Humor in the Rutherford - Troy Debate!

Kind of silly I know, but I just had to share this first page of the 1915 Rutherford - Troy debate after it made me crack up so much! After going over the positions of both Rutherford and Troy, notice in particular the stated position of the neutral chairman...

April 22, 1915.
Thousands Hear Opening Debate On Question,
"WHERE ARE THE DEAD?"
Rutherford and Troy Resort To Bible To Solve Man's Future State
Lawyer, Minister Discuss Life Beyond

Are the dead "dead?" Following are versions of a lawyer and a minister:

LAWYER RUTHERFORD:

• Man is a soul; man dies, therefore the soul dies.
• If the dead are perished, as the Bible states, how could it be possible for such creatures to be conscious after they have perished?
• If Lazarus was at all conscious during the four days that be was dead and in the grave, why is there no proof thereof in the Bible?
• Jesus didn't tell Lazarus to put off his asbestos coat and come up out of some conscious condition to Martha.

MINISTER TROY:

• Paul taught: Absent from the body; present with the Lord.
• Remember the passage: "He whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."
• Man is spirit, body and soul -- three distinct things; spirit being a soul, being immortal and existing eternally in some condition of consciousness.
• I would to God that the ministers would rise up and teach the word of God correctly.

RABBI I. MEYERS, CHAIRMAN:

Maybe if we live long enough we'll all die and find out for ourselves.