THE
PETE R IT VOL . IX .
MAY . 188 9 .
1.
No . So.
SCHOOL LETTER. IN- CE the last appearance of the Peterite very little has occurred to make the task of procuring information for a school letter any easier than usual . The football fixtures, which were very numerous and interesting, were, after two matches, hopelessly cancelled, owing to the epidemic of mumps that unfortunately broke out . Boating was therefore prematurely resorted to, but very little useful practice of any sort could be obtained, owing to so many prominent oars being on the sick list ; consequently the school-house at least could not begin regular practice till considerably later in the term, and the gap that ensued between the decease of football and the revival of boating was neither very easily nor very profitably filled up . The number and violence of the floods has this year been considerably less than usual, perhaps owing to the recent improvements in the river at Nahum Lock, which is a matter for some congratulation. The school have had, of course, to "scratch" for the Yorkshire Public Schools ' Challenge Cup this year, which has consequently fallen to Ripon, whom we beat at the beginning of the season, but who inflicted a rather severe defeat on a hardly representative team later on . Arrangements have been made for the competition next year, and several large schools have been induced to join . Apropos of football, the authorities are taking steps to secure, if possible, a better and more convenient field than the one we have at present, and some mention was made of one belonging to the North Riding Asylum, on the Skelton Road, but nothing definite, we believe, has been arranged at present. The Debating Society was again brought into existence this term, and flourished like the proverbial green bay tree while the evenings were dark enough to prevent any superior attraction arising . With the return of finer weather and longer evenings the fascination of athletics
S
414
CONFIRMATION.
proved too strong for the flagging interest shewn in the proceedings of the debating society, which, afterr , one or twe spasmodic attempts to regain its pristine vigour and elasticity, suffered itself to be adjourned Tout the last fortnight in the term sine die. Many of our readers will be grieved to hear of the death of Mrs. 'Elwyn, which occurred rather suddenly at the Charter House last r March, and will sympathise with Canon Elwyn in his bereavement.
CONFIRMATION. T three o ' clock in the afternoon of March 19th, His Grace the Archbishop of York held a confirmation in the school chapel for members of the school . After the choir had sung the hymn, "0 Jesus I have promised, " the Archbishop gave an address to the school on the subject of confirmation . He said there was something a man or woman could do which other creatures were not called upon to do, that was to decide what to do in their future life . We feel that in every respect we are now at school, doing what somebody's will puts upon us, but that there is a strong feeling within to decide for ourselves upon the best course for our future life, and it must be a serious choice to have to make : Some unbelievers say there is no such thing as conscience ; for while there is, in one country, war, because that country thinks that a state of war is most advantageous to its interests, in another country there will be peace, because that country thinks peace more suitable for its advancement than war ; and, therefore, these unbelievers say that there is no voice of God . Nobody says that conscience can teach us everything : we must just do our best . It has been said that conscience is a bad guide ; it certainly is uninformed till we instruct it . Conscience teaches a Christian what to do. St . Augustine, though the son of a pious mother, was not himself a Christian to begin with, but greatly desired to find out the truth, and if he heard of a book teaching men what to do he immediately read it, and though led away in the beginning by bad companions, it was always in the search after what was right . But once a vision came to him, and he went to a friend ' s room, and found there a book which he read, and the passage he read will be found in Romans xiii ., vv . 11-14. It was the Word of God speaking to a mind already touched by God, for the enquiring spirit must have come from God, and this book was like a
A
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415
flood of light let in upon his soul . Before all had been night to him— the night of sin and confusion—arid perhaps no one there present could measure the great influence he had, and which existed down to the middle ages . There are so many ways in which life can be passed. If you come to read Aristotle's Ethics you will see what his view of the happiness of life was ; but this is rather too scholastic for us at present. In the same book he speaks of the different modes of life . One man lives to do good—to do what good lie can while in the world ; another . lives to make as big a profit out of life as possible by trading, etc . ; and a third lives solely for pleasure . Many, indeed, think that pleasure in some form, such as sporting, is the best way of spending life ; others, again, simply think of their own interests and advantage, trying to get rich as soon as possible ; and still another class says we must live by the highest mode. The worst of the division is that it is rather hazy : but Christianity has shown us what is noble and good . It is a great mistake to look upon religion as being a gloomy subject. Look at General Gordon : was there ever a man more fit to be the subject of poetry and romance . His theory was that he must live for other people. When he went to Africa for , the second time, he said that he had certain qualifications for the post, for he did not care for money, and he did not mind danger ; and we are told that when, at Khartoum, he was in the presence of his murderers, he still preserved the same cheerfulness which he had possessed all through life . Who will dare to say that religion is gloomy after this example ? Christianity, by enabling you to love other people, gives you a great power over them. He would not be a true Saviour who went through the world telling us to follow his example if all the time he knew that it was impossible for us to do so . Therefore try and put behind you everything like a doubt, as doubts only come from the enemy of your soul . Remember, a recruit when he joins can do no one of those manoeuvres which he admires so much in the trained regiment . And this is the meaning of your question and answer : to express your willingness, and that alone; the rest we leave to God. After the laying on of hands, His Grace again addressed the congregation, saying that when he had last stood in that place he thought he had said something about the force of example . A certain regiment got a bad name, owing to the conduct of some of its officers who had lately joined ; therefore all the officers of the better sort left, almost in a body, as they could not stand the conduct of the bad ones, nor
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THE BOAT RACES.
