p. 17 | DISCUSSION IN IOWA by J. H. Morrison

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 6, 1879

DISCUSSION IN IOWA.

By J. H. Morrison

By request of Eld. L. McCoy, the president of our Conference, I came to Olin to hold a discussion with Eld. Bowman. Bro. Pegg held meetings here last fall, and did a good work, which seemed to call from a distance the heaviest artillery that could be secured. Eld. Bowman, of the M. E. church of Cedar Falls, Iowa, was selected, as he was considered, both by the people and his brethren, as the champion of that system of theology which he represents, and had claimed the victory in many bloodless battles. He came at the close of the tent-meeting, and preached a few discourses against our views on the Sabbath, the kingdom, the nature of man, etc., and then challenged for a discussion.

We agreed to discuss the four following subjects, viz., the Sabbath, the kingdom, the nature of man, and the end of the wicked. Two days and two sessions a day were allotted to each proposition. He affirmed two of the propositions, one of which was the Sabbath upon Scripture authority. He had frequently met the First-day Adventists, but had never met one of our ministers; hence the Sabbath was a new subject to him, and he unconsciously fell into all the absurdities consequent upon their theory. Having failed to establish the Sunday from Scripture, he resorted to history. I called him to order, showing that the proposition contemplated the Scriptures as our ultimate appeal. The Elder was very much confused, and almost, if not quite, lost his equilibrium; but in a few moments he recovered, and closed with an exhortation. He tried to give the impression that I was not willing to meet the historical facts on the subject; but I told him that if he would extend the time and have an extra session, I would allow him to bring in his proof from history. He was not so willing then, and I pressed the matter, and the audience decided in favor of an extra session.

I think the discussion made a good impression upon many. Six or seven have since taken their stand upon the truth, and many more are interested. J. H. MORRISON.