Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-09-09
ORIGIN or EnsTlna RELIGIOUS slcTs.

1t is fact worthy Of consideration,
that church history gives US the origin
of all present existing denominations,
except Baptists. Theirs has never been
found, unless it be conceded, as they
claim, that they were the first, and for
many years after Christ the only denom-
ination. Mosheim, the learned Pedo-
baptist historian, admits that the origin
Of Baptists is hid in the remote ages Of
antiquity. Later historians and learned
Pedobaptists, such as Neander, Bunsen,
Schaffe, and others, acknowledge that
there are no traces of infant baptism un-
til the third century, while baptism by
qfasion instead of immersion was of
much later date. Both evidently orig
mated in that error which about the third !
century first began to prevail, that bap-
tism was essential to salvation. Hence !
infants, it was concluded, must be bap-
tized or forever lost. At first only the
sick and those apparently near death,
and who on that account could not be i'm
mersed, were sprinkled. But the cases
where health first, and then convenience,
required exemption from the cross of be-
ing immersed, we're gradually extended,
until in the Catholic or Roman church
the practice became general. This was
not, however, until after the division in-
to the Eastern (or Greek) and Western
{or Roman Church, as since called,) and
hence in the Greek Church immersion
has ever been exclusively practiced.--
But from the time of Sylvester, or about
the year $50, when the Catholic Church
assumed its distinctive features, claiming
universal dominion under their head
bishop, or Pope, as since called, there
has ever been people who rejected the
pretensions and many of the doctrines
f and practice of the Roman church. The
principle of the latter was infant baptism,
TO enjoin which the anathemas of coun-
? cils were employed. These Dissenters
held to believers baptism as alone author
lied by the Scriptures, and rejected in
fant baptism altogether, however perform
-. ...e essoviN ot1arcif ,,y nm
: mersion or the Roman Church by sprink-
I ling. Whatever name these sects were
: known by, during the long period from
) Constantine, in the fourth, to the Re
formation, in the middle of the sixteenth
= century they were substantially Baptists.
: The name, Baptist, however, given, no
e doubt, by way of derision and contempt,
J. carries with itselfmuch more evidence in
D favor of immersion as the only scriptu-
= raj baptism than is generally thought.
!. In spite of all the teaching and canons
of the Roman Church, the masses of the
a people considered immersion alone as
S baptism, and hence the dtppers, as they
: were sometimes called, have alone been
: stigmatized baptists as if no other sect
e did baptize, however they called them
e sprinkling or pouring.
4 But while the origin of Baptists is
4 thus hid in the remote ages of antiquity,
!. as Mosheim admits, that of all other de-
nominations is clear and distinct. The
early quarrels between the Greek Church
at Constantinople and the Roman Church
at first a mere struggle for supremacy
. of power and influence, e,--resulted as we
have stated, in the establishment of the
a distinct churches Of Roman and Greek
e type, as they remain to this day.
e Out of the Roman or Catholic Church
n proceeded directly or indirectly all the
: principal sects now existing in this coun.
9 try and Europe, Baptists excepted
i The Episcopal or Church Of England
; originated in secession which bad it.
n origin at first in the quarrels of the king
it Of England with the Pope. This rup
Is ture came to open rebellion on the pari
Is of England, under Henry VIII, anc
re here was the first beginning Of Englisl
As Episcopacy. The King of England wa
d substituted in the room Of the Pope a.
ID the head Of the Church, and hence ,h,
ID g Church Of England"
ID Methodism was secession from th'
+ English Church, at very recent period
OF under John Wesley and other pious met
p who could no longer endure the col'
le Journalism Of State religion.
The reformation Of Luther was but
- similar secession from the Roman Churcl
= at an earlier period. So, too, Presbyte
" rianism under John Knox and Johi
- Calvin. The latter. too, bad come ou
Of the Roman Church, disgusted viii
:" many Of lis doctrines, claims, and prac
tees; and from these four great seces
sions have originated all The other Ps