Society for Pure English Tract 1 (Oct 1919) | Page 4

prepositions made a pronoun enclitic, the old accent is perishing. For it,
which used to be pronounced forrit as one word, is now generally
spoken faw it, as two. The result of such conscious pedantries is not
only a great damage to the rhythmic beauty of our older literature,

actually teaching the folk to misread the admirable prose of our Bible,
but it is a bungling interference with the natural evolution of our
sentences, as we mould them to our convenience. We would trust the
general ear in such questions of syllabic rhythm, and would protect as
far as possible the old harmonious cadences of our traditional speech.
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.
*Very Rev. H. C. BEECHING, D.D., Dean of Norwich
BERNHARD BERENSON
GORDON BOTTOMLEY
A.C. BRADLEY, LL.D., F.B.A.,
HENRY BRADLEY, F.B.A., Ph.D., Joint Editor, Oxford English
Dictionary, &c.
CLOUDESLEY BRERETON
ROBERT BRIDGES, F.R.C.P., LL.D., &c., Poet Laureate
H.H. BRINDLEY, M.A.
JAMES BRITTEN, K.S.G.
GILBERT CANNAN
T. COBDEN-SANDERSON
W.A. CRAIGIE, LL.D., &c., Joint Editor, Oxford English Dictionary
WALTER DE LA MARE
G. LOWES DICKINSON
JAMES MAIN DIXON, L.H.D.

HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON, LL.D., &c.
HUGH E. EGERTON, Beit Professor of Colonial History, Oxford
J. FITZMAURICE-KELLY, F.B.A., Litt.D., &c.
*JAMES ELROY FLECKER
W. WARDE FOWLER, D.Litt., &c.
Rt. Hon. Sir EDWARD FRY, G.C.B., F.R.S., &c.
ROGER FRY
WILFRED WILSON GIBSON
LADY GLENCONNER
EDMUND GOSSE, C.B., LL.D., &c.
Rev. CECIL GRANT, Head Master, St. George's School, Harpenden
H.J.C. GRIERSON, Professor of English Literature, Aberdeen
W.H. HADOW, D.Mus., Principal, Armstrong College, Newcastle
THOMAS HARDY, LL.D., O.M.
Miss JANE HARRISON, LL.D., &c.
*HORACE HART, Hon. M.A., Controller of the University Press,
Oxford
MAURICE HEWLETT
F.J.H. JENKINSON, Litt.D., Librarian, Cambridge University
W.P. KER, F.B.A., Professor of English Literature, University College,
London
W.M. LINDSAY, F.B.A., LL.D., &c., Professor of Humanity, St.
Andrews
R.W. MACAN, D.Litt., &c., Master of University College, Oxford
DESMOND MACCARTHY
J.W. MACKAIL, LL.D., &c.
FREDERICK