From “Q.C.G.”, November 1904

 

Literary & Debating Society.

 

The Debating Society is once more in full swing. Mr. Fogarty had the honour of giving the first paper of the session. He chose as his subject, “Conscription.” This being the opening meeting, much curiosity was aroused beforehand; so there was a large attendance of members, present no doubt to judge of the standard of oratory to be practised during the session, and in the fond hope of discovering a Burke or Curran among the Freshmen. The latter were ably represented by Mr. Waller, whose speech was both brilliant and lively, and evoked great applause. Many old and tried speakers took part in the discussion that followed the paper. Professor Trench, Mr. Flack and Mr. Bodkin are special favourites and their views are always welcome. We do not think that they have lost anything of their natural force in public speaking since we last had the pleasure of listening to them.

 

The second meeting of the session was a most interesting one; it afforded both amusement and instruction to Seniors and Juniors alike. The programme was Impromptu Speeches and quite a number of First year men distinguished themselves. More remarkable still, many shy and retiring Seniors, apparently afraid of being eclipsed, found voice to speak in the assembly of their fellows. Judging from the number of men who spoke at this second meeting there promises to be a very fair interchange of views during the session, and in short, a very successful year be fore the Society.

 

The best meeting so far, was on Nov. 26, when the question of Parliamentary Franchise for Women was debated, a lively interest being sustained from start to finish. The presence of so many lady students must have been the secret of success, as several of the expected Orators did not appear. Miss A. Perry, Miss Steinberger, and Miss Stevenson, are to be congratulated on their maiden speeches, and we hope to have many another opportunity of hearing them at the Society Meetings. It is, perhaps, surprising that the question was negatived by 40 to 24. We have heard it suggested that in future, members should come provided with paper and pencils.

 

Perhaps no society deserves better of the students of Q.C.G. than the Debating Society. It is one of the oldest, and it partly, at least, has given birth to public speakers and orators of no mean reputation, whose words and counsel are valuable to the Empire to-day. And surely there is nothing to prevent even the shyest or most retiring student from entering on the inheritance that has been so carefully and completely bequeathed to him by his predecessors. The Debating Society is only a means to an end, that end being to give a man such a training in the art of public speaking as will enable him to make the most possible of his profession when be enters on its practice.

 

There is a certain charm about the meetings of this Society. What is it that makes one enjoy attending its weekly meetings so much?

 

First, the atmosphere of liberty; the undergraduate finds himself as free to express his opinions as the graduate, the distinction between professor and student disappears, and each works out his own individuality. Further we get educated, more or less, into what has been characterised by F. T. Palgrave as the noblest and the rarest of nature’s gifts— “just judgment and high hearted patriotism.” Met together in the old Greek lecture room, where the Debating Society meetings are held, we learn to take kindlier views and juster estimates of each other than we might otherwise do. Many varied views and experiences are shared together, and thus unconsciously perhaps, we influence and mould each other’s minds. Over and above all, the Debating Society has been and will be the happy hunting ground of friendship. While it lends itself to the creating of friendships and the providing of amusement it will continue to be the most popular of Q.C.G. societies.

 

We anticipate a very interesting programme for the session. Some of the features will we understand be—Public Lectures, Ladies’ night and Parliamentary night. We learn that the President of the Society, Prof. Bromwich, is to entertain us this term with a public lecture. We receive this information with very great pleasure indeed, and look forward with expectation to the happy evening when we shall have the pleasure of listening to Professor Bromwich.

 

“Personne.”