Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1870-08-12

QUAsoUEToN, BUCHANAN go.

Theological Discussion.
QUAsoUEToN, BUCHANAN go. |
AUG. 8, 1870. !
Mr.. EDITOR During the past
few days public discussion has
b0en held at this place, between
Rev. j. Bowman, A. NJ. Presiding
Elder of Fayette district, and Elder
Bennett, Mormon, hailing from
IlliEois. The questions of dispute
were as follows:
LIST. Resolved that infants are a fit
subject for baptism.
End. Resolved that immersion In
water is the only action constituting
water baptism.
Sd. Resolved that the kingdom of
Christ, as established by Him, the
prophets and His apostles. has con-
tinued until the present time.
4th. Resolved that baptism is a
saving ordinance and essential to
salvation.
Upon the first and third of these
questions Elder Bowman argued the
affirmative and Mr.. Bennett the
negative, and Uice versa upon the
second and fourth questions. A
brief synopses Of the argument Is all
that can be given. .... ..
Elder Bowman, upon the first
proposition, established the fact that
Gods covenant with Abraham in
cluded the children i'm the church,
this covenant was perpetual, hence
they belong to the church of God at
the present time. He also cited
scripture to prove that circumcision
was the initiatory rite into the an
cient church, and was administered
at eight days old. Baptism is the
initiatory ceremony for the church
in the new dispensation hence he
claimed that as infants belonged to
the church, or possessed the thing
signified, they were proper subjects
for the baptismal sign. Es"
Mr.. Bennett acknowledged that
children are In the church, but
claimed that faith is a prerequisite
for baptism, Mark XVI, 16: "He
that believeth and is baptised shall
be saved ; but he that believeth not
shall damned" He demanded a
direct command for infant baptism.
Mr. Bowman replied first by saying
that he never knew baptist of any
authority to admit that children be-
longed to the church, and claimed
that by this admission his opponent
had virtually surrendered the ques.
tion "For, if baptism is the door to
the church, and if infants are within
its walls, they must either have ent-
cred 10y baptism or have climbed up
some other way, and inspiration
declares the same to be a thief and a
robber." The elder denied that
faith Is essential to infant baptism,
and stated that the text quoted refer
red only to adults,,sfor it also said,
He that believeth not shall lie
damned" And thus, because in
fants are incapable of faith, the gen.
tleman's logic would send all the
children to eternal darkness. In
answer to the demand for direct
instructions in regard to infant bap-
tism, Mr.. Bowman said 1t was no
proof against infant baptism if no
such command could he found 40
express command was on record for
female communion, family prayer,
or II number of other important ordi-
nances of the christian church, yet
this fact did not initiate against
them. He found, however, a posi- :
tive command i'm the commission OF
Christ to His apostles, go We, there
fore, and teach all nations, baptising
them in the name of the Father and
of the Son and the Holy Ghost."-
AS the term "all nations" certainly
includes children, the elder had
found command for infant baptism.
Mr., Bennett opened the discussion
of the second question Ton the mode
of baptism) by quoting Matlh Ill,
10: "And Jesus, when he was bap-
tised, went straightway up out OF
the Water" &c, also quoted the
words Of Christ when he raid Fol
low me as | follow my Father
From the former text he claimed
that if Jesus came up out of the wa
ter he must have been immersed
and In the latter text he discovered u
command to go and do likewise
He also cited to Col. Ill, IL, Buried
with him in baptism, whereby you
are also risen with him through the
faith of the operation of Cod"
Mr.. Bowman replied that Johns
baptism was not christian baptism,
and, further, If it was, he commended
that it was not necessarily by i'm.
mersion. The elder showed that the
Greek proposition apo, translated
out of, in this instance, never meant
to come from under, but always sig
nified From The proposition upo,
which means under, the gentleman
declared nerer was used i'm connec-
ton with water baptism. He show
ed by an analogical chain of reason
ing that sprinkIing was generally
used in connection with the ceremo-
MES of the church. lin reference to
the passage of scripture, hurried
with him in BAPTISM" he demon.
s.rated that 1t had nothing to dc
with water baptism whatever.
Mr.. Bennett, not being a Greek
scholar, labored under considerable
difficulty, and stated that he wished
to conform strictly to the English
version of the scripture, however he
was ready to believe that his oppo,
nent was honest in his opinions OF
the Greek propositions. ne tho't
that there was no case of sprinkling
upon the Bible record of Christian
baptism.
Elder Bowman opened the discus
sion on the question Of the continul-
ty of the church, in behalf of the
affirmative. From the supreme
divinity and power Of Christ he
proved the impossibility of any foe
being able to vanquish him, He
quoted Is. TX, g. "For unto us o
child is born, unto us son is given ;