Debate on Spiritualism.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 235, 1 September 1884, Page 2

Debate on Spiritualism.

Last evening a debate took place at "Wood**ille between Professor Hugo and Mr Dinsdale, late of this place, on the subject "Spiritualism, is it true?" w hen the Professor took a negative stand based upon an aynostic point of view, whilst our late townsman took the affirmative. The debate lasted two hours exactly, Mr Dins* dale leading for half an hour, the Professor then following for the same period, after which each side took two turns of 15 minutes. Mr Dinsdale opened by relating experiences both of his own, and those of persons whom he considered undoubtable authorities. He shewed his reasons for believing the possibility of intercourse being between departed spirits and living people, telling his tale m an earnest, simple manner, aud with the assurance o'Va fc leisfc, a man who had see \ certain phenomena and one fully believing m their genuineness. The Professor^ m his opening address, touched upon some of the points mentioned by his antagonist, but would not admit his personal experiences as evidence. Perhaps the style of his speech may be best described by saying that he ridiculed the statements ; and m that mauner endeavoured to shew their fallacy. This wan at least the impression that/ many came away with. Mr Dihsdale, however, when re-opening, confined himself almost entirely to continuing his story, m a quiet way, of the things 'he had seen, when the. expiration, of the 15 minutes brought him to an abruptjeonclusion. The professor again dealt with the matter, referring lo the weak points m his opponent's views and still m the satirical style, whilst Mr Dinsdale, m his kst turn, took up his address at the point where it had been left off, and told his story to the end, once or twice only breaking the train of it to reply to his antagonist. There is no doubting Professor Hugo's ability, and those who have the opportunity should hear him, but it was also evident that Mr Dinsdnle had the advantage of practical exporience on the subject on his side, which the Professor appai-ently had not and when those experiences were not admitted, a certain amount of his strength was gone. It was probably not altogether ignored by his audience, howcver,many of whom, the Professor to the contrary, were "weak-minded. and "credMe" enough to think that what they heard was not unqualified falsehood or invention on, the pan. of Mr Dinsdale. Probably the debate, although not well attended, will do some good, aud that it will set people unthinking, and perhaps encourage them, to experiment and prove the truth, of the theory for themselves,