Phoenix Club

It would be most gratifying if we could record that, after a year of war, the Phoenix Club was still bravely advancing its oriflamme in the cause of art and culture. The urgent necessity to continue the cultural and artistic activities of the Empire despite the war, has already been amply stressed by all competent authorities. But in Victoria University College we dwell upon such Olympian heights that we can well afford, it would seem, to disregard all such advice Perhaps we believe that our appreciation of the finer things of life is already so great that we need take no further pains. Or, slightly more modestly, it may be merely that we consider there is no reason to keep alight the aesthetic flame when the exigencies of war demand all our attention. It may be that either of these postulates accounts for our grievous state.

But it seems very much more likely that the brutal truth of the matter is simply that Victoria University College is composed of Philistines who care nothing for the Phoenix Club or for those ideals which it strives to perpetuate. If that is the true position—and we dare not face the future of New Zealand if that IS the position in one of her leading Universities—then the sooner the Phoenix Club is dissolved, the better: Why maintain the present hypocrisy?

However, in spite of the appalling apathy of our fellow-students (not in this connection alone, we may say), we honestly believe that there are still a few of us, no matter how few, who do care sufficiently for those things in life that are not wholly materialistic. We realise that beauty, and perhaps even fantasy, too, are of at least as great importance to mankind as politics and the more mundane occupations of the intellectual. We are not intellectuals; we are not high-brows. We believe there is still beauty to be found in the world, and as the chances of one's finding it grow less, we believe that one should seek for it the more. "We take the golden road to Samarkand!"

The Phoenix Club has been in existence for three years (although it has been moribund most of this year). Under its aegis once gathered the enthusiasts of the cidevant Literary Club and Free Discussions Club. Perhaps this was a mistake, for the meetings rapidly assumed a political colour (a delicate rose, in general, we understand). Last year, possibly as a result of the activities of Salient, politics deserted the Club, and the Club declined. Which might seem to show that our political intellectuals are the driving force in 'Varsity life, especially since this view is strongly supported by other evidence.

We defy this assumption. We invite all those interested in literature, or in art, in any of its manifestations, to rally to the support of the Phoenix Club; to attend its meetings, where interesting topics will be ably presented (often from a new and refreshing view-point), after-wards to be freely discussed and criticised; and, finally, to enter for its competitions in original and creative work. Little time remains this year, but it is sufficient to lay the firm foundations of a better and more active Phoenix Club for 1941.