The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-07-16
For the Register.
The Baplists, Past and Present.


Few persons in this vicinity appear to
have every heard enough of the people
called Baptists, to enable them to form
any just ideas of their distinctive doctrines
or usages. Judging from descriptions
given by learned divincs and others, they
must compare unfavoraby even with the
Philistines, being noted for nothing so
much as for their turbulence and close
communion. A young lady of very con-
siderable attainments who had travelled
among the Baptists, in relating her
emotions when she saw the ordinance of
baptism administered, said "Shc really
felt as if some one was about to be hung,
for they 60 down into the water, and
there bury the candidate completely, as
If the water were a grave" Not long
since, some persons were discussing mat
ters relating to the Baptists, to whom for
while we lent listening ear in silence,
but at length ventured to enquire what
they knew of the Baptsts, and we we're
informed that they are strange people,
not exactly Mahommedans or gipsics, but
much to be dreaded. They are called
Christians but whether they use prayer
book or not, is not known. They are not
much liked by the Catholics, because they
reject almost every principle of their
doctrine unless it is the bare theory oil
the supreme existence. All other So
called religious denominations, endorse
more or less, the Roman Catholic creed
theories and usage. Nearly all retain
some modified form of hierarchy. Every
one has its sponsors for infants baptism
without which state churches cannot eX.
ist. Any church which holds to infant
baptism is for that cause liable at any
time to become a prosecuting church
The Baptists always opposed them al
and advocated freedom of speech. and ot
the press public schools, believes baptism
by immersion only, and the right to wor
ship God, according to the dictates o.
their own consciences without molestation
Hence the arm of persecution can never
be raised by them.
In the earlier history Of the church
they were severely prosecuted for thes,
doctrines by the Romansts and in modert
times by the puritans, and are still hateC
by all pedobaptists
Copies Of the original orders for tn,
despotsm of intolerance are herewith
subjoined as they stand en- the court re
cords, verbatim,
FOR THE BANIsnMENT OF ROGER WILLIAMS
1888 Whereas Mr.. Roger vii
Sept. 3d. lams one of the elders of tn,
church ofSalem, hath broach
ed and divulged dyvers newe
and dangerous opinions against the au
thorite Of magistrates, as also with other
of defamcon, Of the magistrates an,
churches here, and that before any con
viccon, and yet maintaineth the sam
without retraccon it is therefore orderel
that the same Mr.. Williams shall dept
out Of this jurisdiccon within sixe weeke
nowe nexte ensuing, web if he neglecte t,
peforme it shall be lawful for the Cow
and two Of the magistrates to send hil,
to some place, out of this jurisdiccon, no
to returne any more without licence iron
the court"
ORDER BANIsHING THE FOUNDERS OF TIL
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN BOSTON
l644 Whereas Thomas Gold (an
Nov. IL others, obstinate and turbu
lent Annabaptistes, hav
some time since combine,
themselves VIII others in apretende
church estate to the great
grieie and offence of the godly orthodo
and about two year
since were enjoyned by this court to desis
from saide practise, and return to ou
allowed church assemblies
this courte doe judge it necessary tina
they be removed to some other part O
this country, or elsewhere and accord
ingly doeth order that (they) doe befor
the twentieth of July next remove them
selves out Of this jurisdiccon."
1t is worthy Of note that the only crime
ever alleged against these persons, ar
the doctrines above recited, and whic1
are to day most surely held by oil Baptist
in the world, NoRD HoMME.
A large business firm in Chicago ha