Debate on Baptism

DEBATE ON BAPTISM: EMBRACING MODE AND SUBJECTS. BETWEEN ELDER J. A. HARDING, (DISCIPLE), OF KENTUCKY, AND REV. T. L. WILKINSON, (METHODIST), OF BRANTFORD, ONT. HELD IN MEAFORD, ONT., COMMENCING DECEMBER 15TH, 1884, AND CONTINUING FOR SIX CONSECUTIVE DAYS. STENOGRAPHICALLY REPORTED BY G. B. BRADLEY, ESQ., OF TORONTO, OFFICIAL REPORTER FOR THE HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA, AND REVISED BY THE RESPECTIVE DISPUTANTS. TORONTO: WILLIAM BRIGGS, 78 & 80 KING STREET EAST. MONTREAL: C. W. COATES. HALIFAX: S. F. HUESTIS. 1886. Entered, according to the Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty-six, by WILLIAM BRIGGS, in the Office of the Minister of Agriculture at Ottawa. Fairfax Church building in Winchester, Kentucky. Constructed in 1891 ENDORSEMENTS. MR. HARDING'S ENDORSATION. The Publishers of the Harding-Wilkinson Debate, Messrs. James Anderson, John Anderson and Robert Abercrombie, have seemed desirous of giving to the public a fair, impartial report of it, and I am well pleased with the result of their efforts. (Signed), J. A. HARDING. WINCHESTER, Ky., Jan. 25, 1886. MR. WILKINSON'S ENDORSATION. I hereby certify that I have revised, corrected, and read proofs of all my own speeches as published in this book, and have no hesitation in endorsing the statements of the publishers in the "Preface," as to the circumstances attending the publication. (Signed), T. L. WILKINSON, PARKDALE, Jan. 21, 1886. PREFACE. IN introducing this book to the public of Canada, a brief statement of the circumstances of its publication will naturally be looked for by the reader. Those circumstances are as follows: In the month of August, 1884, Elder Harding, of Kentucky, who was then holding evangelistic services in the County of Grey, near Meaford, publicly challenged Rev. T. L. Wilkinson, of Brantford, to a platform discussion of the question of Baptism. The challenge having been accepted by Mr. Wilkinson, it was subsequently agreed that the debate should be held during the ensuing December in the town of Meaford. It was to occupy two sessions of two hours each, per day, and continue for six days. Elder Harding being recognized by the Disciples as one of their ablest polemical representatives, and Mr. Wilkinson being regarded as familiar with the various aspects of the subject, and expert in its exposition and defence from the Paedo-baptist standpoint, a very deep interest was excited in the community at the prospect of this debate. Accordingly, as the time for the conflict drew near, the conviction became general that it would be a misfortune not to have a full and faithful report of the whole discussion preserved for the benefit of other neighborhoods and future generations. The outcome of this feeling was the formation of a small syndicate, or combination, to get the debate reported and published. This combination was altogether independent of either of the disputants, though its action was to be contingent on the consent of both. This being obtained, nego- atiations were opened with Mr. Thomas Bengough, official reporter, of the city of Toronto, resulting in an agreement on his part to furnish a full and impartial report of the whole debate. At the appointed time Mr. Ben- iv PREFACE. gough sent Mr. G. B. Bradley, chief of the House of Commons reportorial staff, who attended all the sessions and supplied what was supposed to be, and should have been, an impartial and authentic report. As a matter of fact, however, there was a transparent discrepancy in the comparative length of the different speeches, though, with the exception of the opening addresses on each proposition, they occupied the same time in delivery. It was apparent from this that the reporter had not always been equally faithful in the performance of his task. Nor were either of the disputants entirely satisfied with the result, though it is but fair to Mr. Wilkinson to say, that as he had not preserved the notes taken hurriedly during the debate, and did not profess to be able to reproduce his speeches from memory, and being also greatly straitened for time, he only claimed the privilege of making such verbal corrections in the reporter's notes as to secure general accuracy of expression and teaching. This privilege, of course, was fully accorded to both the disputants, but as Mr. Wilkinson frequently spoke with great rapidity his speeches generally occupied a little more space than Mr. Harding's, though, owing to this fact, the latter claimed that he had suffered greater injustice at the reporter's hands than his opponent, and accordingly enlarged the scope of the privilege even to the entire reproduction of nearly everything in his part of the debate. Some of his speeches were enlarged to nearly, if not quite double