Smyrna times., 1869-06-16
lFor the Smyrna Times."J
The Baptist Question.
CAMDEN, June 10. 1869

| ~ OAMDEN, June TO- 1869
Mf E@'tor In discussing or criticizinp III,
"eooe OF Baptism, through the columns of Won
p%Pc:i' my SoIe OBJECT was to strike at the er
C'"Stoe"eSS, cF"eftteS and Superstttous dOgmas q
sect. L am one who believes tb.t o;+bo
pouring, Sprnkling, or immersion 1S r pI9S,,
Il, Il administered in the name of the Tr;n;tI,
me 4, scriptures warrant such construction,
Inc remarks, on my part, have been cour
leous. Inc points made have not been
answered, but, instead, | have been called
marsh names" hard hearted - "sott had
cd, Peacock" &c, &c.-taunted, rid;rnI@d
NY Wy article brought out blast in the Bant;st
V'S"of' trying to let his readers know what he
knew OF heGthen mythology con erning one
:, argus. 1t may have been acceptable to
tna' portion OF his patrons having good taste
a. - uouot IT, HOW 1t convinced them that
Argus was wrong cannot divine.
:. Again, to have insinuated that 7 wore tbo
d,Ignlhed title Of d. d., and then caricatnre
the ID. u. as peacock" for no offense
but writing and publishing respectable arti-
c'e In secular paper, and this too, not know.
ing that the " ID. ID. was the author of said
srtlce-only Suspecttng 1t, shows impudence,
ouch conduct would be disgraceful to gentle.
man; 10 say the least, it was shameless,
L nave to say that if Argus has any pride. it
Is that which constitutes selfrespect. and a
sense OF decency in writing for the public eve
ana ear. But L much prefer to be called a
G, peacock than to earn the cognOmen of that
nlihy olrd VINO lives on carton, and whose only
ever respectful and respectable. is to sn;t omt
the contents of his gorged storehouse What
a stock of goods! " -"'
A mans uncouth habits are to be excused
1or lack OF education and associations. but
When he deScends to abuse and contumelv there
Is no apology. In this instance immersion
seems to have done the candidate no good.
L have genuine respect and love for anv
Christian Baptist, whose heart is large enough
to concede the fact that Methodists are as con.
scIentlouS and intelligent as themselves. Those
who cannot 90 this have not yet learned the
nrst lesson OF Christianity May God
give them better mind.
L do not expect my Baptist brother 70
answer the 7rJune's cor. or the oddoad1
against immersion IN ,ointer, nor anv other
points made, nor to conduct himself So as to
meet friendly antagonist with decencv, and.
therefore, leave him. | am not going To
throw dirty water, and he has the advantage.
Of course.
=, Another good reason for disseminating is.
that he is QutGbIer. Il know that Bapf6 is a
Ureek word as well as he, and if he will read
m me correctly he will see it. A deyritire Bap-
."E0I uIuSI convey the meaning of the root Ban
to-. The root is translated in the New Tesfo.
ment three times dip" 'dippetb." din.
ped" y, Luke l6; "a John 10: 26, Rev. B BIg:
lS. The Baptists claim that dip means i'm.
'aers'9n' and yet the Syriac translation of the
second century renders (Rev. I9: I3l Bapfo
: 'Prinhled" The Latin version renders Vit it
: 1inctIna to tinge or stain. Bapto is also
endGred sop" the dipping of the head in
liquids to moisten before eating. Now. to in
list that either of the above means total smJ-
merging, shows On arrogance, intolerance and
ignorance, seldom met with. IT'S useless to
rgue and prove. Again, his declaration that
Wesley, as Methodist, taught boptismai re.
'eneratton. IT'S likely that he taught il befo,e
us conversion, and while laboring in the Eng.
sh church, but never after. To produce It
oT w, Is simply s'oindting the public).
The Baptist festival held here on Tuesday
venlng was a pleasant affair. The tables were
'ell supplied with rich delicacies of the season,
nu Ice cream In abundance. Had the evening
'e,en cen warmer the sales would have been larger
We noticed quite a number of Methodists
resent. They seemed to be welcome. and {
ere enjoying themselves. Methodists gener.
lly are liberal in pocket, doctrine and com.
'unlon, and count none common or un-
can whom Christ has received.
Yours, ARGUs