endure the bad name which they had got . Go round about the schools of this country ; they have a tone and reputation of their own to sustain, and the boys will do nothing to lower their school ' s name in the sight of the world . For as bad example, so also does good example go a long way towards determining the character of a school. You will come to communion because you think that you would be contradicting yourself if, in confirmation, you said that you would never refuse the Lord ; and yet, when the time came to go to communion, if you refused to go, you would thus lose all influence . Communion is not a profession that we are better than everybody else ; it is only the highest act of Christian worship . Our Lord himself instituted it (Matt . xxvi.) in the presence of the apostles, on the night of his betrayal, after telling them to do this in remembrance of Him . He said that they would all, that very night, deny Him, as they did, for they were not brave enough to acknowledge Him . He knew with whom he was dealing, and warned them that the very first of their trials would be that none of them would be brave enough to acknowledge Him . It is more suitable to go to communion in a lowly spirit like the publican . Christianity is treated like nothing else in the world, for we seem to think that we have only to sit still to become good Christians, whilst we know that nothing else can be done without energy and hard work. If there is bad language in the school, set yourself against it, and speak your word that you will not allow any of the younger boys to be corrupted . What is called a high tone in a school is a thing to be aimed at ; and a high tone means unselfishness, thinking of others, and doing as Christ told us to do.
THE BOAT RACES. GREAT feature of this year's racing was the absence of close finishes : almost every event resolved itself into a procession. There was one notable exception, . the final for the Senior Pairs ; but there what might have been an exciting race was spoilt by a strongish stream giving the far side too much of an advantage . The reason of the uninteresting racing is to be found in the preponderance of the School House and the slackness of the Day Boys . Out of 20 individual prizes 18 went to the House : this is easily accounted for by their energy and spirit, the qualities lacking in the Day Boys . There is no reason why the latter should be so bad if it were not for the
TIIE BOAT RACES.
417
intolerable idleness of some of their bigger members . They had an energetic captain in Cook, and two good coaches in the Wilsons . To refuse to row "unless I am captain " is a sentiment savouring of the dames ' school, and is not expected from any boy over the tender age of eight . However, the fact remains that the racing was not exciting : some compensation for the grumblers was found in the race with the Old Boys, as closely-contested a struggle as could well be. The races began on Tuesday, April 2nd, with TIIE SENIOR SCULLS. F. Mitchell beat H. G . Metcalfe. This was little more than a row-over, the loser not having been out before the day of the race, and not deigning to remove his sweater. TIIE SENIOR PAIRS. First Round. Heat r . F . Mitchell (bow), . R . Cook (bow), H . G . Metcalfe (stroke), ) beat { G A . Crosthwaite (stroke). Won very easily. Heat
} heat { H . F. Chadwick (bow), S . O . Bingham (stroke). A good race to the corner, the losers making great efforts to keep on terms ; the others, however, won pretty easily in the end. 2.
K . E . T . Wilkinson (bow), G . II . Chilman (stroke),
Heat 3 . R . C . T . Laybourne (bow), } beat { W . A . Hudson (bow); J . F. Leaf (stroke), J . A . Easten (stroke). f A close but slow race to the white railing, when Leaf's boat went ahead easily . Second Round. F . Mitchell (bow), R . C . T . Laybourne (bow), H . G . Metcalfe (stroke), } beat { J . F. Leaf (stroke). Won very easily. Final . F . Mitchell (bow), c K . E . T . Wilkinson (bow), H . G . Metcalfe (stroke), , beat G. H . Chilman (stroke), II . B. Whitby (cox .), E . Mortimer (cox.). Chilman went away at the start and was half-a-length ahead at the Boathouse, but at Cat Ditch the boats were level . Metcalfe, still gaining, was half-a-length in front at the corner, and with the current at the Bridge increased the lead to two lengths . At Marygate Chilman spurted and came up to within a length, but the others drew away and won by two lengths . Both boats rowed well, Chilman stroking his with great spirit . JUNIOR PAIRS. First Heat . \V .II .N . Hancock (bow), f A . Rose (bow), E . W . Clarke (stroke), beat C . J .N . Carter ii, (stroke).
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THE BOAT RACES.
