The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-07-16
THE FAIRMONT- RELIGIOUS
DISCUSSION.
Some OF the Arguments Presehtcd--
Close of the COntroversysiAn In.
tellectual Feast. '. go

FAIRNoNT, July IL, 1872.
To the Editors Of the Intenlgeneer:
It Is impossible for me to give anything
like q correct summing up OF even the
main points in the debate. Igive, how
ever, few Of the more prominent ones
Your readers will understand, that the
word baptism, as used and understood by
both speakers, means immersion; this
being the belief Of their respective de-
nominations. s7.
Rev. Franklin did not seem TO maintain,
fully throughout, the position taken in
regard TO the meaning Of the word sal
walton; that is, that 1t meant dcllverance
salvation from past offences, and
not the eternal lie. The mega
tive said on this point, that as we oil
sin daily then he supposed we must keep
on baptlztng to be delivered from all sin.
To this the affirmative replied: "Sins
are first remitted by baptism, alter that
by prayer" A great deal Of dispute was
had over the meaning Of the word "for,"
in Acts II, 3S: "Repent and be baptized,
every one Of you, in the name Of Jesus
Christ for the remission OF sins, &C." The
meaning claimed by Rev. Franklin Is,
that "eYery one should be baptized in
order to the remission OF SINS" while
Prof Solomon says 1t undoubtedly means,
"be baptized on account Of, or because Of
the remission Of sins" it being u symbol
of washing away OF sin, or of death
to sin, and the resurrection TO a
new life. Prot. s. said that out
Of seventeen hundred and forty times
174O) which the Greek word, translated,
"lor" occurred in the New Testament, il
could be used only seventeen times in the
manner claimed by his opponent, and that
even'then, 1t was Of doubtful. use, and it
was certainly great risk for whole de-
nomination Of thousands to hold such u
weak point.
Both the brethren fully agree that with.
out faith, repentance, good works, etc, no
man can see God; they also recognize that
baptism is special ordinance of the
church OF Christ, and the great point Of
difference is simply in the prominence
given to the ordinance. Rev. Franklin
remarks that, "If-a mans heart isright,
he will 60 right into the water without
any hesitation" to which Prof. Solomon
replies, "If mars heart is right before
baptism, then baptism is not required TO
place 1t in that condition" The negative
says, that Rev. Franklin, by the very na.
ture OF the question, claims for the ordi.
nance OF baptism place second to no
other in the economy Of Gods grace; that
it is absolutely and positively necessary to
the salvation of soul, in and through
the blood oi Christ. While Prof Solo.
mon would not take from it an iota of
what is intended in the Word Of Truth;
yet he says, it is not the necessary thing
the great zone thing needIul" in order to
inherit eternal life.
Said Prot s., l object to the doctrine
OF my opponent because it raises mere
physical act to an equal ii not higher
dignity than the moral or spiritual, and be.
cause OF the evil influences of such doc.
trine in the earley ages OF the church. l
have shown that it is the doctrine out of
which sprang the Roman purgatory; and
as we judgeof the merits or dement's Of
given thing more by the actual results
which follow it than from any logical de.
ductions, am compelled 10 reject this
because Of its evil results. l have shown
that the design of baptism is
l. To make public profession OF faith
in the Trinity.
9. That it identifies the believer with
the family of the disciples of Christ.
3. 1t inducts the believer into the visi.
ble organization called the church.
4. 1t entities. the subject TO- particips-
tioh in the privileges Of church member
ship, one Of which is communion.
5. 1t unites believers into one body as
the visible manifestation of Christs
kingdom on earth.
Q. 1t is obedienca to the King in Zion,
and Is designed to show our love,for and
sub TO him.
Z. 1t is the symbol OF the washing away
OF sin.
8. It is the symbol of faith in the res.
direction of Christ.
0. 1t is the symbol of death 10 sin and
the resurrection to now lie,
In his closing address Rev. Franklin
made brief summary Of his arguments,
and dwelt for a time on the passages OF
scripture already quoted, saying that these
were the foundation of his belief, and
that he asked nothing but plain render
ing Of the'sacrcd word Us we find it. He
objected TO the course OF his opponent in
bringing in translations other than the Of
King James, the one in common use, and
did not pretend to answer any of the ar
guments thus presented. He also decid-
edly objected to the position assigned
him by his opponent, in saying that he
Franklin) must believe that all infants,
idiots, the heathen and all unbaptized per.
sons would be lost. The negative answer
ed that this was certainly implied, in the
arguments presented by his friend.
Rev. Franklin advocated his doctrine
and sustained his points with a tact and
ingenuity that show him to be 0n; n;e2pert
In this kind Of work. During the three
days discussion / did not sec him take a
note or refer to any book. Bis last words
were truly eloquent.
Prot. Solomon's closing remarks were
certainly triumph in oratory and soul.
power il not in argument. Said he
"Why,if we. must believe. the doctrine
that my brother Holds, and carry It out
literally, 1t will almost depopulate heaven
Where are Chalmers, Butler, Doddridge
Watts, White6eld, the Wesleys and all
that innumerable multitude which has
passed away2 Where Is the dear Sbabc
whose body I laid away in the cold, damp
earth? Where is my dear old father
whose eyes / closed in death years ago
o no, no, my beloved; I cannot think
UiA not think, that the poor, sin.burdened
soul that comes to God through Jesus
and accepts the salvation purchased by
his own most precious blood and is faith
iul unto deathi-I cannot think, ever
though the rite Of baptism never be per
formed, that he will be lost" To be un
derstood and appreciated this language
must be heard from the lips Of the one
who uttered 1t.
On Friday evening the discussion was
| hrouohf IN q n1oao Tba onaa karo nptf,rT nf