Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-01-03
rwo IMPORTANT POINTS.

friend iu England Aenls uH 'llp-
ping from the Birmingham Daily Post,
which gives an account " a meeting In
ST. Augustlne's Missionary College,
Canterbury, at which the archbishop
presided. An address was given there
by the Earl Of Stamford. on the subject
Of mission 70 the Rio Pongo district
OF West Africa. After the address, the
archbishop remarked that he would
never forget what General Gordon said
10 him. just before that gallant soldier
started on biz last expedition TO the
soudan. which terminated az khar-
toum. His Grace had never seen Cor
don before. but the general desired 10
consult him. as bishop, as TO what
would be proper ana lawful to do UNI
der certain circumstances. He said
In the first place, should be justi-
fed In bapuzing people myself II
could not get a clergyman to do II. II /
we're quite satisfied OF their acceptance
of Christian truth Dr. Temple re-
Piled Certainly you would be justi-
fled. but you must be quite sure Of their
repentance and faith. because Il is q
dangerous thing 10 baptize unless there
Is some security that the baptized
Christian win have sufficient supports
to maintain his faith'-for instance, II
he took them with him and gave them
the assistance Of his continued pres
ence. Gordon next asked whether It
would be possible 20 allow their native
Christians to have more wives than
one. TO this he replied In the negative.
pointing out that II was useless 70 call
them Christians unless they were pre-
pared 10 submit 10 the divine ruling In
this matter. and that 10 allow them the
title and privileges Of Christians. and 70
permit them 10 consider themselves
members OF the Christian body while so
distinctly setting aside the law concern
ing such an institution as marriage,
could not possibly be- done. Gordon
said: What a pity. II only We could
let them have four wives each, which Is
about the limit they usually place upon
themselves. I verify believe that IN half
a century you could make the whole Of
Africa Christian
The primate went on to say that this
illustrated exactly one Of the greatest
difficulties that had to be faced. He
added:
There was a possibility u their be-
ing ready 20 join the Christian church
on condition that their old instincts
should be left untouched. We should
have a great deal OF trouble In the fu-
ture about this matter and the prob-
lem had been worked out BY this Pongo
mission in precisely the right way He
did not believe that the superstition OF
the African people would stand IN the
way or that II would be difficult to get
rid Of their strange beliefs but he did
not feel quite sure that We should get
very speedily TO the point at which we
could say that We had really conquered
such Instincts as that referred 10 by
General Gordon. These would have TO
be dealt with by very slow and gradual
practices, but they would have to be
dealt with n we are 10 make the Afri-
can nation a Christian people
II is strange that so eminent a scholar
should give evidence Of such a lack OF
clear understanding Of scriptural Chris
tlan doctrine. az is manifested IN the
paragraphs we have quoted.
As TO baptism. the necessity Of faith
and repentance as conditions preceding
the ordinance. is absolutely correct
That Is the New Testament order. II
Is Gospel teaching But how does Il
comport with the Episcopallan theory
OF infant baptism? How can the UNI
conscious babe who has water sprlnkled
IN It's face OF Is wetted on the brow.
exercise faith. and Of what sins can Il
repent? The inslstence Of these two
acts as necessary presidents tobaptism,
gives a deadly blow TO the heresy of
baby sprinkling. And further how can
the ordinance be administered In the
name Of the Holy Trinity, by one who
has no authority TO use their sacred
names?
As to the other question, II the arch
bishop had lnterposed the secular law
and the rule Of the churches IN Chris
tlan nations against the family rela-
tons IN which the African peoples were
involved he would have been correct
But when he speaks Of "the Divine
ruling In this matter he goes beyond
the mark and treads on sinking ground
Under Episcopalan doctrine "Whatso-
ever is not according 10 Holy Scripture
and cannot be proved thereby. is not
to be received as an article OF the
Christian faith" Any attempt 10
prove by the Old and New Testaments
the Divine ruling, as Interpreted by
the archbishop, must OF necessity be a
failure.
The Christian churches may adopt
such rules and ceremonies as they
choose, to be complied with by caud-
dates Tor membership Christian ma
tons may pass laws to regulate the
conduct OF citizens, within rational and
constitutional limits. But the Divine
law" is another matter entirely. and
there must be some authority for It's
declaration. other than secular statutes
and ecclesiastical forms. or 1t win not
be received as doctrine by people who
read and think Tor themselves.
The obstacle IN the way Of sectarian
proselytism mentioned by the lament
ed Gordon has long been a barrier 10
the foreign missionary cause Il Is
likely 90 continue 10 confront evaugel-
ism. and viii puzzle wiser heads than
those Of the soldiers and prelates o.
modern times Perhaps during The
twentieth century the need OF present
Divine revelation and the possibility
Of lbs communication, may be impressed
upon the Christian mind. and light may
dawn upon the spiritual darkness and
confusion Of latter-day chrIstendom.