their original length, and nearly every sentence cast in a different mould. This, of course, would have given him a very unfair advantage, relatively, had not Mr. Wilkinson, in view of this, claimed a like privilege— a privilege which could not in honor be denied him—after which he also, while pre- serving his speeches, for the most part, in their integrity, made such alter- ations and additions as to more perfectly meet the altered attitude of his opponent. This was more especially the case in his later speeches. While the result of all this has been to greatly delay the date of publication, and enhance the size and price of the book, it has at the same time, doubtless, greatly increased the force of the argument, thus enhancing its value and rendering it more acceptable to its readers. The loss in one direction has, we feel sure, been more than repaired by the gain in another. PREFACE. v Some expressions in the book, on both sides, may be regarded by some as needlessly severe; at the same time considerable latitude should be allowed for the provocation and excitement almost inseparable from a public debate. We regret the altercation following the last few speeches of the debate under the "Addenda" headings, and did all we reasonably could to prevent it. When one party resorted to such a course, it rendered it necessary for the other to do the same; but as they sufficiently explain themselves, any further reference to the matter is uncalled for here. It will be acknowledged by all that the book contains a vast amount of research and valuable information, and the publishers feel assured that they have done a real service to the cause of truth by its publication. The argument on both sides is vigorous and impressive. The debate will be found, in general, not only interesting, but often racy and in many instances not a little amusing. We doubt not that the book will be read by thousands and prove a source of profitable instruction to all. The scarcity of such works in the field of Canadian literature, and the growing interest attaching to the theme, are surely a sufficient vindication of the publishers in offering a work of such a character and merit to the patronage of the Canadian public. Each disputant has carefully examined and corrected the proof of his own speeches, both in galley and page form, hence both parties have reason to be satisfied with the result. Under these circumstances, and for the reasons assigned, the book is sent forth by its promoters to the fulfillment of its mission, and it is ardently hoped, and sincerely believed, that that mission will be one of untold blessing. JAMES ANDERSON, JOHN ANDERSON, Publishers. ROBT. ABERCROMBRE REPORT OF DEBATE ON THE MODE AND SUBJECTS OF BAPTISM. F I R S T DAY. FIRST SESSION. AT the hour of two o'clock on the day indicated in the Preface the Town Hall, Meaford, was well filled with a highly respectable audience, evidently interested to know the truth relative to the vexed question of Christian baptism. The chair was occupied by Mr. Alfred Gifford. After devotional exercises, he announced that Mr. Harding would now open the debate by affirming the first proposition, as follows: "Christian baptism is immersion,—in it there must be a burial in water." The first speech on each side, he said, would occupy an hour, after which the addresses on this proposition would be confined to thirty minutes. MR. HARDING said,—Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: I take it that every man who loves God, every man who has within him the Spirit of Christ, desires to know the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. I realize as I stand here that to believe that which is false could do me no good in the world, and that to lead others to believe that which is false would be very hurtful to them and very injurious to me. I want, therefore, to know the truth with all my heart. Again, I understand that this audience will expect those who engage in this debate to display the spirit of Christians; and you 2 REPORT OF DEBATE ought to expect it. I know a great many people come to these discussions expecting a wrangle, and I hope you will be very much disappointed if you have come here with any such expectation. Our Chairman has told you that he is somewhat prejudiced against religious discussions, and in the course of his remarks he referred to the fact that in secular debates the debaters very often displayed a spirit by no means complimentary to themselves. My experience in religious discussions,—and I have had some little experience in that line,—has led me to a different conclusion. I have had discussions lasting six or eight days, during the whole of which time a kind, fraternal spirit prevailed.

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