The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-12

A bill Is to be introduced In the Oklahoma
Legislature. now in session. providing that
after the law becomes operative IL shall be an
offence for any layman to carry weapons TO a
religious debate, and none OF the preachers.
excent those participating In the discussion,
shall be exempt from the operation OF the net.
This bill has been introduced by n member
from the saltwater district. and Is regarded as
being nothing more than q caustit commentary
on the existing state OF things, although the
saltwater member insists that he will
force his measure to consideration, or will
introduce one much more sweeping. which
will seek to forbid su,h debates ms being
dangerous to the public peace. When Sam
Small was editing n newspaper In Oklahoma
City he participated In several OF these rellg-
ious controversies. II was Small who pro-
posed that. In all such debates. the participants
and the audience should be tarched for con-
cealed weapons before the gumen began.
The proposition never was popular.
Just before Christmas. at q 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 some-
thing toward reducing the evils and dangers OF
such meetings. either by statute or the force or
public opinion. Near Maude q Methodist
preacher named Price. who had captured u
town lot In Perry the day that boom city was
opened. had built q little church and challenged
everybody In that part Of the Territory to a de-
bate on the essential doctrines OF Method
ism. He had tackled two or three Bap-
lists. q Presbyterian and half q 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
q Universalist preacher named Gano came TO
o with the idea Of organizing q Universal
list congregation In Maude. The news that q
Universalist was in the country spread rapidly
and soon reached the ears OF Preacher Price.
who was conducting q protracted 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 a roaring lion. seeking
whom he might devour. The preachers horse
was hitched to a troe outside the schoolhouse.
where the revival meetings were held. and af-
ter pronouncing the benediction he walked out
and made ready to mount.
Il will ride all night" he said. and 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 Universalist
was a man who did not believe In q hell. and he
thought a man who had tackled Generalization
INV ihLiN oi'h uhu hhONhSu o ObIl Oubs
could hold his own against any OF these new
tangled ideas. The first night OF the debate
the crowd included Methodists. Baptists. Pres
byterians and Complexities, member OF
all denominations and no denominations.
not only from the immediate neighbour
hood. but also from the country around
Perry. the Black Bear settlement. the
old Fort Supply trail. and the Chllocco Indian
school. There was great curiosity to see the
ThA-N $50. -~k - ~ - ALN
Universalist Church in the house or in the
larger crowd outside. and Mr.. Gano did not
measure up to the popular expectation OF the
man who had come into the community to
challenge its most cherished beliefs. But the
debate had not gone far when the audience
began to have a better understanding of him.
He quoted Scripture by the yard. which de-
stroyed the preconceived prejudice based on
the impression that he was against the
Bible" With this prejudice removed the crowd
was ready to listen to him. Abe Downs asked
II the Universalists believed in the Bible.
"Of course we do" said Gano.
From kiver to kiver ?" Abe asked.
Every word Of It," was the answer.
Then go ahead. mister" said Abe. an
we'll see that you git fair play"
There was never another de bate In Oklahoma
! In which the referees were so hard worked.
Tho Universalist proved himself a tough GUS
toner. Mr.. Price said q man who would aual-
: ify 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.
An he talks about a hell OF consclencel II
] can pin him down on any one point OF doc
trine I've got him where I want him. In my
opinion a hall without fire is no hell at ALL
Amen" 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 Dalton 2
Where's Cherokee Bill ? Where's Jesse Jamesi
Are they all in heaven ?"
A howl arose. but the preachers practiced
eye and ear detected that 1t was not one OF
encouragement or approval. He had insulted
the memory Of dead men the glory OF whose
! achievements Oklahoma has not yet forgotten.
To add to his discontinue the Universalist
saw his opportunity and improved 1t.
II will answer that question" he shouted.
"by saying that those brave men. who. taking
their lives in their hands,. 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 all to hell. II seems to comfort him to
think OF them writhing In the flames He
should remember the Scriptural ommand and
not seek to sit in judgment on his fellow men"
Why couldn't he said Judas IscariotS"
shouted Shad Gilman.
( "Or Benedict Arnold ?" yelled Otis EldridRe.
In the commotion the preacher and his ad-
herents raised the point that the Universalist
must stick to the issue Of hell or no hell. On
that rock the meeting broke to pieces. One OF
the referees drew a pistol on the other because
he could not see how there could be a hell with
out fire. or how every man can carry his own
he'll around with him. The meeting broke up
in disorder and without judgment, but the Rev,
MI. Gano says he is meeting with great encour-
agement In his effort TO ORGANIZED Universalist
congregation.
THE REFINED BURGLAR.