Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-05-16
Reform Better than Revolution.

Reform Better than Revolution.
Editor Rutland Herald Verify the
world moves Not only the political
but the religious energies of the hour,
are bursting the limitations of arbitrary
restraint, and reaching out for broader
and more productive fields of usefulness.
| desire to get your attention to. and
Republication of, an article in the New
York Tribune of the 18th inst, setting
forth the position of the pastor of the
Lee Avenue Baptist church in the city
of Brooklyn, on the subject of the ordi-
nances of baptism and the communion.
The position is exactly that which, as
a Baptist, in all except technical mem
bership, I have believed and steadily
maintained, these forty years, against
the prevalent conscientious but mistaken
practice and polity of our denomination.
l do most sincerely and deyoutly re-
joice in the perpetual aggressive power
of truth, not only in the political, but
in the religious arena of life, and that
the fruits of it's steadily advancing con-
quests can. only be postponed, but never
defeated.
am most Respectfully,
A BAPTIST, BUT NOT BIGOT.
rat the request of our correspondent
we reproduce the report of the sermon
alluded tO.-ED.
An unusually large audience greeted
Mr. Smith, last evening, in consequence
of the announcement that he would
make plain exposition of his well
known liberal tendencies. Toward the
close of his sermon Mr.. Smith stated
wherein he differed from most of his
Baptist brethren. Said he:
| hold strictly to Believers Baptism.
I know no baptism but Immersion. I
recognize baptism as the accredited door
of the visible church. But 'GOd look
eth upon the heart" and the humble
disciple believing that he has rendered
obedience to the command, ''hath the
answer of a good conscience toward
God" This liberty of conscience, both
the spirit and history of the Baptist
church teach me to respect. ''To his
own master, and not to any church trib-
unal, is he responsible. His communion
at the table is with God and not with
men. Christ left no form of invitation,
but he did leave a commandment: 800
this in remembrance of me- Therefore
all forms are of mans devising, and not
of Gods appointment. 1t is the dnty
and privilege of the minister to announce
the Lords Supper. The deacons, the
hOnOred bearers of the vessels Of the
Lord, are to serve the tables, and not
to act as a detective police. If a men
were at the table of whose bap-
tism | had a doubt, | would dis
turb him with no question, nor
would | withhold the bread and
wine. Let him partake, and at an early
date strive to teach him the way to J0r-
don. If knew that he was never bap-
tized-but he honestly believed that he
had Obeycd the law-I would let him
partaie, and afterward show him the
need and mode of baptism, for a com
n!ate fulfllmcnt of the law of Christ.
Wherever | find the Lords table | claim
the right, as the Lords disciple, to par
take, for, even according to the striCteSt
creed, | have met the law of the feast,
and have a right to the banquet. If it
is the Lords table | have a right to it.
If it is not, break no law and incur no
guilt. | recognize all churches, WOr-
Shipping Christ as the divine Savior, as
branches of the vine planted on Calvary
and climbing the one cross. Errors in
doctrine they may have-the glorious
church of my adoption is not herself per
feet Christ, formed within a man the
hope of glory, constitutes that s!au my
brother, whatever his creed. country,
color. or condition. There is. too, a f'l-
lOwship of Gospel labor, and rejoice in
the glorious brotherhood of men. any
where and everywhere, working for the
benefit of mankind and the glory of God.
Each is my brother, by whatever dec
trinal sign he may be known.
NV church is in full fellowship with
the Association. The great majority of
my church. if forced to vote, would
vote open communion. | should depre-
cate such action. A church which re-
quires open communion as a condition
of membership, is as 'prOsCriptiyc as one
which makes close-cOmmuniOn a condi-
ton of membership. | would not pat
over the door of my church. Freewill
Baptist or Bond-Will Baptist, Open-com-
muniOn or clOse-COmmuniOn, but simply
The Baptist Church. Let us close up
the ranks in the grand army of the Lord
and fight" not battle for minor points
of creed and distinctive titles, but 1.-THE
good fight of faith" giving all hail aud
fellowship to every soldier of Christ
whatever may be the special inscription
upon his banner, or the cut and color of
his dress. So long as Christ is his cap
tain, the cross his sign, and victory over
sin his aim, we are one. A healthy spir-
it of gospel liberality is daily growing
in the Baptist Church, and before it big
otry will fly like the shadows of the
night before the rising of the sun.