Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 2.djvu/882

 866 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

to develop in your chosen family the desire for knowledge, beauty, and righteousness. Many persons find pleasure in cul- tivating a tiny plant, in watching it put forth its tender leaves, in measuring from day to day the rapidity of its growth in order to detect the influence of their care ; and finally, when they are rewarded by seeing it burst forth into blossom and fragrance they experience great delight. But there are those who will testify that this delight is far surpassed by another, and that is the joy and satisfaction which may be derived from cultivating the germs of the higher life which may often be found in an unfortunate individual or in a family of the poor and dependent ; from watching the nobler desires quietly develop into activity and strength under sympathetic and intelligent care ; and from discovering by and by that out of unfavorable conditions have blossomed forth the virtues necessary to usefulness and happi- ness.

While the suggestions thus far made are chiefly in regard to the study of the structure of a social group, it must be plain that they will also apply to the study of \h.t functions of the agencies and institutions studied. While engaged in considering the struc- ture of the family or group, many things in regard to function will be brought to light which will suggest methods of reform, and which unsystematic study would perhaps never reveal. The study of structure, while it cannot be complete without it, natu- rally precedes the study of function, and the method of study need not be different; the same analysis will apply to both.

In accordance with the analysis already given, though not closely following it, I now present, after providing a provisional constitution for a club, a programme of study with provisions for twenty-four meetings. As it may be difficult to maintain inter- est in a club without the discussion of general social questions, provision is made in the programme of each evening for the dis- cussion of both general and special topics. Emphasis, however, should always be placed upon the special report, making the results of the special local investigation the basis of the discus- sion. Each special report should be as thorough as it can be