controversial issues of the age. Unitarian in its origin, it retained the name of a “religious” society after Moncure Conway, its American re-founder, became its minister. The term “ethical” was introduced when Dr. Coit took charge in 1888. Though problems of economic reform did not take concrete shape under Conway, the ethics of social responsibility figured largely in his teaching. My own personal association with South Place dated from 1897, and two years later I became one of its regular lecturers, figuring as a sort of middle-man between J. M. Robertson and Herbert Burrows, a committed Socialist. The wide divergence of our views on many matters made no difficulty before an audience that prided itself upon an “open mind.” A test of this liberty of speech was afforded me when the South African War occupied the national mind at the close of the century. Though the sympathies of prominent members of South Place were sharply divided on the merits of the war, no attempt was made to “boycott” the strong pro-Boer utterances made from the platform by the lecturers, who were in agreement in their condemnation of this brutal piece of Imperialism.
My close connection with this liberal platform, lasting continuously for thirty-six years, was of great help to me in clarifying my thought and enlarging my range of interests in matters of social conduct. Addressing audiences consisting for the most part of men and women of the business and professional
