The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-12
Sam Jones and the Bap,ists.

To the Editor OF tho Indt annapolis Journals:
Absence from the city has prevented me from
giving an earlier reply to the card of Rev. Sam
uel P. Jones. published in the Journal on the
9th inst Even now l refrain from attempting
of wishing to embarrass his expected work in
this city. 1t is due, however, to the interests of
truth that say few words.
In the first place Mr.. Jones affords me an am
pie vindication for my criticism He acknowl-
edges that he has denounced all who professed
to regard immersion as the only form Of bap-
tlsm as liars. He has aggravated the offense by
admitting that he had Baptists especially in
mind. Let it, therefore, be distinctly understood
by all Baptists, and by others, that this Mr.
Jones regards all who profess the distinctive
faith of the Baptists as hypocrites: persons
who deliberately advocate and maintain, as a
form OF Christian service. what they know is
not in accordance with their own convictions of
the truth, and that they make this pretension
for the purpose of deceiving and misleading
others It is certainly fitting that, hencefortn,
Baptsts should understand exactly what this
modern apostle thinks Of them
In the second place. the pretext offered by Mr..
Jones as a justification for this brutal insult,
only intensifes the guilt and meanness of his
Baptists in Columbus, Miss. attempted
to proselyte some of his converts
by telling them they could not
be assured of salvation unless they were i'm
mersed, and forthwith he proceeds to create the
impression that Baptists hold to the necessity of
immersion in order to salvation. With all
due respect, l greatly doubt whether he has
been correctly informed or fairly represents
what he knows to be the facts in this particular
case. But be the facts in this instance what
they may, Mr.. Jones has transcribed the bounds
of courtesy, charity and honor, In seeking to
make the possible indiscretion of few over
jealous persons the ground for charging upon a
great denomination an opinion which is denied
by every oral and written utterance in the entire
range of their accredited and representative lit
erature.
In fact. the essential and basal theory on
which the Baptist denomination rests is the en-
phatic denial of any sacrafh6ntal reeenerating
or saving efficacy whatever in baptism On the
contrary, they maintain that 6crson must be
brought into state of salvation before he is
qualified to receive baptism, and that baptism is
only a symbolic articulation of a previous in
ward grace They do not administer baptism to
infants. because infants cannot be conscious of
the precedent experience. They teach that
where this experience Is wanting baptism ia void
aud needless. Neither do they administer ban
tism to persons in the immediate prospect of
DEATH because il such do not believe in Christ
they are not proper subjects for baptism and if
they do believe in Christ their salvation is as
sured without It.
/ forbear to say more now and trust that
shall not feel called upon to again enter the lists
with Mr. Jones in the defense of truth, honor
and Christian catholicity.
REUBEN JEFFERY