Both crews started at a very rapid stroke, the effects of which were different in the two boats . Clarke getting short of wind was compelled to drop his rate of striking about 5o per cent ., at which rate he got some way on . The other boat meanwhile frequently lost their oars. Clarke won easily. Final Heat . W. H . N . Hancock (bow), l heat E . AV . Clarke (stroke),
J
R . S . Russell (bow), F. M . Bingham (stroke).
Clarke, profiting by experience, rowed a much slower stroke and progressed much faster than before ; bow in the other boat lost his oar twice and they were badly beaten. TIIE SCHOOL FOURS. The School . The Civil. J . A . Browne (bow), / W . M . Carter (bow), 2 A. Crosthwaite, 2 R'. A . Hudson, LLL beat 3 S . O . Bingham, 3 R . C . T . Laybourne. II. G . Metcalfe (stroke), T . B . II . 1Vhytehead (stroke), H . B . Whitby (cox .), T . S . Gillatt (cox .).
First Heat .
The School soon drew away, and won as they liked, the Civil rowing very dead with the exception of No . 3. Final Heat . The Sixth. K. E . T . Wilkinson (bow), 2 H . F . Chadwick, 3 F . Mitchell, G . H . Chilman (stroke), II . I I . Williams (cox .),
beat the School.
All chance of an even race was spoilt by one of the School boat twice losing his oar, thus enabling the Sixth, in spite of the outside position, to get a length's lead round the first corner . After that the race was practically over. HOUSE FOURS—TIIIRD BOATS. The School House . T . S . Gillatt (bow), 2 E . V. Howgate, 3 J . O . Garland, A . If . Sutton (stroke) II . B . Whitby (cox .),
beat
The Day Boys. A . Rose (bow), 2 C. J . N . Carter ii .. 3 W . H . N . Hancock, B . St. G . J . Scargill (stroke), E. C. Cadman (cox .).
The House Boat, who were much the heavier, drew away slightly, and were a length ahead at Cat Ditch . Here No . 3 in the other boat broke his rowlock, and the House paddled in. JUNIOR The School House.
HOUSE FOURS. The Day Boys.
J . A .Browne (bow),
G . Raine (bow),
2 F. : M . Bingham,
3 J . F . Leaf, II . F . Chadwick (st .). H . B . Whitby (cox .),
2 N . L . Crumbie,
beat
) 3 A . Linn, R . Garwood (stroke) f E . C . Cadman (cox .) .
THE COAT RACES .
419
The latter was about the worst boat ever seen at the School races, not even keeping time, and produced no race at all . The winners were well together . SENIOR HOUSE FOURS.
First Heat. Mr . Gilbert's House. The Day Boys. W . A . Hudson (bow), W. M . Carter i . (bow), 2 J . A. Easten, 2 A . Crosthwaite, 3 R. C . T . Laybourne, beat 3 G . R . Cook. II . T. B. G. Chilman (st .), Whytehead (stroke), E . Mortimer (cox .), E . Cadman (cox .), Won easily, Whytehead again setting a very dead stroke, and being rowed out at the Scope . Bow and two in the winning boat did not do too much work. Final Heat . The School House. K . E . T . Wilkinson (bow), 2 S . O . Bingham, 3 F. Mitchell, beat Mr . Gilbert's House. H . G . Metcalfe (stroke) H . B . Whitby (cox .), The School House went away very fast, having the inside station, and were a length ahead at the Ings Ditch : still gaining they took their opponent 's water at the Scope, and, though Chilman and Laybourne worked hard, held them well in hand and won . The winners were a distinctly good boat, rowing very well together, and being well stroked by Metcalfe. THE SCHOOL v. THE O . P . CLUB. Owing to the sudden breaking up of the School this race was put forward from Wednesday to Friday, April 12th . The Old Boys were not able to get a crew together before Tuesday, on which evening they went out for the first time i accordingly they were short of condition. The School did not often get out, but three of them being in the School I-douse boat together went a long way towards a good combina_ tion . The crews were as follows st . lb . The O . P . Club . st . lb. The School . 10 11 R . D . C . Rose (bow) . . 10 7 S . O . Bingham (bow) . . II 12 2 P . E . Lord 2 G. II . Chilman . . . . 10 12 3 H . W . Rhodes I1 5 3 F . Mitchell . . lo 12 J . H . G . Wilson (stroke) . . Ir I II . G, Metcalfe (stroke) .. 98 A . S . Rose (cox) . . . . 10 2 H. B . Whitby (cox .) . . . . 7 12 The O. P . boat thus averaged about 91bs . per man heavier than the School, but gave away 321bs . dead weight in the matter of coxes . The School had the inside post, and from an excellent start drew away a little, as was expected . The Old Boys then got the current and drew
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CRICKET PROSPECTS.
