From “Q.C.G.”, November 1903
The Literary and Debating Society.
At the beginning of every Session the most gloomy forebodings are always entertained regarding the coming year. Perhaps the reason is partly to be sought in the state of anxiety that generally prevails about that time concerning the result of the Scholarship exams. The greatest cause, however, we are inclined to think, is the absence of many who, when they happened to be about, used to make things hum. Some such disappear at the end of every Session to reappear among us nevermore.
This Session was, at the commencement; no exception. Last Session
things were at a pretty low ebb, notwithstanding the presence of some good
debaters. McFarland could always be depended on for a well-considered piece of
declamation, and P. J. Cusack’s ready flow of words
always got a patient hearing. These are both gone from us now. Our popular
chairman of last Session, Jim Flack, whose sagacity we all thoroughly
appreciated, is gone too to complete his studies at
The first meeting of this Session was held on Saturday evening, the 4th inst., in the Greek Hall. The inaugural address of our chairman, Mr. Isaac Flack, evoked much discussion. Professor Trench in the course of his remarks made a very practical suggestion—That the Council should be asked to give the Aula Maxima for public lectures. What a pity it is that more of our Professors do not turn up, at least occasionally, at the meetings of our Society.
George Egan’s Notice of Motion with reference to Rule XIII., aroused lively interest, and the second meeting of the Society was devoted to a long discussion on the pros and cons of allowing political subjects for debate. By the time the discussion was brought to an end, the Motion being negatived by a small majority, it was too late to proceed with Mr. Fogarty’s paper on “Progress in the 19th Century,” which has been postponed till next Saturday. Notice of motion that a vote of censure be passed on the Chairman was handed in.
We wish very much that the Council would offer a few medals to the Society, one (say) for Oratory, and another for English Composition. There is a general feeling that the President’s Medal for Oratory and Composition cannot always be awarded in a satisfactory manner, and would be more desirable if given for one thing or the other. No one can shut his eyes to the fact that the Debating Society, which ought to be of first-rate importance as an educational factor, has lost much of its vitality, and is doomed to sink still lower if some effort is not made to regenerate it.
As to the manner of awarding the Council’s medals, should it feel disposed to consider this matter in a favourable light, we venture to think there would be little or no difficulty, unless perhaps in the case of the medal for Oratory. With the greatest diffidence, we suggest that the Council should appoint a Committee of their own body to attend on some appointed evening to hear set speeches on a prescribed topic, and also extempore speeches, and allot to each speaker marks according to his ability. We cannot cook our goose, however, until we have got him, and—we haven’t got him yet.
We would beseech the Council most earnestly, too, to alter the backs of the seats on which we have to sit in the Greek Hall. It’s not at all comfortable to have a chunk of wood stuck in the nape of one’s neck when one is sitting down. Indeed, I would not be in the least surprised to hear that (besides their innate shyness) this is partly the reason why the lady students do not appear oftener at our meetings.
We hope that these several matters will be taken into consideration by the Committee of the Debating Society, and that the Council will be asked to see if it can rectify them.