New-York tribune., 1870-08-19
DOES THE Bible SANCTION PoLYGAMY1

DIR. J. p. NEWMAN VERSUS BRIGHAM YOUNG.
SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 10. - Last Spring,
the Rev. ]. P. Newman of the Metropolitan Method
ist Church. Washington preached sermon in answer
10 speech made by WIN. II. Hooper In the House. Mr.
Newman of course took the ground that the Bible does
not sanction poygamy The Salt Lake Daily Telegraph
commenting on the discourse, said: ...-
The discourse is q heightened argument to prove that
the Bible does not sustain polygamy. IL should have
been delivered in the New Tabernacle, in this city with
some prominent Mormon, should have hearing on the
other side, and the people been allowed to decide"
Mr. Newman considered this a challenge aud on his
arrival in Salt Lake City last Friday he straghtway Of
fered to debate the question with Brigham Young In the
Mormon Tabernacle Brigham declined this offer, how
ever the ground that he not responsible for what
appeared in the columns of The Salt bake Telegraph
Late the evening Saturday after arrangements had
been made and it had been given out that Mr. Newman
would preach Sunday in the Hall Of the Methodist
Mission, Brigham sent HIM invitation to preach ON
the morrow in the Tabernacle, which he was forced to
decline.
Mr.. Newman preached in the Hall Of the Methodist
Mission three hours Sunday afternoon, advancing
and maintaining in support OF his views the following
propositions:
Of mans innocence, was monOgamous-th union In wed
lock Of one man and one woman.
riage originally established by God and defined in
his word.
There is no passage OF Scripture, correctly inter
preted that either sanctions allows the practice OF po
s. The Scriptures positively condemn polygamy.
The practice Of poygamy, recorded in the Bible,
is condemned by the facts III the
T. Prostitution has been and is prevalent in poly
gamc than in mOnOgamc countries.
g. POlygamy cannot be claimed as civil right, pro-
tected by the Constitution of the United States, which
guarantees to all citizens religious liberty
o. POlygamy does not tend to the perpetuity OF the
Next day the Church paper endeayofed to create the
inp raSSiou dare Ot
ton with the Mormons charging that he purp0sely de
lveIed his lecture in small hail. before few hundred,
instead of before thousands in the Tabernacle; that he
intended TO discuss the question at ALL but
Utah with the hope of gaining notorety cheap terms.
dressed note to Mr. Newman asking whether this really
TO this Mr. Newman replied that he would send chal
lenge to Young. which he did Young accepted desg-
the discussion. Mr. Newman answered that he had
challenged Brigham, not Pratt Taylor, and that here
Mr.. Pratt would take the affirmative, he prepared
to maintain the negative.
the question dseussedshal be- Does the Bible sanction
PolygamyP that orson Pratt shall take the Affirmative
and Mr. Newman the negave that there shall be dis
cussion six successive evenings, in the Old Taber
nace; the affirmative to have the first, third and ffth
evenings the negative TO have the second fourth, and
sixth evenings each session TO continue not longer than
one hour and half no report to be considered auhen
tic unless signed by both parties and cOuntersgned by
the moderators, of whom there are to be three.
Everything was agreed upon when at the last moment
the seconds the Mormon side demanded that the de-
bate should continue six evenings instead OF five the
affirmative To speak the first, third and fifth, and
negative the second fourth and sixth. Mr. Newmans
seconds consulted him. he agreed TO the arrangement
and they present at the appointed time 10 sign the
spulations but instead OF signing agreed they
sented paper which they said Prof Pratts ultim
This document demanded that the speakers should
speak the same day hour each, the negative 10
follow the affirmative. Though this gives Dr. Newman
the disadvantage OF having TO speak extempoe against
prepared speech he has accepted these conditions
in the hope that the debate may now come of.
BRIGHAM YOUNG AND ffIE MoRaoNs.
"F. ID. c." of The Troy Times writes from Salt
Lake Cy, OF the MOrm0ns and their leaders, follows
Brigham Young liz man OF great power as AN organ
izer and ruler Elder Smith said, In reply TO the
question " what shall the Government do with the
Indians T. Give them to President Young. and
give him 100000 per year. and he will take them
anu there VIII never be troube do not doubt IL
NJ ALL One OF our ladies thought Mr. Young looked like
body The labor which he performs is immense His own
personal business Is very great He mills faetoros
and ranches and cattle by the thousands. His domestic
affairs must command much OF his time he takes "a
faheriy interest in each OF his 40 children, and
no man could ill his place except he reduced
everything to perfect science of system aud order.
y almost unlimited In Salt Lake he is reverenced as
the Prophet. Priest, and King" His enemies say his
reign IL despotic and the Mormons slaves. The
cruits 10 the faith the poorer clases in
Denmark, Wales, and England. At home they possess
nothing but the inheritance OF ahect poverty Brigham
advances the money for their fare out here When they
to begin the world on their account. The money
ana Aid advanced "a put into note. which brigham
holds aud which the new Is required 10 pay In
yearly instalnens, which he Is able to no Ia ndus
trious and enterprsng We thousands OF homes OF
comfort, IL not plenty. Tthes 10 the church are re-
CURED and from them the widows and orphans sup
ported. aud the church organization maintained Now
must frankly say that in all this I see no tyranny
brigham furnishes the brains and capital 20 start fe and
10 do business ou OF which come n thousand COM
forts which these people ncver knew before. aud for