INTHEKNOW
The Pursuit of Knowledge
Residents of Wexford enjoy membership in Sewickley ’ s Query Club as it continues 151-year-old tradition .
BY JENNIFER BROZAK
In 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 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 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 notes . 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
when he moved back to Pittsburgh . He will deliver his presentation on “ Musical Comedies ” this spring . Zang delivered her presentation , “ Life in a Parallel World : The Amish and Mennonites ,” in November .
Zang explains 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 ,” she adds .
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
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