A Debate on Immortality
By Wm. S. Ingram
Letter from Bro. Ingraham. DEAR BRO. SMITH: You see from the date of this letter that I am in New York. I am on my way to Pennsylvania, with the intention of closing up my affairs in that place, and shall return West as soon as this is accomplished. The prospect for doing good in the West, so far as I have knowledge, is encouraging. In my last note to you I stated that I was laboring in Dodgeville, Iowa Co. I had not been long in the place before Eld. Nolon from Mineral Point came into the place ready for a discussion on the immortality question. I could not well avoid having a controversy with him on this point, consequently arrangements were made, and our discussion commenced on Fifth-day evening. On the Sabbath I met with our brethren, and had a precious season by ourselves in worshiping the God of the Sabbath. The first evening of the debate, Eld. N. stated to the congregation that he would waive all his conscientious scruples respecting his Sabbath, and continue the debate on First-day. Our discussion commenced on Fifth-day eve, as stated above, and continued three evenings. Eld. N. having the last speech the eve after the Sabbath, and having exhausted all the evidence on his side, and failing to meet my arguments, closed the debate unexpectedly to me and all the people, unless it was a contrived plan between Eld. N. and some few of his brethren. The people saw the injustice of such a course, and the meeting was thrown into perfect confusion. I appealed to the congregation, and claimed that Eld. N. had broken not only the rules of discussion, but his agreement. Had he intended to close the debate that evening, his speech should have been confined to a review of my arguments, and no new evidence introduced without giving me a chance to reply. I told the people if I could get a house to speak in, I would review every argument brought forward by Eld. N. The Presbyterian meeting-house was opened for me. I continued the investigation on First-day, and closed in the evening. We had a good hearing during the day, and in the evening the house was filled, and many stood in the entry. I had the privilege of preaching only once on the subject of the Sabbath. The result was, two decided to obey God and violate his Sabbath no more. One of these was an English lady. She was calculating to start for England in about three weeks. When she arrives in her own native land she says she shall send for the Review. There is quite an interest in Dodgeville. The people desire to know more about our faith. Twenty-eight send their names for the Review three months. WM. S. INGRAHAM. Rushford, N.Y., Oct. 18th, 1858.