The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-08-18
BAPTISM-ANsWER TO A COLO
RADIO QUERY.

Canon City, Colo.-A reader of The
Intermountain Catholic would like to
have this article discussed on Baptism
Respectfully, a READER.
The above communication, with an
article by w. P. Surrels, published in
the Democrat, some little time ago, has
been sent to this office. The article of
w. P. Surrels contains many scriptural
| quotations. In the opening paragraph
he has Il indeed baptize you with
water" Matt. Bid; "They came into
certain water" (Acts $3.50; Can any
man forbid water?" (Acts HAD. The
| conclusion is there can be no baD-
tism without water" Water and the
words Il baptize you in the name of
the Father, Son and Holy Ghost" are
the only outward or visible sacrament
through which the regenerating grace
of the Holy Ghost is communicated.
And John also was baptizing in Enon
near Salem, because there was much
water there: and they came and were
baptized" John 1929. Conclusion is
this scripture does not say that John
selected that place so there would be
plenty water for man and beast to
drink. 1t says he was 'baptizing be-
cause there was much water! Much
water is required for scriptural bap-
tlsm. This is made still more evident
by reading. They were all baptized by
him in the river Jordan mark 1:5).
Before discussing the quantity of
water needed the writer should give his
views as to the necessity of baptism
to attain life eternal. In another par
agraph he gives the reply of the Saw
ior to Nicodemus, a we'll meaning
Pharisee who came to him by night
and which settles the question, viz: the
necessity of baptism for salvation Eek
of the spirit, he cannot enter Heaven"
One of the conditions then, under
which man can save his soul, is bap-
tism. For the fulfillment of that con-
dition according to the same writer,
much water is required If so, God
places an absolute condition, which, |
under many circumstances, could not !
be possibly fulfilled. How much water |
Mr.. Surrels does not say, but presum- |
ably enough for immersion. Where |
there is no pool, lake or river of suffi-
cient death to immerse, and a person
realizing the necessity of baptism, yet
there is sufficient to sprinkle or wash, /
is the interested party to be denied
Heaven because the absolute condition
Of the Father could not be possibly full
filed? Who is to blame? The man
asks for baptism, yet the rigorous
of God could not according
to Mr. Surrels be complied with. God
just, all merciful, and full
If the tenderest love for His child.
orecludes the possibility of salvation for
hat person. Take another instance of
/ man travelling in the desert where
here is no water, not enough to
noisten his parched lips and save his
ife, convinced of the necessity of bap-
ism; Unless man is born again." asks
o be baptized, wishes for it. Does
God, infinitely just and whom we are
aught to call our Father, condemn
|
lied? And could not be under the cir
umstances. If so, God would issue
command which, He foresaw, would
'e for some, at certain times and I'M
Ter certain circumstances, impossible.
such supposition, knowing Gods at !
is a greater impossibility.
The word baptism is taken from the
ireek, and means to plunge, immerce,
ubmerge in water, or to wash, clean,
urify, or wet with water. The word
5 found four times in the Old Tesla
1ent. 1t is said that the Jews were
aptized in their ceremonies of wash
lg themselves; that Nebuchodonosor
1as baptized with the dew of Heaven; {
hat the world was baptized at the !
God; and that the Jews were bap- t
zed at the passage of the Red Sea. S
According to st. Augustine, a very S
authority, baptism is '
with water in the Word" /
atholic teaching, ever the same, re- t
uires for valid baptism a washing.
'hich takes place either by immersion. d
curing or springling. When it is i'm c
OsSlble to secure water, and a man is /
wing. baptism of desire" is sufficient [
'r salvation. Could any doctrine e
moving that baptism is necessary for S
aviation, be more reasonable and in N
ccordance with the justice and mercy
God than this? 1t has been the uni
ersal pTactie of the Christian church
nee Apostolic times.
The conclusion drawn from the text.
8aptising because there was much
ater, therefore much water is a re- a
lirement for Scriptural baptism a
owes too much, and what proves too O
UGH, as say the logicians, proves s.
othing. citizen of Colorado might n
" he would go to New York to battle is
'cause there is too much water in the d
tlantic ocean. 1t would not follow W
ON that that in his own home. where c
ere is no pool or lake, that a bath | fC
as impossible A sponge bath. or W
lower bath could be easily taken. Pri- r.
tie Interpretation of the Scriptures ri
is led to many absurd and unreason- r.
lie doctrines. !.
In the fourth paragraph the writer
Us, with an air of infallibility. great W
IMAM that ever assumed by any Su- .,
eme Pontiff, ito be baptized Scrin- L,
rally you must be buried in the wa b,