Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-04-30
LOCAL DEBATERS
DEFEAT BETHANY
Aagustana Collegians Win Sec
ond Consecutive Contest
of the Year.
OPPOSES A STRONG TEAM
Tide Shifts From One Side to Other
Throughout ArgumeEt-Victory
Is Celebrated.

| bate last night when Bethany college
of Lindsborg. Kan, went down to de-
feat in one of the hardest fought for
ensic contests ever held at the local
institution. Throughout the debate
the tide of battle shifted from one
side to the other, and it was not until
the decision of the judges was an
nounced that the outcome of the de-
bate was certain. The vote of the
judges was two to one in favor of Au-
gustana. Rejoicing over the victory
was accentuated owing to the fact that
it makes two straight wins" for the
jubilee year. Augustana having de-
feated Lombard college of Galesburg
a month ago in similar contest.
The members of the victorious team
representing Augustana last night
were A. F. Schersten, ]. V. Benson and
Tage Joranson. Bethany was no less
ably represented by Martin Anderson,
o. E. Peterson and Hugo Haterius.
The judges of the debate were Pro-
fessor Pooley of Northwestern univer-
sity, Evanston; Professor Tompkins of
Iowa State Normal school, Cedar Falls,
and Hon. Ole o. Roe, attorney of Des
Moines, Iowa.
The question discussed was: RE
solved, That the Reformation of the
10th century was a greater power in
the intellectual development of Eur
ope than the Renaissance movement"
Bethany supported the Affirmative
while Augustana contended the mega
tive.
Reformation Liberated Intellect.
Bethany asserted that the real intel
lectual development of Europe did not
commence until after the reformation.
They contended that up to that time
the pope dominated the field of poll
tics, education and religion, and that
there was no freedom of thought until
the peace of Westphalia, following the
80 years war. The affirmative further
held that the reformers gave Germany
a vernacular language and the COM
mon people the bible, the influence of
which in the intellectual development
of the masses can scarcely be over
estimated
The renaissance movement, they de-
clared, lacked the religious spirit which
is essential before there can be real
development of the intellect. Finally,
the Affirmative held that the reforma-
ton established common schools and
dispelled illiteracy from the reforma-
ton lands. They contrasted the pres
ent great percentage of illiteracy in
the renaissance lands of southern Eur
ope, which did not come under the in
f1uence of the reformation, with the
g h. -Nrr1 =
nations of northern Europe, and con-
tended that this was conclusive proof
of the greater intellectual power of
the reformation.
Augustnna Meets Arguments Square.
Augustana, on the other hand, met
the arguments of the Bethany debaters
squarely. The negative showed that
the renaissance really liberated the
human intellect before the reforma-
ton, and that the reformation rather
placed a check on this freedom of in
tellect. The reformation, it was shown,
was a logical outcome of the renais-
sance and could not have been brought
about without the renaissance awaken
ing. Humanism, they contended,
brought about a consciousness of The
power of the human intellect, and this
consciousness bore fruit in numberless
ways.
Luther, Melanchthon, Colet and other
reformers were shown to be renais-
sance men, schooled by renaissance
methods, and imbued with renaissance
ideas. The effect of the renaissance
was shown in art, science, philosophy,
1t was also shown how 1t established
universities, libraries and cathedral
schools, which promoted research and
investigation.
The bible was given to Germany by
the renaissance long before Luther's
bible was published, it was contended.
The prevalence of illiteracy in the
renaissance lands of southern Europe
was ascribed to racial and climatic
conditions. Moreover. it was shown
that the Teutonic countries of north
ern Europe had reaped the benefits
of both renaissance and reformation,
whereas the countries of southern Eur
ope had only benefited from the rem
aissance.
Enthusiasm Follows Decision.
Great enthusiasm followed the read
ing of the decision. The chapel be-
came the scene of wild excitement, and
the three Augustana debaters were car
ried out on the shoulders of students
amidst the uproar and cheering Of the
audience
Outside on the campus a big bon |
fire was kindled, around which the
students executed a war
dance to give vent to their feelings. !
Liter the band was hastily got to-
gether, and the streets of Rock Island |
were paraded. At the Harper house, |
where a banquet was held in honor /
of the debaters and judges, the sere-
naders appeared and forced the Angus /
tana men to appear at the. windows 1
and give speeches. Cheers were also I
given for the Bethany team, and the |
leader called upon for speech
Salvation Arr,U Mouee