up, and were a quarter of a length behind at the Ings Ditch, and just about level at the gate . Rounding the Scope they were rowing very dead, while the School were as game as possible, and working very hard they actually gained half-a-length in getting round the bend . A little past the Ferry the oars overlapped, but by a miracle failed to touch. Whitby sheered off and lost a little ground . The Old Boys had now waked up a little, and no difference took place in the position of the boats until just before the Corner . The School still kept their halflength lead, and excitement on the banks was tremendous . At the Corner the O . P . stroke, in answer to frantic exhortations from the cox, quickened slightly and began to draw up, aided by the current, shooting the bridge nearly a length ahead, the first time his boat had been in front. Then a barge drove them out of their course, and there was again danger of a foul, but the School just failed to get up . They, however, came again after Marygate, but the O . P . crew, rowing for all they were worth, succeeded in keeping ahead and won by half-a-length. It was one of the finest races in the annals of the School : r miles and never daylight between the boats . Too much praise cannot be given to the School boat ; Metcalfe stroked most excellently, rowing long and lively, and he was finely backed up by the others . They were perhaps expected to outlast the other crew, but probably their great effort round the Scope had taken too much out of them . The O . P. boat we will not venture to criticize, except to say that the cox quite counterbalanced his weight by knowledge of , the course and cheering exhortations . In fact both steersmen did excellently, and the danger of a foul was owing to their keenness . Mr. Wightman of the O.U.B .C . Trials started the race and acted as umpire. The Scratch Fours were rowed on the day previous ; ten boats entered and the following won :—Bingham (bow), (2) Ilowgate, (3) Laybourne, Hood (stroke).
CRICKET PROSPECTS (1889). HE outlook for this season is fairly hopeful : of last year's eleven, which was a by no means brilliant one, Mitchell, Metcalfe, W . Carter, Crowther, and Hudson are still available . These include three of last season ' s bowlers, and one or two very fair bats . Two or three other fellows, who played in some matches last year, ought by
T
CRICKET PROSPECTS .
42I
this time to have improved into useful cricketers . Batting again, we think, will be the weak feature of the team, and to this point all the old members of the eleven and all the candidates will do well to pay particular attention . In practice at the net, listen to what the professional says to other fellows as well as to yourself, and don't, as soon as your " ten minutes " is over, think you have nothing more to do with the game, except to throw a ball up occasionally when it chances to come your way . In this way, if you are a batsman, you will learn how to cure some of your own faults ; and if you are a bowler, to recognise weak points in a batsman . The eleven, as a whole, should try a more careful style of play than has been the fashion at St . Peter's for two or three seasons : this lesson it should have learnt from Durham and Ripon Schools last year, whose victories were owing not so much to superior cricket ability as to the great care taken by each batsman . Perhaps the game would not be so interesting to spectators ; but fellows at school ought not to be expected to score like players of many seasons ' experience, and if they try to do so the result is generally disastrous to everyone but their opponents. " Slogging" at anything and everything should be sternly put down : nothing is so infectious, and nothing ruins a team more . And now for the bowling and fielding ; these ought to prove strong points. W . Carter, Mitchell, and Crowther, with careful coaching, should be very destructive . Here, again, we would caution fellows against attempting too much : if a fellow is a fast round-arm bowler, let him content himself with being a fast round-arm bowler ; and if a slow over-arm, then a slow over-arm ; and not try to be the one one ball and the other the next, and neither the third . The fielding last year was good on the whole ; we hope this will be maintained, for many matches can be won by good fielding alone . In conclusion, we wish the eleven better luck than last year. CRICKET FIXTURES. DATE.
May IS 21
23 25
„ 30 June r 6 S n
VERSUS.
Bradford School Doncaster School N. R. Asylum . . Ripon Yorkshire Gentlemen Durham School .. St . George's College Leeds School ..
GROUND.
School School N . R . Asylum School Yorkshire Gents. Durham School School
422
THE DEBATING SOCIETY. DATE.
VERSUS .
GROUND.
June rr 13 15 13
Mr. Whittams XI. Ampleforth College York Revellers Yorkshire Gentlemen N . R . Asylum . . St . George's College Ampleforth York Revellers . . Old Boys . . Ripon School .. Durham School . .
School Ampleforth School Yorkshire Gents. N . R . Asylum IIarrogate School School School Away School
20 22
July
25 27 29 3 6
THE OLD PETERITE CLUB. HE Editors beg to apologise for several printers' errors in the list of members of the Old Peterite Club in the preceding number, and herewith endeavour to rectify several errors and omissions :
T
Crawshaw, G .E . . . . Warnsworth House, Doncaster Faussett, Rev . R . T . E . St . Cuthberts, York Greener, M . J. . . . 85, Gresham St ., London, E .C. Haigh, C . . .. . . . r, Elm Court, Temple, London , . . . St . Catherine 's College, Cambridge Hopkins, A . I. Huffam, L. W. Bootham Stray, York Newbery, W . J. E .I U .S . Club, 16, St . James' Sq ., London . . . Green Mill House, Retford Sharp J. Clarke, A . C . . . . . . . Emmanuel College, Cambridge
THE DEBATING SOCIETY. \VING to the diligence of our own shorthand reporters we are enabled to give our readers, as specimens, verbatim reports of two of the debates held this term . The time of meeting has now been altered from Saturday evening to Tuesday at the same time . The alteration was made too late in the term for members to appreciate the advantages of it . The debates have on the whole been livelier and better than last year . The proposal to compel every member to speak once in three meetings aroused considerable interest, and induced several gentlemen, hitherto silent members, to express their opinions.
