The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1872-07-31
PROGRESS

The following article taken from the Baphs
Union win be read with much interest by many who
feel that progress iu that line is a good thing,
The spirit Of liberty among Baptists is on
the gain. The reform is encouraging; the
tide sets strongly in favor of the ancient
Baptist platform; the change is marked. AT
first We met emphatic denials of the existence
Of liberal views among ministers or church
es; next came an angry growl, and warnings
Of dire consequences, il the subject of free
communion was agitated; then came appeals
and protests, assuring US that the discussion
was doing injury, making the rigid more
rigid, and causing division; threats of ex-
clusiOn for liberal views followed, with
charges Of disbonor against those who cher
ished them and still claimed to be Baptists
then the storm abated, and the currents of
feeling became more pacific; then it was con,
fessed that free communion sentiments were
gaining rapidly and must ultimately prevail;
and now men, who but recently threatened
brother MalcOm's church at Newport, and
brother Smiths in Brooklyn, and the Cal
very church at Westerly, ctc., with exclu-
sion, arc advising forbearance, and suggest
that large liberty should be allowed to the
several churches in this matter.
The change is remarkable, much beyond
what we dared to expect in so short time.
Many Baptist churches only practice free
communion, aud the pastors boldly defend
it a still larger number are practicing it
quietly, under the plea that, "If PedObap,
lists are disposed to come to the table, they
do it on their own responsibility" and thus
the reform is steadily progressing; the Bap-
tist denomination is swinging back upon the
good old platform Of liberty upon which they
once stood, and for which they sOrely suf-
fered.
But the reform is yet far from complete !;
there is much work still to be done. Free
communicates are now only endured; they
deserve to be fellowshipped and hOnored as
regular and true Baptists. The several
Open-eommunion Baptist bodies are held
aloof and denied all sympathy or ecclesiasti-
cal recognition. They ought to be regarded
as true members Of the great Baptist family,
and be cherished, encouraged, and aided &C
cOrdingly. We shall yet attain that con-
summation; We are approaching it. The
time win come when Baptists viii not be re-
fused a letter Of commendation when they
wish to unite with a Free Baptist church !;
when they viii not be charged with leaving
the Baptist denomination if they do so unite (;
when both open and close communion church
es viii be regarded as equally members of
the Baptist family. At present prejudices
are strong against such brotherly recogni-
ton. Even Baptists who hold liberal views
often live under the shadow Of F. Baptist
churches and decline to unite because they
dislike to "leave the Baptist denomination; !"
and f. Baptists do the same thing for the
same cause. We have known wealthy Bap-
fists to assert that they would on no cOndi-
ton assist a f. Baptist church or institution
Of learning, that they would sooner aid the
Pedobaptists than such "loOse Bapsists. ?"
This is al wrong and must be cOrrected.-
Both parties suffer from this state Of affairs.
A great many families are deprived of church
privileges and deprive churches of their sup
port on account Of this wretched prejudice.
When al evangelical Baptist churches are
regarded as practically one, Of the same
great family, these thousands viii be gath
cred in and both receive and impart bless
ing.
Moreover, in many places there are two
weak Baptist churches where there ought to
be only one. The spirit of liberty and fell
lowsbip would speedily cure this evil. Then
there are MANY places where there is no
Baptist church, but ought to be and would
be if the entire Baptist element could unite
on a basis Of liberty aud forbearanee. De-
nOminationd prejudices and attachments
are the only hindrances. Then again there
are many growing towns where the Baptist
cause would be greatly strengthened by
planting open. communion churches. There
are thousands who desire to unite with the