Jon Gary Williams
Articles / Resources
0102
Bradley vs. Thomas W Dye (Methodist)
December 5, 1912
(By Lee Jackson)
Thomas W. Dye is one of the oldest Methodist preachers in the North Mississippi Conference and is a debater of long experience and a ministry of more than 30 years. His people have long claimed for him a ripeness of scholarship that would entitle him to recognition at the hands of the ablest men among all religious parties. Knowing him, I have seen him fail to live up to this standard many times.
Cliff E. Harris, former District Attorney for the Circuit Court District moderated for Dye. Charles H. Broome, leading Civil Law Attorney of Charleston served ably as chairman. In first speech Dye failed to define a single term in his affirmation. While his manner was that of a man impressed with a feeling of his own superiority in learning, yet there was not an argument that he offered which did not betray a weakness on the surface. He interspersed his English with Latin and Greek words and sentences, quoting from various authors with little effect to sustain his proposition. One of his assertions was that "Baptizo" in the sense of immersion, was first used by Lord Bacon after the King James translation had been published; this in the face of the contrary statements by the very authors from which he was quoting.
On infant baptism Dye failed to use the usual line of argument and this failed to give Bradley a chance to expose them. But Bradley showed clearly that no scriptures taught infant baptism.
Bro. Bradley natural disposition makes him a strong debater. He is self-possessed even under fire by the opposition. He never uses sarcasm or shows ugly spirit. He devoted his time to answering arguments.
Preachers present were J. W. Shepherd (moderator), F. L. Young, Denton, Texas; Bro. N. Conger, and Lee Jackson.
(Reported by Lee Jackson in Mississippi)
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