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THE DEBATING SOCIETY .
423
Saturday. February 16th The subject before the House was "That the adoption of cremation as a mode of disposing of the dead would be universally beneficial ." Before the motion was proposed Mr . Barnby and Mr . K . Hudson were elected members of the society. Mr . LEAF then rose to propose the motion . He said : I bring for; ward this motion at short notice, for before last night I had not considered the matter at all. It is not a very pleasant subject on account of its extreme gruesomeness . I only know of two objections to this method of disposing of the dead. One is, that if it is adopted the facilities for detecting crimes will be much diminished ; if the remains are disposed of so effectually there will be very little to help people to find out poison . But this may be easily remedied by requiring a doctor's certificate for every body cremated . Many people think that cremation is an unchristian method of disposing of the dead . I think that it is not so . Originally there were only two methods of disposing of the dead, one was by burial and the other by burning ; and, now-adays, when the soil is used for building and is very scarce . and the cemeteries are so very crowded, burial is almost totally impracticable. It has been found out that the parts of the town where cemeteries are situated are 75 per cent. more liable to disease than any other . It is extremely dangerous to go near any such vicinity . The following arguments will hold water in favour of the motion :— A good deal more economy could be practised with regard to funerals ; at present the poorer classes have to impoverish themselves to a considerable degree for a funeral, but if the body were cremated the ceremony would be less public . Another argument is, that much ground now used for cemeteries could be put to much better use and to a much more necessary one in the existing state of affairs. Mr . MITCHELL, in seconding the motion, said : I suppose I must proceed according to the unwritten rule of this society to explain the disadvantages under which I labour, I know so little about the subject, and what little I do know has been most eloquently expressed by the proposer of the motion . A great argument in favour of cremation is that the Romans and Greeks were in the habit of cremating their dead. But I do not advocate the way in which they did it. They used to call together their friends and have a sort of feast, thus making a funeral an opportunity for jollification . Another thing is that a great many people believe that the shape which we have now will have something to do
424
THE DEBATING SOCIETY.
with the shape which we shall have hereafter . The Brahmins, a people of India, have dogs and other things burnt with them . If they were not afraid of being burnt why should we? I have great pleasure in seconding Mr . Leaf's motion. Mr . WILKINSON : There are one or two matters which I should like to object to. As regards the expense, I think the case for cremation has been rather spoilt by exaggeration . It seems to me that the expense of burning a body would be about the same as that of burying. Mr . Mitchell made some remarks about feasts being held in connection with funerals, of which he said he severely disapproved ; but it seems to me it is a very harmless way of spending one ' s life, and much better than many pursuits in which men spend their lives . As regards the healthiness of cremation, it surely is not dangerous even to go near a cemetery ; moreover, it has yet to be proved that the fumes from the cremation are not dangerous to anyone in the neighbourhood . It will be an ideal cremation in which we suppose the fumes not to be poisonous, and with this we must compare an ideal burial . I think that most of the objections to the present mode of burial are objections only to the mode in which it is carried out, and we might mend it by improving our method of burial. Mr . CHADWICK : I beg to propose as an amendment " That som e other mode of disposing of the dead would be advisable, not necessarily cremation ." It has been suggested that we should be converted into bricks and made into building utensils. Mr. Cook : I daresay some of you will remember, when this proposal was brought before the House before, the proposer said he had had no personal experience of cremation . I will not base my apologies on this, but I must say that I never intended to speak to night, but as no one seems ready to take up the opposition I have thrown myself into the breach . No stress seems to have been laid upon the matter of prejudice . It seems to have much to do with the question . Cremation does not seem to be a very respectful or reverential way of disposing of our fathers . Another thing is, when people see for the last time a person that is dead they have a pleasant remembrance of him ; but in the case of cremation, when they have him in a vase on their mantelpieces, they cannot have the same respect for the dead . So I hold that with proper precautions the present mode of burial is quite as good as the method of cremation .
THE DEBATING : SOCIETY.
Mr.
