, 1876-01-30

Withdrawal Of a Prominent Preacher
from, the Denomination.

| Withdrawal Of a Prominent Preacher
| from, the Denomination.
| The Rev. Dr. Behrends. pastor of the FRS.
! Baptist Church Of Cleveland O., announced his
| resignation Of that position last Sunday, and his
| withdrawal from the Baptist denomination. The
reasons which induced him to take this course
| are given by him aa follows:
~ baye found myself growing mora and
more out Of sympathy with the prevailing and
dominant policy Of tho Communion question, by
which dissent is treated rs serious e}isioyalty.
| and q fair public hearing is emphaticalty and
universally refused, until my self-imposed 81
lence in the face OF unrestrained assault upon
my brethren md myself in public gatherings ut
social feasts in ministerial conferences. on the
platform, and through tho presa, has become
practically unendurablo aud almost 3 wrong at
the ba- Of my conscience.
II do not impoach 1ny brethren as guilty of
conscious and designed intolerance; believe
them to 5a honest the advocacy of their priu-
oiples as necessary to maintenance Of their
Apostolic orders; but am equally free to say
that without calling in question the Baptistic
Claim OF 1mmerslon as essential TO the validity
OF Christian baptism. tho policy Of restricted
communion appears to me not only uncalIed for
and un1s,s6, but positively unHcrjptural and
wrong. I am satisfied that the public advoca-
CIV OF such position Would be emphatically re-
santed BY the denomination. and have no de-
sire to play the part OF d disturber OF the peace
lhey who cannot agree. or alnlcablY discuss their
differences, should quietly part.
"o. The more serious reason remaiua to be
Added so far "a know, I nm moro radical in
my dissent than any present open communion
advocates In the denomination. The exclusive
attitude OF tho denomination on tho baptismal
question en- unable any longer to maintain. I
shall not presume to present the argument but
content myself with q summary OF tho result to
which fresh and painstakiug review, especially
OF the Scriptures, has led me- az all that Is per
tinenE here.
s'Grantng that immerBon was the practice O,
the Apostles and the usage OF the early church.
It cannot be shown from the New Testament
that immersion is 60 related to the design or
symbolism Of Ch1istian baptism as. in its ab-
sence, to destroy the Integrity or VALIDITY Of the
ordinance. Immersion is baptism. and. aa it
Seems to me, by the prepouderapcc OF critical
aud historical evidence, tue primitive bap-
t!sm; but that immersion only is valid
proof, whether the appeal be to phi-
loogy. to history. or to the doct1iual Significance
OF the ordinance. It may bo wise and desirable
that immersion should retain prominence Of
Practical recognition in the Christian church. or
that It should resume its ancient prevalence
but tina: sucn return to ancient usage is ueces-
sary to the rescue and restoration Of Christian
bsptism is claim tlud it impossible to main
tain. believe in open church -mernbershjn:
therefore no less than IN free Christian com.
munion."
His RESIGNATION was accepted by the Church.
aud he will preach his farewell eermon maxi
Sunday. DR.. Behrends was called to Cleveland
paratl7ely Young man. and has achieved a HIGH
reputation. HIS ministry in Cleveland has bean
very successful, aud on the first Sunday in th;a
month be received thirty eight pereons to mem |
oersh'p. 1t ls bis intention to join either the |
Presbyterian or Congregational denomination.