I Will Debate W. L Totty
Back in 1958 I debated W. L. Totty for four nights. We discussed churches of Christ building and maintaining benevolent institutions. The debate was held at Corbin, Kentucky. Brother Totty acted so mean that I declared I wouldn't meet him again. I intended to continue to discuss the institutional question with other men. I wanted to debate the issue at least twice a year from that time on. But from that day until this day I have never gotten but one man to debate me and that was Guy Napoleon Woods; and Woods wouldn't meet me unless I would permit Totty to help him. Since the debate, Woods won't debate me with or without Totty's help.
Not only does Woods refuse to discuss the question further with me but everybody else has withdrawn from the field. Not only have these institutional preachers refused to defend their innovations, but they all hide behind Totty. Everybody is saying "Totty will debate you." That's what R. A. Craig, of Shelbyville, Kentucky, said. But Craig won't dare bring Totty to Shelbyville. That's what Nelson Short, of Willette, Tennessee, said. But Short won't dare bring Totty to Willette. That's what Albert Hill of Louisville, Mississippi, said. But Hill won't dare bring Totty to Louisville. And that's what Alonzo Welch, of Jackson, Mississippi, said. But Welch won't dare bring Totty to Jackson. In fact, I publicly offered Welch $100.00 out of my pocket to bring Totty to Jackson to debate me.
I am tired of being threatened with W. L. Totty. Totty is just as easy to handle as was Guy N. Woods. And he is just as much of a Christian and just as much of a gentleman as Woods ever was. Totty has just as much regard for the truth as Woods. Therefore, from this day forward, whenever and wherever I can get W. L. Totty on the platform, we will discuss these institutional questions. Presently plans are in the making for Grider-Totty debates in Kentucky and Florida. And if the liberals in this section of Mississippi want to trust their cause to Totty, we will debate here I shall be most happy to sign propositions with Totty covering orphan homes and sponsoring churches, to be discussed in every city where we can receive invitations for such discussions. That's what I wanted to do with Woods and have pleaded with him for four years to sign with me. He won't do it. Will Totty? We shall see People changed to the side of truth in my other debate with Totty. And some said Totty's conduct had a lot to do with their change. So, let the mighty mite from Indianapolis be on his worst behaviour if it pleases him. I will be there with the truth and the truth will win out. Leave us get on with the discussions, Will.
Meridian, Mississippi