42 5
beg to oppose Mr. Chadwick ' s motion, for a wholesale slaughter might be instituted in order to get a lot of bricks. The choice lies distinctly between burial and cremation. MITCHELL : I
Mr . CHILMAN : It seems to me, as far as pleasantness is concerned, that the present way of burial is much the better. 6ft, by eft . is not a great amount of ground to buy . It must be much nicer when dead to be laid quietly in the ground than to be put in a little silver case. There is a beautiful calmness about a burial, and no one could wish for a better termination to his life . Prejudice has much to do with the matter in this respect. The idea of a public oven, where great and small alike are put in to be cremated, is very offensive, and the present state of affairs is much nicer. Mr . WILKINSON : The method of disposing of the dead to which Mr. Chadwick alluded could not be so easily carried out as the other two . But, apart from that, it is far superior to any I have ever heard. Just think how beautiful it would be to see one ' s ancestors embedded in the walls of the house . How nice it would be for a man when playing tennis to see his great aunt, who had left him a fortune, in the form of a sun dial on the lawn . I heartily support Mr . Chadwick ' s amendment. Mr . CHADWICK begged to remind Mr. Wilkinson that he did not propose that method, he had only suggested that some other method might be proposed. Mr . Coox : There is another point to be mentioned I think, that is, that cremation would not be universally 'beneficial . I do not see the object of cremation in small towns and villages where there is plenty of room for burial . There would be no fear of infection where there was plenty of room for a cemetery at a distance from the habitations of the people. Mr. WHITTA1i : Not having heard what the proposer said I cannot back up his remarks . One great point in favour of cremation is, that the water in the neighbourhood of churchyards gets contaminated, and that would not be so if cremation came into vogue . If the body gets consumed and goes off iii the form of gases no contamination can arise . Another argument in its favour would be the saving of . room. There has been another suggestion once made, that of electro-plating the bodies. I cannot see that that would save room at all, but it is rather a striking idea and gives opportunity for discussion .
426
Mr .
THE DEBATING SOCIETY.
in replying, said : On reference to my notes I find that some objections have been raised to my motion, but none of them of great weight . To deal with the most weighty first—great stress was l aid on the fact that inconvenience would arise from a public oven . I think that inconvenience might be easily removed by anyone with any talent for arrangement . Another gentleman dwelt at great length on the pleasure of being laid quietly away in the earth . Why should it be better to be laid away quietly in the earth than to be laid away quietly in an oven, and get it over much more quickly . I think it is quite as respectful to burn people as to bury them, of course with due reverence and respect. It was objected that burial would be all right if we could find out an ideal way of burying . I think there are no possibilities of having an ideal burial on account of the lack of ground, but I think there are facilities for procuring an ideal cremation . One gentleman remarked that the danger attending churchyards and cemeteries was not so great as has been made out . But it has been proved, though I will not enter into details, as they are not of the pleasantest nature . It was also asserted that cremation was quite as dangerous from the noxious fumes ; but by using very high chimneys these fumes could be carried off without any danger. I maintain that cremation would be more satisfactory than burial for three reasons . Firstly, because it would be more healthy ; secondly, because it would save much room; thirdly, because it would be a much more reverential method of disposing of the dead. LEAF,
The PRESIDENT (dr. Handford) then said : Before I put the motion to the House I take this opportunity to say a few words about these debates . I think there is a little misapprehension as to the object of these debates . The purpose of our debating society is this, that we may all be able to get up on our feet and speak without betraying any nervousness or getting into confusion . I think you should bear in mind that we do not meet to teach anybody anything that he does not know, and I can assure you, as far as my experience in speaking goes, when one gets up to talk one speaks about half or two-thirds of the things one wishes to speak about and forgets the rest. Therefore do not think you ought not to get up if you have nothing new to say. The best speaker is he who can bring out what knowledge he has at his command ; it does not matter how learned you are, if it all flies out of your mind when you get up to speak . The President, having then read the motion and the amendment, went on to say : The duty of a
THE DEBATING SOCIETY .
42 7
chairman is, first, to put the question, whether the motion be amended or not ; next, whether the amendment be adopted or not. It was then put to the House whether the motion should be amended or not . The voting was—in favour of amendment, 6 ; against, 9. The motion was then put to the House . The voting was—for . 5; against, ro. The motion was therefore declared lost. On Saturday, February 23rd,
A motion was brought forward by Mr . Cow: : " That the Irish are totally unfit to rule themselves . " Before the motion was discussed Messrs . Peel i and Peel 2 were unanimously elected members. Mr. Coox then rose to propose the motion . He said : The motion I have to propose is that the Irish are totally unfit for Home Rule. The Irish have no regard for law or order, and are, therefore, unfit to make laws ; moreover, they show no disposition to aid law, but do their best to prevent the carrying out of justice . The chief leaders of the Irish party are in league with assassins . The character of the Irish nation ably supports my motion, being vaccillating and capricious in the extreme. Mr . CHILMAN seconded the motion, in a terse and eloquent speech. Mr . MITCHELL rose and said : Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Centlemen —There are a few points in the speeches of the proposer and seconder to which I must take exception . Mr Cook has compared the present state of Ireland to a football scrimmage . As far as my experience goes a well-organized scrimmage is a very nice piece of mechanism in all its details . He says that if the Irish people are left to themselves they might as well be governed by women ; but I think this is an unjustified insult to the sex, and, judging from the few ladies with whom I have been thrown in contact, I think they are just as capable of ruling as men, and have quite as much force in the long run . I think it has been well said that the boy is father to the man, and from that we may deduce that the past is father to the future ; and if we look back at the annals of the Irish we shall find that they have produced many men of genius, such as Swift, Burke, and many others ; and if the Irish were properly educated they might produce more Swifts and Burkes . In many parts of Ireland the education of the people is greatly neglected. Who knows but that some mute, inglorious Milton there may rest, some Cromwell, guiltless of his country's blood ?
