Jon Gary Williams
Articles / Resources
0193
J. W. Chism vs Chadburn (Mormon)
February 11, 1909
River View Schoolhouse in Oklahoma
(By J. W. Chism)
At River View Schoolhouse in Oklahoma on January 23, I engaged one Chadburn of the Reorganized Latter-Day Saint persuasion. He had been preaching in the neighborhood and challenged the world. Bro. C. P. Stone took him in charge and wrote to me. We arranged time and place. But when we met, the gentleman did not want to debate with me. I told him I'd preach anyway. So we "hitched up" for eight sessions. The debate was well attended from the first.
During the debate, I made a thorough exposition of Mormonism in all its phases. I showed it was unscriptural: they assume the very point that they should prove. I then showed that Joseph Smith was actuated by the spirit of the devil and the lusts of the flesh, and the Book of Mormon was a trumped-up fraud; and that it violated the very principle of the Christian religion; that while it taught that Christ had ordained twelve apostles in America, that it was contrary to the Commission as given in Luke; Matthew 16:19; 18:18; and many other statements of truth.
I succeeded at least in satisfying the brotherhood and dissatisfying the Latter-Day Saints. In my affirmative I showed the truth on miracles and apostles so completely that Chadburn saw fit to drop my speech and try to beg for sympathy and rick up a fog about the Campbells, but I shut him off from that. I left all well pleased and I am sure that much good will come of the debate.
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