The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1901-05-17
THE BAPTIST
POSITION.
DIR. MCArthur'S Exposition Well
Presented.

He DweIIs at Length on the Ques.
tion of Infant Baptism, Church
Unity, and the Fundamental Prin
cipIes of This Denomination.
The last of the series of addresses by
representatives of various religious de-
nominations was given by Rev. Robert
S. Macarthur, who for thirty-two years
has been pastor of Calvary Baptist
Church of New York City, at the Bap-
tist church on Wednesday evening.
In his Introductory remarks Rev. S. 2
Batten said these services had been given
not to emphasize the differences in the
religions doctrines of the various denom-
inatious, but to discover the points of
agreement. They were not for contro-
versy, but for exposition
In response to his introduction, DIR.
Mac Arthur said in part:
II believe the Baptist doctrines be-
cause they are those set forth by the New
Testament, and held alike by the high
est scholars and the most devout readers
of the scriptures, and are in harmony
with the best thoughts Of the day. The
fundamental principle is that personal
faith in the Lord Jesus alone saves the
SOUL
In relation to baptism this church has
never held it to be saving ordinance;
on the contrary, a person must become
converted before having admins
tered this sacred rite. First comes be-
lief, then baptism, then the Lords Sup
per.
DIR. Macarthur spoke very strongly on
the subject of infant baptism, and de-
nounced it as an absurd and unscriptural
superstition, but one held by hundreds
of refined and cultured persons. He said
there was no logical place in the Chris
tan doctrine for such teaching, and
not single command or example of it
in the New Testament He quoted,
among others, Martin Luther, who said
that it cannot be proved that infant bap
tism was instituted by Christ, and also
Dr. Hanna, the author of The Life of
Christ, Scripture knows nothing of the
baptism of infants"
In speaking of immersion DR.. MacAr-
thur said that baptism by sprinkling was
first used in the middle ages has abund
ant proof. He gave many quotations
from able writers to sustain his position,
He said he was not surprised Dean Pot
ter had had baptistry added to the
cathedral.
DR.. Macarthur said the introduction
of sprinkling came through administer
ing the rite to person who was i'll and
unable to be immersed in the customary
manner. The belief by many that Bap-
fists claimed immersion to be etficacious
and saving was both an evidence of ig-
norance on the subject and was most un-
fair. They hold that Christians should
be baptized, but that it is not indispen-
sable, and if circumstances made it i'm
possible it was not binding
DR.. Macarthur said he thanked God
heartily for the Baptist martyrs who had
clung to the doctrines of the Church, and
whose blood was its seed.
AS summary, Dr. Macarthur said
the fundamental principle was that a
mans salvation depended solely on his
personal faith, and that it must be per-
sonal, One could not believe for an
other; that no outward form would suf-
flee, but that the change must be in the
spiritual nature. He said if the Bible
was the only guide given all would be
Baptists, but if the traditions of men
were followed, all should logically be
Catholics. There was no logical stopping
place between the two. According to
his personal view, Congregationalists,
Methodists, and Presbyterians were half
Baptist and half Romanists Historic.
ally Baptists were not Protestants, but
doctrinally they were most consistent