Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1871-05-18
A PUZZLED DUTCHMAN.


One who does not believe in immersion
for baptism was holding q protracted
meeting, and one night preached on the
subject of baptism. In the course of his
remarks, he said: Some believe it nes-
essary to 60 down into the water, and
come up out of it, to be baptized. But
this is claimed to be fallacy, for the
proposition ''into" of the scriptures
should be rendered differently, for it
does not mean Unto" at all times.
Moses" said he. I'VE are told, went
up into the mountain, and the Saviour
was taken into high mountain, etc.
Now, we do not suppose that either went
into mountain, but unto it. So with
going down into the water; it means
simply going down close by, or near, the
water, and being baptized in the ordina-
ry way, by sprinkling or pouring"
He carried this idea out fully, and in
due season and style closed his discourse,
when an invitation was given for any SO
disposed to rise and express his thoughts.
Quite number Of the brethren arose
and said that they we're glad that they
had been present on this occasion; that
they were pleased with the sound sermon
they had just heard, and felt their souls
greatly blessed. Finally, a corpulent
gentleman of Teutenic extraction, q
stranger to all, arose and broke the
silence, that was almost painful
"Mr. preacher. I ish so glad I wash
here tonight for I has had explained
to my mint some dins dat could never
pellet before. Oh! am so glad dat into
does not mean into at all, but shust close
Ply or near to, for now can pellet man.
ish dings vot I could not pellet pefcre.
We reat, Mr.. preacher, dat Taniel
was into de ten of lions and came out
life! Now, I meier could petite dat, for
de wilt peasts would shust eat him right
off; now it ish ferry clear to my mint.
He vas shust close py or near to, and It'd
not get into de ten at all. Oh ish so
glad I wash here to-nigh!
Again, we reat dat to Heprew children
wash cast into de irish furnace und dat
air alwish lookt like poog story, too ,
for they woult have peen purnt up; put
it ish all blain to my mint now, for dey
were shust cast near py or close to de
irish furnace. Oh! I ish 80 glad wash
here tonight
"And den, Mr.. preacher, it ish said
dat Jonah vas cast into de sea, and taken
into de whalesh pelly. Now, l meier
could pellet dat. It alwish SCENT to me
to Pc q peeg feesh story, put it ish all
blain to my mint now. He wash not
into de whalesh pelly at all, put shust
shumpt onto his pack unit rote ashore.
Oh! I wash 90 glad I wash here tonight
"And now, Mr.. preacher, If you will
shust blain two more passages of Script
ures, shall Pc. oh! 90 happy dat I wash
here tonight One Of dem ish we're it
saish de wicked shall Pc cast into lake
dat purns NIT fire und dat birthstone a.
retty. Oh! Mr.. preacher. shall 20 cast
into dat lake If I am vickedf or shust
close py or near TO, shust near enough to
Pc comfortablef Oh! I hopes you dell
me I shall pc cast only shust py . good
way of, and I viii Pc 60 glad I wash here
tonight Do odor bsssage is dat vich
saiah. blessed ere dey who do desc COM
mandments. dat dey may have rich to de
dree Of life. unit enter in troo do gates Of
do city. unit not shust close pr or near "a,
shust near enough tosss VT / hat lost,
unit ] Ghpll 20 % glad I wash tonight"
From he &ay Spcnqlcd Bonner.