Douthitt-Warren Debate
Cecil B. Douthitt of Brownwood, Texas, and Thomas B. Warren of Fort Worth, Texas, have signed propositions for a four nights debate in the meeting house of the South Houston church, South Houston, Texas, beginning Tuesday night, October 23, 1956.
I. Propositions.
1. The scriptures teach that a church may contribute money from its treasury to another church only (1) when the receiving church is unable financially to supply adequately for the physical want of its own indigent members, and (2) when the purpose of the donation is: "that there may be equality," or mutual freedom from want of physical necessities.
Cecil B. Douthitt Affirms Thomas B. Warren, Denies 2. The scriptures teach that one church may (has the the right to) contribute to (send funds to, render assistance to) another church which has assumed (undertaken) the oversight of a work to which both churches sustained the same relationship before the assumption of the oversight.
Thomas B. Warren Affirms Cecil B. Douthitt Denies
II. Rules To Govern Discussion
1. The disputants will conduct themselves in harmony with Christian principles.
2. It shall be the duty of the moderators to see that order is maintained. They will allow no one to speak except themselves and the two disputants. They shall see that all personal reflections (either of the disputants or of any one else) are kept out of the debate.
3. The debate will be held October 23 to October 26 (four consecutive nights) or October 22 to October 27 (six consecutive nights), if this is later agreed upon by the disputants.
NOTE: It will be a four night, not a six night, debate.
4. Each night both disputants will have two thirty minute speeches. These are to be delivered alternately.
5. On the last night of the debate, Thomas B. Warren will have a fifteen minute rebuttal after Cecil Douthitt's last speech.
6. The discussion will be held in the meeting house of the South Houston church of Christ, Palestine and Pennsylvania Streets, in South Houston, Texas.
AGREED, Cecil B. Douthitt AGREED, Thomas B. Warren
The debate will be published in book form.
Gus Winter, 63 Church Road, Levittown, Long Island, New York: "Assisted the brethren in distributing 1000 Just A Moments announcing our spring meeting with Robert D. Bankes of Longview, Texas doing the preaching from June 10th through the 17th.
"Distributed 600 church bulletins. Distributed 165 gospel tracts and booklets (assisted by brethren). Contacted 262 homes in East Meadow while passing out announcements of our Gospel Meeting. Made 18 additional house to house calls in Levittown. Taught four adult Bible classes with average attendance 22.
"As a result of our meeting, two were baptized, a young man and his sister, so that every member of Blaine Matthew's family who have reached an age of accountability are now members of the church of Christ. Emogene Way, a school teacher from Rural Hall, Tenn., on a visit with her sister, Helen Baither, accepted a position in Jericho School District and becomes a most valuable addition to our working force.
"Four brethren, on the closing night of the meeting, confessed wrongs and sought forgiveness by repentance and prayer. The opening service on June 10th broke all previous attendance records at East Meadow, with 96 present. Six teams cooperated in house to house visitation. A good interest was sustained during the entire meeting. Brother Bankes taught a children's class averaging 25 in attendance a half hour before each service.
"Had airmail request from Joe McKissick of Johannes-berg, South Africa for tracts accompanied by this heartwarming message: 'For some time I have intended to write you about special tracts for Jewish people. I associate with a few Jews in my daily rounds and believe a half dozen or so of your tracts could be well used. You have a hard but long overlooked field of work and I certainly follow all your work with greatest interest. May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob continue to bless you with health and success in this good work.' We have sent him several copies of 'The Messiah Has Come' with others.
"A Jewish lady from New York related to a prominent Jewish family paid us a visit on June 25 and agreed to distribute 50 copies of my tract 'The Messiah Has Come' to Jewish readers in lower Manhattan. She believes Jesus is Israel's Messiah.
Several of our brethren, including the Schutz and Chris Baither families, called on us this past month and are assisting in distributing gospel tracts to those seeking the right way.
"On June 27, just before our mid-week service, we accompanied Brother Summerlin in calling on two colored ladies from Orlando, Florida, now living in Hempstead, Long Island. They promised to attend our Bible classes and worship services. Edward Hockey accompanied me in calling on an elderly Lutheran gentleman in East Meadow who seems interested and with whom we hope to have Bible study."
Robert H. Bell, 708 S. Baird St., Midland, Texas: "After ten years in California I have moved to Texas. The last four years and two months were spent in San Diego with the old 18th and "G" Streets congregation (now known as Seminole Drive). The old property at 18th and "G" Streets was sold and the church bought the present property in the College district. They moved to the new location February 1, 1955, and are located in one of the best districts in San Diego, and have one of the best opportunities for a good strong congregation of any place that I know of. The brethren who are in the lead are sound in the faith and are determined to see that the work will go on to greater heights. Brother Jerry Bassett was engaged to follow me in the work. He is a good preacher and sound in the faith. I predict for both he and the church a very profitable work together.
"The first of July I moved to Midland (Texas) to work with the Southside congregation. Brother Dan Clark had spent two and one-half years here and had done a good work. He is held in high esteem for his works' sake. We have had one baptism since I arrived. The church has a good program of work. They are supporting Brother Gilberto De Luca full time in Leghorn, Italy; and help two other mission places here in the States to the extent of 50.00 each per month. A short time ago a work among the Latin-Americans was started here in Midland and the brethren here at Southside are paying $60.00 per month rent for them a place to meet. We have a five-day (Monday thru Friday) radio broadcast over one of the local stations — KJBC — (1150 on your dial) each morning from 9 o'clock to 9:15. They have conducted this program for a number of years and much good has been accomplished, and we continue to see fruit from our efforts. If you live within listening range, tune us in each morning and let us hear from you. We can be heard in a hundred mile radius of Midland. When in, or passing through Midland, worship with us at 710 South Baird Street. Our phone number is MUtual 2-4166."