The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-10-18
Eos rHE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
DALE on JOHANNIC BAPTISM.

Is aa immersion Of tie ,clo7e body alader
Catsr essential to a Script'val performance
Of that'ordiRapce, commonly called Baptism,
vhjeh tie SGri0ar snj0jaed upon his folloV-
ers, WheR lsggiRg tie lgorld2
The affirmative of this question is unhes-
itatingly asserted by one denomination of
Christians at the present day. Our Baptist
friends boldly take the ground that the Sa-
viour commanded his disciples and their sue.
eessors to immerse the entire body of pro.
per subject under water. They believe that
if the ends of tie fingers, or the tip of the
nose were left uncovered by the liquid ele
ment, theordinanco would beimperfectly per-
formed. The great body of the Christian
world, including Episcopaliaus, Lutherans,
Methodists and Presbyterians, believe that
the application Of water to the person con-
stitutes the Baptism which the Saviour in.
tended This diversity Of opinion causes
unhappy divisions, often separating between
members Of the same family, even at the
very table of the Lord. Now, on what side
soever the blame may rest, it is evident there
is something very wrong; and VhOsOeyer oc-
casions that division places barrier in the
way Of that oneness for which the Saviour
prayed just before he left the world.
An agree that the main object Of inquiry
here is, What is the true meaning of that
word BY which the Saviour pointed out the
physical performance Of the ordinance called
Bapt.sm2 An cannot read the Greek Tes-
lament, and those who cannot must rely on
the statements Of others in whose Judgment
they can confde. Now all agree that the
original word sounds Bqptidgo, or something
very like it; but the question arises, What
does that word mean! Baptist ministers
say it means to pet entirely under tie acater,
and that it can mean nothing else They
prefer the word immerse. They object to
the word DIP, as they think it sounds disre-
spectful So we VIII not use it, although it
is the only word which expresses a sudden
putting under and taking out Of the water.
Those who hold to immersion in baptism have
no hesitancy in saying that any professed
performance Of Baptism otherwise is, in
reality, no better than a shan; and that the
persons said to be baptized in any other way,
are not baptized, ahd consequently not mem
beTs Of churches a. all.
Now it is evident that if our Baptist breth-
ron are correct in saying that the original
word Baptidzo means immerle, and immerse
only; or, as Doctor Carson, a leading Bap-
list has said, that 1t means, "djp and 8ip
onlg" then they alone have been favored
with the only true meaning of the word
All the learned men Of other denominations
have, by some strange means or other, been
blinded, and have never yet ascertained the
true meaning Of one Of the great commands
Of the ascending Saviour. There is but o1e
alternative 70 this conclusion, and that is,
that they hare understood ,ho word as Bap-
lists Dc, but they are unwilling to obey the
command as it is given, and sought out a
way Of tier own. Now if this be so, they
are unworthy the name Of Christians. They
are living in rebellion against Zion's King
and Baptists are right in excluding them
from their communion, and from the name
Of a Church Of Christ. But here let me
ask els there not at least a possibility that
they themselves may labor under mistake
Of some kind? Have there not been in,
stances in which objects have been pursued
sincerely and laboriously, and not found, be
cause not sought in the direction or place il
which they lay? Is it not very common
thing for Baptist ministers and authors tC
lay peculiar, may not say, chief stress upor
Lexicons or Dictionaries Of the Greek Ian
guage, when treating upon the meaning o.
the word Baptilzo? and then to rely upOr
the first meanings found in those Dietiona
ries.
1t has long been the opinion Of many tina
the word in question had never received tina
thorough and exhaustive examination whiel
its merits required. In order to settle thi
point if possible, DR.. James W. Dale, years
ago, formed the intention of tracing i
through the entire field Of Greek literature
Perhaps no man iying was better qualified
for such an undertaking. lie possessed al
almost yernaeular familiarity with the origi
nal languages. lie had all the facilities tina