Phœnix Club

This year, with the temporary disappearance of the Free Discussions Club there have been, outside the Science Faculty, only two, clubs giving opportunity for that type of informal argument which seems to be the happy product of universities and kindred institutions. Any club which offers such opportunities is a valuable adjunct to College life, and although in the Phoenix Club discussion usually pivots upon some aspect of art, it has been noticeable at more than one recent meeting that the stress has tended towards the wider social, political and philosophical relations of the subject concerned. This was particularly noticeable in Mr. Elliot's address on "Censorship and Propaganda," which bore on one aspect of the role of art in society —the limits of its freedom and subservience. The title of Professor Shelley s lecture, "Art and Society," suffices to indicate the direction of its interest. Mr. Graham Dawson's "Why a New Architecture?" gave a comprehensive treatment of the new conception of his particular art and provided besides very relevant comment on the whole field of art. Dr. Beaglehole's "History and Music," quite different in stress, had still its social implications. The initial address, Professor Gordon s "Two Ancestors of Modern English Poetry" (Skelton and Hopkins), was more a technical than a philosophical exposition of his subject. It must be placed somewhat apart from the other addresses which, varied as they were in subject and method, have shown such a remarkable recurrence of the social theme that in retrospect they are seen to form a series, haphazard enough, but presenting a sequence of tentative attacks and suggestions to one problem over many phases.

As to student papers, one must deplore that, at the end of the second term only one has been given—Miss Hefford's "Realism." Unfortunately illness deprived the club of Mr. Dello's "Francais Villon," and time of Mr. Freeman's proposed paper on the Auden Spender school.

On the musical .side, the dub must be diffident of claiming too much as its due. Bi-weekly gramophone recitals have been given throughout term-time, with holiday recitals and occasional ones at week-ends. It is tempting to use the phrase "under the auspices of the Phoenix Club," but except in so far as the members of the Phoenix Club are often those most interested in the recitals, the responsibilities of the club are vague, and the real praise is due to Dr. Beagle-hole and Dr. Keys. The club has, however, done something for the cause of improved facilities for music recitals by presenting to the College Council a report on the situation, with suggestions for its betterment, and the committee has had the Principal's assurance that a music room will shortly be available, and that the other suggestions embodied in the report will all be accorded the Council's sympathetic consideration.

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It is too early yet to make any comment on the success or otherwise of the competitions projected by the club, the first of which is still open at the time of writing; but it may be hoped that, quite apart from the prize, the very existence of such competitions will do something to produce that evidence of creative activity of which the club has so far evinced so little.

In conclusion, it has become evident that, necessary part of the college life as the club is, it is proving in practice to be only for the few. The fact may be accepted philosophically. The essential which does emerge from such a review of past activities is the heartening finding that the Phoenix Club is no academic little group, but a fairly elastic and diversified collection of people, awake to the practical issues of the subjects which concern it, and eager for discussion on them.