The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-12-27 00:00:00

THE PROPOSED DEBATING SOCIETY.

The advisability of eetablishing a debiting society wee
thoroughly discussed sti public meetiug et the Alington
HAL on Wedasidey evening. There was a good atteudance,
including the Rev. C. L. Sanctuary, Rev. T. Neale, Dr.
George. Mr. Henry Symonds, Mr. J. F. Hodges, Mr. J.
neard-Jillerd, Mr. Arthur Symonds, Mr. Hewgill, Mr.
Bsscomte, Mr. looter, Itc.

Mr. Henry Symonds was onsnimously voted to the
chair.

In his opening remarks the CHAIIIIVI eiprellelKl the
hope that the proposed club would be formed on the
broadest possible but,, end for the tfi•CLLS•IOII of all
matter., 'oval, religions, and political. lie could tee no
objection to toe &iota...ion of any subject. He hopid the
society would be for the benetit of every tectioa in the
town, not cons.e.ing only of tie beer aid the middle
clews, but professional gentlemen and .kuere, to wb..rn
they 'night reesnably look for trictruct.on on cone
matters net might come up. Ile did not see way at
sot be so, for in smaller to one he knew that
beakers, s )I,citors, and such like joined taus debating
semis's. For his own part lie did not no how a SOCI•ty
could ft iurian ins small to.en like tot.,
_if every dare we.
not reonsented at the decassions. (Hear, lie.r.) To.
CnairmAn referred to We Surat meeting neld at the
Gongiegational Schoolroow —• place at • nch some gentle-
men tbought they could n .t very well attend, the
society wee to be an unstotansa one. Those gentle-
men nail shown their good sense in cowing here to see
it toe, could not all wort together. applause.) He
wished the club every succeed, and kuisd it mint
continue in the same itiaLselul way in which it appes ed
to have oonicuenced diet evening. lApplisist)
The BAY. T. Nitive thanked the cluivoien for his very
liberal observation., and thOroilitlij eadoreed all his
views_ . . . . . . .

Mn. F. H0D43113 asked wit/4.th' objecta et the society
would b. . .

itTiv. T. NIAVI replied the improvement of its
membere by debetee, ways, readings. radiationi. or
the members may detarmme.
Mr. Benoit: Will it dein with the Working Men's
Club or with the Dorchester Lecture Society.
Key. T. Nears; Certainly not ; they • ill stead perfectly
apart.
Mr. FOSTER moved, and Kr. BILLITIVIVAMI seconded,
"Teat a society be formed in Dorchester for the mutusi
improvement elite members.
Due was carried.

A motion was proposed by the Ras. T. NUTS, and
seconded by Mr. s
"That the rociety be termed for
the discussion ot all question; ',Attlee', Lici4 and
religious.
11&. HODGES strongly objected be that. If they went
into religious and political question; be should cot be
craw, d to support it. He nagged to move as an smend-
tooot religious and political subjec s be excluded.
The Her. Mr. SimatisitY seconded. Its felt that three-
fourths of the people who would °Warw.° help the society
would bare nothing to do with it
As a compromise. Mr. VINE moved " That this questions
to Ws discussed be the popular questioni of the day, to be
determined by • majority of two.thirds of its tuember•"
This did not find • seoender.
Mr. Parka thought it best to 'rave these things. II
the society should think it necessary tley would do so.
and thvy would be discussed with reason and sense, and
not wills abuse. (Hear, hear.)
. . .

Dr. Gionok seas opposed to excluding these subjects.
What 'objects, be asked, were of greater importance
The Ray. T. Ngavg said Wilma he 'pogo of the discussion
of religion, he meant religion on its growl basis and pot •
question of sects. And, with r. g art to politics, thyy
could discuss these matters rea..o. . They were not
lii.hmen but linglishmen. (App'•osy.)
Mr. PL&ID JILWID thought it would produce rancour
and bad temper, end would ultimately break up the
scrsety.
.

on s division the Rev. T. Nesyis motion
Chet social, politic el, and religioue, end other subjects be
ditrus-at, we, cerri ei by a co • si ierstile majority.
A proviri not cutumitte• Wee ta.hit eppointed, for the
porno.e of framing tie rules of the soci ty, COhallitlit of
the HI,. T. R..s.ell•WnehAr Rev. T. Seem Mr. Henry
Symenae, Hr. Hewett', Mr. Foster. Mr. Berne*, Mr. F. J.
Dar, sod Mt. Vatcher
ne Rev. Mr. discasitry, Mr. J. F. Hodge', and Mr.
Peen' JiHard were nominatvl, but they declined to take
;mitt in the society.
A ctrAial vote ef thanks to the Chairmen was proposed
by the K v. T. Ngsvg, sec inded by Mr. J. F. HODGES.
The Cirelitgef, iu acknowledgment, regretted there hal
been suy diderence of opinion. fit quite cursed with
Mr. Ne,ve's resolution, awl theuelit It quite right to
include raitious end political stilijiLets. If they were
discussed in a proper and cid:midi rit wanner. If any
bigotry we, shown on either side, be should withdraw
his conn,ctoin with the soccty. Ile ii p. the debate, on
these subjects would be conducted deceotly and in order,
end he trusted those gettletueo who tel seen fit to
withdraw, would ultimately be led t join them. (Ap-
plause.)
The meeting then broke up.