Cambridge Apostles

Cambridge Apostles. The Cambridge Apostles is a secret intellectual society founded in 1820 at the University of Cambridge. Known formally as the Cambridge Conversazione Society, it has served for over two centuries as a highly selective forum for undergraduate and graduate members to debate philosophical, political, and aesthetic matters. Its influential alumni network, often called the "Apostolic network," has included many leading figures in British academia, literature, espionage, and public policy.

History and origins

The society was founded in 1820 by George Tomlinson, a future Bishop of Gibraltar, along with a small group of friends from St John's College, Cambridge. Its early discussions were heavily influenced by the Romantic ideals of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and the philosophical inquiries of Immanuel Kant. The group initially met in members' rooms, with the name "Apostles" deriving humorously from their original number of twelve. Throughout the 19th century, it became central to the development of the university's intellectual life, particularly through its association with the Apostles' Club and later connections to the Bloomsbury Group. Key early influences included the philosopher Henry Sidgwick and the classicist John McTaggart.

Membership and selection

Membership is traditionally limited to twelve active undergraduate members, known as "apostles," with graduate members termed "angels." The selection process, known as being "born," is highly secretive and involves a series of invitations to Saturday evening meetings where candidates observe debates. A candidate's election requires unanimous consent from the active members. Notable figures involved in selecting or sponsoring members over the decades have included the economist John Maynard Keynes, the writer E. M. Forster, and the philosopher Bertrand Russell. The society has drawn members predominantly from King's and Trinity Colleges, creating a powerful and enduring intergenerational network.

Activities and traditions

The central activity is a weekly Saturday meeting where one member presents a paper on a chosen topic, followed by rigorous debate. A key tradition is the vote on a question posed by the speaker, with members inscribing their position—"Yes," "No," or "Placet"—in a book alongside their reasoning. The society's emblem, a simple white ceramic bowl, is used for collecting written votes. Other rituals include the consumption of "whales" (sardines on toast) and the use of coded jargon. These debates have historically covered a vast range of subjects, from ethics and aesthetics to the merits of Moore's *Principia Ethica* and the politics of the British Empire.

Influence and notable members

The society has exerted profound influence through its members in numerous fields. In philosophy and economics, key figures include G. E. Moore, Bertrand Russell, Ludwig Wittgenstein, and John Maynard Keynes, whose Bloomsbury Group connections were largely Apostolic. In literature, members have included Alfred, Lord Tennyson, E. M. Forster, and Rupert Brooke. Its impact on 20th-century British intelligence was significant through the Cambridge Five spy ring, which included Apostles Guy Burgess, Anthony Blunt, and likely John Cairncross. Other notable members across public life include the physicist J. J. Thomson, the historian G. M. Trevelyan, and the journalist James Klugmann.

Secrecy and controversies

The society's strict code of secrecy, forbidding public acknowledgment of membership, has fueled both mystique and scandal. This secrecy famously complicated Bertrand Russell's relationships and was central to the Cambridge Five espionage affair, where Apostolic loyalties were alleged to have overridden national allegiance. The society's discussions and archived papers, known as the "Ark," remained closely guarded, though some were published in works like Michael Holroyd's biography of Lytton Strachey. Internal controversies have included debates over admitting women, which did not occur until the 1970s, and ongoing discussions about its role and relevance in modern Cambridge.

Category:University of Cambridge Category:Secret societies Category:1820 establishments in England