Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-03

his position, I and every other Bapuft
win be compelled to believe wnat ne
alleges. Until he succeeds In THIS rather
difficult task his opinions will be .ookeu
upon as sincere and honest, ana VIII
have just such weight as his reputation
may carry along with It, Baptists DeileVe
in the right OF prIvate judgment. In the
matter OF history. they believe history IS
history, and willingly accept tacts,
whether for or against any dogma the
denomination may have held In the past,
or maintains to-day. Nothing is true
because Baptists hold it; anything that is
not true Baptlsts willingly repudiate.
President Whitsitt IL simply exercising
his rights as a Baptist"
VIEWS OF MIR. HUTSON.
Rev. ]. b. Hutson, OF Pine-Street
church, a well-informed and conservative
man, referring to this matter, said
81 have not seen the article prepared
by Professor Whitsitt for Johnson's En-
cyclopaedia, and. entertaining as | do
such high regard for the distinguished
author l feel great reluctance in criti-
cizing 1t. Professor Whitsitts well-earned
reputation for learning and piety also
impresses me with deep sense OF
modesty in venturing 90 differ with him.
Nevertheless. II the article referred to
contains the statements which are al
legged. It IS, 10 my mind. one of the most
surprising papers OF a lifetime. IL re-
minds me OF the futile effort once made
to prove that Shakespeare never lived:
and Of that strange fancy that existence
is not real. but only imaginary.
81 am at utter loss to conceive what
discovery Professor Whitsitt could pos
81 fu h4 FrreIa Ia fea.f IN esrah
ing results. The encyclopedias are all
against him, and 10 PedQbaptst. with
careful research and painstaking zeal,
ever found the prize which he gratui-
tously presents. We do not fear the
truth, but would be cautious OF un-
friendly conjecture. SO far as / have
read, an ecclesiastic history is agreed
that immersion has been the unyarying
practice of Baptists from the days Of
John. and. IN the very nature of the
case. IL could not be otherwise; for II
any practice sprlnkllng or pouring they
are not Baptists.
NO REASONABLE DOUBT.
"As to the baptism OF Roger williams"
Mr.. Hutson continued, there are some
facts which seem TO leave no rea-
sonable doubt Of his immersion. IL is
a fact that he was sprinkled in his In
fancy and therefore the less likely TO
desire sprnklng a second time. 1t IS
a fact that his baptism was public, and
eleven others were baptized with him,
whose names are preserved. and the date
given, and hitherto no one has denied or
questioned their immersion. 1t Is a fact
that Williams founded the First Baptist
church of Providence, r.. l.. which al
ways has been. and still is, Baptist
church. It is fact that he afterwards
became dissatisfied about his baptism,
because Il was performed by an unor-
dained man, but never had ii repeated,
though he had abundant opportunity to
do so; and positively believed i'm dip
ping himself. II is a fact that he wrote
ten years after founding the church and
spoke of our Providence mem and HIM
self as believing in baptism by dipping;
and with such convictions, who will be-
lieve that courageous and conscientious
Roger Williams would have neglected
baptism If never before immersed?
II do not suppose the Southern Baptist
Convention will take any action in re-
gard 10 the matter, however unfortunate
the article may be considered"