| 221 by his power which was right, so that all could see it. And thanks be to God, he did so; so that the people can not say that man's ability or learning gained the victory; but the Lord rebuked the man when he attempted to accuse the martyr of introducing the filthy doctrine. I have not written this to make a show; but have written it at the request of several persons, who were much affected by the circumstance, and who thought that it ought to be made public. To further establish the statement, two certificates were prepared, one of them after I left, and signed by various citizens of the neighborhood of the place of debate, which I will append to this letter. 1 Many more names might have been added to the first one. Two of his own members told me that they heard him make the statement contained in the second certificate.
The circumstance had a great effect on the congregation. One man, the Campbellite preacher, Mr. Pettyjohn, had been undecided until this time; but when it happened it convinced him that the power of God was with this church, and he was accordingly baptized three days later, and his wife also.
The debate on "polygamy" was not voted upon, as there was but one opinion as to the result. Their strongest members admitted that it was a failure, and that if they could not do better, they must give it up. . . .
The general conference for the Welsh Mission was held at Llanelly, Wales, April 28, 1878, Robert Evans presiding, J. R. Gibbs clerk.
Advices from California, April 20, stated that Elder J. C. Clapp had just closed a four-night debate with a spiritualist by the name of Mr. Lohmueller on the question, "Resolved, That spiritualism sustains a higher civilization than the doctrines taught by the Latter Day Saints." The question was discussed in this form two nights and then
1 CEDAR GROVE, Walker County, Georgia, March 28, 1878.
We, the undersigned, hereby certify that we attended a debate between Elders David Williams, of the Brighamite church, and John H. Hansen, of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, held at Cave Spring, this county, on Saturday and Sunday, March 23 and 24, and that on the second day of the debate (polygamy being the subject that day), we heard Elder Hansen, in opening the debate in the afternoon, pray that the Lord would manifest by his power which was right, so that the congregation could see it. We further certify, that in Elder Williams' second last speech, when he began to accuse Joseph Smith of introducing polygamy, some unseen power seized him, he turned pale and agitated, trembled and dropped into his seat, six minutes before his time was out. This action had a remarkable impression on the congregation.
JAMES HIXON. EMANUEL GERBER.
A. J. HOLLAND. W. C. WHITE.
W. J. PETTYJOHN. SARAH ANN PETTYJOHN.
I, the undersigned, heard Elder Williams say that he was overpowered by some spirit or influenced that he did not understand; he said it never was so with him before.
A. J. HOLLAND.
-The Saints' Herald, vol. 25, p. 155.
(page 221) |
