Florida Agricultural College - Pinakidia Yearbook (Lake City, FL)

Page 68 text:

imparted to this feature of the college work. it would die. Accordingly, Professor Seals assumed personal control and organized two societies, the Hrst of which consisted of Freshmen and Sophomores, the second of Juniors and Seniors. Duties were performed under the same penalties as before. By the Fall of 'gr death stared this effort in the face, and it was succeeded by a voluntary organization comprising those advanced students who wished to attain prohciency as speakers Before the close of '92 this had gone the way of the others. In the face of all these failures another plan was resorted to. Wlio could have witnessed one of those debates on Hannibal and Alexander and entertained the idea that we were lacking in debating talent? Or those debates in English on the sanity of Hamlet and nut have recognized extraordinary genius? No, it was not by any means time to stop yet. W'e had some budding geniuses that were irrepressible, invincible and unquenchable. Accordingly, they sallied forth one cool, crisp Saturday morning in October, '92, to the Prep. to organize two literary societies in accordance with their own ideas. After considerable deliberation as to the proper division of the crowd it was decided that Oliver and Ayer should 4' choose up. Ayer's penny fell squarely on the crack. So he took Seah and Oliver called for George XVashington. The choosing process continued until all available material was absorbed This accomplished, the two bodies retired separately and formulated their constitution and by-laws. The names Bema and Forum were suggested by Professor Stewart. One of the first important questions that arose for mutual consideration was: whether or not a man having become a member of one society could withdraw at pleasure and transfer his membership to the other. The dis- posal of this point called Har a joint meeting. Bema was opposed to the motion. Forum was ardently in favor of it. The discussion waxed hotter and hotter. At one time as many as half a dozen speakers addressed the chair simultaneously. In the excitement Seab yelled: Mr. President, I've beat this crowd up three times, and each time you recognized somebody else, and now I'm not going to sit down till you promise me that the next time I beat 'em up you'll give me the floor. Seab's threat was effective. The whole morning was consumed by speeches, and the meeting finally adjourned without the question being brought to a vote. The first public debate was held in january, 1393. The question was: Resolved, That the battle-field has caused more sorrow than the bar-room. The Forum had the affirmative, the Bema the negative. The oratory of the alhrniative was overwhelming. They recited The Chariot Race, L' The Charge of the Light Brigade, XVebster's Reply to Hayne, Cicero's Orations against Catalinef' and The Death of Absalom. The audi- ence was carried away. The ladies waved their handkerchiefs, the gentlemen their hats. The negative was equally as fervid, They reeled off sections of the Prohibitionists' platform, portraying all the horrors of the 57

Page 67 text:

.5 ell.. Perhaps some of the most interesting recollections of the early history of the F. S. C. are connected with the literary societies that existed prior to the organization of the Bema and Forum. These primitive bodies were conducted by the college authorities the same as regular college classes. Any failure of a student to respond when placed upon the programme incurred the usual punishment consisting of extra duty or conlinements. This artificial stimulation did not produce the best results, and only those who were specially desirous of learning the art of public speaking made any progress. It became obvious in '90 that, unless some additional impetus was 56

Page 69 text:

drunkard's death. They quoted copiously from strong statistics, and Layne, j. E., applied the doctrine of limits to clinch the argument. But all availed nothing. The judges had fixed their minds and decided that the bar- rooms must not be slandered. And the nrst debate ended in defeat for the Bema. But this did not break her spirit. It was announced Hom the platform there would be a business meeting of the Bema Society the next morning at 9 o'clock. After the transaction of sundry matters of no importance, the President suddenly called for denunciation of the judges. The whole society rose wz massf. Every man did his duty. One man even spoke twice. After this the society felt better, but the effect was not salutary on future judges. The second debate occurred in March, ,93, and the question was: Resolved, That the Government should not own the railroads and telegraph lines. The Bema, represented by Coogeer and Graham, had the affirmative. The Forum, represented by Lake and George Washiiigtoii, had the negative. The arguments of the negative were good. In fact, a few Bemas felt apprehensive of the result, until Coogeer called attention that the arguments were populistic. This moved the audience, who could not repress their sympathy, and when Strick pulled his two dollars and asked the audience to think of ten billions of those dollars being spent to buy the railroads, and of the awful responsibilities of fastening such a giant debt on the generations yet unborn, the judges wept. The battle was won. - It was on this occasion that the ladies of Lake City showed their appreciation of the efforts of the Benia by presenting a beautiful white and gold banner, upon which was emblazoned in gold letters the motto and emblem of the society. The eight succeeding contests during the period up to the Spring of l96 were Bema victories. Since that time, with one exception, sl1e has suffered defeat. We cannot speak of her future. That remains to be worked out by the genius and industry of her present organization. If the past may be considered an index we need not feel apprehensive. 58