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

92 LIFE AND IDEAS OF MITRINOVIC

evenings between 6.45 and 7.45 there was a ‘speaking class’ led by Rex Campbell. At 8.30 a meeting of the Sociological Section of the society was held, organised by the treasurer of the society, W. T. Symons. Tuesday evenings were devoted to an open meeting for the benefit of newcomers at which Mitrinovi¢ attempted to provide an introduction to the work and significance of Adler and Individual Psychology. A School of Philosophy and Psychology also met on Tuesday evenings, led by Alan Porter. Wednesday evenings during the winter months of 1927 were devoted to a series of talks on astrology by W. H. Sampson. An ‘education group’ met on Thursday evenings at Gower Street, whilst a course on psychoanalysis was also held on Thursday evenings, led by a Mr. Rabineck. Fridays were set aside for a series of lectures on Adlerian subjects given by Mitrinovic and Alan Porter. At weekends music and drama evenings were held.

Administratively the Adler Society was organised into different sections or schools: Education, Sociology, Philosophy, Arts and Crafts, Music, Eurhythmics. In addition there was a Medical Group whose members were all medical practitioners. There was also a Men’s Group and a Women’s Group. Each school or section had its own programme of meetings, courses and lectures. The programme for February 1929 gives some idea of the range of activities taking place. On Monday evenings the Educational Section were scheduled to meet for a series of discussions on experiences of childhood. Tuesday evenings were devoted to a series of presentations by Mitrinovic on Individual Psychology. Titles included “Husserl and phenomenology in relation to Adler” on February 5th, “The ‘As If philosophy of Vaihinger in relation to Adler” on the 12th, “Gestalt psychology in relation to Adler” the following week, and “Hans Driesch and the philosophy of the organic in relation to Adler” on February 26th. The Philosophical Section also met on Tuesday evenings at the studio in Fitzroy Street under the direction of Alan Porter. They were engaged in a series of discussions of Nietzsche and his relationship to Individual Psychology. On Wednesday evenings the Sociological Section met to study “Political synthesis and organic social order in the light of Individual Psychology.” Speakers for February included Philip Mairet on Bhagavan Das'!*, Major J. V. Delahaye on “Modern Europe,” and Rev. E. Egerton Swann on “Pax Christiana.” The Medical Society met on Thursday evenings. The Friday evenings of February 1929 were devoted to a series of lectures on Individual Psychology: Dr. Cuthbert Dukes on “Organ inferiority,” Philip Mairet on “Life Goal and life plan,’ Alan Porter on “Self-valuation” and Dr. O. H. Woodcock on “The Nervous Child.” Saturday February 16th was the occasion of a viola recital by a Miss Dorothy Barker.