42S
THE DEBATING SOCIETY.
Mr . PADEL : It seems to me that if Ireland is to have its own rule it does not only require the genius of a few men, the populace must have a certain confidence in their rulers . It hardly follows that if there are a few clever men in a country that the people are capable of governing themselves . It requires something more than the presence of men of genius. Mr . WILKINSON : The proposer of this motion has said that the Irish people are totally destitute of law and order . I think this is a great exaggeration . It seems to me that under certain circumstances respect for law and order should be waived ; men who have rid their country of tyranny and despotism have transgressed the law in a most flagrant manner, and when the tyrants have been disposed of they have been prominent in their advocation of law and order . England has treated Ireland most shamefully, they have had most unjust laws to bear, and I think that accounts for their lawlessness . No doubt they have gone too far, but they are a high-spirited people, and I think there are great excuses for them . If this is the cause that has made them lawless, we have only to remove it to recall them to order . If they make the laws themselves their respect for the law will be revived. Mr . Cook accuses all the lower classes in Ireland of the most hideous crimes, but, I think, while the Parnell Commission is proceeding, he might reserve his accusations ; it is not the custom to make comments on a case whilst it is in course of being tried . I always thought that the Irish people were singularly gifted, and especially in eloquence . Mr . Cook seems to think otherwise, and he referred, as if he laid great stress on it, to the disorderly state of the Irish Law Courts ; but that is surely not the fault of the Irish people, the auditors in an English court of law would be unruly enough if they were allowed. Mr . LEAF : I must take exception to the remarks made by Mr. Mitchell on the similes used by the proposer of this motion . The similes were not in any way inapt, but they were taken in an invidious sense, which was quite unjustifiable. Mr. CHILMAN : There is one small point I should like to mention with regard to the horrible atrocities committed in Ireland during the past ten years . One great cause, I am sure, is the great ascendancy the Roman Catholic priests have in the country ; if they could be removed we might hope that the Irish people would become more settled and law-abiding than they are now.
THE DEBATING SOCIETY.
429
Mr. PADEL : In considering a question like this, you have to consider what course the Irish would pursue after having obtained Home Rule. If they showed their dislike to England when they got their own way it would be very disadvantageous to us to let them have it. Mr. WILKINSON : Mr . Chilman is very severe upon the Roman Catholic priests . He thinks if they were put out of the way all difficulties would disappear . I scarcely think history will support his view ; and as his only way to get rid of them would be to put them in prison, and if the Irish are what I think and hope they are, there would in that case be a rebellion at once ; he must look the problem in the face as it exists at present. Mr. LEAF : I think it is a fairly well known fact that the characteristics of the Irish and French people are very similar . The recent disturbances in France gives us a pretty clear insight into the capabilities of the French people for Home Rule, and I think it would be pretty fair if the Irish were allowed the same privilege. Mr . Coox, in replying said : Mr. Padel has saved me the trouble of proving why the Irish are not capable of self government . With regard to Mr . Wilkinson's statement as to the eloquence of the Irish, I think that a great supply of eloquent men would be rather a drawback than otherwise where the transaction of business was concerned . Mr. Wilkinson also said that the Irish had very unjust laws to bear ; but they are perfectly just, and are exactly the same as in England, except where boycotting and such like crimes are concerned . Mr . Wilkinson thinks that the reason why the Irish do not obey the laws is because they were very unjustly treated several centuries ago ; this is a very absurd reason to bring forward, for all nations treated each other like that in those times, and every man who possessed power used that power unmercifully . Mr . Wilkinson also said that if the Irish made their own laws they would be more willing to obey other laws . This reminds me of a sea captain who used always to take a book of the commandments out to sea with him, but always took care to erase the commandment " Thou shalt not steal ." My seconder made some remarks about the present state of the Irish people being due to the priests . The priests have lead their congregations to do anything, regardless of the laws of God or man . Care should be taken that no attempt to stop the course of law and order should be made by these priests . I think I have refuted all the arguments against my motion .
43 0
THE DEI3XTING SOCIETY.
