History Commons^™

The Pratt-Newman Debate, Robert Duane Hatch

Theses and Dissertations

The colorful history of Mormon polygamy has many interesting stories to tell, and one of the most interesting is that of Rev. Dr. J. P. Newman's debate with the Mormon Apostle Orson Pratt on "Does the Bible Sanction Polygamy?" This debate was held at the New Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, Utah, on August 12, 13, and 14, 1870. Newman was the Chaplain of the United States Senate and one of the foremost preachers of Washington, D.C. His appearance in Salt Lake City to debate the question of polygamy was a national topic. Probably never before, nor since, has so …