The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-05-07

Breathe through the pulses of desire
Thy cOOlness and thy balm;
Let sense be dumb-its heats expire;
Speak through the earthquake wind and fire,
o still, small voice of calm,
Whittier.
Reply to SPhilip" On Feet-Wash ing.
In the JEFFERsONIAN of April 23d
see an article from the pen of Philip
on the subject of feet-washing," to
which, with your permission, viii reply
am not fond of religious controversy,
but when an attack is made upon a
position that we as a body of Christian
people hold to be Seriptural. l deem it
my duty to stand on the defensive. l
accord to every man the right to teach
and defend whatever he eonseientiously
believes to be in harmony with Gods re-
vealed will. l am glad, indeed, that
there are persons, somewhat numerous,
in all, or nearly all, of the denomina-
tions, who regard feet-washing as a Uery
important Christian duty; however, not
the feet-washing which was practiced in
Patriarchal times 1t is the JCGStiny Of
the Saints feet, as praetieed by Jesus
Christ and the apostles, that so many
regard to e an important Christian duty.
That the washing of the face, hands
and feet, is a very ancient practice ad-
mits of no dispute; that there existed
necessity for such a washing, we have
never entertained the least doubt, but it
was the custom for each individual to
wash his own hands, face, and feet. l
am much pleased to see that ''Philip'
intends to examine the subject thorough
Iy and tmPGTtidlly. That is the right
way to examine any subject. He in
tends to appeal to the Scriptures and
determine every issue by the same This
suits me extremely well. i, for one, will
agree to go with ''Philip" to the Scrip
lures, through the ''Patriarchal times,
''Jewish times, ''Christian times, and
give him all the way through an un-
biased and an unpreiudieed hearing of
the question at issue.
The first reference to Scripture in his
article is Genesis XVIII. IA. Here we
are informed that ''Faithful Abraham"
in the most hoSpitable manner enter
tanned three angelic visitors. In regard
to that part Of the entertainment which
relates to feet-washing, ''Philip" says:
eve are not informed whether Abraham
himself, or one of his servants, washed
their feet, or whether they washed their
own Feet" He thinks, however, that 1t
is probable that Abraham performed the
act in this case. The reader will observe
that he does not venture to say positive
ly WHO did the washing. Now let the
impartial reader look at the quotation
'I.et little water, pray you, be fetched,
and wash your feet and rest yourselves
under the tree;n verse /. Does it not ap-
near very evident from the language
''and wash your feet" that when the
water was brought that the angels washed
their own feet! / have no doubt but
what the unbiased reader can see this
clearly. Genesis XIX, 2, is very much
like the one Just given. Righteous Lot
said to the two angels that came to his
house in the wicked city of Sodom,
"BehoId now my lords turn in, pray
YOU, into your servants house and tarry
all night and wash your feet, etc. 1t
is wrestling the language in either case to
even suppose that Abraham or Lot
washed the feet Of their guests. Genesis
| xxIy. 80 reads thus: ''And the man
came into the house, and he ungirded his
cameIs, ard gave straw and proyender
for the eamels and water TO wash their
feet and the mems feet that were with
him." | would almost as soon under
take to prove that Laban, or one OF ms
servants, ate the straw which was given 10
the eamels, as to try to prove that he
washed the feet Of Abraham servant or
the feet of the men which were with him.
There is no doubt but what the guests in
this case, as in those referred to already,
washed their own feet. In Genesis XIII.
"a, we learn that when JOseph's brethren
went down TO Egypt the second time to
buy corn they were invited to dine with
Joseph. The ruler OF his house gave
them water and they washed their feet.
Is it not remarkable that 50 noble and
God-fearing young man as was Joseph
failed to comply with a well known Gus
tcml Certainly he should have went
himself, or sent his servant, and washed
the feet Of his brethren. But not 50.
Joseph's brethren washed their oJcRJ feet
and that according 10 the custom Of the
age.
II Philip intends to prove by the Scrip
lures that it was custom to wash one
apother's feet, a. Christ commanded the
Apostles, he must give Us better proof
than we find in his first article. We want
the reader to know that we are not con
tending that feet-washing, as Praetieed
| in PatriarchaI times, was religious IN
stitution. If / am not mistaken, ''Phil-
ip'sr design j. 70 prove that all those
who practice feet washing in imitation
Of Christ's example, are departing from
the original design.
It matters not to us If the washing Of
hands did arise TO the dignity Of a ritual
observance among the hypOcritical Phar-
isees, the question Of washing the hands,
according to the caption Of Philips ar
ticle, is not the question in debate. ]
will close for the present, expecting to
hear from Philip soon again. [ shall be
pleased in due time to see tie JiIlai sum
ming mp If the argument
Yours respectfully,
SINCERITY
JOHN HOWARD, the philanthropist,
never neglected the duty of family
prayer, though there were but one, and
that one a servant, to join him; always
declaring, that where he had tent, God
should have an altar. Wherever he
I - H.. 4s,.a n. mao tho 1rf