The Horatian Society was founded in 1933, its stated aim being to “promote fellowship and render tribute to Horace”. The Society does this at its annual Dinner for members, which for some years has been held in the Old Hall of Lincoln’s Inn. Towards the end of the Dinner two short addresses are given, generally one by a guest speaker and one by a member. These are subsequently published and distributed to members as The Horatian Society Addresses.
The founder members of the Society were lawyers. Members of the legal profession continue to provide a significant proportion of the current membership, together with professional classicists and others with a love of Horace’s poetry. Membership is obtained via nomination by an existing member. It is open to scholars who have kept up their Horace, amateurs who have kept up their Horace, scholars who have half forgotten their Horace, amateurs who have half forgotten their Horace, and those who never knew very much Horace and have forgotten more than half of what little they did. The Secretary is happy to advise further.