Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-09-24
BAPTISM.

The following question and response, we
find in late number of the N. Y. Evening
Star; andthinking it might be interesting to our
religious readers, we give it place in our col
umns Various modes of Baptism have been
adopted by the several popular denominations
of Christians ofthe present day, but none, ex-
cept Episcopalians and Methodists, we believe,
adhere to the primitive and ancient mode, viz
immersion and pouring. These two denomi-
nations believe either to be sufficient; and al
ways leave it to the candidate for baptism to
choose the mode. Baptists consider baptism
invalid unless the person is Immersed while
Presbyterians contend that sprinkltng with
water is all-sufficient. Either of the three
modes, in our opinion, is correct, if the heart Of
the person baptized is correct he " must be
born Of loater and the SPIRIT" The mode of
baptism, therefore, must be considered as non
essential;;" no matter in what way it is per-
formed, if the heart of the individual is not
right, either mode is ofno effect All Christian
denominations are travelling the same path,-
and their little differences in non-essentials,"
should never cause them to forget that UNTTYin
the'HoLY CATHOLIC CHURCH is the best mean
to gain proseytes and to confound the infdel.
Our business, however, is with politics we
were led to these remarks from the interesting
response ofMajor Noah.
Mr.. EditOr:-Listening with great in
terest few evenings ago to discussion
between 2 learned persons belonging TO
the Baptist Church, on the subject of Zap.
lism, together with the long disputed point
of immersion or sprinkling, | was surpri :
zed to hear one Of the dsputants say that
baptism was Jewish rite, and that the
dispute on sprnkling or immersion could
only be satisfactorily settled by the Jews.
Having always been impressed with the
r conviction that Baptism was the substitute
for circumcision adopted by our Savior,
and never practced by the Jews, | have to
beg Of you any information you may pos
sess on the subject c. b.
Certainly. Baptism is a Jewish rite
but only practiced among proselyies
Children born of Jewish parents were
circumcised; but the initiatory rite for thu
' admission Of children into the established
e religion, was by circumcision and baptism
the one by divine authority the other b.
custom. 4
Maimonides, the highest authorit,
). among Jewish writers, says, assure Bid
}, Cap. 10: Israel was admitted into tn
; covenant by three ihings-by circumcis
ion; by baptism, and by sacrifice. Cir
cumcision was in Egypt, as it is said non
: uncircumcised shall eat the passover
,r Baptism was in the wilderness before tn
D giving Of the law, as it is said, I" Thou shd
sInctifb them to-day and tomorrow, an
: wash thy garments and sacrifice"
= All the Heathens who became convcr'
d to the Jewish religion, were circumclse
le and baptised and this practise continue
until the reign of Solomon, when the IN
portance and commercial wealth and cha
- acter ofthe kingdom produced such a rus
! of emigrant proselytes thar they wei
received with baptism and oblatlons onl
and to female converts to Judaism, baptisI
80 is practiced to this very day.
: We have always considered Baptisr
- in addition TO circumcision, as conhne
:; ~ 10 proseIites only, and we trace it to Il
te the very earliest age ofthe Hebrew hatlol
!. Jacob received into the Jewish church II
women Of Sichem and other Heathens
IS his community. The text reads, Ge
= 35 p" Jacob said to bis family and
n all that were with him, put away fro
- - you the strange gods, and be ye cle'
= and change your garments"