The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1914-01-31

Morrilton, Ark Jan. s2, 1914
Sometime In December, last, Otis
l. Spurgeon, Of Dcs Moines, Iowa,
came 10 Morrilton 20 deliver some
patriotic lectures, and during the
process Of his work challenged the
priesthood Of the Romish system as
lewd and immoral "a Paulist
Father" different from the'ordin-
AIRY father) resented the accusation
end the outcome Of the affair was
That a joint discussion wss arranged.
An agreement was entered into by
the disputants, as follows:
TO WHOM IT NAY CONCERNS
We, the undsrsigned. agree 20 de-
bate publiely a. horralton, Arkansas,
The qucstioni
RESOLVED, THAT THE RoMAN
CATHOLIC PRIESTHOOD Is A
IEcHERoUs BUNCH OF WHITE
BLAvERS.
The following are the conditions regu.
hating the debates
1. Father Bouifaoe shall deposit $500
with the Bank Of Morrilton, Arkansas,
which shall he forfeited a. follows
300 shaIl b. given 20 Otis L. Spurgcou
IN case Father Boniface fails % ap.
poar; aud s4OO II Mr.. Otis l.. Spurgcon
wias the debate By proving 10 the jury
that the charge Il correct.
2. Otis l. Spurgeon IL % deposit
800 for the security Of his appearance,
which amount shall be forfeited 90
Father BOnifaoe, II Mr.. spurgeon fails
3. The forfeit money IN both eases
is 10 Be deposited with tho bank Of Nor.
rilton, the first day Of December. 1918.
4. The Jury Is 20 b composed Of
twelve Protestants Of Morrilton. Ark,
one 20 be chosen BY Otis "a Spurgeon,
one By Father Bonifaoe and these two
thus chosen shall Jointly choose ten 9th.
ers. This Jury shall decide for or
against on the force Of the evidence pro.
dueed.
IS This debate shan be held At Nor.
rilton, Arkansas, beginning In the sec.
ond week Of January, 1914, on Tues.
day evening Of the thirteenth. The
hour Of beginning each debate shall be
at 7;s0 o'clock p. m
9. Three copies Of this agreement
shan Be made and duly signed before a
notary public by the two parties con
oernod heroin. Thess copies shall be IN
the possession Of the follovingi One
copy shan be IN the possession Of Otis
Il. apurgoon, one In possession Of Father
Bonffaas, and the third In the possession
Of the Bank Of Morrilton.
z. A chairman selected BY the Jury
sAall eondnc1 the dabats and shall pos.
ossI nll tks poWsra ef . presiding Judge.
q Ia prosccution shah take up the
Arsi AsB Il saeh evening, the defense
the sseanA, and this process shall con.
time throughout the debate until each
theme n completely covered. When
both parties have finished, they shall be
given q like time each evening 20 com.
plete the rebuttal. and said rebuttal shall
be based upon the original debate only.
Time shah be given for the Jury 10 pre-
pare their verdict which shall be rem.
dered the night following the last re.
buttal.
(signsd) oru L. sPuEoEoN,
For tie prosesutisa.
(SigneO p. BoEuACE, o. s. B.,
Fer TIE defense.
Signed IN my presence, . notary public,
this Dec. !, 1918. A. O. STOvER,
Notary PubIi&
The required amounts were post
ed and the proposition agreed upon
Rs above stated.
In preparation for the debate a
large tent was procured, comfort
ably seated and by the date set ev-
erything was in readiness. The
MENACE had mentioned it several
times and the interest was world
wide, as no such discussion had TAX
en- place in this country for many
years. The question itself created
additional interest and on the open
ing day many strangers were in
the splendid little southern city
ready for the unusual affray.
Some difficulty was experienced
in securing a Jury, but q few min
utes after time for opening the first
session the following men were nam
cd by agreement of both disputants
]. B. 0'Neal, @. r. Wood, G.. H.
Taylor, j. A. Eads, ID. X. Osborn,
J. NJ. Rhoades, ] V. Rhoden, Joe
Michau, Z. Z. King, J. Z. Tolbert,
A. Z. Poteete and c. r. Street; all
Protestants living in Morrilton. The
jury selected Judge G. II. Taylor
chairman, who explained the condi-
tions and introduced Mr.. Spurgeon
as first speaker.
Mr.. Spurgeon lost no time getting
into the subject. he began with a
statement that priests are human
and that humanity is much the same
everywhere, dwelling on the weak
nesses Of men in every walk Of life,
showing that his surroundings have
very much to do with his conduct.
His contention was that the priest is
surrounded with snares and dangers
and, as other men, he is liable to
fall, but he introduced evidence
from Ex-Priest Crowley to show
that the priest has more opportun-
ity than most men to 60 wrong; that
4 a