Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-10-13
GARFIELD AND THE INFIDEL.
How the Young David Slew the Old
GOliah-A Memorable Debate.

"Long" John Wentworth interviewed in the
t.-.. Boston Herald.
If Garfield did not have the facts when
the measure was introduced he would
"read up" during the night, and sur
paise the whole house with his facts and
arguments the next morning. That sto-
ry of Col. COnwell's about how lie
squelched Prof. Denton. the spiritualist,
gives clear idea of how he used to
sometimes surprise his fellow members
in Congress. Prof. Denton gave series
Of lectures at Chagrin Falls, and at
tempted to prove by scientific discove-
ries that the Bible could not be true.
In the course of his discussion he had
been able to convince quite a number
of people, and it began to he boldly as
serted on the streets and in the facto
ries that the Bible was only an ingeni-
nious fable. The professor was criti-
cal scholar, and had a very plausible
way of stating his theories; and there
was ne one found to Withstand his ar
guments. Ministers attacked him, but
only with inveetives, which did more
harm than good. Teachers and public
speakers often ridiculed him, but such
things only avail against a-shallow nea-
sOner, or one manifestly unpopular
Prof. Denton was gaining the thinking
men and women and felt sure, as his adj
herents boasted, "of shutting up the
churches and abolishing the Bible from
Chagrin Falls" 1t was one of those
strange, almost unacc0untable freaks OF
public opinion, and men were drawn in
to it who, all their lives, had been the
most orthodox believers in the holy Bi.
bic. The churches of the Disciples view
ed the success of Prof. Denton with the
deepest dismay. The church at Chagrin
Falls seemed
IN DANGER OF ANNIHILATIoN,
and the whole denomination tiewed its
tottering condition with great alarm
1t happened that the noted professor
had one weak point in illustrating the
truth of that book he was endeavOrine
to overturn wherein it says that "greai
men are not always WISE" He had q
habit of bOasting, and one evening he
went so far as to challenge any and ev.
cry believer of the Bible in Ohio to re
fute his statements. He offered the
use of the hall and ample time t.
any person who dared 70 undertake the
task. At once, the listeners who ad
hered to the Bible thought of Mr.. Gar
field. They had heard him preach al
Chagrin Falls and in the surrounding
country and towns. and they felt that
If any man could cope with the learned
professor, it would be he. They felt that
some one must champion their cause. OF
all would be lost. In distress of mind
not easily realized by people living in
other portions Of the religious world,
these sincere and sorrowfuH Christian,
turned to Mr. Garfield for help. At first,
he declined to meet the professor, think
ing it unbecoining Christian man to
debate such questions in a public hall.
But the continued petition of his friends
and the alarm of the churches, caused
him at last to consent, and committee
Of citizens was appointed to arrange for
the public discussion. 1t was a great
day at Chagrin Falls, when these two
champions met in the arena Of serious,
earnest, religious debate. Mr.. Garfield
had never heard of Prof. Denton, and
was consequently supposed to be igno-
rant of just the position the professor
would take. But Mr.. Garfield had been
too wise to risk cause which he beliey-
ed so holy to the impulses and guesses
of an impromptu speech; and, as soon
as he knew that he was to meet the pro-
fessor. he had taken
STEPS TO FIND OUT THE ARGUMENTS
which the iufidel used. Having ascer-
tanned privately that the professor was
to lecture on the same topic in distant
part of the State before the date of the
discussion, Mr.Garfield had sent friend
to hear these lectures. and write them
out for his use. OF course the profes-
sor knew nothing Of this, and had no
doubt of his ability to silence a man
who had not made science special
study. When, however, Mr.. Garfield
had received the copies of the lectures,
he had at once sent in various directions
and procured the latest scientific books,
together with those the professor had
quoted as being against the Bible. He
had also obtained learned opinions of
distinguished scholars, and before the
day of the discussion was thoroughly
armed with arguments and authorities
When the hour came for the discussion,
| the hall was crowded to suffocation by
an eager, and, on the part of the Disci-
pies, an almost breathless audience. But
they did not lose faith in Mr.. Garfield
They thought that, if any one could
overcome the learned professor, then
they had secured the right man. The
professor, amid the smiles OF his follow
ers aud with perfect conidence In his
ability, opened the debate with his state
ment of scientific facts. and their bear
ing on the accounts of creation and the
miracles in the Bible. The professor
did not try to be precise and accurate Ii
all his statements, for he was sure Mr.
Garfield would not attack him on scien
ti1c ground, and, when he stated any
difficult question, he explained it very
kindly in simple language" for Mr.
LGarfieid's better understanding. He re-