New-York tribune., 1876-01-25
BAPTISM AND COMMUNION.

SHARP DEBATE BY BAPTIST MINISTER'S
TOUR AND A HALF HOURS OVER THE RESOLUTION
OF DIR. ARMITAGE-wARM ARGUMENT AND PER-
eoN, coNTR oyrRsY-A LARGE MAJORITY IN
r.v,n op p,cID RULING CONCERNING COMMU-
MON.
The Baptist Ministers Conference, at Its
,,oetipe he'd Yesterday in the Mariners Temple AT
oliver and Henry resumed the consideration o the
preamblc and resolution offered at the previous teths
by the Rev. Dr Thomas AImitage when were puDisheu
IN TIE TRIBUNE last Tuesday The prmcp"i
point OF the resolution was tha' 'niS Oon-
terepce insists that Gospel baptism Is neees-
sarv oualidcation for the Supper, and discards
communion al the table by any Of its members with those
who do not possess this qualification" The attendance
Yesterday was very large, the ecuIeroom being nearly
fu with about 100 ministers among those present Inc
Rey Dr. Thomas opened the discussion with tie remark
that the preamble and resolutions very long, and
extremely narrow their length. He then read bur
lasoue substitute In which affirmed that The Ba
tis. Church should discard great humDer oi
beliefs and practices, including the wearing
Of priestly robes, the use OF "the Konllsh
calendar OF Saints days" the publication OF bapus'
NEWSPAPERS and OF Mr. Surgeons sermons; that py
"nberty to differ" the Bapsts meant liberty to uner
with other denominations but not with each other Df
lrnitage REPLIED that he thought the resolution tle
ont OF place, but he was pleased 10 HI" IL
Thomas in such delightful bumor Inc hcN ~
J. D. Fulton then said he believed inc Loi"
had committed them the guardians OF truths when
would otherwise be lost TO the world TIE Rev Dr samp
son argued that the scrpra order for the Baptist rule OF
hants enforced by ST. Jerome and 9th RS of the early
fathers aud then gave sketch OF the history OF the Ba
fists IN England, declaring that Milton was Baptist ana
that many in Cromwells army were OF that denomination
He said he loved his brother jeffrey, and felt the import
an Of charity to his very hearts core aud hat he
feel dlsgraced he did not vote in favor OF those rcSo
tha lima he
Brother jeffrey
Dr. Jeffrey spoke at great length saying That he had
never taught believed that unbaptizd or unregener
ate persons should sit down at the Lords table He IN
cdentauy remarked that the essay which he had been
requested to read had to the subject OF ba
tism In regard to the necessity Of baptism he was Will
ing TO vote for resolution that no unbaptized person
sloud be allowed TO minister OF the Gospel 1he
question at issue practical one III was whether
person who was not Baptist should be al owod 10 JON
in the communion service he chose to exercise the
privilege. While Dr. jeffrey was speaking, Dr. Fulton
who sat alone in pew the pulpit, objected in low
tone TO the amount of time Dr. jeffrey was consuming
DR. Jeffrey requested that he be not nsultod" Dr
Fulton then said "Last week we had Dr. jeffrey all the
time, and must we now, tool" Hush," SAID several
persons Dr. Armitage then addressed the meeting lie
stated that he intended in the preamble aud resolutions
10 ignore every thought but that OF going back to
the apostolic doctrines and practices and OF securing
believer but II he had not been immersed il water upon
profession OF faith be lacked of the qualifications
for the Lords table 1t plain question OF rght
They were not legisatng for other churches but for
their own church. and they planted themselves upon the
apostolic doctrines.
At las p. IN amOtOn was made TO come TO vote on
the passage Of the resolutions. Many objected on the
ground that they had not had opportunity to speak
IL was then moved that the whole subject Dc laid on tho
table aud the motion was defeated by vote of TO
u. II was then suggested that the word q" "disavow
be substituted for the word discard" and this change
vsmade vote was then taken the passage OF tie
p rsolution as amended and it adopted by the FOL
lowing vote: Yeas. 43 nays 8; declined TO vote, D.
Nearly all VIII voted in the negative explained why they
did So the given in several cases being that 1t
was the lesser OF two evils. DIR. jeffrey sac
he was "a Baptist out and out OF tie
type OF 1889" Dr. Thomas said the resolution was
"unauthorized. ineIpedient, and nugatory" The Rev
Dr. Henry Miller said no " thoroughly opposed TO
this whole thing" but he hoped some day to have the
honor to move that these proceedings be expunged Om
the records and therefore obliged to vote III the
Affirmative Dr. Thomas then said that Dr. Fulton had
accused him lying, but the matter could rest upon
the yeracy OF the two men he should be content Dr
Fulton interrupted him. and the controversy was stopped
by the Chair The meeting then adjourned, having been
IN session ia hours without any intermission