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Straits Philosophical Society

The Straits Philosophical Society was founded on 5 March 1893 to engage in critical discussions on philosophy, theology, history, literature, science, and art. The society played a developmental role in the intellectual and cultural life of colonial Singapore. Its founding members were Major-General Sir Charles Warren (president), the Rev. G. M. Reith (secretary and treasurer), John Winfield Bonser, Walter Napier, H. N. Ridley, R. W. Hullett, J. Bromhead Matthews, J. McKillop, D. J. Galloway (Dr), A. Knight, Tan Teck Soon, T. Shelford, G. D. Haviland (Dr), R. N. Bland, and C. W. Kynnersley.  

Membership and Activities
The society largely comprised the intellectual elite of the colonial administration.  Active membership, which was capped at 15, was opened to Singapore residents only.  Priority for admission was given to university graduates, fellows of European learned societies, and people with distinguished merit.  Active members paid an annual subscription of $25, and an additional entrance fee of $5 for each meeting.  Corresponding membership for non-Singapore residents within the Straits Settlements was available at a reduced fee.  The society held regular meetings on the second Friday or Saturday of each month.  Fines were imposed on members who were absent without good reasons.  The society would meet for dinner before the commencement of the evening's presentations. The meeting proceedings were conducted in a structured and orderly manner. Members took turns to present their essays.  Each presentation was followed by a critique by another member, and a discussion on the essay and criticism.  The discussion would conclude with a summary from the president, and the presenter would reply to questions raised from the discussions.

Publications
The works of the society were compiled into bound volumes entitled Proceedings of the Straits Philosophical Society for the year 1894-1910, and the Transactions of the Straits Philosophical Society for the year 1910-1911, and presented to the public libraries of Singapore and Penang. The essays and criticisms covered diverse topics, ranging from literature, science, art, philosophy, religion, anthropology, economics to politics. Around 17 essays were also published in the Straits Chinese Magazine. Lim Boon Keng (Dr), the magazine's founding co-editor, was a member of the Straits Philosophical Society. In 1913, a compilation of local and oriental-focused essays was published in a volume entitled the Noctes Orientales, under the editorship of H.N. Ridley.

Conclusion
By the late 1910s, the society was operating under great difficulties as many members were conscripted for the Great War or burdened by business commitments.  The year of the society's cessation is not known as no records dating beyond 11 February 1916 have survived.

 
Author
Joshua Chia Yeong Jia



References
Jose, J. (1998).  Imperial rule and the ordering of intellectual space: The formation of the Straits Philosophical Society.  Crossroads, 12(2), 23-54.  Retrieved June 9, 2006, from  textfiend.net/media/IMPERIAL%20RULE%20AND%20THE%20ORDERING%20OF%20INTELLECTUAL%20SPACE.pdf. 

Makepeace, W., Brooke, G. E., & Braddell, R. St. J. (Eds.). (1991). One hundred years of Singapore (Vol. 2 pp. 301-302). Singapore: Oxford University Press.

Song, O. S. (1985).  One hundred years' history of the Chinese in Singapore (pp. 94, 343).   Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 SON) 

Straits Philosophical Society.  (1913).  Noctes Orientales: Being a selection of essays read before the Straits Philosophical Society between the years 1893 and 1910 (pp. i-iii) [Microfilm: NL5823]. Singapore: Kelly and Walsh.


Further Readings
Straits Philosophical Society.  (1911).  Proceedings of the Straits Philosophical Society for the year 1894-1910 [Microfilm: NL 5138]. Singapore: Printed at the Methodist Pub. House.

Straits Philosophical Society.  (1911).  Transactions of the Straits Philosophical Society for the year 1910-1911 (Vol 1 - 17) [Microfilm: NL 5718-20].  Singapore: Straits Philosophical Society.



The information in this article is valid as at 2006 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources.  It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject.  Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic. 

Subject
Organisations>> Associations
Philosophy--Singapore--Societies, etc.
Philosophy, psychology and religion>>Philosophy



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