Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-03-14
wa. the "OId Will" az Newport "a Bap-
tlHteryg


In Scribner for March, Mr. II. c. Hatfield
has a fresh study of the old problem Of the
original use of the old tower in Truro Park
Newport. In the authors mind, the weight
Of evidence is decidedly in favor Of it having
been built as n baptistery by the Norwegian
discoverers about the year 1000. In elucda-
ton Of this theory, and in confutation Of 9TH
ers, number of interesting drawings Of bap-
tisterics. etc, are given with the article. The
writer says:
In the early centuries il was considered in
dispcnslblc that every cathedral. or church Of
a bishop, should have its bnptistcry,-a sep
arate building located in the vicinity Of the
cathedral. where the ordinance Of Christian
baptism could be administered to the cand-
dates, preparatory to admitting them TO the
assemblies Of the faithful In Italy alone
about sixty of these buildings are still extant
Some of them are in ruins, as at Canosa, in
Apulin, aud at Castel-Seprio others are des-
ecrat,d to secular use. US at Como others
still have had the font removed, and as chap
els made to serve for worship as that of Sta
Co-tnnza, Mt Rome. that Of Bologna, and that
of Rovigno. in Istria; many are still used as
baptisterirs: aud in some, the original font
of ample dimensions, yet remains. as at
Rome. Mt the Lateran baptistery, the font Of
which is twenty y-seven feet in diameter that
of the beautiful circular baptistery of Pisa
the font in which is ten feet in diameter and
three and une-third feet deep as also that of
Noccri. the font in which is seventeen feet
in diameter and four feet deep. The font Of
the huptistery of Florence was destroyed
thrr, hundred years since it occupied an oc-
t,ugular space twenty-seven feet in diameter
now paved with marble differing from the
other pavement, and surrounded by white
marble coping. on which, plainly visible. is
an inscription designating the inclosed area
rs the place of the original font. Dante, in
his immortal poem. refers to this font. part
of which he broke in his efforts to save n
child from drowning. These facts afford in
contestable proof, in addition TO the histori-
cal traditions concerning them, of the use for
which these buildings were originally con-
structcd If these We're baptisteres. and it
cannot be questionod-the the Newport struc-
ture also was one.
The round buildings Of Greenland, referred
to by Professor Rain, were also baptisteries.
There was one, doubtless, for each bi,hopric.
Only one is found in Ninland, because the
colony was small. and was all compris, d, no
doubt. in one bishopric.
1t need not be thought strange that, if the
Newport structure be a baptistcry, there are
no remains Of the church near which it must
have stood In country like Vnland,
aLounding in timber at that eaily time, the
first structures Of the colonists were undouLt-
ediy Of wood. and not until they came to feel
that their r. sidcnce there was likely to prove
permanent, would they resolve to build with
more durable material Then, after having
constructed the Laptistery of stone, they may
have intended to follow this up by the more
important work Of building the cathedral of
the same material hut failed to realize their
intentions through apprehension Of trouble
with the Indians, or by actual war, which
colonists