Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 21
January 1, 1970
NUMBER 34, PAGE 9

A Good Debate

Voyd N. Ballard

On the nights of August 18-21 of this year a four nights public debate on the establishment of the church was conducted in the Veteran's Hall in Atwater, California. I represented the church in Atwater and Mr. A. A. Harris of Winton, California represented the Missionary Baptist church.

In many ways I consider this one of the best debates in which I have ever engaged in more than 25 years of debating. The debate was well planned and well advertised both by our brethren and by the Baptist people. Large crowds attended every session. Thirteen different congregations of the church in California were represented at the debate. Brethren from as far south as San Diego and as far north as the San Francisco area attended one or more nights, with several brethren coming from far away places and staying for the entire debate.

The Baptist people also attended well. In addition to a good crowd of local Baptist people every night their people also came from several different areas of California.

I had never met Mr. Harris before and I think he went into the debate with some misgivings due to the fact that there were a few preachers of the church of Christ in California that did their best to block the debate. In their efforts to block it they had contacted Mr. Harris several times before the debate and told him he would be sorry if he met me in debate. They told him that I was "mean," a "Mud-slinger" and many other things in an attempt to get him to back out of the debate. These attempts to block the debate backfired and in fact probably contributed to the good attendance we had every night.

The last night of the debate Mr. Harris mentioned the things that some had told him regarding me, and the following statement is in his own words as taken from the tape: "I want to say that Mr. Ballard has conducted himself in a courteous manner and attitude, and as a gentleman in this debate. I want to say this and I am sincere about it. Because of some things that were said to me before the debate by some people who came to me and told me that Mr. Ballard didn't conduct himself as a gentleman in debate. One particular man had a lot to say about Mr. Ballard, but Mr. Ballard has made him a liar. Just wanted to say this for I believe in giving honor to whom honor is due."

Brother Olen Holderby, preacher for the church in San Pablo, Calif., moderated for me in the debate and did his job well. Brother Holderby has written a report of the debate and has mentioned a few high-lights of the discussion in an article entitled "Baptist Explosions" so I will not go into any discussion of arguments in the debate.

Mr. Harris is an average debater of the Bogard type and did as well as any of them can. I left him propositions on the plan of salvation and if he signs them we hope to return to Atwater at a later date to debate the plan of salvation with him.

In addition to members of the church and Baptist we had several from various denominations in attendance. The brethren in Atwater will follow up on those that have indicated an interest in truth.

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