New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-12-12
Jewish Ilitcs-Baptism.
Npptr NJ

NEw-i DIRK, Nov. 20, 1875.
II. NJ. Moan, ESQ.,:
Dear Sir: While reading your very interesting ilustra
tons OF Hebrew laws and usages published In The Tri
6une was rather surprised TO meet the declaration that
Baptism Hebrew rite and beg leave to say that
shall be grated BY being enabled 10 see the eTitences
Of he fact and to have your opinion Of the origin othe
rite. My attention having been directed to the nvest
cation OF the Ancient Mysteries, have become Satisfied
that species OF Baptism was prectced therein, before
the foundation Of the Hebrew Commonwealth, in India
Egypt Greece and Britain; and those Mysteries. in
the remote antiquity their institution were intended
TO preserve pure worship OF the Deity, and the rans
mission of the traditions OF the early ages Of the human
family the ritual mast have had origin, but
was not aware that Baptism had been incorporated into
the Jewish rites.
There is also another point which wish to understand
better 1t is this "lf she still refused to change her
faith or become prosey,e of,hc gate observe the
.srsa rrecp.. Of the sons OF Noah" sc. Wha, are the
seven precepts referred to- and whence they de-
rived The cid Contributions Of tie Freemasona speak
Of the three Principles of Noah and it seems probable
that tne three and the seven descend from the
source Undoubtedly many OF your sources of inorna
ton are contained in what sealed books, or
would only trouble you for the references and hope you
viii pardon for thus attempting to give you addition
nllabor am, dear cir, respectfully yours,
JAMES HERRING,
Grand Secy Grand Lodge S. H. Y. HOuara House, NJ y
IT. N. Noak's Reply
shall proceed cheerfuly to reply to Mr.. Her
rings questions seriatim.
Circumcision and Baptism were the initiatory rites
for the admission of Hebrew children into the estab
lished religion and these two rites were insepara
Bile from the earliest periods but they are not both
of the same divine authority. The impression
know prevails, that Baptism received its original
form, and derived its observance from the apostle
John, who baptized Jesus in the Jordan, but it is
evident that the Baptism by John, was the induc
ton to new faith and not new practice. Jesus,
born Jew had received the ini,iatory rites in in
fancy, and understood them well. Maimenides-
great authority always among Jews and Christians
as wise interpreter Of the law-says, (lssur bah
Cap 49, Israel was admitted into the covenant by
three things: by Circumcision, by Baptism, and by
Sacrifice Circumcision was in Egypt, as it is said
none uncircumcised shall eat the Passover. Bap
tism was in the wilderness, before the giving OF the
law, as it ia said Thou shalt sancty them today
and tomorrow and let them wash their garments
and sacrifice as il is said 3" and he sent the young
men of the Children of Israel, and they offered
burnt offerings, they offered them for all Israel
The origin of Baptism. dates from the time OF
Jacob. when he received into the Church the young
womeuof Schem and other heathens who lived with
him Jacob said 10 his family, (Gen. xxxv. p and
10 all that were with him, put away from you the
strange Gods and be We clean and change your gar
rnents." Eben Ezra, also great authority, applies
the words be ye clean" to the washing and puri-
cation of the body;-hence the origin OF Baptism.
1t is certain that heathens who become converts
to the religion Of the Jews, were admitted by CIR.
cumcision and Baptism was Unexpectedly joined
TO it,
Whenever" says Mamenides, "a Heather is
willing to be Joined 10 the covenant of Israel and
place himself under the wings Of tho Divine majes
tv and take the yoke of the law upon him volunia-
rily, Circumcision, Baptism and Ablutlon are re-
CURED This practice continued to the reign OF
Solomon bat at that period. other nations became
proselytes in such vast numbers that they were re-
ceived by Baptism washing only. Some time
elapsed, say thirty DAYS between Circumcision ana
Baptism in order TO give lime Tor the wound 10 heal;
the child was then brought TO running stream,
called gathering Of the waters, and plunged IN.
If a man. the Triumviri or the Judicial Consistory
charged with this duty when placed In the water
instructed him in some of the weighler obligations
of the law, and plunged him in. so that every part OF
the body was immersed, not the Zip OF finger was
left exposed hence the difference between sprink-
ling ard immersion in Baptism Ii an lsraellte says
Maimenides finds Heather infant and oaptzes
Church. and Baptism was always administered by
persons regularly ordained, or appointed for that
purpose and witnesses and written testimony were
necessary to prove the fact Proselytes however
were unwillingy made at all times. Tor many were
tenacious of their old customs and fell again to IDOL
airy, 50 that finally Baptism was gradually aban,
doned and it is only now practiced when Christ
ian female desires 10 become Iewess, and then
under very considerable restrictions and ceremonies
You will thus perceive that the rite OF Baptism
49, rp.a
interpreters OF the law, was pronounced Jewish
rite and followed Circumcision
"a Proscivte Of tie Gate" is the next point
about which YOU ask for information There were
two kinds of Prosely testhe first OF the Coren0nt-
the second Of the Gate The first, though OF Gen-
tile birth were admitted to all the privileges OF the
Jews: they worshipped in the same Court OF the
Ten,ple with the Hebrews. while others were pro
hibted and were partakers OF all privileges. Divine
and hr nan. The proseytes o. the Gate were Gen
tiles who were admitted 10 the worship OF the GOD
Of Israel and the hopes of future life, but who
were not Circumcised. These Proselytes, although
permitted TO worship in the Temple could not enter
The same Court with the Prosely:es OF the Covenant
but were deemed unclean and a special Court
assigned to thern called the Court OF the GentIes
they had distinct place where the law was eS-
pounded 10 them, they were not denlzens OF Jerusa-
lem In the New Testament, Proseytes OF the Gov
enant are called merely Proselytes, and Proselytes
Gus fact, and but little known. that the first prose
lytes to Christianity the Prose!ytes OF the Gate
Their condition being free and unconstrained, merely
scmJews the transition anotherialt was easy and
natural and as they were most numerous IN Inc no
man States they were the first cause OF the spread
ing of the Gospel although Jesus of Nazareth never
addressed himself to them but always to his breth-
rem who like himself, were born Jews, and were
not 80 by adoption.
as YOU say, Masonry knows only OF three, common
ly called the Noahchides. are as follows:
/. a remuneration of all IDOLS;
II. The worship of the true and only God
Ill. To commit no murder;
" Not to be dehled by incest;
v To avoid rapne, theft and robbery
VI. To administer justice;
VII Not to eat flesh with blood IN It,
This was the Common Law that prevailed from
the time that Noah left the ark until the arrival OF
the Jews at the foot of Mount Sinai The law OF
Moses is the codi,icaton OF the Common Law, as
IL Il llnI o.a.