William Landon Oliphant

William Landon Oliphant
Born	(1900-02-23)February 23, 1900 Mounds, Indian Territory, Sapulpa, Oklahoma
Died	May 7, 1947(1947-05-07) (aged 47) Searcy, Arkansas

William Landon Oliphant (23 February 1900 – 7 May 1947) was an American Protestant preacher and polemicist.[1][2]

Biography

William was born into a non-religious family, his parents were named Edgar and Ida. During his studies at High School, William's family changed their place of residence several times: Oklahoma, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oaks. While in New Mexico, William found a copy of the Bible in a shepherd's hut. His family began to study the book, after which they began to lead a religious life. After graduating from High School at Oaks, Olyphant attended Western Oklahoma Christian College. Later William went to the University of Oklahoma, where he did Pre-Law work, eventually graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School in Dallas, Texas, and was accepted into the State Bar of Texas.[3] A year later, Thomas Jefferson High School awarded him a JD degree.

He married Bertha Thorp (15 November 1899–16 November 1996) on 4 October 1817. They had two daughters: Eleana Mae Oliphant, and Landa Lois McCool. Oliphant was a Minister, Oak Cliff Church of Christ, Dallas, Texas.[4]

Oliphant is known for his debates on the topic of religion. When he was about 15 years old, he conducted his first debate with a Jehovah's Witness. In January 1935 in Dallas, Oliphant held a debate with John Richard Rice, a Baptist evangelist and pastor.[5] Most notably, he debated Charles Lee Smith, President of the American Association for the Advancement of Atheism of New York City, on August 15 and 16, 1929.[6] This debate was published four times in book form from 1929 to 2013.

Works

• The way of truth. / by Horace W Busby, W L Oliphant. 1927
• A Debate Between W. L. Oliphant, Minister, Oak Cliff Church of Christ, Dallas, Texas and Charles Smith, President, American Association for the Advancement of Atheism, New York City: Held in the Church of Christ, Shawnee, Oklahoma, August 15 and 16, 1929 / F. L. Rowe, 177 p. 1929.
  • 2nd edition: Gospel Advocate Company, Nashville, Tennessee. 177 p. 1952.
  • 3rd edition: M. Lynwood Smith Publications, Wesson, Mississippi. 177 p. 1983
  • 4th edition: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. 180 p. 2013
• The Oliphant-Rice Debate On 1. Return Of The Jews To Jerusalem, 2. Personal Reign Of Christ At Jerusalem, 3. Baptism For Remission Of Sins, 4. Apostasy : Conducted At Dallas, Texas, January 15-18, 1935 And January 22-25, 1935; Stenographically Reported By / By W. L. Oliphant; John R. Rice. 572 p. – Hardcover, 1935
• What is God like? : And other sermons. / Austin, Texas: Firm Foundation Pub. House, [1937?]
• Sermons of W.l. Oliphant Volume 1, DeHoff Publications, 172 p. (January 1, 1957)
• "Truth in love" / Dallas, Texas : [publisher not identified], [195-?]

References

1. W. L. Oliphant (1900–1947)
2. Gospel Preachers of Yesteryear, by Loyd L. Smith, pages 257-261
3. William Landon Oliphant
4. Gospel Preachers of Yesteryear, by Loyd L. Smith, pages 257-261
5. The Encyclopedia of Religious Debates Volume 3 (M - S), 2019 / р.123
6. A Debate Between W. L. Oliphant ... and Charles Smith