Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1867-09-12
10 the Christian put;;c

SUNG 'iihe III jury, 1000. or perhaps IN the
beginning OF the following month, august
was requested ia preach sermon on Baptism
at Union Meeting House in this county. This
request was presented 20 me By Rev. i. Miller
from persons residing in the vicinity OF hat
Meeting House; and the reason assigned for
sending ne such request, was, that some short
time before, MIR. Wine, a Tunker preacher
had as that place denounced with much vehe-
| mcnce and harshness tire ha ptizing Of nflnis
and The administration of baptism by sprink-
ling or pouring. In compliance vii this re
quest l preached g sermon or baptism ut that
place on the 26th Of August of the year above
named. Without here dwelling on the matter
OF that sermon, the next thing in this connsc-
ton that demands notice, Is, hat on the Sd or
4th day July of the present yeat, received
the following note, which give verbatim,
| ct lteratlTn ct puncua..m,' aad which seems
10 haze been called forth by my sermon, but
was nearly q year it coming and IS q mast err
ly ''reeonstrucion" OF English literature, and
speaks much Tor the literary and other attain
ments OF its author Here it is:
Gas understood that the Rev. Henev Wetzel
has eln chAlienclng The Breotnren Tor discussion
on baptism Therefore if he the Said wctzel will
a II N the doctrine he advocates Namely the
following Questions we viii negatiyeit.
DANIEL THOMAS.
First. That Infants are proper Subject for Bap-
tism and Stand in the Same relation toward Goa
as adults.
Second. That Emerson Pouring and Splinkling
are all Valued Baptism
he alhfmant opens. the discussion OF one houre
the negative is to have The Tenth 81 time
reply and after that each one Speak an bali houre
aito nateiv The Negative to have the coseing
Speach. and to have as much time as the afrJner.
Modaraters are to be chosen BY the parties to
keep o der.
Place and time for the discussion to be deter
mind on.
MAY 80. 1867 DANIEL THOMAS"
Immediately after receiving the above,
wrote he following. of which sent two copies
on the way t. Mr.. Thomas, the one was intcn.
ded to be returned to me after signing and hav-
ing it Witnessed, and the other he was to keep;
namely:
NEAR WOODSTOCK, Va, July 4th, 1867.
AS Mr.. Daniel Thomas's proposition relative
to discussion on Baptism is too vague and
Indefinite, and would moreover require me to
prove immersion written by him emerson
IS well as pouring and sprinkling while deny
immersion as tie mode as taught by him ana
his brethren; and as he has moreover omitted
one of his peculiar doctrines on this subject,
namely, his trns immersion .toce Jorword =
Therefore | will state the matter more fully
and distinctly to him: namely
LIST. | will prove by the word Of God OF Ho-
ly Scriptures hat the baptisng of infants is
true christian baptism and is right: and |
challenge him to prove by the same sacred
writings that it is not d true christian ba Dtisn
and that it is wrong
2nd. Thst it will be for him to prove by the
same sacred writings that trine immersion face
forward is the only mode Of christian baptism;
and will prove by the word Of God that this
his position is incorrect and untrue.
On The first Of the above two propositions
opee in the affirmative, and have the right OF
closing according to rule Of debate. On the
second proposition he, Mr. Thomas. opens in
the affirmative, and has the right Of closing.
The one who closes may reply to his opponent
and sum up and review his own arguments
and proofs, but is not to introduce any new
argument or proof, }herwise the discussion is
not closed. / shall claim the right OF correct :
ing any misstatement made in tho closing ad-
dress on the second proposition, and extend
the same right to opponent on the first. The
opening address and The first reply thereto on
each Of the two propositions are o be an hour
in length each; after that each speaker is to
have halfan hour, and illisalte1nately to the end
Of the discussion on each Of the two pro posi-
tons propose that the discussion commence
On the 29lh of this month. and that it be con-
Quoted at Mount Calvary Church in this coun-
ty, as it is III this section OF the country that
the controversy originated, so far as | am con-
celned i'll it, and originated through Mr.. Tho
mass brethren condemning the baptiz:ng of
infants. and condemning baptism without
trine immersion face forward. If one modera
tor can not be agreed on. each party chooses
one. and these, if necessary, select third.
In Testimony of our agree nent to discuss
according to the foregoing propositions ana
arrangements, we have hereuuto affixed our
respective names.
II. WETZEL, Evang. Lutheran.
Witness. Josesli Rcsenterger. Philip Sheet
......... ........., Tuuker.'