The New York herald., 1870-08-21
Opening Of the Discussion in the New
Tabernacle at Salt Lake City.
Great Crowd Of Male Saints, Female Saints
aud Gentiles Of Each Sex.


circumstances which LED 10 tnls dlscusslon are ms
folows:-Mr. Hooper, the Mormon Delegate to Con-
gress made speech In the House OF Represen-
ratives against the passage OF the Cuom bi and In
defence OF poygamy practised by the Mormons
on the authority OF the Holy Scriptures. The Rev.
Or. J. P. Newman, pastor OF the Methodist Metro
politan chu rch IN Washington and chaplain OF the
Senate, preached sermon in his church In the
presence OF President Grant and many other dis
tlnguished individuals showing that the Bible nop
only did not sanction but that II condemned
poygamy. Professor Orson Pratt, one Of
the Twelve Apostles among the Mormons
wrote reply TO Dr. Newman's sermon.
and undertook prove that not only had God given
his solemn sanction 70 the institution OF polygsmy
as practised by The patrarchs, but that He had dis
tnctly commanded that lt should be practised. Dr.
Newman wrote a re, oinder TO Mr.. Prats reply, and
presented cumulative evidence from the design OF
the Creator, the nature or humanity and rom
sacred history TO support the position he mad as
sumed in his sermon in favor Of monogamy. Mean
while some comments Oh that sermon in Salt Lake
daty Journal were considered by Or. Newman and
his friends to be an authorized challenge for him to
come here and debate with some champion of the
church on the subject OF polygamy DR.. Newman
accepted it, and publicly signifed his intention
Of visiting this city In August for that
purpose, his way 10 California. He
arrived last Friday, and on Saturday wrote to
Brigham Young saying he was here ana was ready
Brigham Young denied ever having sent any chal-
enge 60 the Doctor, and discaimed the journal as
Official church authority. voluminous CORES
pondence followed, which is already familiar TO the
readers Of the HERALD. At length DR.. Newman
challenged Brigham Young, the head OF the
church 10 meet him in debate, and show that the
Bible, which the Mormons profess to follow more
strictly than any other sect in Christendom, sane
tons their polyganic system. Brigham Young de-
cined for himself, but proposed that, his subst-
tute Professor Orson Pratt the great theoogian and
logician of the church. should discuss the question
with DR.. Newman The Doctor declined TO meet Pro-
fessor Pratt In the capacity OF substitute for Brig
nam, but accepted him an acknowledged principal
In the question. Representatives OF both parties
met and after great deal Of discussion over de-
tails, IN which both sides did considerable skrmish.
Ing and sharpshooting articles OF agreement for the
conduct of the debate were drawn up and adopted.
The salient point in the articles is that the Bible is
to be the only standard Of authority In this discus.
sion. The articles as finally amended were adopted
by the respective representatives this morning and
The discussion was announced TO begin at two
O'Clock this afternoon In the New Tabernacle. IL is
to continue three days each OF the three sessions
last two hours and each speaker to occupy one hour
each day. The form OF the question Is, "Does the
Bible Sanction Polygany" Professor Pratt takes
the affirmative and DR.. Newman the negative.
Three umpres have been chosen to preside at the
discussion. Professor Pratt named Judge z. Snow,
Dr. Newman cnose Judge G. M. Hawley, and
these two selected the third Colonel NJ. T. Pa
trick. tbe United States Marshal. The discussion is
the subject OF universal interest In this city.
large audience assembled In the Tabernacle this
afternoon 10 witness the contest OF the champions
tYaI fnfn trai do off I'm Loft
was reserved for the friends of Dr. Newman and the
other lor ''the Elders OF Israeli Brigham Young
ana mis- principal apostles, and Mr.. Hooper, were
also present on the platform. Before tue contest
commenced the Professor and the Doctor shook
hands with each other after the manner OF physical
opponents, before The thousands Of spectators. The
audience was principally composed OF women and
the deepest interest manifested by all during the
progress OF the discussion. Judge aawey called The
meeting 10 order Prayer WAS offered up by John
Taylor, VINO IS one Of the apostles. Dr. sunderland,
who is tie bosom irield o. Dr.. Newman, now read
the articles OF agreement under which the debate
would be conducted. judge Hawley then introduced
Professor Pratt, who Immediately opened the debate
IN Tie affirmative, ana procec led TO elucdate his
tav0rlte theme IN the following manner
ARGUMENT or PROFESSOR PRATT
appear before this audience to discuss subject
that IS certainly important 70 us, ana no doubt
considered important TO the country at large
namely the subject Of plurality Of wires, or, as the
question is stated, docs the Bible Sanction Polyga-
my2' / would state, by woy Of apology to e house
that have been unaccustomei all my life TO de-
bates. II is something new to me. ! do not recol
ect OF ever having held but one or two debates in
the course OF my whole life, upon any subject.
think that the last one was thirty years ago in
the city OF Edi1burg But feel great pleasure this
afternoon in appearing before this audience for the
purpose OF examining the question under discussion.
shall simply read what is stated in the Bible and
make such remarks as may consider proper upon
the occasion. / will call your attention TO passage
which win be found In Deuteronomy xxi, 15-I7--
ira man have two wives one beloved and another
hated ana they have borne him children both the be
loved ard the hated ana II the first born son be her
that was hated then 1t shall be when be maketh his
son to inherit that which he hath that he may not
make the son OF the beloved FIRST born before the
son OF the hated, which Is indeed the FIRST born: but
ne shall acknowledge the son OF the hated Tor the
rHt born by giving him double portion Of all that
be hath: Tor he Is the beginning OF lis strength the
right OF The first born is his.
Here Is q law In the words Of tile great law-giver
himself, the Lord, who spoke to Moses 1t certainly
must be sanction OF plurality OF wives for 1t is
given TO regulate the inheritance in families of that
description, as well in families wherein the first
vile may have been divorced may be dead;
wives tnat are contemporary and wives that are
successive 1t refers TO both classes And mas
much as plurality OF wives Is nowhere condemned
ID the law Of God we nave a right TO believe from
this Ian chat pluraiJy OF wives Is just as legal and
lawful a. that OF the marriage OF a single wlfe.
These are the grounds which we are authorized to
take uutd we can fnd some law, some evidence,
some testimony 10 the contrary. They are ac-
knoVlelgsd as wives in this passage at
least:-.r q man have two wives" IL
is well known that the house Of Israel
at that time pracuced both monogamy aud
polYgamy. They were not exclusively monogamist',
neither we're they exclusively polygamsts. There
were some monOgamIst families existing IN Israel
III those days: end therefore, the Lord in giving
t0is law ra4erred certainty not only to successive
wives, where the man married without Tie death OF