Momence High School - Monesse Yearbook (Momence, IL)

Page 11 text:

J Ph e fl ilonjathiar) Society. BY MISS FRANCES CLARK. The Philomathian Society was organized in 1891 by the members of the Momence High School. The purpose of this organization was to “fill a long felt want.” Before this time the few programs given had been planned and carried out without any very definite system, but the time had now come when the pupils as well as the instructors felt the need of more literary work. This, it was thought, would be of great benefit to all. The offices are as follows: President, Vice-president, Secretary, Corres¬ ponding Secretary, Treasurer and Sergeant-at-arms. These are elected every three months. Following are the officers for the present term: President, Mamie Brady; Vice-president, Hugh Craig; Secretary, Mary Hamilton; Corresponding Sec¬ retary, Helen Gray; Treasurer, H. P. Little; Sergeant-at-arms, Wayne Kelsey. The meetings are conducted according to Roberts’ Rules of Order. To make the meetings more interesting congresses, city councils and courts are organized, the work of these supplementing the regular literary work of the society. One of the most important of the trials was held during the year 1898. In this case one of the young men of the school was accused of having stolen a book from a fellow pupil and actually, after the trial was over, he was almost ready to admit the theft. Another trial is now in progress, one of the young ladies of the school being accused of having attacked and seriously injured one of the teachers, and in this case also the defense will be obliged to present its side of the case very strongly or the prisoner will be compelled to inhale “the dull dungeon’s murky air.” Both of these trials aroused considerable interest among the pupils and rendered them capable of at least keeping track of the proceedings in an ordinary case in a “sure enough” court. It is the earnest wish of the people of Momence that the work of this so¬ ciety should continue. Its beneficial influence can scarcely be over-estimated. It is certainly a matter of vital importance that the American citizen should be able to take an intelligent part in all public proceedings. That’s the way we do things in this country.

Page 10 text:

MOMENCE HIGH SCHOOL

Page 12 text:

Ltecfcu.re Course, The Lecture Course was first organized in this city by Miss L. Emma •Griffin, one of the teachers in our High school, in the year 1894. For some time the course was under the supervision of the B. Y. P. U., but later the teachers of the Momence Union school accepted the responsibility of its control. For a long time previous to the organization of the course it had been apparent to our best citizens that there was need of more high class entertain¬ ments, and to meet this demand the course was organized. The first series of lectures and concerts was given during the year 1894 ’5, and this met with so cordial a recepdon that the course became a permanent institution in w ur city. We subjoin a list of the attractions thus far given to the public: 1894, ’95. Dr. P. S. Hensen, D. D. lecture. Rev. Morgan Wood, lecture. Rev. Robert J. Burdette, lecture. Laura Dainty, Reading. Edw. P. Elliott, reading. 1895, ’96. Imperial Quartet, concert. William Hawley Smith, lecture. Tyman B. Sperry, D. D., lecture. Royal Hand-Bell Ringers, concert. Rev. Morgan Wood, lecture. ■Couthwi Concert Co., concert. 1896, ’97. George Kennan, lecture. Rev. Robert J. Burdette, lecture. Couthwi Concert Co., concert. Rev. Anna H. Shaw, lecture. The Harvard Quartet, concert.