Jon Gary Williams
Articles / Resources

0053

Joe Blue vs Ben Bogard (Baptist)
November 10, 1926
Charlotte, Arkansas

(By Dan J. Ottinger)

The debate that began at Convenience, near Charlotte, Arkansas October 25 came abruptly to an end on October 27. Bro. Blue defended the truth, while Ben Bogard defended Baptist doctrine. Bro. Blue was very hoarse when he started the discussion and grew weaker as time went on. In his opening speech on the third day he made a heroic effort to answer Mr. Bogard, but his voice was not audible more than fifteen feet away.

The question was the church proposition. The first two days were taken up with Bro. Blue affirming and Ben M. Bogard denying. This part of the debate, of course, gave the Baptists the last speech, and then they had the  speech when they went to affirm. This gave them the last two speeches, and then Bogard preached in the afternoon. They then had a chance to get more false doctrine before the people. Bro. Blue wants it clearly understood by the brotherhood that he is not running from any Baptist, but had to quit on account of a physical handicap.

We made an effort to get Bro. N. B. Hardeman to finish the discussion, but he said that he just couldn't leave the school. The debate will be finished next spring, if all parties concerned can agree.

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