The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-10-22
Sunday ReadiFg.
feet Washing, No, ..

fSSN Ea0SiiHSs NO. 2.
Il. EDITOR: Friend sincerity is act
ing on the Old adage that confident as
SertiOns of a certain class, well stuck to,
are a. good Is the truth; hence we have
a repetition of his old chorus. ''Philip
has failed; signalIy failed; utterly failed !;
and he ever must fail; = as if your readers
could not see that his windy braeadocia
style is doing nothing for his position
| want your readers not to forget that it
has not been my object to prove any
| thing, pro or con, relative to feet wash
ing, but simply want to ascertain what
the Book says upon the subject. In our
investigation we have found:
l. Feet-washIng existed as a custom
from Abraham TO Christ He found the
custom prevalent among his own (the
Jewish) people. Do you deny this2 IL
not, did Jesus Christ practice it as he
found it.
,. That it was family custom in ev-
cry case. Do you deny it,
,. 1t was sometimes done by the ser
want to a guest in his masters family
Dare you deny it:
The above points are all l have
claimed, and challenge Sincerity" to
show, from any preceding article, to the
contrary, or point out one contradictory
statement. Sincerity did not expect our
readers to believe his assertions, for he
knows that they all know better. Be
fore | dismiss this part of my subject, let
me say that the point of difference has
been sharply defined, and is clearly be-
fore us. Not whether it was the custom
in Patriarchial, Jewish or Christian
times, for the host or their servants to
wash the feet of guests, but is it an or
dinance or ceremony to be observed in
the public assembly of Christ's Church?
The only fair and honorable way of
debating cmong men of manly courage
and Independence of soul is to agree up
on a proposition which brings the senti-
ments of both parties fairly into the dis
eussiOn. This Sincerity" is unwilliEgtO
do. He knew very well that his practice
would not stand the light OfGOspeI truth;
hence he thought it most convenient and
safe to hide it during this discussion.
Its as gross a misrepresentation as any
man can be guilty of to assert that 1 op-
pose feet-washing, when 1 only oppose it
under certain circumstances. But all
this arises from the necessity on the part
of my friend of occupying the attention
of our readers with points not at issue, to
escape the one that is. 1t surprised IS.
not a little to see NE reduce this discus
sion to a single issue by admitting four
points. IL am not much mistaken his
astOnishment will increase more and
more. Hear him: 81 am glad there is so
little difference between us" IL the
gentleman will confine himself to the is
sue he will find more difference than he
anticipates. Once more: docs 'P.'
practice what he admits Christ COM
mands:' | am always ready to obey his
commands, and to wash the disciples
feet as he dit IL. That is just what he
said. have given you an example shat
ye sh0ltid d0 Il as haze dome to you.,
Not in some other way, under other cir
cums,ances, and for some entirely diff
feTent purpose. Does s. meet with the
disciples in a public assembly when their
feet from having been carefully washed
before they went to meeting, needed no
washing, and there 60 through a needless
ceremony? This Jesus never did. nor
commanded it to be done
Thinking it wise and safe to go ahead,
l will introduce the Gospel Dispensation.
As an introduction, call the attention
Of our readers to this point, viz: Ordi-
naness or Observances commanded are
of at least two characters. There are
ordinances that pertain particularly to
religious worship, and there are Ordinan-
ces or Observances of moral character.
The distinction is sometimes made be-
tween Positice oriiHGHces and m0rGI 05-
serc0H~es, the positive resting alone on
the authority Of the iawgiver, the moral
growing out Of the nature of things
The one is right because commanded; the
othe~ commanded because it is right.
wish you all to keep this thought il your
minds. / am now prepared to examine
the only issue on this question, and will.
therefore invite the readers attention to
the transaction found in the 18th chapter
Of John, where the LOTd tCGsled his ,Iisei-
pies'Jeet. But this must be reserved for
another article, inasmueh as this one is al
ready too long
Does 5. practice feet washing as the
SdcioT rushed his disciples Jeetl
Yours, &C., PHILIP.