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


written by Dr. William Heth Whitsitt, the
distinguished president of the Southern
Baptist Theological Seminary, for john
sons new Universal Cyclopaedia, In
which DR.. Whitsitt, referring to the bap-
tisn Of Williams in Providence in 1893 by
Ezekiel HOLMAN, a pious and gifted lay
man, says:
"The ceremony was most likely per-
formed by sprinhing. The Baptists OF
ENGLAND had not yet adopted INNER
sion. and there is no reason which rem
ders IL probable that Williams was IN
advance Of them in that regard"
This sort OF statement from a learned
man who has for years been teach
ing Church history in great Baptlst
seminary, and who succeeded the
lamented DR.. John A. Broadus at the head
of that institution, naturally startled the
orthodoxy of many Baptist laymen and
divines. To hear an lntimation from su
a source that immersion had not sin'
very early day been d disungUia-.liis
uractjce among all Baptists surprised
them. and has started lively discussion
HIS POSITION ATTACKED.
The first attack on Or. Whitsitt came
from DR. IL. n. King, pastor or the iIs'
church. Providence, r. l., who made ms
assault I'm the New York Examiner. I'M.
WAS followed by a strong criticism Oh
Professor Whitsltts position, puDIshe'
bv Rev. Dr. J. III. Spencer, the VeneraDle
BAPTIST historian, in the western he'
corder. Since than many writers nave
taken I'D the subject, and added TO the
criticisms of DR.. Whitsitt Or. King IN
DENYING the Louisville professors state
rnent. offered in part the ancient RECORDS
ana legends of his historic church, the
oldest Baptist church in America.
Dr Spencer's attack was very stronS
ono He was urged not to publish II, but
vvould only consent to slightly modlilc9
tions. lie says:
81 knew personally all the early pro-
fessors in that noble institution, ana not
Iesa favorably do / know most Oh Jhe
,,rssent faculty. In my heart / nave
borored them all. They have been great
arnonq the picked men Of the denOmlna-
tion and I'm general their uncompromising
orthodoxy has challenged the admlra-
ION NOT only OF the great brotherhood Dut
~ al reDuted orthodox sects. In the Few IN
etarcas where there has been supposed
heterodoxy among some OF theni, IL hdS
hoo, attributed 20 our common heIl'ase
~ human imperfection, ana not TO any
urbalIowed motive. To none OF thess
oreat and cody men has my heart tui Ieu
,,,ora warmly than 70 Dr. Wnltsit1' anu
ro,,, pives me exquisite PAIN 10 DC I'M
neiled bv a sense Of obligation TO cause
ma Is dearer to me than moral lile' "
call attention to some OF ms utterahCes
mat appear to me detrimental TO lle
cause. May II give him less PAIN 10 fea'
nv feeble criticisms than IT does me u
write them. .-.,--
FALSE HISTORICAL POSITIONS.
After mentioning in detail the ALLEGED
false historical positions held oy Dr'
Whltsitt. Dr. Spencer sums them Up as
The sum OF the teachings set forth In
the above quotations is that:
Ti,st-Roger williams. founder OF the
erst Toptist church in America, was
immersed-for its member
sE;p, sppcond-At at time $3.50 the Baptists
~ England had not adopted immersion.
Tbird-Edward Barber wrote the initial
treatise in favor Of immersion In lsh-
Fourth-Mark Lucar reorsanized the
second Baptist church In America, at
Newport, r l., immersing its members
I'm 16li.
Fiftb-This same obscure Mark Lucar
"a private member) became the founder
of Immersion in America
These views are directly contrary TO
those of the Southern Baptsts, who own
and support the seminary in which they
are taught. for DR.. Whitsitt Is too con-
scisrtious 10 teach through a cyclopaedia
a doctrine different from that he teaches
a, the classroom. Professor Whitsitts
errors are not so vital as were those OF
professor Toy. but, according to the views
ot his constituency, the teachings OF the
FORMER are Just as heretical in his de-
na rtment as were those OF the latter in
his.
DR.. Whitsitt. in reply TO Dr. Spencer
prInted in the New York Examiner
says:
"During the autumn or 1877, shortly
ofter had been put I'm charge OF the
school of Church History az the South
ern Raptlst Theological Seminary. in pre-
naring my lectures on Baptist History,
made the discovery that, prior 10 the year
1en our Baptist people In England
,,-era in the practice OF sprinkling and
nourine for baptism. l kept IL 10 myself
until the year 1850. when l had the hap
niness 10 spend my summer vacation at
the British Museum. There 1 assured
myself largely by researches among
King Georges pamphlets. that my dis
coveI-y was genuine, and established II
nv many irrefragable proofs from con-
temporary documents.
Upon my return TO New York. In
september. 1880. / felt so sure OF my
ground that / made known my discovery