[ Society for the Study of Social Ethics, Oxford. ] Six items, including 'The Idea of a Modern Ethical Society' by W. K. Firminger and W. Gibson, pamphlets on religion, over-population and immigration, and offprint of lecture on 'the poor'.

Author: 
Society for the Study of Social Ethics, Oxford [ renamed the Social Science Club in 1897 ]; Walter K. Firminger [ Walter Kelly Firminger ] (1870-1940) of Merton College
Publication details: 
Society for the Study of Social Ethics, Oxford. 1891 and 1892.
£600.00
SKU: 17509

The six items are all disbound and in fair condition, with light signs of age and wear. Items One and Five are not productions of the Society, but are closely connected with it. The first five items are scarce: the only copies of One on COPAC at Oxford and the British Library; no copy on COPAC of Two; the only copies of Three and Four at Oxford; Five is a galley proof; and Six only to be found at Oxford, the British Library, the LSE and University College, London. ONE: 'The Idea of an Oxford Modern Ethical Society. A Paper (Read at an Inaugural Meeting held on Friday, March 13, 1891, in University College).' Printed by Parker and Co., Crown Yard, Oxford. 20pp., 12mo. Dated at end: 'W. K. FIRMINGER. | W. GIBSON. | Mert. Coll., Oxon., March, 1891.' TWO: 'Society for the Study of Social Ethics. Foreign Immigration - Facts and Figures.' 2 + [1]pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Main text (2pp., first leaf) ends: 'WALTER K. FIRMINGER, | Editorial Secretary (pro tem.). | Merton Coll., Oxon. | May 19th, 1891.' The recto of the second leaf carries a 'NOTICE.' THREE: 'Society for the Study of Social Ethics. Over-Population - Facts and Figures.' 4pp., 12mo. Possibly a proof: unpaginated, and printed on rectos only. Dated at end: 'Walter K. Firminger, | Editorial Secretary (pro tem.). | Merton Coll., | May, 1891.' Manuscript emendation to final sentence. Punch-holed in top left-hand corner. FOUR: 'An Essay Read before the Society for the Study of Social Ethics, On November 4th, 1892, by Walter K. Firminger, Merton College, Oxford. 28 + iv pp., 12mo. Drophead title, p.3: 'Religion: An Attempt to appreciate the Social Aspects of the Catholic Faith. A Paper read before the Society for the Study of Social Ethics in Mr. L'Estrange's Rooms in Queen's College, Oxford, Nov. 4th, 1892.' With a couple of minor manuscript emendations. FIVE: Galley proof of article titled 'Oxford Reform Club'. Pencil note at head: 'From Oxford Chronicle. Oct. 1892'. Tipped-in at head of p.3 of Item Four above. The article gives a long report of a lecture by Firminger titled 'Need the poor be always with us?' SIX: 'The Journal of the Society for the Study of Social Ethics.' Issue for October 1891. 100pp., 8vo. Prelims not present (perhaps not called for?). Unopened. The reason for the claim by one source that the Society was founded by Herbert Samuel (1870-1963), later 1st Viscount Samuel, is unclear.