THE DEBATING SOCIETY If last term's notes ended on a note of resolution, this time we open on one of satisfaction, a satisfaction not of the smug, contented variety, but rather that of the inexperienced mountaineer, who, having narrowly surveyed the lofty peaks towering above, has tackled the first slopes with some success, and is at last within striking distance of the formerly unattainable summit That the satisfaction is of partial and not complete success, is merely indicative of the high standard we have set ourselves. The last six months have seen far-reaching changes in the Society, both of policy and of character. Instead of having a skeleton of the intellectuals remaining from last year sparsely sprinkled around the Hall like a mass meeting of the Liberal Party, we had a minor invasion with which to cope. This major influence led, however, to a serious decline in the standard of debating. The walls of Big Hall ceased to resound with the sustained wit and elegant humour of our classically-minded predecessors; instead, the decaying stones either trembled before the acclamation of a rather dubious anecdote, or were subjected to such a torrent of political abuse, that they echoed with the misdeeds of a Socialist government. The situation called for decisive action, and the constitution of the Society was amended by the Committee, who decided to limit the membership to eighty. The notices for application were hardly posted before they were covered with no fewer than one hundred and fifty signatures. All those who had spoken at previous meetings were immediately admitted, and also all those above the fifth forms; there then remained but twenty places to fill. The selection of these was carried out quite impersonnally by the Committee, wh3 endeavoured to choose those whom they considered potential debaters. Seventy boys had to be rejected, but they will all have their chance another year, and whether they accept it or not will prove the extent and endurance of their enthusiasm. To the Secretary has fallen the lot of consoling seventy outraged souls, who have threatened him with most of the better-known fates; some have even suggested where he may spend his after-life, while others have contented themselves with a defiant resolution to draw all our members to a rival society. The seventy have not been neglected however, since they, and any others so desiring, may attend, normally, two out of our five meetings each term. On these 'open' occasions they will have the opportunity of delivering a speech, at the same time bringing themselves to the notice of the Committee, thereby ensuring membership in the future. Let us now turn to our actual activities of last term. The first meeting was an open debate, when E. Robinson rose in optimistic mood to propose "that this House considers 1951 to be a year of good prospects". He attempted to predict our future, using the affairs of today as a basis, and he dwelt principally upon the prospects of major
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