The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1883-02-15
THE DEBATING CLUB.
The Question or Building Costly Church
es Abbey Discussed Last Night.

The Question OF Building Costly Church
es abbey Discussed Last Night.
The Debating Club Thursday night
discussed the following question:
Resolved, That the building of ex-
pensive churches is detrimental to the
cause of charity"
With all his vigar of mind, soul and
body J. w. McCown argued on the side
Of the affirmative, assisted by. I. t.
White and 4. A. Norton. Each one of
these gentlemen went at his task with
splendid zeal, and they struck
some pretty hard blows at what they
called "Christian Inconsistency"
holding that Christian denominations
would build fine edifices in which to
worship God (aominally SOY, aud leave
the poor unfortunate pauper to battle
with his fate as best he might. The Al
mighty never intended that such state
of affairs should exist In this mundane
sphere, and He had not, nor never would
recognize with divine approval, this sort
of service.
The question from this standpoint
was very ably handled, and the several
atiirmants showed great vigor of logic
and skill in argument in establishing
their proposition.
\ +. Parkinson, whom We have here
tofore had occasion 10 speak of as an
able debater, assisted by L. r. Wright
and E. Hamilton, sust timed
with admirable ability, the affirmative
of this question. He thought the AL
mighty was being who should be
glorified in the highest degree; that He
light be.glorifie6 He had placed m.p
here on the earth man had AN inherent
disposition to worship higher, holier
being than himself, and in enlightened
nations his alteration and praise was
| bestowed upon his Creator-the builder
and maker of the universe and all that in
! it exists; man was the greatest of Gods
creatures here ON the earth he had had
all things here placed under his dOmin
ION; it was his privilege and his duty
to render to his Maker his
best service and the best results
of his service, in early times when God
communicated directly with his people.
he required Of them their best service;
the best and purest of their f1ocks was
required 10 be sacrificed to his glory
from the earliest period of mans his
tory to the present time it has been his
disposition to make his eostliest offer
ings to the object he adores most; in
this enlightened age God is, or ought to
be, the all absorbing object of interest
and love, and 10 Him man should, with
out the let or hlndrance of his fello "
creatures, make his most costly
offerings, and a handsome costly
place of worship was one
of the offerings upon which God would
bestow his most kindly smile of ap-
provaI, and if God would approve, WI o
dare disapprove
The argument OF Mr.. Parkinson was
admirably supplemented by those of
Messrs. Hamilton and Wright, who are
well known as ready debaters and form
Idable opponents in such contests. They
each made convincing pleas for hand
some churches, and their efforts COM
manded the closest attention.
At the close of the debate E. Hamil-
ton sang a beautiful solo, entitled. "A
Flower from Mothers Crave" Miss
Nettie FraDs playing the organ accom-
paniment.
The question for discussion at the
next meeting will DE Resolved, That
church property should be subject TO
taxation
Il WIS decided that the club would
hold its anniversary on the 22i inst, at
which time a very Interesting program
will be disposed of. the exercises consist
ing of e debate, orations, history ofthe
club, etc.