Jon Gary Williams
Articles / Resources
0848
W. G. Tucker vs J. T. Nowell & A. Nunnery (Missionary Baptist)
November 27, 1902
Newhome, Texas
(By Andrew Perry)
Nov. 3-10.
Bro. W.G. Tucker debated at Newhome, a church belonging to Missionary Baptisys. We had no church
there. Bro. Tucker preached in a school house and private homes. Many obeyed the gospel. The Baptist preachers got stirred. J. T. Nowell preached on "Campbellites" as infidels in the garb of Christianity. He became warlike, insulting and abusive in language because of the growing strength of the church of Christ. After enduring his ranting, he was asked to debate bro. Tucker. Each man defended his church (origin, doctrine, etc.) .
The debate began on Monday with Nowell in the affirmative. Bro. Tucker answered all his arguments. By night Nowell was completely vanquished, broke down and surrendered the field. As the Baptist flag trailed in the dust, the moderator, A. Nunnery, arranged to take up the fallen standard, and they continued on Tuesday. It continued for six days.
The first proposition, till near the close of the debate, was carried on smoothly and nearly in a gentlemanly manner, til, bring pressed on one point by bro. Tucker (and feeling the force of the argument bro. Tucker made) - Mr. Nunnery resorted to vulgarity and indecency below the level of a political speaker, using language that cannot be printed.
In beginning his negative bro. Tucker let him know that he would be as rough as he was. From then on it was a rough battle. The usual Baptist arguments were made and all were defeated. Mr. Nunnery made a complete surrender of feelings as an evidence of pardon; his promise to defend the mourner's bench ended in a weak effort. Also weak was his effort to defend the direct operation of the Holy Spirit. The origin of the church and no danger of apostasy seemed to be his main points. These he determined to hold at all cost. Bro. Tucker met him fully on these points, showing very plainly that sin could separate a child of God from the life of God and his eternal presence.
On the affirmative, bro. Tucker showed that all of the five elements of a kingdom were lacking before the death of Christ, that all were in existence after the day of Pentecost following the resurrection of Christ. He showed by prophecy and type and fulfillment that the house of God was to be set up on Mt. Zion, that the word of the Lord was to go forth from Jerusalem. He showed the beginning of the new covenant and the new institution. He showed order of faith, repentance and confession, and the new name. He showed the design of baptism with its scriptural antecedents, and the day of worship and the necessity of attending upon the Lord's table. Indeed, during the three days in which he was in the lead he showed the Bible teaching of the church of Christ very fully and satisfactorily to thinking people.
As Mr. Nunnery had expressed a desire for a debate on another proposition, and had asked for longer time to investigate the propositions under debate here, he was given a chance to debate in another county. A house had been secured and bro. Tucker agreed.
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