Henry D. Thoreau is chosen to act as secretary pro-tempore at a meeting of the Concord Academy Debating Society. The minutes state:
The Secretary being absent, Henry Thoreau was chosen Sec. pro. tem. and he neglecting to perform his duty by recording the proceedings, it falls to the lot of the Sec. to record, by hearsay, what was done. The Society came together at the usual time, and the question selected last evening, “Do children imitate, imbibe or adopt virtues as soon as vices?” was taken up by the disputants, and left to be discussed again and decided at some future time.
(Emerson Society Quarterly 9 (4th quarter 1957):7-8)
