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The Editor
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© F.Coakley , 2026
[from A.M Harrision's Descriptive List of Insular Societies]
'Primarily the club was formed to provide a comfortable room for the recreation of youths, and that object has been simply fulfilled. The secondary consideration, however, has not come up to our expectations. Members attended in considerable number every evening, glanced at the paper and played draughts and other games, but the library was little used, no classes were formed, and the lectures and debates were not very well attended.
The most successful feature during the winter has been a series of teas, followed by most enjoyable smoking concerts. We have 53 members, who pay 2s. for the session of six months - this instead of the penny per week during our first winter. The 2s. might be paid in four sixpenny instalments, and so there has been no falling-off of attendance because members had got into arrears. The club room is open every night, is very comfortable, well lighted and heated, and the walls decked with pictures, and the windows filled with plants. A first-rate supply of papers has been maintained, including all the insular papers.
Order has been well maintained by the members themselves, though two responsible members are told off for duty in turn.
The subjects of lectures were 'Nansen and the North' 'The Blood System', 'the Digestive System' and 'Church Reform', Altogether we are proud of our club, which, if it has not fulfilled all our hopes, has at any rate provided a cosy room, open every night, has placed before us the news of the world, and stimulated our interest in the greater affairs of life, has brought us closer together, and has helped us to understand each other better - and that itself is something gained.
W. Potts, Honorary Secretary
This report was published in the Isle of Man Examiner of 10 April 1897 as an annual return to the Conference of Debating Societies of the work of local Mutual Improvement and Debating societies.
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