Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses Graduate School 1950 The onC troversial Speaking of Alexander Campbell. Carroll Brooks Ellis Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses Part of the Speech and Rhetorical Studies Commons Recommended Citation Ellis, Carroll Brooks, "The onC troversial Speaking of Alexander Campbell." (1950). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 7972. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/7972 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE CONTROVERSIAL SPEAKING OP ALEXANDER CAMPBELL A Dissertation submitted to the Oradtiate Faculty of the Louisiana state university and Agricultural and Mechanical Collage in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The Department of Speech by Carroll Brooks Ellis B*s## North Texas state Teachers College# 19*11 M.A.i Louisiana state university# 19^5 August# 19*19 UMI Number: DP69350 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMT Dissertation Publishing UMI DP69350 Published by ProQuest LLC (2015). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code ProQuest ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 - 1346 MANUSCRIPT THESES Unpublished theses submitted for the master*s and doctor^ degrees and deposited in the Louisiana State University Library are available for inspection* Use of any thesis is limited by the rights of the author* Bibliographical references may be noted* but passages may not be copied unless the author has given permission* Credit must be given in subsequent written or published work* A library which borrows this thesis for use by its clientele is expected to make sure that the borrower is aware of the above res trieticns * LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 119-a AomanMDomma Thm witar Is grateful to Professor Waldo w. Brtdaa of tho Department of SpMoh, Louisiana stats Uhl- varalty for his assistance throughout this study* Also* tho writer wishes to express appreciation to his wife Ellen Ellsahsth Moors Bills* for her enoouragement and ■tQpart. The writer wlshos to thank Anne Jane Dyson* Reference Librarian* B U I Memorial Library* Louisiana state Ohlverslty* for hsr aid in scouring materials through tho in tor-Library Loan* Also* the writer is In­ debted to Claude Spencer* Curator of tho Disciples of Christ Historical Society and to Roemol Henry* Librarian* College of the Bible for making available their deposits of Information• Also* the writer wishes to thank the fhUlp Pall Christian Church* Frankfort* Kentucky* for permission to use the Philip p a n Letters* 11 t a b x e o p c o n t e n t s CHAPTER PAOE INTRODUCTION ........................ 1 x. a l x b x o n oat t o e f r o n t i e r ..................... 1* XX. HOBOES WHICH MOLDED AX8XAMSBR CAMPBELL INTO A SPEAKER........... .............. 60 XXX. TOE OWEN DEBATE.......................... XV. TOE PURCELL REBATE ........................ 182 V. THE RXCS DEBATE................. ... SAT VI. AH EVALUATION OH AIEXANDER CAMPBELL AS A DEBA T E R..................... 322 BXBLXOORAPH?................ 336 BIOQRAPHT .................................... 3A6 111 ABSTRACT Theological debates were a vital part of the religious life of the Old Southwest from tho close of the second Great Awakening* 1805* until tho Civil War period* Tho emotional wave which engulfed tho frontier gave way to rationalized theology* dogmatic and argumentative © The presence of people with a heterogeneous religious background* the large number of religious sects strug­ gling for supremacy* to which was added the rugged ln~» dlviduallsm of the frontier* the readiness to question* and the spirit of boastfulness* demanded that those who had conflicting religious opinions discuss them* Religious debates bee asm the order of the day* and were at least equal in importance to the political debates* Alexander Campbell was one of the leading debaters of the period* He was b o m September 1 2 * 1787* In Ireland* but moved to America In 1809* settling In western Virginia* m 1812* Alexander and his father Thomas Campbell launched what they called ’the Restoration Movement* In which they were seeking for the unity of all Christians on the basis of the Bible* The movement ultimately resulted In the formation of a religious group known by three names* Church of Christ* Christian Church* and Disciples of Christ* Because Alexander Campbell9o Ideas were in conflict with many of the frontier denominations* he engaged In at least iv nine religious defeat*** Through tte* l n f l u m t of his father* his training at O U t g o v aiiftrsltyi and his personal study* Campbell had acquired both speech training and philosophy which fit­ ted him for the role of a religious debater* perhaps his fame in American religious history is due* in great measure* to his skill as a oontreversal1st. His debates first brought him to public attention* sued were his most pro­ ductive efforts in the Restoration movement. They have am even wider signlf loanee * for they are outstanding ex­ amples of typical speaking situations which affected the Uvea of people on the American frontier# This dissertation is a rhetorical study of Alexander Campbell the controversialist * as revealed through his ef­ forts in hie three most important debates* In 1 8 2 9 * in Cincinnati* Ohio* he discussed with Robert Owen* the Scottish socialist* the validity of Christianity. His next major debate* in 1837* also held in Cincinnati with Bishop M r B* Purcell* one of the leading American Catholic clergymen. Although seven different propositions were discussed* in reality the subject was Protestantism versus Catholic ism • In 1843* Campbell debated the Reverend V* L* Rice* a noted Presbyterian minister at Lexington* Kentucky* on the subjects of baptism* the Holy Spirit* and human creeds* These debates were held In large v Heli or tho Hpenents wee euteteadingl the do- M h ettreeted vide ettentlen* Fupthtmie# tho Owen, PurnU, m d Rice dlHuesione were taken down in short- hsnd# and tho printed record woo certified by both speak­ ers as cor root. Campbell looked theological discussions as an effective technique by which to disseminate his views* Be felt, however, that debate was of value only when he had a qualified man as an opponent* ones an opponent had been agreed upon, Campbell insisted that rules of debate be drawn 1 9 , moderators appointed, and stenographers em­ ployed to take down Hie discussion in shorthand in order Heat the debate eould be published* judging by modern standards, Campbell was not much concerned about the wording of the propositions to be discussed, for only in the alee debate were the prepositions clear and well stated* Campbell's strength lay in analysis, organisation, and in gathering material* Meet of his arguments were not original, but he exhibited a comprehensive understanding of the questions discussed* !Be quoted from Hie Bible, ancient historians, church fathers, classical writers, skeptics, lexicographers, Bible commentators, reformers, and modern church leaders with readiness*] Without exception he attempted to associate his v i cause with truths gave evidence of sincerity ana setea «ith tael ana wodtmtlaio /Even though to was discussing tore* aiftamt highly txplo«iv« questions* tort Is »o indication ^ tttr looting ttttrtl over his totlom* 8is wmnir n s m e like a lawyer pleading hi* c«tt bftgori a Jury t o n a frontier p m a t o d*»ousa~ ting a rival* t o n appeals to tto esa t i m war* a»pltto» t o y ear* usually novtn Into his logical argument^ Because Campbell was nor* concerned in advancing hi* own e a t than In m ^ r l t g objteti<m8« he aid not place major amphaale upon rebuttal . to used all or t o special technique* or refutation# hut only t o n to thought the refuted point would advance his cause* He was wore suited for the affirmative than toe negative in a debate* for to was essentially a builder* Campbell was weakest in adapting his Material to the audience . This Is partly true because In each of toe three debates to was as aaieh concerned with the read­ ing public as with tte Immediate audience* His Interest In the ptolistod reports led him to read hin affirmative speeches in toe Hies debate* to Introduce scans arguments which to acknowledged were not for the audience# but for the reading public* end to present in seme Instances an /% cver-abuwdanc* of evidence* (to did employ admirably the techniques of amplification? repetition* restatement., wii examp;tea* rhetorical questions* and figures of speech. Be declined* however* to «qdoy huseor.) Even though the Owen* Purcell* end Klee debates* were held In large auditoriums * there was never enough m s to eeet a n these who desired to attend* The dally news paps re earrled reports of the debate* end