Theological Society

JUNIOR

This Society was restarted at the beginning of the Easter Term, Mr. Butler kindly consenting to take charge. Since then it has flourished, with over 70 members; a large proportion of these attended most meetings.

In the Easter Term we had one meeting with a guest speaker and one film meeting. Mr. B. Creasey gave a short talk on the history and techniques of Winemaking. He proceeded, with the help of his assistant, to show us how to make grapefruit wine and finally members sampled some of his produce. HIC! At the film meeting a film entitled "Airport", on the workings of London Airport, was shown.

The only meeting of the Summer Term was a film meeting. Two films were shown which dealt with man's efforts to feed the growing population and the consequences of this action.

I would like to thank Mr. D. J. Butler for arranging the meetings, and the House Representatives for publicising them.

D.J.F.

Despite lamentably low membership, the Society has been able to hold four meetings during the year. Perhaps it is the word "theological" which is off-putting, conjuring up a concept of profound religious discussion—whereas the Society's field is much broader than this.

The first meeting was the customary one at which two members of Staff are asked the question "What do you believe in, and why?". Mr. Butler had had no Christian background, but became a committed Christian after attending what he described as a "Bible-thumping session". Mr. Hughes, in contrast, had come from a church-going family and had, without pressure from his parents, come to believe in God. Lively discussion followed the two talks.

Canon Burbridge (the Precentor of York Minster) was the speaker at the next meeting: he spoke about the place of cathedrals in modern life. He lamented the fact that, although the Minster was part of Britain's heritage, it received no state aid towards its upkeep. Asked about the finances of the Minster, Canon Burbridge pointed out that many visitors did not contribute, and he admitted that an entrance fee in the future could not be completely ruled out.

Mr. John Brown gave a very interesting illustrated talk on icons to a shamefully small audience. We saw slides of mosaics, icons and Russian Church architecture, all depicting many scenes from the Bible, the Transfiguration and the Crucifixion included.

Our last speaker was Miss Gadd, talking about miracles. She could not say whether the miracles of the Bible (such as the crossing of the Red Sea, and Christ's miracles in the New Testament) were true or not; and she knew little of psychosomatic cures—but she did believe in some of today's miracles. Miss Gadd talked at length of Padre Pio, who had effected a cure on someone born with one leg three inches shorter than the other, and another girl who had had no eyelids. Miracles, the 32