THE LITERARY AND DEBATING SOCIETY.1925

The copy of the "Monovian" for Autumn, 1919, contains a record of a Debating Society, of which the following is an extract: "It was in the Easter Term of 1917 that a scientific enthusiast in the School, C.G. Smith, convened a numerous meeting to discuss the foundation of a Scientific Society. There appeared, however, to be a general feeling in the meeting that such a society would be too exclusive . . . . the scheme was revised to that of founding a Debating Society." It is stated that there were four debates between Spring, 1917, and Summer, 1919, from which time this society seems to have been an occasional diversion rather than a regular organisation.
The next record of such a society begins with the first minute book of the present Debating Society. On October 3rd, 1921, a meeting was called, a Literary and Debating Society inaugurated, and President, Chairman, and Committee duly elected. This Society continued to meet regularly until October, 1923, when it suddenly ceased to exist, some say because the Boxing Club decided to meet on the same nights. However, during these two years, the Society had held 38 meetings, read papers, and carried out a mock election and a mock trial. Mock trials and elections have become permanent features of the Society.
On October 6th, 1924, the Society was again revived, and has continued without interruption up to the present time.
At the Annual General Meeting held on September 28th, 1925, the new Head was elected President. Robson was elected Chairman; S.B. Smith, Vice-chairman; the Rev. J C. Ellis, Mr. Whitt, and Askey, Committee-men; and Wright, Secretary. It was decided that meetings should be held fortnightly on Tuesdays in the Assembly Hall. The day of meeting was later changed to Friday.
At the first debate, which was the 50th meeting of the Society, S.B. Smith proposed "that a man cannot acquire a fortune honestly," and brought forth cogent reasons to how that even a small fortune cannot be acquired by strictly honest means. Singer, the opposer, and his supporters declared that the products of a man's specialised skill, hard work, and inherent ability are quite justifiably his own. The proposer's supporters argued that the possession of ability or the chances of luck only increase our duty to our less fortunate fellows, whom Wellings described as living often in worse conditions than animals. The general opinion was that a man can gain only a certain amount by the work of his hands, the question being whether this was a fortune or not. The motion was carried by a majority of nine votes.
At the next meeting, membership, which had been restricted to the fifth and sixth forms, was extended to the whole school. S.B. Smith proposed "that Science has no real cultural value," declaring that the study of mere facts does not give culture, and is detrimental to the spirit of worship and morality. His supporters asserted that scientific training confines interest to science alone, completely ignoring beauty, which is the essence of all true culture. Scientists were said to be narrow minded, often atheistic, oftener dogmatic, and always grossly materialistic. In opposition, it was argued that the study of Nature opens to the observer an enormous scene of all-pervading order, serenity and power, terrible yet beautiful to such as have eyes to see. Tingey strongly protested that scientists are the last to be dogmatic, theories being merely the expression of man's past experience. The scientist alone can make beautiful things such as colours. The motion was lost by two votes.
Robson opened the next debate with the proposition that "Nationalisation is opposed to the best interests of British Industry." He showed how the accumulation of the world's wealth by captains of industry is thought to be due to the competitive system, but is really due to men's selfishness. His seconder, Holdsworth, pointed out the economic advantages of competition. The opposers declared that the class war was the cause of the competitive system and the personal element must be removed by nationalisation. The President gave several examples of the advantages of local government control of industries, notable among which was that of a town where the corporation made the gas at no profit to itself, thereby benefiting the poorer people. The proposer in reply showed that the Government has no right to make such an experiment as nationalisation, but should hold private enterprise within reasonable bounds. The motion was carried by 21 votes,
At the next meeting Wright proposed that "the Press is detrimental to the best interests of mankind." He described the Press as wholly corrupt and an enormous power for evil. The opposers, Super, Lothian, and their supporters replied that the Press is the best known method of circulating news; each article is written by a specialist in the subject and is generally exact as regards information. It is absolutely necessary in a civilised world. The House was, however, turned in favour of the proposition by the President's speech describing the merely mercenary aims of the inferior newspapers, which depend on advertisements to make a profit. The motion was carried by two votes.
At the last meeting of term members made impromptu speeches on subjects drawn at random from a list. Jennings kept the House in laughter by a vivid description of Scotsmen and their humour, as did Holdsworth with much comfortable philosophy about waking thoughts. In all fifteen members spoke.
Thus ended one of the most enthusiastic, and, I believe, one of the most successful terms of the Society. The extension of membership to the whole School has proved a highly satisfactory measure.
Upon the younger members lie the responsibilities of future leaders, and they must remember that such a society can only be carried on by hard work on the part of those who organise. It appears to me that the present subjects of debate deal chiefly with ethical questions: the subject of the first debate in 1917 was "Canals." This is a change for the better. A man may live his life and never even hear of a canal, but the problems of right and wrong, man's significance in the world, and his duty to his fellows will remain problems always.
E.A.F.W. (VIth). Joint Hon. Sec.