Kiam mi legas la diversajn datojn sur la tomboj de unuj, kiuj hieraŭ kaj de unuj, kiuj antaŭ sescent jaroj mortis, mi pripensas pri Tiu Granda Tago, kiam ni ĉiuj estos samtempuloj, kaj kune aperos.
THE PROGRESS OF ESPERANTO IN GREAT BRITAIN AND ABROAD.
The contents of this section are supplied by the Hon. Sec. of the London Esperanto Club, who invites all Esperantists to send monthly reports of the spread of the International Language in their districts. Communications must reach 14, Norfolk Street, London, W.C., before the 8th of each month.
On Friday, October 14th, the unification of organised effort for the propagation of Esperanto within the British Empire was accomplished by the formation of The British Esperanto Association. This took place at a meeting of representatives of many of the twenty-five British Societies, and individual Esperantists of both sexes, held in the Essex Hall, Strand.
Our space does not admit of a verbatim report of the speeches, which can only be given in condensed form.
On the motion of Mr. J. Rhodes (Keighley), seconded by Mr. C. E. Cowper (Deal), Mr. W. T. Stead was called to the chair.
The chairman said the business of the evening was not to discuss the merits or demerits of Esperanto. They were met as a company of men and women who had come to the conclusion that Esperanto was the best thing going in the way of a key-language, and that it was their duty to decide how best to join their forces so as to make the best thing within sight available to the greatest number of people in the shortest possible time (hear, hear).
When the movement began to spread it developed one or two features which he thought were rather hopeful. Persons with enterprise began here and there to see that if Esperanto was going to go, there was money in Esperanto. He had a great belief in things that had money in them (hear, hear). For this reason, that any good cause which would pay a 5 per cent. dividend would multiply and increase itself just as a tree would multiply itself by throwing off its seed; but any philanthropic or other public-spirited association which would pay no penny in dividend was like a telegraph pole set in the ground—it would stand until it rotted, but it would never breed another telegraph pole. So it was in relation to societies that were purely benevolent. But perhaps that was too bad to be suggested of this new organisation, which was to be a purely propagandist association. He should look upon it as representing what he might call the "Church" of Esperanto. He hoped there might be a profitable and revenue-producing "State" of Esperanto growing up outside with which their organisation would be in the closest possible manner associated, and while their business would be to preach the pure gospel of the cause, the other fellows would come along and gather up the shekels. As for themselves, they only wanted sufficient of the shekels to keep the matter going.
A committee had been sitting for some time considering about the formation of a National Association, and among the suggestions framed was one as to title. Scarcely a month passed but some irate Scotsman wrote to say he was a most dastardly person for not having taken note that there were others beside English in the United Kingdom. Then the Americans would not have the word "British" at all; while as to the formula "English-speaking," the title "English-Speaking Esperanto Association" would look rather foolish, seeing that the object was speaking, not English, but Esperanto. It had, therefore, been finally decided, after a good deal of discussion, that, subject to the approval of that meeting, the title dividing them the least, and which would be the simplest, was The British Esperanto Association.
The suggestions, copies of which would be found on the chairs, had been drawn up by the London Group, and submitted to the rest as a basis for a provisional organisation until next May. Their purport had practically been embodied in a number of Resolutions now to be laid before the meeting.