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The debate was held in Louisville, Ky. beginning on night of Sept. 14 with 3 afternoon sessions, continuing until Friday night, Sept. 18. Eight hours were devoted to each proposition. It was well attended and a number of preaching brethren from a distance were present.
Bro. Briney affirmed: The use of such organizations as the State Christian Missionary Society is authorized in the N.T. scriptures and acceptable to God. Bro. Otey affirmed: The use of instrumental music in connection with the songs sung by the church on the Lord's day, when assembled for edification and communion, is opposed to N.T. teaching and is, therefore, sinful.
One might be surprised that bro. Briney would at all be induced to debate these issues - viz . the instrumental music and Missionary Society questions - on which our "progressive friends are as shy and bashful as once the sectarians were on sprinkling, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the like. Perhaps he would not is he could not have got Otey to affirm a negative. But Otey affirmed the negative; and after Otey had made his first speech, Briney promptly called attention of the audience that the wording of the proposition did not oblige him to prove anything. It seemed to be with him more a question of technical propriety on the proposition than a matter of eliciting truth. From the outset he left that impression.
Briney endeavored to discredit Otey's speeches in the main. He tried to represent Otey as a fool. Now bro. Otey's manner and speech were with little exception courteous and gentle; but Briney affected to find glowing inserts to himself here and there, which he rather magnified and harped on, while he himself hardly made a speech without some humiliating personal reflection on Otey.
I doubt very much that Briney strengthened his cause even with his sympathizers, for his method was not very convincing. Bro. Otey was very plain and simple and not given to retaliation. Briney was sharp and cutting , witty, sarcastic, and appealed to feelings and prejudices. But the fact that Otey, with little wit or flowing oratory, held up his side with such efficiency as he did, must be an argument in itself of Otey's position.
The report of the debate which is to appear in book form will minimize the difference between the two men. Briney's witty sayings will appear less amusing; his unkind remarks, uglier; his arguments , where they are specious, will be more manifestly sophistical. Otey's arguments will, on the other hand, gain by being printed, and the simplicity and straightforwardness of it will speak strongly for the truth of Otey's cause.
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W. W. Otey vs J. B. Briney (Christian Church)
October 8, 1908
Louisville, Kentucky
(By R. H. Hall)
October 8, 1908
Louisville, Kentucky
(By R. H. Hall)
The debate was held in Louisville, Ky. beginning on night of Sept. 14 with 3 afternoon sessions, continuing until Friday night, Sept. 18. Eight hours were devoted to each proposition. It was well attended and a number of preaching brethren from a distance were present.
Bro. Briney affirmed: The use of such organizations as the State Christian Missionary Society is authorized in the N.T. scriptures and acceptable to God. Bro. Otey affirmed: The use of instrumental music in connection with the songs sung by the church on the Lord's day, when assembled for edification and communion, is opposed to N.T. teaching and is, therefore, sinful.
One might be surprised that bro. Briney would at all be induced to debate these issues - viz . the instrumental music and Missionary Society questions - on which our "progressive friends are as shy and bashful as once the sectarians were on sprinkling, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the like. Perhaps he would not is he could not have got Otey to affirm a negative. But Otey affirmed the negative; and after Otey had made his first speech, Briney promptly called attention of the audience that the wording of the proposition did not oblige him to prove anything. It seemed to be with him more a question of technical propriety on the proposition than a matter of eliciting truth. From the outset he left that impression.
Briney endeavored to discredit Otey's speeches in the main. He tried to represent Otey as a fool. Now bro. Otey's manner and speech were with little exception courteous and gentle; but Briney affected to find glowing inserts to himself here and there, which he rather magnified and harped on, while he himself hardly made a speech without some humiliating personal reflection on Otey.
I doubt very much that Briney strengthened his cause even with his sympathizers, for his method was not very convincing. Bro. Otey was very plain and simple and not given to retaliation. Briney was sharp and cutting , witty, sarcastic, and appealed to feelings and prejudices. But the fact that Otey, with little wit or flowing oratory, held up his side with such efficiency as he did, must be an argument in itself of Otey's position.
The report of the debate which is to appear in book form will minimize the difference between the two men. Briney's witty sayings will appear less amusing; his unkind remarks, uglier; his arguments , where they are specious, will be more manifestly sophistical. Otey's arguments will, on the other hand, gain by being printed, and the simplicity and straightforwardness of it will speak strongly for the truth of Otey's cause.
VIEW NEXT REPORT >>
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