CANTERBURY CATHOLIC LITERARY SOCIETY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 29, 9 November 1888, Page 11

CANTERBURY CATHOLIC LITERARY SOCIETY.

The usual weekly meeting of the above Society took place on Tuesday evening last, the 23rd October. The Rev. Father briand (the Society's chaplain) informed the members that it would be necessary before proceeding with the business of the evening to elect an acting chairman and treasurer to fill Mr Lonaigan"s place during his temporary absence from Christchurch on a holiday trip to Melbourne. He stated that Mr. Lonargan had not been elected at the annual meeting of the Society in June last, because at that time be contemplated leaving Christchurch ; but at the urgent request of the members had consented to fill the above offices until such time as he was actually leaving the city, and when Mr. Lonargan stated bis intention of resigning in order to go to Melbourne for a holiday. Father Briand informed him that he had not a suflicie it reason for lesigning, and as Mr. Lonargan, like all other members of the Society, had too much regard for the rev. chaplain to oppose his wishes he accordingly withheld his resignation, thcrefoie the Key. Father asked the mi mb -rs to nominate someone to act as chairman .nd treasurer during Mr. Lonargan's temporary absence. Mr. Wrn. O'Shaughnessv was nominated for the position, and there being no other nominations be was declared elected which announcement was receivtd with loud applause. Mr. O'Shaughnessy britfly thanked the members lor, the honour they bad conferred on him, and took his s<_at as chairman.

Ihe programme lor the eve Ling was a deba c as to whether females should occupy nspons.ole positions in the journalists and mercantile professions, a subject which, peihaps. would not have bttn presented had the rev. chaplain or Mr. Ljnaigan been consulted in time.

Mr. Cooper opened the debate by taking the affirmative side of the question. His speech showed a serious and judicious preparation, and he proved himself possessed of a great amount of talent, wit discretion, and other qualities ot a speaker, or rather a pleader ; however, his pleading had light colour ot sophism and paradox, as is easily supposed with the position of hi- ttusis. But he was answered by bis opponent, Mr. Muiphy. Mr. Muiphy did not follow his adveisaiy on his own ground, but prefened arguing about the moral ehnr ctt'r and domestic mission of the wife, on whom chic fly depends th<- charm and the life of thr family circle It was the fi. a' tiin<' Mr. Muiphy took an active part in the bu=me-.s of the Socicy, and his lar guacje was, so correct and eloquent, and his reasons so nr'l presented in a striking light, that no one ci.uld havu th- slightest doubt but that he was a great acquisition to the ranks of the Literary Society. Messr«. Courtenay and Wilson fo, lowed in the aflirtnauve, and Mi Haughpy in the negative. Th°y leU that after all th.it had been said by Misers. Murphy and Conpcr, the debate was not an easy matter tor them. Mr. Bunny was the next speaker, and he found a new way of putting the question an 1 of presenting his arguments, winch were veiy a v >ly given in support ot Mr. Cooper. Mr. Bunny (who is a new membei) proved by his eloquence that he is ar other acquisition toi the Society. Messrs. Cuitain. McCormick, Kearney, and others followed and handled the subjoe r in a mastcily fashion. After Mi. Cooper had replied in a very able mam ci, the vote ut the meeting wastaktn. and it was found that in spite of all the eloquence to the contraiy, the " Noes had it." In conclusion, the Rev. Fa' her Briand remarked that from the arguments brought forward by both sides it appeared that if some ladies succeeded veiy well in cairying out a leiding part in commercial or journalistic pursuits, tbev are exception-, and therefore, that such a bu&mcs-, ib not the proper bimnois lor the Chn&tian woman. He waimly congiatulatud Messrs. Cooper, Murphy, and Bunny, on iheirvriy able s-putcheH, alter which tlw meeting elcs d in the usual manner.