Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1871-02-25
A. Puzzled Dutchman.

4 Wisconsin secular paper contains The hd;
loving good story: One who Hoes not believe
in immersion fnr baptism was holding pr'-
tractci meeting, and one night preached oh
the subject of laptism. In The course of his
remarks he sa!il Some believe it necessary To
% down uto The water, anil to,ne out Of the
wattf hdp,iSei But this he clsiincd to he a
iallacy, for the proposition " iiito" of the
Scriptures should be rehaeftt differently, as il
does not mean inio at all times. Moses" he
said, awe atr told, wentup Into the mountain,
and the Satioht Nas taken h,b high in6ht-
tain, etc Now 'st 10 not suppose that either
went into the mountain, bu, upon it. SO with
going down into tic watef, il means simply
going down to OF heat to tle water, and being
bapti.ed in tie ordinary way by spfinkling."
He Garfield out this idea fully, and in due
season and style closed his discourse, when ali
invitation was given to any who felt disposed
to rise and express their thoughts. Quite a
number Of the brethfen arose and said that
they were glad that they had been present on
this occasion, that they were well pleased with
the sound sermon they had just heard, ahd ftl,
their souls greatly blessed Finally a corpui
lent gentleman Of Teutonic extraction, strana
ger to all, arose and broke silence that was
almost painful, as follows:
"Mister preacher, ish so glad wash berc
tonight for hash bat exspaned TO my mint
some tings never could pellet pcforc. We
reat, Mr.. Breacber, that Taniel was cast into
ten of lions, and came out alifc. Now, never
could pclicve dat, for dc wilt peasts would
shust eat him up right Off; now it ish fiery clear
to my mint llc vas sbust close py or near to,
and lid not get into de ten at all. 0, wash
so glad wash here tonight
Again we read dat de Hebrew children vas
cast into de frish furnace, and dat, sir, alwash
ook't like a peeg story, too, for they would
have purn't up ;pu, It ish III plain TO tiy mint
now, for they were shust cast loose py or near
to the frish furnace. o, | wash so glad wash
here tonight
And den, Mr.. preacher, il ish said dat
Jonah was cast into the sea, md into de
whalcsh pellcy. Now, ncver cotld pclief
that. 1t alwaish seemed to nc 10 be pccs
feeSh story, but it is all plain to my mint now,
he wash not taken into dc whales pclly at all,
but shust shumped on his pack and rodc
ashore. o, | vosh so glad wash here tonight
And now, Mr. Breacber, il You will shust
exbain two more bashsgcs Of Scriptures /
shall pc, o. happy that vas here Tonight
One Of them is vor. IL saish dc wicked shall pc
cast into lake dat purns with fire and prim-
stone always. O, Mister preacher, shall PC
cast into that lake il | am wicked, or shust
close py or near to, Shust near enough to be
comfortable? o! hopes you tell me shall
pc cast shust py good way off, and will te
so glat as vas here tonight. The other BASH
age ish that which Ssh, pcssed are they who
do these commandments, that they have u
right to the tree of life and enter in through
the gates into the city. o tell me shall gets
into the city aud not just close ny or near to,
shust near enough 20 see what hare lost, and
| shall be so glad vas here Tonight
lie sat down with the impression made OF
many minds present, that it would do TO take
The Bible for only what il clearly says.