Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-12-20
Grand Sec'y Grand Lodge S. ~ Y. Howar.
House, ~ Y.
M. NJ. Noah's Reply.

shall proceed cheerfnlly to reply to Mr..
Ilerring's question seriatim.
Circumcision and Baptism were the initiatory
rites for the admission of Hebrew children into
the established religion =; and these two rites
were lnseparable from the earliest periods, but
they arc not both of the same divine authority.
The impressions know prevails, that Baptism
received It's original form, and derived its obser.
vance from the apostle John, who baptized Je.
Gus in the Jordan, but it is evident, that the
Baptism by John, was the introduction to a new
ta,,h and not new practice. Jesus, born Jew,
had received the initiatory rites in infancy, and
understood them WELL Maimenides-great
authority always among Jews and Christians.
as wtse interpreter Of the law--says, Issur
Nah Cap. 49, "lsrael 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 sha II
cat the Passover. Baptism was in the wilder.
aess, before the giving Of the law, as it is said,
"Thou shalt sanc,ify them to-day and tomorrow
and let them wash their garments and sacrifice,
as 1t is sald' "and he sent the young men of the
Children Of Israel, and they offered burnt offer.
ings, they offered them for all Israel"
The origin of Baptism, dates from the time
OF Jacob, when he received into the Church the
young women OF Sichem, and other heathens
who lived with him. Jacob said to his family
(Gen. xxxv. p and to all that were with him,
put away from you the strange Gods and be
ye clean, and change your garments" Eben
Ezra, also great authority, applies the words "Gf
ye clean" to the washing and puridcstion of the
body hence the origin of Baptism.
1t is certain tha, heathens who become con.
ver,s 10 the religion Of the Jews, were admitted
by Circumcision and Baptism, was inseper.,s.
iy joined to it
Whenever" says Maimenides "a Heati,en
Is willing to be Joined to the covenant of Israel,
and place himself under the wings of the Divine
majesty, and take the yoke of the law upon
hlm voluntarily, Circumcision, Baptism, and A.
blulion are required" This practice continu.
I'd to the reign of Solomon, but at that period
other nations became proselytes in such vas,
numbers that they were received by Baptism
or washing only. Some time elapsed, say ,hir.
ty days between Circumc ision and Baptism in
order to give time for the wound to heal the
child was then brought to a running stream
called gathering of the waters" and plunged
in. II a man, the 1iiumpiri or the Judicia
Conslstory charged with this duty, when placed
IN the water instructed him in some of the
welghlcr obligations Of the law, and plunged
him IN, so that every part OF the body was i'm
mersed. not the tip of finger was left exposed
hence the difference between sprinklng ant
immersion in Baptism. lf an lsrselite, say,
MaimeRides, finds Heather infant and Ia
tizes him tor proselyte, he becomes membe
OF the Church, and Baptism was always admin
istered by persons regularly ordained, an appoin
ted for that purpose, and witnesses and writer
tesmony were necessary to prove the fact
Proseytes however were unwllingly made q
all times, for many were tenacious of their ol,
cnsloms, and fell again to idolaty, so that final
ly Baptism was gradually abandoned. and it i
only now pracrced when a Christian fenal,
desires to become Jewess, and then unde
very considerable restrictions and ceremonies
You will lhus perceive that the rite of Bap
ilsni dates from the time Of Jacob, and by th,
wisest interpreters of the law, was pronounced
JEWISH rite and followed Circumcision.
"A Proselyte Of the Gate is the next point a
bout which you ask for informslion. Their
were two kinds Of Prosely es--ths fret Of III,
Covenant the second oi the Gate The frs