The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-07
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES DEBATE.

SEATTLE. FEBRUARY 6, 1898.
To THE EDITOR: 1t was only on Saturday
last that I was informed that the Braden-
Charlesworth debate was published and sup
posed by some to be under the auspices of the
Seattle Ministerial Alliance. This 10 mistake
The negotiations were conducted on his own
account by the Rev. r. f. Dunlap, pastor of the
First Christian church of this city, who, on De.
cember 5, simply asked the alliance to appoint
the Rev. Clark Davis and myself to meet with
similar committee from the other side and ar.
range preliminaries. This, as a matter of
courtesy to Brother Dunlap, was done, and
when the preliminaries were settled we consd-
cred our work completed. Hearing at Saturday
nights meeting at Rankes hail of the misappre-
hension respecting the alliance, l made the
above explanation aud was proceeding further,
when the apostles OF free thought. free speech
and full liberty howled me down and extin-
guished the lights.
The explanation which they thus with char
acteristic courtesy refused to hear was that
while the alliance did not endorse Mr.. Braden
rs in any sense their champion in this debate,
or even endorse the debate itself (rnost Of us
question its usefulness), we do not on the other
hand repudiate Mr.. Braden in any way. The
brother Is a complete stranger to most of us and
we arc and have been entirely neutral in the
matter. Something was said by the ascularist
about another challenge, but if the spirit dis
played on Saturday is a fair sample of their pro-
cedurc with opponents no man of any self-re.
spect would care to discuss Christian doctrines
before such an audience, but regard 1t as vio-
lation of the divine command in Matthew vito
We all regularly discuss these matters from our
puipits. Our seats are free. II the secularists
desire to know more of these matters they are
heartily welcome and earnestly invited to our
churches where they will always have respect
full treatment, but where II is of course under
stood they have not the license to haul down
truths which they may find unpalatable The
"free thought" fair treatment champion on Sat
urday night seemed to consider himself at
liberty to use every weapon OF SANDER, abuse
and vituperation, but when MIR. Braden said
any sharp things in return he Was Immediately
reminded that it was his duty to "love his en-
emies"
1t was simply q repetition OF the tactics of
Mr.. Charlesworth's model Robert Ingersoli in
the cause celebre "Ingersoll versus Black"
made immortal by Father Lambsrts reply en-
titled Lambert on Ingersoll,'' which every
secularist and Christian would do well to read
as the best piece OF polemical controversy ex-
tant. 1t can be obtained from the Buffalo
Catholic Union, Buffalo, n. Y. Price Is cents.
/ am. dear sir. yours faithfully,
". p GEORGE,
President Seattle Ministerial Association, 9O5
Seneca street.
p. S.-Ths letter 10 not to be considered as in
any way rejecting ON the president OF the meet
ing on Saturday evening. who ruled fairly and
impartialiy and had to hold his own ground in
one instance in spite of the cries and clamorins
OF many in the hall Probably many of the lead
ers agreed with the president, aud believe
many of them are fsir-mindsd men, but in spite
of all the majority OF people On that side seemed
to and did raise row.