The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-07-05
ODDLY NAMED nAPrrsrs
Regular. Primitive. and Old rwo-Seed-
tn-the-Spirit Predestinarians.


From che New York Times
A recent census bulletin, prepared
under the direction OF DR.. HenryK Car
roll, contributes some interesting statis-
tics concerning several bodies of Baptists,
including the regular North and South,
the primitive, and the Old Two-Seed-i in
the-Spirit Professionalism. The northern
and southern bodies are numerous, the
former aagregating S0O,025 members and
the latter ,276,49l
The more quantity named bodies are
very conservative Baptists, who are not
in fellowship with the regular, or mis-
SiOnary, nor with the primitive or any
other body of Baptists. They are strong
ly Calvinistic holding firmly TO the doc
trine of predestinat ion, as their name in
dicates. The phrase Two Seed is un-
derstoOd 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 origin
ally; il brings forth the fruitage of eter
nal death. The seed of life is commune
Gated by the Holy Spirit to those who
are called and regenerated; it springs up
into eternal life. Not all the associations
accept this peculiar title Some call
themselves simply regular" other
regular professionalism and still others
regular Professionalism primitive Bap-
lists.
Their articles of faith also vary in
phraseOlogy. One set is quite brief, en-
bracing only ten articles; another is more
extended and embraces twelve articles.
The latter, which has been adopted by
several associations, declares that God
was the creator of all things, and gov
ems all things in righteousness; that
man was created holy, but by sin fell into
a depraVed state, from which he is ut
terly unable to extricate himself; that
Gods elect were chosen in Christ before
the world began and appointed to faith
and obedience in love" by the Spirit of
God because of the righteousness, life,
death, resurrection, and ascension" of
Christ; 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 regeneration; that min
listers should receive illegal authority"
through the imposition of the hands of a
Presbytery acting 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
Jl6 True CnQfCl SuOulu ulSUluPulSll lOSGl1
from all "false sects," and have no fell
lowship with them; that the church is a
spiritual kingdom which men in a state of
nature cannot see, and it should there
fore receive as members only those who
have hope in Christ, and an experimental
knowledge of salvation; that the cere-
mony of feet-washing oughtto be observed,
and that the joys of the righteous and the
punishment of the wicked will be endless.
Many of the Two-Seed Baptists are
strongly opposed to a paid ministry.
They hold that the calling of the minis
try is ''to comfort Zion, feed the flock,
and contend earnestly for the faith once
delivered to the saints" They are Anti
monians, and 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 without the help of
men Modern institutions" such as
Sunday-schoos, theological seminaries,
Bible and missionary societies, are re-
garded with marked disfavor, as among
| the Primitive Baptists
There are forty-four associations, with
AIS organizations, 1888 Sc church edifices
valued at S135, 230 and 8, 1882 communicates.
| Though the communicates are scattered
! over twenty-three states, they are most
numerous in Texas, Tennessee, Ken
| lucky, Mississippi and Arkansas. The
average seating capacity of the edifices is
312, and the average value $4O5.