Preliminary Announcement & List of Members: Society for Pure English, Tract 01 (1919)Society for Pure English
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Preliminary Announcement & List of Members: Society for Pure English, Tract 01 (1919)
Society for Pure English
Society for Pure English
We have no present intention of engaging in the vexed question of the
illogical and often absurd orthography of English. Members of the
Society would perhaps desire some relaxation of these bonds, but we
think it better to concentrate on other profounder modifications of
the language which, though of first importance, are receiving no
special attention. We are aware that proposals for violent change
often defeat their own end, and make all reform impossible. We shall
therefore not insist on any doubtful or disputable detail as a rule of
correctness; but we shall rely on suggestion, believing that we shall
attain the best results by causing those who lead the fashion to
consider the problems and think them out for themselves. We are
convinced that by this means an ideal of self-harmonized speech will
be gradually approved, and will spontaneously create a better standard
of national taste, to which the future developments of the language
may be safely entrusted.
These proposals will be distributed and privately circulated from hand
to hand. Sympathizers, especially writers and teachers, who find
themselves in agreement with the main principles of the Society, and
are willing, as far as convenience and current usage allow, to promote
its aims by their example, can, for the present at least, join it by
invitation from one of its members.
There will be no money subscription to this Society. A list of
members, with their addresses, will be printed under the Society's
initials; and this will be from time to time posted to all members,
who may also obtain copies of the proposals to show to friends.
With so little machinery, it may be inquired how it is expected to
accomplish anything. The idea is that all members will be guided by
the principles of the Society, and committed by their membership to
_active_ promotion of its objects, one of which will be enrolment of
recruits. Many of our members will be in a position to influence
public opinion directly and daily. The fact that there will be a body
of united opinion seems to us all that is needed: it is only required
to marshal the forces.
Should the Society find sufficient support, it would be proposed that
a small journal or occasional fly-leaves should be printed, in which
questions of literary usage could be discussed in detail. The printing
and distribution of useful papers by members able to help in this way
could be easily arranged for by a small committee, which would be
formed for dealing with this and other activities of the Society.
7. ORIGINAL COMMITTEE.
HENRY BRADLEY
ROBERT BRIDGES
SIR WALTER RALEIGH
L. PEARSALL SMITH
8. REPRINT OF LIST OF MEMBERS, 1914.
(* deceased)
Rev. E.A. ABBOTT, D.D., &c.
LASCELLES ABERCROMBIE
W.A. AIKIN
J.G. ANDERSON, Editor, Modern Language Teaching
S.O. ANDREW, Head Master, Whitgift Grammar School, Croydon
*Rt. Hon. Sir WILLIAM R. ANSON, Bt., D.C.L., M.P., Warden, All Souls
College, Oxford
Rt. Hon. A. J. BALFOUR, LL.D., F.R.S., M.P., &c.
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