St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-08
BAPTIsTs ON BAPTIsM NJ.
Divergent Views on the Admins
tration of Their Laws.

CratlOn OF IneiT Laws.
AUGUSTA, Ga, Dec. THE national
Baptist congress concluded its business
session at 1:3o p. III. This Afternoon
the members visited the Augusta expo
Sition in a body, and tonight enjoyed a
banquet dinner at the Hotel Bon Air.
The morning session was devoted to
discussion of What Constitutes Valid
Baptism" and developed branches 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 bap-
tism, but upon the administration of the
ordinance, there exist divergent views.
The two opinions were best set out in
the paper of Rev. E. 3. Pollard, of
Virginia. and Rev. j. B. Moody, of Ken
lucky. On the question whether a man
who was in PedO-Baptist congregation
but demanded immersion of his preach
er,ShOuld be received upon that baptism
into the Baptist church without re-bap-
tism
Mr.. Pollard said: "There are two
things which commend: First, That in
believing in New Testament baptism;
he dared stand for it. even in the midst
of pedo baptism circles and against
pedo Baptist influence: Second,
That when he received more
light and saw more clearly the
illogical position he held in pedo-Bap-
list fold, he got out. Is not pedo-
Baptist church good place for Bap-
fist to come from? We have no lien on
immersion. There is no peculiar
Baptist baptism prerequisite to
admission to our denomination other
than New Testament baptism. and
baptism having the vital elements of
New Testament baptism should be con-
sidered valid among Baptists. Rebap-
tlsm tends to exaggerate denominal
differences, and since neither the ma
ture Of the ordinance nor the reason for
the existence of Baptist churches as
distinct denomination make the rejec-
ton of alien immersion either neces-
sary or eXpedient. we conclude that
such baptism should be regarded as
valid.
Rev. Mr.. Moody said: "One who be.
lieyes 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 60
ing to pedo-Baptlst who claims
the commission TO sprinkle infants, and
who usurps the prerogatives of the
churches and teach for doctrines the
commandments Of men. He should
have gone to them with like
faith with himself. So inconsistent
is this that BaDtists should pro-
test against il. and require sthe
wrong to be corrected. If one wants a
baby sp1inkled, 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. II the author
ity~- to administer is extended to
those who refuse and abuse it,
there is no restriction under the sum-
When Baptsts receive such a baptism
they indorse fragrant inconsistency, and
virtually say that man who has not
received if. and VINO does not believe it,
may ScripturalIy administer it. From
such inconsistency may the good Lord
deliver lis"
The exercises were concluded by
fine sermon on the 'Indwelling Christ"
by Rev. Carter Helm Jones, of Louis-
vile, KY, which was full of eloQuence
and tender feeling, after which
the convention, and DR.. Lansing
which The congress is held, made re-
marks expressive of 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" during
which all passed In front of the officers
of the congress and shook hands in
parting.