Russell-White Debate

Over the course of six nights—from February 23 to February 28, 1908—Charles Taze Russell and Lloyd Smith White engaged in a public debate at Cincinnati’s Music Hall on six propositions on scriptural teaching. During an eight-month correspondence with publisher F. L. Rowe, Russell requested that Rowe seek out a “fair, honorable, straight-forward servant of truth” who would be willing to undertake the debate. Rowe presented White as a candidate, and the two opponents divided the format into six propositions, each beginning with, “The Scriptures clearly teach …” This debate was transcribed by an objective stenographer and presented to the public.