Jon Gary Williams
Articles / Resources
0792
W. L. Totty vs A, C. Grider (Orphan Home Question)
April 25, 1963
Meridian, Mississippi
(By Kenneth W. Franklin)
Six night debate in Meridian, Miss, March 18-23.
Bro. Totty showed that the real issue is whether the church, out of its treasury, can help destitute children. He asked, "If it is wrong to kill a man, why argue over whether it is wrong to kill him with a shotgun, a knife or poison? If it is wrong to help a starving baby, what difference does wit make whether one helps the child on an orphan home, or anywhere else?"
Totty proved by Gal. 6:10 that the church is to help those who are not members of the church. He forcefully pointed out that bro. Grider would not take 25 cents out of the treasury to feed a starving baby, but would take $25 out of the treasury for fertilizer to feed the grass on the lawn. The bro. Totty showed a picture of three small children who survived a flood in which the father and mother perished. Grider actually made a joke of these children and said that his "liberal brethren" rejoiced to see parents die so they could exploit fatherless children. In fact he said he would not be surprised that his opponents even prayed that some parents might die so that we could use their children. This ridiculous point did not go over well with the brethren.
Totty showed Grider's definition of "loyal" and "liberal": A "liberal" is a person who would feed a starving baby out of the treasury, but a "loyal" person is one that would allow a baby to starve to death before he would take money out of the treasury. Totty said that the anti faction is the only group on earth that the devil has been able to get to teach such a Satanic doctrine. Any atheistic group, civil club, or denominational church believes that it si right to take money from its treasury to feed starving babies.
Totty presented Grider with the following proposition: "The Bible teaches that it is a sin for the church to take money from the treasury to buy food for hungry destitute children, and those who do so will go to hell." Grider signed it and agreed to debate it at Garfield Heights in Indianapolis.
Grider admitted many changes and inconsistencies in the past. In fact, in a letter to Totty in 1948, in which he inquired about assisting bro. Totty as associate minister in Indianapolis, he said, I would like to be associated with a man who hates hobbies like you do." Bro. Totty showed that he hates the same hobbies in 1963 that he hated in 1948. Grider admitted that Totty was a loyal preacher in 1948; and when Totty pointed out that he preaches the same thing today as he did in 1948, he showed beyond a shadow of doubt that Grider was the man who had left the loyal church.
Grider called his opponents "liars, fools, bums and embezzlers." Totty explained to the people of Meridian that Grider did not represent the true church of the Lord, but simply a faction which had broken off from the church about 15 years ago.
Totty refused to stoop to slander and vilification as Grider did. Totty was complimented by the local preacher for acting the gentleman and answering all arguments of Grider. I personally, have heard bro. Totty in many debates, but this was his best effort in refuting this heresy.
VIEW NEXT REPORT >>