Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1893-09-07
SOME oDDLY-NAMEp BAPTIsTs.
Regular, Primitive and Old Two-Secd-ih'
tbesSpirit Professionalism Sects.

tbcsSpirit Professionalism Sects.
A recent census bulletin, prepared
under the direction OF DR.. Henry K
Carroll, contributes SOME interesting
statistics concerning several bodies of
Baptists, including the Regular north
aid SOUTH, the Primitive and the Old
Observation-Disclosures Predestiuari-
an. The northern and southern bodies
are numerous, the former aggregating
s0O;O25 members and the latter l,970,-
45l. The more quaintly-named bodies
are very conservative Baptists, who are
not in fellowship with the Regular, or
missionary, nor with the Primitive or
any other body of Baptists. They are
strongly Calvinistic, holding firmly
to the doctrine of predestination,
as their name indicates, The phrase
Two Seed is understood to indicate
their belief that there are two seeds,
one of death and one of life. The
former became implanted in man when
he fell from the state of holiness in
which he was created originally; it
brings forth the fruitagc of eternal
death. The seed of life is communi-
Gated by the Holy Spirit to those who
are called and regenerated; it springs
up into eternal life. Not all the asso-
Citations accept this peculiar title. Some
call themselves simply Regular"
others Regular Professionalism" and
still Others Regular Two-Seed Predes-
tinafian Primitive Baptists."
Their articles Of faith also vary in
phfaseology. One set is quite brief,
embracing only ten articles; another is
more extended, and embraces twelve
articles. The latter, which has been
adopted by several associations, de-
clares that God was the creator of all
things and governs all things in right
eousness; that man was created
holy, but by sin fell into depraved
state, from which he is utterly
unable to extricate himself; that
Gods elect were chosen in Christ be-
fore the world began and appointed
to faith and obedience in love" by the
spirit of God because of the righteous
ness, life, death, resurrection and as
cension' of Christi that Gods elect will
in due time be effectually called and
regenerated, the Righteousness of God
being imputed to them; that they will
never finally fall away; that good
works are the fruits of faith and grace
In the heart and follow after regenera-
ton; that ministers should receive
illegal authority" through the imp osi
ton of the hands of Presbytery act
Ing for gospel church and should be
subject to the discipline Of the church;
that the eternal work of the holy
spirit" is manifested externally as
well as internally in experimental re-
ligion and the call to the ministry,
and the true church should distinguish
itself from all false sects" and have
no fellowship with them; that the
church Is a spiritual kingdom which
men in state of nature can not/see,
and it should, therefore, receive as
members only those who have hope in
Christ and an experimental knowledge
of salvation; that the ceremony of feet
washing ought to be observed and that
the joys of the righteous and the pun.
ishment of the wicked will be endless
Many of the Two-Seed Baptists are
strongly opposed to paid ministry
They hold that the calling of the min
istry is TO comfort Zion, feed the flock
and contend earnestly for the faith
once delivered to the saints" They
are Antinomians, al nd do not believe
that the help of a minister is needed by
the Saviour to reach and save sinners
He is full and complete Saviour, and
carries on the work of Salvation with
out the help of men. Modern insti
tutions," such as Sunday-schools, thee
logical seminaries, Bible and mission
airy societies, are regarded with marked
disfavor as among the Primitive Bap
fists. There are A associations, with
Ais organizations, 1913 SIS church cdi
fees valued at sl35, $50, and 9,932 com
municants. Though the communi
cants are scattered over twenty-five,
states, they are most numerous il
Texas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missis
sippi and Arkansas. The average seat
ing capacity of the edifices is S12, anc
the average value $3.50. N. Y. Times