The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-16

to make profession Of their faith In the baptismal
waters, and that, too, by immersion. rs being, &C
cording to them, the only Scriptural mode Of bap-
tism This, OF course, is q question among the
different denominations, and to discuss 1t ID not
my intention. But that those who believe should
be baptized In water seems evident from many pas
sages in the New Testament, especially the COM
mand OF Christ to His disciples to go and teach and
baptixe all nations We Also from other passages,
that the believers were Immediately baptized alter
their conversion. There are even cases where per-
sons who had received the baptism OF John were
not considered Is ft subjects Tor the Church and
had to be baptized anew, which goes to prove, 1t
seems TO me- that the baptism Of John was not to
be replaced by the baptism OF the Spirit only, but
also by another baptism OF water-the Christian
baptism.
There is another point on which. IL seems TO me.
our friends the Quakers TAIL to comprehend and i'm
prove the full import OF the Gospel. l mean the
Lord's supper. Although we cannot say positively
crate His death, still His intention or desire was
evident That they and their successors should do
30 until His second coming. The apostles and dis
cpes seemed to have understood 1t SO in persever-
ing In prayer and the breaking OF bread in spite of
the rdlcule OF the Greeks and the hatred OF the
Jews The commemOra lion OF the Redeemer's death
Is certainly the most beautiful and touching rite In
the Christian Church. as recalls so f0rcibly to our
minds the love Of God for US and HIS bountul
mercy. To reject or neglect such ceremony
seems to me next to want OF gratitude or regard
for the Author and FInisher of our salvation, al
such motives or feelings to those who may think
best to dispense altogether with communion.
Moreover, the Lords Supper Is one OF the means
OF grace and edfcatiOn, and, as such, should
make part OF the religious service 1t should be,
as far as practicable, one OF the accOmpanimentS
OF public devotion. Rather dispense with music
or prayer than omit to commemorate the death OF
tality.
Another thing on which greatly differ from our
friends the Quakers Is singing as part OF public
worship. TO any one somewhat gifted with an ear
for music the human voice, modulated in musical
tones, either alone or accompanied by suitable In
struments Is the most proper and effective medium
to express to God feelings OF love and alteration.
Where should we use the divine art OF harmony but
In thanking God for His mel cies and invoking upon
US His manifold and needed blessngs9 l wish l
had the pen OF o Milton or a Fenel0n, in order to
express in becoming words the soothing and ele-
waiting power OF music on the soul; It's wonderful
adaptation to all the various feelings of the human
heart, and especially to It's nobleSt and purest
aspirations. The Quakers Notwithstanding all their
sincerity and good intentions, seem to show want
or taste and culture IN banshing music from their
religious worship In that. as in other things, they
have constantly gone too far-or rather. they have
nd t 100 uEn oehd liner ser
are certainly very neat and very trim. but decid-
eddy too quaint and plain. There should be just
medium In everything: and too much plainness and
too many ornaments are equally at fault. Truth
and reason must be somewhere between the two
extremes. We Should it is true, worship In spirit
and in truth but this does not exclude anything
that may conduce to devotion or edifcation. Other
Dsg equal nice VIII
attuned to musical instruments, has GER
rainy something more inspiring than silent
chapel, devoid OF all ornaments. The Quakers,
however sincere they may be in their desire to
please God by their economy and simplicity, to
speak as though in His presence and through HIS
inspiration, render, nevertheless, their worship
mournfully still and chilling cold. The awful
silence which reigns most OF the time in their
assemblies is very solemn indeed, and well cal
culated for meditation, but little for instruction
edihcation. For my part, much prefer good
sound sermon, whatever 1t may lack Of the spirit
nj nncti IN fn lords of nra Ora nrta
ton, spoken only at long Intervals and not always
having, by any means, the stamp OF inspiration.
For we must say tnat those Of the Friends who
pretend to be moved by the Spirit very seldom
betray great deal OF emotion, and had better, 1t
seems, bestir themselves little tor their own good
and the comfort OF the congregation.
J. X. LAMOUREUX.