Writings in the United Amateur, 1915-1922

by H. P. Lovecraft

  THE UNITED AMATEUR MAY 1920

  For What Does the United Stand?

  It is easy to comply in 500 words with a request for an article on whatthe United represents. An amateur journalistic association is generallytoo democratic to have any one object for long; it is rather abattle-ground between the proponents of opposed ideas.

  I think, however, that since the dawn of the Hoffman administration,when the best elements were automatically sifted out through thesecession of most of the confirmed politicians, we have been graduallyacquiring a policy and a tradition which will endure. Theprinting-press, political and frivolous phases have been passed through;and our aspirations seem to be crystallising into a form more worthythan any of our past aspirations.

  Judging from the majority of our truly active members, the United nowaims at the development of its adherents in the direction of purelyartistic literary perception and expression; to be effected by theencouragement of writing, the giving of constructive criticism, and thecultivation of correspondence friendships among scholars and aspirantscapable of stimulating and aiding one another's efforts. It aims at therevival of the uncommercial spirit; the real creative thought whichmodern conditions have done their worst to suppress and eradicate. Itseeks to banish mediocrity as a goal and standard; to place before itsmembers the classical and the universal and to draw their minds from thecommonplace to the beautiful.

  The United aims to assist those whom other forms of literary influencecannot reach. The non-university man, the dwellers in distant places,the recluse, the invalid, the very young, the elderly; all these areincluded within our scope. And beside our novices stand persons ofmature cultivation and experience, ready to assist for the sheer joy ofassisting. In no other society does wealth or previous learning countfor so little. Merit and aspiration form the only criterion we apply toour members, nor has poverty or primitive crudity ever retarded thesteady progress of any determined aspirant among us. We ask only thatthe goal be high; that the souls of our band be seeking the antiquelegacy of verdant Helicon.

  Practically, we are aware of many obstacles; yet we think we are in themain fulfilling our functions. Naturally, we do not expect to make aShelley or Swinburne of every rhymer who joins us, or a Poe or Dunsanyof every teller of tales; but if we enable these persons to appreciateShelley and Swinburne and Poe and Dunsany, and teach them how to shedtheir dominant faults and use words correctly and expressively, wecannot call ourselves unsuccessful and only genius can lead to theheights; it is our province merely to point the way and assist on thegentler, lower slopes.

  The United, then, stands for education in the eternal truths of literaryart, and for personal aid in the realisation of its members' literarypotentialities. It is a university, stripped of every artificiality andconventionality, and thrown open to all without distinction. Here mayevery man shine according to his genius, and here may the small as wellas the great writer know the bliss of appreciation and the glory ofrecognised achievement.

  H. P. LOVECRAFT.