Initiation and initiative : an exploration of the life and ideas of Dimitrije Mitrinović

THE ADLER SOCIETY 97

could have left them in no doubt that the Society was clearly taking upon itself the characteristics of a movement for social change rather than those of a professional association. Indeed, the coming together of the Chandos Group and the Sociological Section marked the beginning of an increased involvement of the members of the Adler Society in the sphere of practical politics, a trend which was reflected in the greater emphasis placed upon non-medical issues in the lectures and discussions.

Consequently, on July Ist 1930 the secretary of the medical group, Thomas Lawson, wrote to Mrs. Stephen Graham, in her capacity as secretary to the Society, to inform her that the medical practitioners had decided that “whilst desirous of maintaining the friendliest relations, it has been decided to make separate arrangements for meeting and subscriptions.”

Following the formal withdrawal of the medical section, the activities of the Society became more clearly centred on the Educational, Philosophical and Sociological sections. Instructional courses on orthodox Individual Psychology were still held, but it was clear to many that the prime focus of the Society had shifted towards a concern with social and political issues. Thus it was that at the annual general meeting of June 18th 1931 a decision was taken to reorganise the Society. In a confidential memorandum issued by Philip Mairet in his capacity as Chairman prior to the meeting, he outlined the reasons for the proposed change.

The Society was founded by a small group of persons who, before their contact with IP were already hoping to initiate a movement of a human value and of psychological classification. They brought with them therefore certain studies in sociology and philosophy which were not to be found in IP as such with its practical concentration on the problems of therapy. This was reflected in the organisation of the English society which from the first had sections for the study of philosophy and sociology as well as for psychotherapy and psychology. The group of friends who founded the English section had already gained some systematic approach to these studies under the guidance of Mr. Mitrinovic. Now their work in these fields became coloured by the ideas of IP. Naturally also, their studies of IP were influenced by their philosophy and sociology but to a much smaller extent. Orthodox IP of the straightest sect of Adlerians has been well and truly taught at no. 55 Gower Street, sometimes enriched by other ideas but not falsified by them. Dr. Adler himself has recently circulated a paper on the importance of correlative studies and it is his policy to encourage them. Nevertheless it has been possible for persons who did not happen to like us to pretend that there was some absolute difference of aim or incompatability of method between IP and the work of the groups which with Mr. Mitrinovié as its leading spirit introduced IP into England.