Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 8
August 16, 1956
NUMBER 15, PAGE 5

The Contract That Was Violated

Fanning Yater Tant

For many weeks prior to the Abilene debate I had been corresponding with E. R. Harper looking to the publication of our speeches. I had repeatedly offered to give him additional space for the inclusion of his "Answer" to my Lufkin arguments, if he desired it, since it was so generally recognized that he had failed to answer them during the Lufkin debate. I asked, however, that he send his "Answer" to me prior to the Abilene debate, that I study it, make whatever response to it I saw fit within my Abilene speeches; and we would then include his booklet in the printed volume.

In response to that offer, which I considered more than generous, Brother Harper replied with a jeering, insulting letter, refusing to send his booklet, and heaping abuse on me for even suggesting such.

Consequently, when I signed the contract (produced herewith) I was very careful to see that it did provide for the inclusion of my debate pages ("How N.T. Churches Can And Can Not Cooperate") and did NOT provide for the inclusion of Harper's booklet in answer to the Lufkin debate notes.

Here is the contract. Read it carefully.

State Of Texas: County Of Taylor:

This agreement entered into this the 29th day of November, 1955, by and between Chronicle Publishing Company, a Texas corporation, hereinafter referred to as Chronicle and Fanning Yater Tant, hereinafter referred to as Tant, witnesseth:

1.

During the week of November 27, 1955, Tant is to engage E. R. Harper in a religious debate at Abilene, Texas, such debate to be held during 4 evening sessions. Chronicle is a religious publishing organization and desires to publish the text of said debate in book form for general circulation, and, of even date herewith, is entering into a written contract with E. R. Harper, the adverse party to Tant in said debate, obtaining thereby the permission of E. R. Harper for such publication.

2.

For and in consideration of the agreements and covenants contained herein, the undersigned Fanning Yater Tant hereby grants, sells, conveys and assigns to Chronicle Publishing Company full, complete and exclusive rights, insofar as he is concerned, to record, transcribe, publish, bind and sell the actual text of the discussions and arguments carried out in said debate and specifically agrees that he will not grant such rights to any other person, corporation, organization or group.

3.

In consideration for the agreements herein set out, Chronicle Publishing Company agrees to fulfill the provisions hereof, and to sell copies of the completed published work to the undersigned Fanning Yater Tant for the cash price of $1.875 per volume, FOB, Abilene, Texas, it being understood that the pre-publication price of such book is to be $3.00, and after publication is completed, $3.75. It is likewise agreed that Fanning Yater Tant will not sell, or offer for sale any of the volumes purchased hereunder for any price less than $3.00 per volume before the date of actual publication and $3.75 after the date of publication.

4.

In connection with the actual preparation for publication, the following are made conditions hereof:

A. Manuscripts of the entire debate will be furnished to Tant and E. R. Harper for approval. Failure to return the proof pages within fourteen days from the date of the receipt thereof shall be considered approval of the proofs.

B. No changes will be made in the actual text of the debate except corrections of punctuation.

C. If he so desires, Tant shall have the right to have a one page preface or introduction to be included in the publication.

D. The publication of the debate shall include a complete copy of a booklet written by the undersigned Tant entitled "How New Testament Church Can, And Can Not Cooperate, Or What Is Wrong With The Herald of Truth."

E. In the event Chronicle does not have the book in publication by June 30, 1956, the rights hereby granted to Chronicle shall cease and be of no force and effect.

Witness our hands this the 29th day of November, 1965.

CHRONICLE PUBLISHING COMPANY

By: /s/ James Walter Nichols

President

/s/ Fanning Yater Tant

What Happened?

1. I was NOT given the full page proofs.

2. My debate notes were NOT included.

3. Brother Harper was given SIXTY PAGES for additional material.

4. Notes on my LUFKIN speeches were inserted without my consent and over my protest.