INTHEKNOW
The Pursuit of Knowledge
Sewickley’s Query Club continues 151-year-old tradition.
By Jennifer Brozak
I
n 1727, Benjamin Franklin gathered a group of his friends
and officially established a club for the purpose of asking—
and answering—questions. This club, which Franklin called
“The Junto,” discussed a wide variety of intellectual, personal and
community topics.
While interest in that club diminished over time, it eventually found
new life as the American Philosophical Association and spawned
numerous like-minded organizations across the country, including
one right here in Sewickley.
Founded in 1885, the Query Club of Sewickley is modeled after
Franklin’s original precepts, which, according to the group’s brochure,
are to “love the pursuit of truth for its own sake” and “love mankind in
general, regardless of religion or profession,” among others. The club
originated from a literary class called “The Milton Club,” which was
established by Dr. Joseph Bittinger in 1865. The club became “The
Shakespeare Club” in 1867. After a four-year hiatus, the group then
reorganized itself as a history class, which lasted until 1883. Two years
later, the Query Club was formed.
The club, which currently has approximately 20 members, meets on
Monday nights from September until April at the Sewickley Library.
Each night, two members present their papers, which center on a
common topic. This year’s topic is “Art and Culture,” with presenters
delivering speeches on everything from technology in music to
religious iconography to the symbolism in Oriental art.
The last meeting of the year takes place at member Peter Sour’s
home, where the group holds an ice cream social, votes for the
following year’s topic, and elects new officers.
“Any member can suggest
a topic,” says Linda Zang,
president. “From there, we
pick the top 10, and then the
top three, and then narrow it
down to one topic. It can be
hotly contested.”
Previous themes have
included “Fisher’s History
of the Christian Church”
in 1893; “Egypt” in 1911;
“English Life and Manners”
in 1933; “Great Novels” in
1954; “Colonization” in 1983; “The Renaissance” in 2001 and “Spies”
in 2015.
“The topics allow for a lot of latitude,” Zang says.
Sour, 81, initially joined the club in 1975 but had to leave it behind
for two decades when he moved out of state for his job. He rejoined
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when he moved back to Pittsburgh. He will deliver his presentation on
“Musical Comedies” in the spring. Zang delivered her presentation,
“Life in a Parallel World: The Amish and Mennonites,” in November.
Zang says that The Junto group allowed Ben Franklin to get a feel for
the types of men who would lead the future United States of America.
In fact, one of Franklin’s maxims is cited in the club’s brochure:
“Knowledge is obtained rather by the use of the ears than of the
tongue.”
“You can tell a lot about people’s personalities by the topics they
choose,” says Zang, 60. “The group helped [Franklin] get a sense for
how this new government was going to operate.”
Sour agrees, adding that Franklin, a notably gregarious man, used the
group as a way to “stir things up. He used to see what type of trouble he
could make. He was a great man, but mischievous.”
Joining the Query Club doesn’t require a background in writing or
speaking, says Zang, who works in finance and joined the club about
six years ago. Members span numerous professional backgrounds in
fields like business, teaching, law, medicine and religion. Nearly a third
of the members are retired.
“It’s a good intellectual exercise, to have to sit and research and think
and write about a subject, especially in this day and age,” adds Zang.
The Query Club is open to adults of all ages and requires a nominal
membership fee of $10 to cover printing and supplies. Each meeting
lasts approximately two hours, and refreshments are served. For more
information, contact Secretary Mary Anne Riley at rileymaryannet@
verizon.net. n