RATIONALIST DEBATES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20562, 13 May 1930, Page 12

RATIONALIST DEBATES.

Sir,-I was an interested listener of the Langley-Mnrsh debate on Sunday afternoon. 1 1 is not my intention to discuss the merits of the speakers' arguments, but 1 would !i klo ask a question as to procedure. .Mr. Langley opened but had not piocceded I'm when the chairman (Mr. Cm ten) pulled him up on the question of the relevancy of his matter. Is it competent for a chairman to inter'rupt a debater, provided he keeps within the bounds ol controversial dcccncv? Jf a debater avoids the issue, he is playing into the hands ol his opponent, and would it not be better in such case to leave it to the opponent lo make capital out of? Whatever the merits of his case Mr. Langley at least made it. clear that his opening remarks were relevant to it. Your report would make it appear that all the interjections and ironic laughter came from Mr. Langlcy's supporters. That was decidedly not the case. These interruptions were of a frequent, nature throughout all the speeches, without distinction, and may in part be attributed to an insufficiency of firmness on the part of the chairman. A.E.G.

Sir, —As an interested follower of the recent lectures and debates between Mr, Langley, tlie. Rationalist lecturer, and others, I think your readers should bo made acquainted with facts which weru not reported m the Herald. On last Sunday arternoon it he subject matter of the debate was not religion in general but on the question rs to whether Jesus Christ ever lived. This is an historical point which has engaged the attention of expert research workers and which will in the next generation be a. matter of common knowledge. This particular historical point is not to be confused with the general aspects of religion, because these manifestations will probably go on whether .Testis Christ is proved to have existed or not. It is only fair to say that Mr. Langley's assertions arc fully documented, lie claims to bo a mouthpiece for conclusions in modern anthropology. His method of presentation is extraordinarily logical and scientific. In fact, those speakers, reverend and otherwise, who debated witk him and who raised questions after his 'lectures cut a- very poor figure indeed. ' Moderator