Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-11-27
Merritk Debate SET
For December 5 al
Georgetown u.
Medal Is Outstanding
Award Of Arts and
Sciences College

The Rev. John J. Toohey, S. j.,
moderator and coach of the 108-
year-old Philodemic Society Of
Georgetown University, is making
the final arrangements for the an
nual Merrick debate the evening
Of December in CASTOR Hall.
Competition for the Merrick Med
al, outstanding academic prize Of
fered by the College of Arts and
Sciences. is restricted to members
Of the Junior and Senior Debating
Society. The fact that a student
is entered in the contest is dis
tinction in itself as the four best
qualified are elected by vote Of
the membership.
The two teams this year will be
made up Of Richard K. Martin of
Taunton, Mass; William K. English
Of Troy, N. Y; William J. Driscoll,
jr, OF Lawrence, Mass, and John
T. Flynn of the District of Colum-
bia. They are seniors.
The subject for the debate is
Resolved, That the Federal Gov
eminent should cease spending
money to stimulate business" Fa-
Their Toohey soon will announce the
committee of judges.
The Merrick Medal was founded
years ago by Richard T. Merrick of
Washington, a former member of
the Philodemic Society and one of
the leaders of the District of Co.
INN io Por IJn tho fofhor-iyo-
law of Dean George E. Hamilton
Of the Georgetown Law School who
also was a member of the Philo-
demic Society more than 60 years
ago when he attended the college.
Few Debates Lost.
For rs years Father Toohey has
been its coach and moderator. Dur
Ing this period the society has lost
bnly one or two intercollegiate de-
bates. There has been a marked
improvement in college debating in
recent years in the opinion of Fa-
ther Toohey. 1.-THE students spend
considerably more time now in
preparation than formerly" he ex-
planned yesterday in referring to
the Philodemic Society in particu-
lar. That is due partly to the
more active interest they take in
national and international affairs,
an interest that starts in high
school"
Father Toohey also devotes more
OF his personal time in coaching the
debate teams than formerly but in
connection with the Merrick contest
he offers no assistance. George
towns varsity debate teams are made
up from the Philodemic Society also.
The Georgetown Glee Club will
give its first concert of the season
at Marine Barracks. Quantico, Va,
Sunday afternoon, December II. DR..
Edward P. Donovan is director of
the club and John J. Danahy of New
York City is president. The friend
ship between Georgetown College
and the Quantico Marines covers a
long period. 1t dates back to the
early 2O's when Brig. Gen. Smedley
Butler, commandant at Quantico,
was trying to put the Marine foot
ball on the map. Georgetown Uni
versity gave the Marine team its
first college football game and the
rivalry existed for several years.
The Rev. Arthur A. OLeary, S. j.,
president of the university, will go to
Trenton, N. j., to attend a George
town alumni dinner there the eve
ming of December 1. DR.. D. Leo
Haggerty is the local president of
the Georgetown club. On December
10 DR.. OLeary will be the guest of
the Syracuse, N. Y, alumni.
The Current Events Club, under
the direction of DR.. Thor Kerekes
Of the history department, will de-
vote an evening in early December to
. discussion of the Palestine situa-
ton. The speaker will be Judge
Pierre Crabites, a prominent Amer
lean biographer and student of in
ternational affairs. He was to have
addressed the club last week but the
meeting was Cancelled by reason of
the Thanksgiving holidays.
( The club will conduct monthly
meetings during the year, DR..
Kerekes said, at which prominent
authorities will discuss domestic and
international affairs. He is trying to
arrange a meeting on the Far East
ern situation with speakers from
both the Japanese and Chinese
Embassies.
Georgetown welcomed as visitor
last week the Rev. Coleman Nevis,
8. j., former president, who has been
conducting a.retreat here. DR.. Nevis
is intensely interested in plans for
the forthcoming sesquicentennial
celebration of the university over
which he presided seven wears.