The Chairman then put the motion to the vote . The voting was : For the motion, S . Against, 2 . The motion was therefore carried by a majority of 6. The Chairman having asked if the House had any business to to perform : Mr . Cook proposed that " The members of this society be compelled to speak once in three times ." Mr . Mitchell seconded. Mr . Wilkinson asked what was to be done if the members proved refractory . He said that the only punishment they could inflict on them would be to expel them, and as they would still have the right to come in as juniors, the sentence of expulsion would not terrify them very much. Mr . Chilman said that as there was such a very small number of members, it would not be advisable to take such stringent measures. Mr . Leaf begged to remind Mr. Wilkinson that members of this society, if expelled, would not be allowed to attend its Meetings. They would have forfeited that right by what would be called bad conduct. Mr. Padel asked if this was to include the reporter. Mr . Wilkinson sail he thought it would be better to have silent members in the room than to have their numbers so seriously reduced. Mr . E. W . Clarke proposed as an amendment " That the matter be adjourned . " Mr . Garland seconded the amendment, and Mr. Metcalfe sup p orted it. The question of the adjournment was then put to the vote, and carried by a majority of 3. Mr . Leaf asked the members of the society to try and persuade people to take a greater interest in the society. He said the numbers were smaller than he had never known them before, and he did not think it was due to their being fewer members, but to the lack of interest taken in it. Mr. Carter 2 was proposed as a member by Mr. Mitchell, and seconded by Mr . Cook, and unanimously elected . Mr. Hudson was proposed as a member by Mr. Chilman, and seconded by Mr. Cook. Some rather confused objection was raised against the election of Mr . Hudson, so that the Chairman put it to the vote, and Mr . Hudson was elected by 3 votes to 2 . Messrs . Carter 2 and Hudson were elected members of the society.
NOTES AND ITEMS .
43 1
On Saturday, March 16th, Mr. Wilkinson moved ` That the game of Football is carried to injudicious lengths . " Mr. Clarke seconded. The following spoke : In favour—Mr . J . H . G. Wilson, Mr . Naylor, Mr . Chilman, and Mr . Leaf. Against--Mr . G . R . Cook. On March 3oth, Mr . Padel proposed "That the adoption of the decimal system into England would be advantageous . " Mr . Naylor seconded . Mr. Williams and Mr. Cook opposed the motion, and, amongst others, Messrs . Howgate, Raine, Crowther, and Snowden spoke. On April 13th, Mr. Naylor proposed " That the verdicts of insanity returned in cases of murder are far too frequent ." Mr . Padel seconded. There was no opposition, and the attendance was very small.
NOTES AND ITEMS. A . L. BIRD
has passed the London University Matriculation.
H . THOMPSON has obtained an open Exhibition (value Trinity College, Cambridge. G . H . CHILMAN
Zoo) at
has gained an open Scholarship (value £4o) at
Durham University. ROYAL ARTILLERY
Capt . A . J .
MONTGOMERY
to be Major—Gazette.
REV . PIPON BRAI'PHwAITE, Vicar of St . Luke's . Jersey, has been appointed to the living of Andover. CLIFFORD ALLL'GrI',
Esq ., M .I) ., has been appointed a Commissioner
in Lunacy. A . 1' . POLLARD (late Head Master of the High School, Oxford) has been appointed to the Vice-Mastership of Manchester Grammar School. THE REV. CANON FAL'SSETT has given two very interesting lectures to the sixth and fifth forms, on the subject of Ancient Ballad Poetry, the first of them with special reference to Homer.
second son of W. TOMLINSON, F.R.A .S ., of Sandown, and formerly a Master at this school, has been elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society . MR. HERBERT TOMLINSON,
N AND PIEMS. 43OTES 2 WE have to congratulate our schoolfellow, A . Crosthwaite, on the elevation to the Suffragan Bishopric of Beverley of his father, the Venerable Archdeacon Crosthwaite, whose kindly interest in the school we have reason to value so highly.
who temporarily assisted in the work of the 6th Form and C . & M . Department, has been appointed to a Mastership at Heversham ; his place has been taken by Mr . C . M . MILLER, B .A ., Pembroke College, Cambridge, 1st Division, znd Class, Classical Tripos, 1887. MR . P . E . LORD,
THE Old Boys' Match will be played as usual on Commemoration Day (June 29th) . Old Boys who wish to play are requested to send in their names to H . G . Metcalfe as soon as possible.
Editors of the Peterite would be greatly obliged to any Old Peterites who would be kind enough to provide them with any information they may come across with reference to Old Boys for publication in the Magazine, or with a view to ascertaining their whereabouts in connection with Old Peterite Dinners, etc. THE
3bituarv. ON TIIE 4TI-I OF MAY, AT BOURN VICARAGE, NEAR CAMBRIDGE, JOHN
MAJOR STEPHENSON,
AGED JUST TIIREE, YOUNGEST CHILD OF TI-IE REV. H . M . STEPHENSON .