A press cutting describing the fortnightly meeting at the Lordship-Lane Hall on December 3rd. A number of important members took part in the evening such as Mr. M. I. Teesdale, Mr. J. L. Shand, the lecturer for the evening whose subject was ‘The British Empire’. The excerpt mentions Mr. Shand being an excellent speaker who referred briefly to the part where he was actively taking part in the government of the island of Ceylon. He did not approach the naval and military question, tempting it might be but instead pointed out the benefits of British rule, and the importance of continuing to strengthen the foundations of the Empire. The lecturer then gave a quick sketch of the extent of the Empire and commented on how any Englishman would want to disrupt a magnificent empire, yet members of the sentimental and other schools were advocating this course which could lead to the utter destruction of British commerce. The lecturer continues to promote the idea that not trading more extensively would be absurd and that the languishing intuitions and commerce at a standstill is not caused by the British having the colonies. The excerpt concludes with the lecturer reminding the audience that we owe a greater duty to the colonies than they to us and that they should realise the privileges conferred to them by their British birth right and have pride in their forefathers.
