The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-19
RELIGION In OKLAHOMA.
Debates in Which RevOIvers Figure
Are an Interesting Feature.
New York Sun.

New York Sun.
The preachers of Oklahoma were, from
the first, filled with ZEAL They were, al
most without exception, men of the Peter
Cartwright and Lorenzo Dow stamp in will
ingness as well as ability to endure the
hardships and privations incident to such
a mission as they had assumed. Many of
them were sent out by the Home Mission
societies of the great evangelical denomina-
tons, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian and
that newer sect, numerous in the South
west, known as Campbellites. A great
many others went into the new country on
their own responsibility, designing to take
new charges and build up congregations
AS a rule, whether missionaries or evangel-
lists, these men were all doctrinal preach
ers and fierce and uncompromising toward
every form of doctrine not their own. Either
the Baptist or Methodist was ready, at any
time, to debate foreordination with the
Presbyterian, and both of them were pre-
pared at all times to debate the questions
of baptism and sacrament with each other.
The war Of the sects for the conquest of
Oklahoma began with the first opening, and
has continued and increased in intensity
with every subsequent one. There have
been debates in every part of the Territory
some of which have ragged for weeks and
been participated in by representatives of
nearly all the denominations. They attract
hundreds and sometimes thousands of peo-
pie who travel long distances in many
cases, to be on hand and encourage by
strength of voice and force of arm if need
full, the champion of that particular faith
which the partisan may hold. A score or
more of these debates have resulted in bat
ties in which fists have been authorized and
guns have not been barred.
A bill is to be introduced in the Oklahoma
Legislature, now in session, providing that
after the law becomes operative it shall be
an offense for any layman to carry weapons
to a religious debate, and none of the
preachers except those participating in the
discussion shall be exempt from the opera
ton of the act. This bill has been intro
duced by member from the Saltwater dis
trict, and is regarded as being nothing more
than a caustic commentary on the existing
state of things, although the Saltwater
member insists that he will force his meas
ure to consideration or will introduce one
much more sweeping Whlch VIII seek to
forbid such debates as being dangerous to
the public peace. When Sam Small was
editing a newspaper in Oklahoma City he
participated in several of these religious con-
troversies 1t was Small who proposed that
in all such debates the participants and the
audience should be searched for concealed
weapons before the argument began. The
proposition never was popular.
Just before Christmas, at a little country
church near the town of Maude, one of the
most bitter of these contests took place,
and aroused a public sentiment which will
do something toward reducing the evils and
dangers of such meetings, either by statute
a Methodist preacher named Price, who had
captured town lot in Perry the day that
boom city was opened, had built a little
church and challenged everybody in that
part of the Territory to a debate on the
essential doctrines of Methodism. He had
tackled two or three Baptists, a Presby-
terrain and half a dozen Campbellites, and
was declared the victor in each contest by
the large majority of the people around
Maude. most of whom were members of
his congregation: Then Universalist
preacher named Gano came to town with
the idea Of organizing a Universalist con-
gregation In Maude. The news that a
Tniversalist was in the country spread
rapidly and soon reached the ears Of
Preacher Price, who was conducting a pro-
tracted meeting over in the Black Bear
belt Of timber, skirting the Salt Fork of
the Arkansas. He announced TO his
audience that a Universalist was in the
land, going about like roaring lion, seek
ing whom he might devour. The preach
ers horse was hitched to tree outside
the SchOOlhOuse where the revival meetings
were held, and after pronouncing the bene-
diction he walked out and made ready to
mount.
Il will ride all night" he said, land I
may strike the trail tomorrow"
"Parson," said Jerd Hawkins, I've got
the best coon dog on the Black Bear, an
you kin take him with you II you want TO.
II this heer UniVersaliSt can be freed, that
dog can do it,
Brother Price explained that a Universal
ist was a man who did not believe in hell,
and he thought a man who had tackled
foreordination and immersion, and knocked
them both out, could hold his own against
any of these newfangled ideas. The first
nj OF 0f crowd included
Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians and
Campbellites, members of all denomina-
borhood, but also from the country around
Perry, the Black Bear settlement, the old
Fort Supply trail and the Chilocco indian
school, There was great curiosity to see
the Universalist. There was not a partisan
Of the UniVersalist Church in the house or
in the larger crowd outside, and Mr.. Gano
ton of the man who had come into the
community to challenge Its most cherlshed
beliefs. But the debate had not gone Tar
when the audience began to have a better
understanding of him.. He quoted Scripture
by the yard, which destroyed the precon-
ceived prejudice based on the impression
prejudice removed the crowd was ready TO
listen to him. Abe Downs asked If the Uni
Versalists believed in the Blble.
"Of course we do" said Gano.
Prom kiver to kiver?' Abe asked.
Every word of it, was the answer.
Then go ahead, mister, said ABE an
Wen see that you git fair play !"
There was never another debate In OKLA
homa in which the referees were so hard
worked The Universalist proved himself
tough customer. Mr.. Price said a man who
would qualify the doctrine of no hell at all
to mean no hell fire only had to be bound UP
tight by rules governing the debate.
His church says there is no hell OF any
kind!" shouted Mr.. Price.
And he talks about hell of conscience.
If can pin him down on any one point of
doctrine I've got him where / want him. In
my opinion a hell without fire is no he'll at
ALL"
"AmenP' arose from many parts of the
house.
Talk about conscience the preacher re-
sumed. What becomes of the devils in this
world who have none? Where's Bill Dali
ton? Where's Cherokee Bill? Where's Jesse
James? Are they all in heaven?'
A howl arose, but the preachers practiced
eye and ear detected that it was not one of
encouragement or approval. He had insulted
the memory of dead men the glory Of whose
achievements Oklahoma has not yet forgot
ten To add to his discontinue, the Univer-
salist saw his opportunity and improved it.
Il will answer that question, he shouted,
'by saying that those bSave men, who TAX
ing their lives in their hS1ds. have sinned
before all the world. are more likely to be in
heaven tonight than the Pharisees who
worship in public and sin in secret. Our
brother sends them to hell. 1t seems to COM
fort him TO think of them writhing in the
flames He should remember the Scriptural