While searching for something else in the Henderson Times newspaper, I ran across this announcement of an upcoming debate in 1899. It was to be held at Harrold, Wilbarger County, Texas, starting May 15, 1899. Baptist vs. Church of Christ (Alexander Campbell Restoration movement). The way the topic was worded seemed a little different than many of these debate propositions were worded.
“The church with which I, _____, stand identified, known by my brethren as the _____, possesses all the Bible characteristics to entitle it to be regarded the visible church or kingdom of Jesus Christ.”
The Baptist debater, William C. Benson (1857-1929), was born in Tennessee, and preached at least in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. At the time Benson was living in Wilbarger County. He was identified with the Landmark Missionary Baptists in Oklahoma in 1921. I have not further identified the Church of Christ debater, J. J. Humphrey. Perhaps he was brought in from elsewhere.
An editor of the Times added a cryptic note to the announcement in The Vernon Call, that according to the adherents in many denominations (“several thousand”) believe their church “is the visible church.” That was likely very true in 1899, but surprisingly not many today seem to think their own church represents the biblical visible church.
Henderson Weekly Times, Thursday, April 27, 1899, p. 2
No comments:
Post a Comment