The controversial speaking of Alexander Campbell

357 Pages·016.444 MB·English

by  Ellis, Carroll Brooks

THE CONTROVERSIAL SPEAKING OP ALEXANDER CAMPBELL
A Dissertation
submitted to the Oradtiate Faculty of the
Louisiana state university and
Agricultural and Mechanical Collage
in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
in
The Department of Speech
by
Carroll Brooks Ellis
B*s## North Texas state Teachers College# 19*11
M.A.i Louisiana state university# 19^5
August# 19*19
UMI Number: DP69350
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MANUSCRIPT THESES
Unpublished theses submitted for the master*s and doctor^
degrees and deposited in the Louisiana State University Library
are available for inspection* Use of any thesis is limited by the
rights of the author* Bibliographical references may be noted* but
passages may not be copied unless the author has given permission*
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res trieticns *
LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
119-a
AomanMDomma
Thm witar Is grateful to Professor Waldo w.
Brtdaa of tho Department of SpMoh, Louisiana stats Uhl-
varalty for his assistance throughout this study* Also*
tho writer wishes to express appreciation to his wife
Ellen Ellsahsth Moors Bills* for her enoouragement and
■tQpart.
The writer wlshos to thank Anne Jane Dyson*
Reference Librarian* BUI Memorial Library* Louisiana
state Ohlverslty* for hsr aid in scouring materials
through tho in tor-Library Loan* Also* the writer is In­
debted to Claude Spencer* Curator of tho Disciples of
Christ Historical Society and to Roemol Henry* Librarian*
College of the Bible for making available their deposits
of Information• Also* the writer wishes to thank the
fhUlp Pall Christian Church* Frankfort* Kentucky* for
permission to use the Philip pan Letters*
11
tabxe op contents
CHAPTER PAOE
INTRODUCTION ........................ 1
x. alxbxon oat toe frontier..................... 1*
XX. HOBOES WHICH MOLDED AX8XAMSBR CAMPBELL
INTO A SPEAKER........... .............. 60
XXX. TOE OWEN DEBATE..........................
XV. TOE PURCELL REBATE........................ 182
V. THE RXCS DEBATE................. ... SAT
VI. AH EVALUATION OH AIEXANDER CAMPBELL AS
A DEBATER...................... 322
BXBLXOORAPH?................ 336
BIOQRAPHT .................................... 3A6
111
ABSTRACT
Theological debates were a vital part of the
religious life of the Old Southwest from tho close of the
second Great Awakening* 1805* until tho Civil War period*
Tho emotional wave which engulfed tho frontier gave way
to rationalized theology* dogmatic and argumentative ©
The presence of people with a heterogeneous religious
background* the large number of religious sects strug­
gling for supremacy* to which was added the rugged ln~»
dlviduallsm of the frontier* the readiness to question*
and the spirit of boastfulness* demanded that those who
had conflicting religious opinions discuss them* Religious
debates bee asm the order of the day* and were at least
equal in importance to the political debates*
Alexander Campbell was one of the leading debaters
of the period* He was bom September 12* 1787* In Ireland*
but moved to America In 1809* settling In western Virginia*
m 1812* Alexander and his father Thomas Campbell launched
what they called ’the Restoration Movement* In which they
were seeking for the unity of all Christians on the basis
of the Bible* The movement ultimately resulted In the
formation of a religious group known by three names* Church
of Christ* Christian Church* and Disciples of Christ*
Because Alexander Campbell9o Ideas were in conflict with
many of the frontier denominations* he engaged In at least
iv
nine religious defeat***
Through tte* lnflumt of his father* his training
at OUtgov aiiftrsltyi and his personal study* Campbell
had acquired both speech training and philosophy which fit­
ted him for the role of a religious debater* perhaps his
fame in American religious history is due* in great measure*
to his skill as a oontreversal1st. His debates first
brought him to public attention* sued were his most pro­
ductive efforts in the Restoration movement. They have
am even wider signlf loanee * for they are outstanding ex­
amples of typical speaking situations which affected the
Uvea of people on the American frontier#
This dissertation is a rhetorical study of Alexander
Campbell the controversialist * as revealed through his ef­
forts in hie three most important debates* In 1829* in
Cincinnati* Ohio* he discussed with Robert Owen* the
Scottish socialist* the validity of Christianity. His
next major debate* in 1837* also held in Cincinnati
with Bishop M r B* Purcell* one of the leading American
Catholic clergymen. Although seven different propositions
were discussed* in reality the subject was Protestantism
versus Catholic ism • In 1843* Campbell debated the
Reverend V* L* Rice* a noted Presbyterian minister at
Lexington* Kentucky* on the subjects of baptism* the Holy
Spirit* and human creeds* These debates were held In large
v
Heli or tho Hpenents wee euteteadingl the do-
M h ettreeted vide ettentlen* Fupthtmie# tho Owen,
PurnU, m d Rice dlHuesione were taken down in short-
hsnd# and tho printed record woo certified by both speak­
ers as cor root.
Campbell looked theological discussions as
an effective technique by which to disseminate his views*
Be felt, however, that debate was of value only when he
had a qualified man as an opponent* ones an opponent had
been agreed upon, Campbell insisted that rules of debate
be drawn 19, moderators appointed, and stenographers em­
ployed to take down Hie discussion in shorthand in order
Heat the debate eould be published*
judging by modern standards, Campbell was not
much concerned about the wording of the propositions
to be discussed, for only in the alee debate were the
prepositions clear and well stated* Campbell's strength
lay in analysis, organisation, and in gathering material*
Meet of his arguments were not original, but he exhibited
a comprehensive understanding of the questions discussed*
!Be quoted from Hie Bible, ancient historians, church
fathers, classical writers, skeptics, lexicographers,
Bible commentators, reformers, and modern church leaders
with readiness*]
Without exception he attempted to associate his
v i
cause with truths gave evidence of sincerity ana setea
«ith tael ana wodtmtlaio /Even though to was discussing
tore* aiftamt highly txplo«iv« questions* tort Is »o
indication ^ tttr looting ttttrtl over his
totlom* 8is wmnir n s m e like a lawyer pleading
hi* c«tt bftgori a Jury ton a frontier p m a t o d*»ousa~
ting a rival* ton appeals to tto esatim war* a»pltto»
toy ear* usually novtn Into his logical argument^
Because Campbell was nor* concerned in advancing
hi* own eat than In m ^ r l t g objteti<m8« he aid not
place major amphaale upon rebuttal . to used all or to
special technique* or refutation# hut only ton to thought
the refuted point would advance his cause* He was wore
suited for the affirmative than toe negative in a debate*
for to was essentially a builder*
Campbell was weakest in adapting his Material to
the audience . This Is partly true because In each of
toe three debates to was as aaieh concerned with the read­
ing public as with tte Immediate audience* His Interest In
the ptolistod reports led him to read hin affirmative
speeches in toe Hies debate* to Introduce scans arguments
which to acknowledged were not for the audience# but for
the reading public* end to present in seme Instances an
/%
cver-abuwdanc* of evidence* (to did employ admirably the
techniques of amplification? repetition* restatement.,
wii
examp;tea* rhetorical questions* and figures of speech.
Be declined* however* to «qdoy huseor.)
Even though the Owen* Purcell* end Klee debates*
were held In large auditoriums * there was never enough
m s to eeet a n these who desired to attend* The dally
news paps re earrled reports of the debate* end often
Hated the argusents* The published reports were widely
circulated both in this country end In Ex^land*
Xn spite of sons deficiencies* Alexander Carapbell
was an effective debater. Be was well qualified to use
religious discussion as a technique to advance his
cause*
vill