Four Years of Novel Reading | Page 6

distant members, the only
pledge required being that they shall read the book selected for the
month.
2. The Union to be governed by a president, vicepresidents, secretary,
and a council of six, to be elected annually.
The chief duty of the latter shall be the selection of novels, and general
oversight in the work of the Union.
These circulars were distributed throughout the district prior to the last
lecture of the course, at which it was announced that a supply of
post-cards had been provided, by which intending members might
notify the secretary of their desire to become members of the "
Backworth and District Classical Novel-Reading Union." Three weeks
from the date of this meeting the membership stood at forty-six; and
with this number a start was made with the first novel for the month of

May. The chief agent of the colliery undertook the presidency, a
number of gentlemen including the two parliamentary representatives
of the miners accepted the vice-presidency, and a representative council
was elected to control the business of the society. The room of the local
Students' Association was selected as the place of meeting, and the
printing of post-cards, etc., was to be done with a small hand
printing-press, the property of the same body. A list of six novelists
was drawn up, Dickens, Thackeray, Scott, Kingsley, Lytton, and "
George Eliot; " and the secretary was instructed to make application to
competent literary authorities for suggestions or " points to be noted "
in any work of these authors. Dickens's Martin Chuzzleivit was the first
book read by the Union, and fully bore out the interest anticipated in
the formation of the society.
During the months which ensued, additions were steadily made to the
membership, until in six months it had reached eighty-seven, nearly
double the number at the beginning. These were not entirely local
members. The local press had published accounts of the formation of
the Union, and induced many living at a distance to make application
for membership; and about one-third of the membership at this time
was drawn from persons living at a distance. It Avas urged that local
unions might be formed by these in their own districts; but it was felt
that the experience of the first year of the Backworth enterprise might
be useful before steps were taken in this direction.
And now, with a few months' experience, weak places were discovered
in the general plan of operation, and these finally developed into
considerable difficulties.
Three main points were brought up for the consideration of a special
meeting:
1. It was felt that a month was too short a time to read the novels
thoroughly.
2. Literary authorities did not respond readily.
3. Members were unwilling to commit themselves to do any work until

they had read the book, and thus essays and debates did not prosper.
At this specially convened meeting the following amendments were
made to the constitution:
1. Two months was to be the time allotted for reading the novel.
2. University Extension lecturers were to be added to the list of literary
authorities.
3. A meeting was to be held at the end of the first month for the
arrangement of essays, debates, etc., when it was hoped that members
having some knowledge of the book would feel themselves more
competent to undertake the work.
These changes no doubt represent a very considerable departure from
the original plan of the Union, but it is only necessary to point out that
they in no way interfered with the principle of the society. The earlier
plan was necessarily tentative; and from the fact that the scheme
originated in a mining district, with all its busy interests, and
consequently limited leisure for the purposes of the Union, any
adaptation to meet local requirements does not presume want of
success. For a district with more leisure, a wider acquaintance with
books, and greater educational facilities, the original plan is worthy of
consideration, and would no doubt be practicable, and for this reason
has been included in extenso in these notes. Backworth, however,
found the change beneficial, and the society exists on these lines to-day.
The longer time allotted gives greater opportunity for thorough reading.
Literary suggestions are more easily obtained from those who know or
have heard of Backworth as a successful University Extension centre.
And the knowledge obtained in the first month's reading enables
members to undertake definite work in the shape of an essay, or the
negative or affirmative in a debate.
From the date of the acceptance of these changes in the constitution and
administration of the Union progress has been slow, but certain. It was
inevitable that some should enter the society with mistaken views as to
its object and purpose, with nothing more than