Jon Gary Williams
Articles / Resources
0948
Cecil Williams vs A. H. Batts (Church of God)
February 1, 1951
Summerville, Georgia
(By A. C. Grider)
Six night debate, Jan. 1-6 in courthouse in Summerville, Ga.
Subjects were: Water baptism, Holy Spirit baptism, differences in churches. 1100 - 1200 attended first night. Crowds grew until 1600 came last night. Bro. Williams defended the truth in an able manner. He offered some of the clearest arguments I ever heard, and he answered everything Batts offered and turned every illustration Batts made against him.
Good order prevailed throughout the discussion. Smarting under a complete defeat, Batts refused to yield the microphones to let me (as moderator) state a point of order, even though I was serving as chairman and had that right. I approached the microphone to explain the nature of a point of order. But Batts, red in the face and obviously angry, squared himself in front of the microphone, which was on a stand, and placed his hands over the lapel mike he was wearing. When I returned to my seat, Batts exclaimed: "I can take care of anything on this platform." Thus, Batts clearly demonstrated that he world use force to keep from being exposed. It is doubtful that Batts, or nay other denominational preacher, will meet Cecil Williams in debate in Summerville again.
The pastor of he Church of God in Summerville served as moderator for Batts. He deported himself as a gentleman during the debate. He spoke to bro. Williams after the discussion about securing the scriptures from some of the charts Williams used. Bro. Williams promised to give them to him. I pray God he will learn more of the truth. Bro. Williams is doing a wonderful work in Summerville. He is exposing error daily on the local radio station. Letters are coming from miles around telling of people learning the truth. One Baptist preacher was converted.
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