80 
HISTORICAL STUDY. 
By the Bishop of Burnley. 13th January, 1903. 
The President—James Kay, Esq., J P.—in opening the first 
meeting of the year, referred to the fact that the Club will reach 
its thirtieth year of existence in December next. But few mem- 
bers, now on the register, were present at its formation, yet the 
Club was still full of vitality. During that long period they had 
enjoyed many splendid papers, soireés and excursions. This was, 
however, the first time that they had been honoured with the 
presence of the Bishop of Burnley, whom they heartily welcomed, 
not only because of his high position, but more for his high 
qualities. He was a strong man—in every respect the right man 
in the right place—and his living among them would tend to the 
good of all societies whose objects were good. 
The Bishop said his reason for choosing this subject was that 
this was a day of rapid reading and tremendous publication. 
Was it also a day of study? The air was full of education. 
That Society had a distinct and corrective function—to teach the 
young that education did not cease at fourteen, but should always 
goon. Life became interesting when we retained the freshness 
of intellect and the power to absorb new ideas. Many would, no 
doubt, be more ignorant but for that Society. It also showed 
others that reading and study should be something apart from 
mere commercialism. Reading must not be narrowed to com- 
merce, but should have moral, mental, and physical effects. In 
the next place, such a Society prevented friendship being lost by 
trivialities. A wider intellectual and moral life produced more 
interest in social life. In all study he claimed first place for 
history. He himself found in history all the refreshment of 
fiction, and he also found clearer ideas of life, and the purpose of 
individual and national life. It was a great mistake to take 
fiction alone. History showed the drama of tragedy. Action 
came from the story of individual development, or the rise and 
fall of nations. The mind of man was influenced by history, and 
followed the wisdom it generated. A child was always intensely 
interested in history, if it was properly taught. The mind of man 
loved true history because it was human. It was its human side 
which was attractive, History should not be only an exact 
