DEBATE IN RICHMOND IOWA.
By B. F. Snook
WHEN at Richmond last October (21st), I preached a discourse on the little horn of Daniel vii, 25, for the benefit of Campbellites. While I was speaking Elder Bonham, their preacher, interrupted me by asking a question. When I had finished preaching I told him that if he was willing to try the strength of his system, we would debate the issues between us, each affirming the teachings of the church with which we respectively stood connected. But the Elder soon bolted from this agreement by refusing to affirm the teachings of his church on the subject of the kingdom. We entered into correspondence, and I did my best to bring him to terms on the kingdom question; but all in vain. He would not affirm that the kingdom of God was set up on the day of Pentecost. He proposed to meet me on my "Review of Springer." I accepted of this, and told him to set the time, and say that he would affirm on the kingdom issue. And what do you think he did? He broke off the correspondence, and then reported that I had backed out! Soon after, he made an appointment in Richmond to review my "Review of Springer." I heard of this and met him there March 22nd. He had lectured the evening before, read the correspondence, and reported that I would not meet him, that I had backed out, &c. I heard him on the evening of the 22nd, and announced a review the following evening. After I had exposed his false assertions, and slanderous charges in reference to my book, I urged him to meet me in debate. This he seemed willing to do, but would not accept of any kind of a fair proposition. So he determined to go on in review of my book. However, the people desiring a fair debate, a lawyer, Mr. James Baty, suggested the following proposition which I agreed to affirm, and Bonham's brethren agreed he should deny. Proposition: "The Bible teaches that the seventh day Sabbath should be kept by all men in all time." We met on Sunday at the appointed time, and the arrangement was made known to the Elder. He however persisted in his course, and seemed determined to go on with my book, the agreement of his friends to the contrary notwithstanding. He arose and made a speech of a half hour's length on my book, hoping thus to draw me off from the proposition agreed upon for debate. But I was not to be led off in this way. I arose and informed the people that I was ready to comply with their wishes and would proceed with my argument on the proposition that had been suggested, and that Elder Bonham might spend his time in reply, or in any other way that pleased him. Thus began the debate which continued two days, occupying six hours each day. As the readers of the Review may be interested in seeing it, I will give a brief synopsis of the positions, pro and con. 1. I showed that the Sabbath was instituted on facts which yet exist. 1st. God rested or sabbatized on the seventh day. 2nd. He blessed and sanctified the day on which he sabbatized. I then drew the conclusion that as the facts and reason on which the Sabbath is based still exist, the institution thus based upon them must also exist. This argument was admitted. 2. We showed that the Sabbath is God's memorial, and as such endureth forever. 3. We showed that the Sabbath existed in our Saviour's time, was kept by him, was his day of worship, and hence if we would be his followers we must also keep it. 5. I showed from Luke xxiii, 56 that the disciples of Christ kept the Sabbath this side of the death of Christ which shows that he did not abolish it. 7. I then showed that the Sabbath was a perpetual institution, by proving the perpetuity of the law of ten commandments. To prove this, I first brought forward the example of Christ. John xv, 10; 1 Pet ii, 21, 22; 1 John ii, 6. 2nd. The teaching of Christ. Matt. v, 17, 20; xix, 16, 22; xxii, 34, 40; Rev. xxii, 14. 3rd. The teachings of the apostles. (1.) Paul, Rom. iii, 31. Do we make void Kataryéw, (abolish) the law? God forbid. This argument is invulnerable. Elder B. never mentioned a reply to it. (2.) Rom. vi, 1–6, 14–23; Rom. vii, 4, 7, 12, 21, 25; 1 Cor. vii, 18, 19; Eph vi, 1–3; Heb. viii; Acts vii, 37, 43; James ii, 8–11; Rev. xi, 19. ELDER BONHAM'S ADMISSIONS.
1. That the Sabbath was instituted in Paradise before man fell. 2. That God made it by resting or sabbatizing. 3. That the Sabbath was God's sign or seal under the Old Testament. 4. That the Sabbath was a sign between God and the Israelites FOREVER. 5. That Christ and the four evangelists teach the Sabbath. 6. That the Sabbath existed in the time of the apostles. QUESTIONS UNANSWERED BY ELDER BONHAM.
1. When did God unsanctify the Sabbath? To this question he paid no attention, though I often urged him to do so. 2. He said that the only authority for keeping the Sabbath was in the commandment. I showed that we should keep the Sabbath, "for (or because) God rested on the seventh day and sanctified it. I asked him to notice this no less than six times, but all in vain. He passed it by in silence. 3. He admitted that all the reasons that ever existed for keeping the Sabbath existed in our Saviour's time. I then called upon him to show that those reasons were abolished or destroyed, but he did not make the effort. DILEMMAS OF ELDER BONHAM.
1. Elder Snook misrepresented A. Campbell. The moderators, however, decided that Elder Snook had represented A. Campbell fairly in the light of his teachings. 2. I quoted Mark ii, 27; Job xiv, and Isa. lvi, to prove that the word man without an adjective means all men, and hence the Gentiles should keep the Sabbath. To this Elder B. replied: I admit that the passages quoted refer to Gentile men as well as Jew men. 3. In his next speech he not only denied this admission, but denied that I quoted Isa. lvi. I appealed to the moderators and people and they here also testified against the Elder. 4. In his next speech he again admitted that the Gentiles under certain circumstances should keep the Sabbath. 5. The second day, when I was engaged proving the perpetuity of the law, he urged upon me the necessity of proving that the word law or laws when used in the last will includes the170fourth commandment. I told him I would, provided that he would inform us what he understood the last will to be. Ah! says he, you must find that out! In his second speech in the morning session, he talked for a short time, and asked how much time he had. Says, "I don't care how much (very gruffly). This debate will go no farther till Elder Snook proves that the word law in the last will includes the Sabbath. I arose and said, "I proposed to do this if he would only tell us what he means by the last will," but he very gravely informed us that we must find that out. Here the Elder went under clear out of sight. Well, says he, if I can't answer him with talk, I will by silence. I will put in my time anyhow. And there he stood, mute, while his time passed away. The moderators then announced that Mr. Snook had proved that the law was binding up to a time that Mr. Bonham admitted, and that now Mr. B. must show that it was abolished. Here was trouble in the Elder's camp again. He had admitted too much for this; for he admitted that Christ did not abolish the law by his death, that it was binding up to the day of Pentecost. However, he made an effort to accomplish the end. 2 Cor. iii, was resorted to, but with the usual failure. Thus ended the debate. We generally had a good and peaceable time. The Elder said some hard things of me, but I overlooked them, knowing that he was sorely pressed. I felt the hand of God upon me all the time. I felt as happy when speaking as if engaged in a revival of pure religion. Never did I see and realize more clearly the power and force of our blessed truths. The strongest opposers must quail beneath them. Many of the people of Richmond who were our enemies are now our friends. As far as I could learn (and I heard many express themselves) victory was on the Lord's side, and the general opinion was that Bonham lost the question. The next morning one of our brethren went into one of the stores and asked the crowd for the news. They responded, The only news of importance is Bonham's surrender. Every one treated me with respect. I think much good may be done at Richmond now. I would have complied with the universal request of the people by giving a course of lectures, but was prevented by the sore throat. May the Lord bless us in all our trials, lead us by his Spirit, and save us in his kingdom.