting their views to their fellows and defending their pasi- pasi lions when they were opposed by other members of the group After joining the group many of the men had previously merely merel skimmed sk the surtax surface of even im im- important important important matters of o the news be be- t I gan to dig into them They turned more widely and read read- reading readIng ing different types of c magazines s and literature They took a keener in being informed and in keeping up with their fellows S In InI addition to the fine social contact I Ithe the study permitted it had a dis dis- distinctly distinctly dis- dis distinctly cultural value Members of the group found themselves studying study study- studying ing present day questions to a greater degree than they ever had before They The found that by present ing their ideas in the meetings they developed their ability to ex ex- express express express press themselves fluently and ac acceptably before fellows Many towns the size of mine are arc without the cultural events that come to larger places and as s a arc re result re- re result sult this desire on the part of many men goes unsatisfied I rec ree- recommend recommend the project as a desirable one for the thinking men of or any community I |