Show IN RELATION TO DEBATING SOCIETIES WE understand that in some portions of the territory debating societies are being organized and operated efforts in that direction in every form are a healthy indication they show a progressive gres sive spirit and a desire to advance by improving aud and polishing the mind in all exercises of that nature how I 1 everidis ever eve it is necessary to avoid every taing that will conduce to a pernicious tendency that the good effects may not be counterbalanced by evil results A profound interest in the welfare advancement and culture of the young leads us to express some views in relation to debating societies among the latter day saints those opinions are based upon observation experience and whatever of light has dawned upon us otherwise in relation to mental philosophy as associated with the gospel of christ ordinarily in a debate questions on various subjects are selected for the exercises A negative and affirmative of the propositions are formed desput ants are awarded to each side these conditions form the basis of a contest between the speakers pitted against each other the chief objection which we deem quite serious to exercises of this character is that as an almost anvari ble rule one side of a proposition is necessarily false this fact involves the necessity of those who take that side of the argument reasoning from t erroneous premises in order tain it the disputants are compelled not only to champion a falsehood but they mustin ustin na the very nature of things j resort to sophi sophistry sti y to bolster it we lay it down as an incontrovertible proposition that this species of exercise cannot be engaged in without detriment anything that is not consonant sonant with truth must be injurious because it cannot be otherwise every habit that is not truthful in its very essence his has an immoral tendency everything contrary to that which is true is immoral although not necessarily grossly so immorality extends much further than the mere pro vince of common vice the ultimatum ot 0 e every ery true latter day saint is to comport with the true and beautiful hulln in every though and aspiration this may be deemed an ideal condition but it is nevertheless lect the deleterious progressive effect upon the mind of sophistical reasoning may be so gradual as to be imperceptible but I 1 it is 0 t the less dangerous because so insinuating sil 1 ting in its process it may for a time be covered up by the attainment through cultivation of a species of mental sharpness or brilliance but when this shining intellectual quality Is not supported by commensurate t moral scrupulousness it is but the sheen from a shallow substance to add to the soundness of this tiou it needs only to be pointed out that it is the rule to award the palm to the more expert debaters rather than to the side where the truth exists especially when thu h batters lat designated advocates have tailed to exhibit it from want of information and the necessary ability thus taus the deceptive incubus of sophistry is thrown over those belonging to the society and auditors generally who have been non participants in the contests and who may be unable to discover the truth through the fog of false reasoning in which it has been enveloped ve loped we feel certain that exercises common ito debating societies among our young folks will not have the sanction of the spirit of truth that influence will not lie be attracted to that which is in opposition lon to its own genius it will however give assistance to the saints in all kneir legitimate efforts to gain knowledge and polish their gifts so as to qualify them to represent intelligently the word of god which is truth we hold also that the desire for knowledge can be gratified and the ability to convey to others others either ean in conversation or from the rost rostrum rura the truths and the thoughts with which the mind is stored can be acquired without resorting to debate in til the p ordinary sense of the term the method ethod referred to is given inthe in the preceptor the theory therein explained was especially formulated for the purpose of enabling young men to become familiar with the first arst principles of the gospel and acquire the ability to enunciate them publicly where the system has been adopted andl thoroughly carried out I 1 the progress of the students has been remarkable it consist setting up propositions opposed to that which is true thus givus div ng an objective point to the speaker and demolishing ashing them by evidence and sound reason it is not necessary in seeking for material for the student to confine lambea to ills his own side of the question but he may ascertain all the opposing arguments menashe he can discover thus enabling him to widening the scope ot of his search for truth IV order the more effectually to overturn error this formula 0 or r principle can be applied to any subject and while it gives nearly if not quite all the benefits to be derived from ordinary debate it avoids all the evil and results involved in the latter while we cannot but commend the dis disposition position t that at t ake young men are exhibiting hi to toward ard p progress gress and development ent we e d deem em it of the highest importance ortance that those aspirations should be e directed in channels that comport with the genius of the gospel that divine system is the affirmative side aide of the proposition that this creation and its inhabitants must eventually fall into use mae with truth and justice the negative side of the question is taken up and argued by the powers of darkness and evil that is the gigantic debate in relation to this creation happy ische who comprehends it and regulates his life in accord with the affirmation on the side of which god and the angels are arrayed it is as sure to be ultimately triumphant as it is that the sun gives forth his warmth and lustre and animates and enlivens all nature |