The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-08
BAPTIST BAPTIsMS.
The Congress Discusses the Subject
and Then Adjourns Sine Die.

Augusta, Ga, Dec. THE National
Baptist congress concluded its business
session at 80 p. m.
This afternoon the members visited the
Augusta Exposition in a body, and to-
night enjoyed banquet dinner at the
hotel Bon Air
The morning session was devoted to q
discussion of what Constitutes Valid
Baptism, and developed differences of
opinion among the members. AS to the
form, immersion in water, there was
unanimity; equally so as to the design and
the proper subject for baptism, but upon
the administration of the ordinance there
exists divergent views. The two opinions
were best set up in the papers of Rev, +.
B. Pollard, of Virginia, and Rev.
j. B. Moody, of Kentucky. On
the question whether man who
was in Pedo Baptist con-
gregation, but demanded immersion Of
| his preacher, should be received upon
that baptism into the Baptist church
without re-baptism, Mr.. Pollard said :
There are two things which commend
him: First, that believing in the New
Testament baptism he dared stand for it
! even In the midst Of the Pedo Baptist cir
cles and against Pedo Baptist influence !;
second, that when he received more light
and saw more clearly the illogical posi-
tiOn he held in a Pedo Baptist fold he got
out. Isn't a Pedo Baptist church a good
place for Baptist to come
from2 We have no lien on i'm
mersion. There is no peculiar Bap-
tist baptism prerequisite to admission
to our denomination, other than New
Testament baptism, and a baptism having
the vital elements of New Testament bap-
tism should be considered valid among
Baptists. Rebaptism tends to exaggcrate
UNCONVENTIONAL differences, and since
neither the nature of the ordinance nor
the reason for the existence of Baptist
churches as distinct denomination make
the rejection of alien immersion either
necessary or expedient, we conclude that
such baptism should be regarded as
valid"
REV. MIR. MooDY's POSITION.
Rev. MIR. Moody said: lone who be-
lieves in the immersion of believers for
the purpose of showing his fellowship in
the death, burial and resurrection of
Jesus Christ, and who believes also in
congregational church government does
wrong in going to a Pedo Baptist, who
claims the commission to sprinkle in
fants, and who usurps the prerOgatives of
| the churches and teaches for doctrines
| the commandments of men. He should
have gone to the church with like faith
with himself. So inconsistent is this
that Baptists should protest against it,
| and require the wrong to be corrected.
| If one wants a baby sprinkled
| he must not come to me, knowing
my disbelief in the rite. So If one wants
| immersion he should not go to one who re
fuses and abuses it. If the authority to
| administer is extended to those who re-
| fuse and abuse it, then there is no re
striction under the sun. When Baptists
| receive such baptism, they indorse
! tiagrant Inconsistency and virtually say
| that man who has not received 1t, and
who does not believe it, may scripturally
| administer From such inconsistency,
may the good Lord deliver us"
CONCLUSION OF THE EXERCISES.
| The exercises were concluded by a fine
| sermon on the "Indwelling Christ" by
Rev. Carter Jones, of Louisville, KY.
which was full of elOquence and tender
feeling.
After the sermon Gov. Northen, the
president of the convention, and Dr. Ian
sing Burrows, pastor of the church in
which the congress is held, made remarks
expressing the pleasure this community
had experienced in the sessions of the
congress and hoping they would come
south again.
The members then united in singing
"Blest be the tie that binds,n during
which all passed in front of the Off
GERS of the congress and shook hands in
parting.