The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-08-03
ON "AL|EN APT|SM"
Difference in Rev. Len. G.
Broughton's Church.
Practice Of Receiving Any Person for Member
ship in Baptist Church Immersed by
Other Denominations.
(Atianta Journal.1

\fAlh JOuIudl.J
The Baptist Tabernacle, of which Rev.
Len G. Broughton is pastor, has accepted
a doctrine that displeased some of the
members of that congregation.
The doctrine is what is known as alien
baptism, or the practice of receiving any
person for membership immersed by
other denominations. The board of dea-
cons, twenty-six in number at meet
ing held two months ago. gave it's unani-
nous endorsement to the new doctrine
and it has since become the practice of
the church.
Pending action by the board, however,
opposition was developed. This came
from w. T. Stanton, a prominent menu
Der of the church, who lives at COLLEGE
Park. Mr.. Stanton did not like the idea
of taking in persons baptized by other
denominations only and did not hesitate
to say so. He thought the policy was
not only unbaptistic but bordered on the
heretieal.
Further than to delay action Tor
week, the opposition of Mr.. Stanton did
not change the attitude of the board
Mr.. Stanton has since applied for letters
of dismissal from the church for him
self, his wife and two children, which
will be granted at the next meeting Of
the deacons. He and his family will
join the Central Baptist church, of
which Rev j. r. Gum is pastor.
Other members of the church have ac-
cepted the doctrine with some misgiv-
ings, holding that the practice is con-
trary, at least to the Baptists of Geor
gia, and it may be that they also will
ask for letters of dismissal.
Rev. Len G.. Broughton, pastor of the
Tabernacle, says that his church in
adopting the doctrine has not sprung an
innovation. but that it is a common
practice among some other churches.
eve do not believe that the validity
of the ordinance of baptism rests in the
administration, said DR.. Broughton
Roman Catholics and a large number of
Baptists, however, hold such views. /
am free to say that the practice of the
Baptist churches of Georgia, as a gen
eral thing, is against receiving any per-
son for membership immersed by other
denominations. Many of our most prom
inent Georgia Baptist preachers differ
with their churches in this matter The
ton l do not believe that there is
single Baptist church north of Mason
and Dixons line that holds to this re-
stricted policy which makes the admin
istration of the ordinance of baptism re-
sponsible to the candidate, or to state it
differently. which refuses persons for
membership immersed by other denomi-
nations This is also the practice of
the Baptists of Virginia. Many of the
leading Baptist churches in North Caro-
lima have also adopted resolutions offer
ing to receive persons immersed by other
denominations. 1t is a known fact that
n man immersed by another denomina-
ton can go to Virginia and join a Bap-
fist church without re-baptism and get
a letter and bring it back to any Baptist
church in Georgia and we receive him.
The Tabernacle got tired of such child's
play and we simply said we will not
whip the devil around the stump, We'll
be fair and square and receive such per-
sons first hand. Baptism was never
given to the church to have exclusive
rights in the administration Philip was
not an ordained preacher and he bap-
tiZed the eunuch on the spot, without
waiting for a vote of the church or the
vote of anything else. We hold a mans
immersion valid when he received it
upon a profession of the faitn in Jesus
Christ. There are twenty-six deacons
in my church, and, thank God, we stand
as a unit, not only in this matter, but
in all other matters of church polity."
Rev. w. w. Landrum ID. D., pastor of
the First Baptist Church, has the same
views as DR.. Broughton on alien bap-
tism, although he says his church, so
far as he knows, has never received a
person on such baptism, nor has the
question been discussed by the church
since he has been it's pastor. He said
THE oldest Baptist confession of faith
is what is known as the London con-
fesion of 1913. This is the Oldest docu-
ment among the English speaking people
bearing directly upon the doctrine of
baptism. 1t expressly states that the
ordinance of baptism is scripturally per-
formed when there is proper subject,
namely, believer in our Lord Jesus
Christ; proper act, the immersion in
water of such a subject in the name of
the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost,
and the third element is a proper pur-
pose or design to carry out the last great
commission of Jesus Christ.
1t will be observed that no mention is
made as to any ecclesiastical or cere-
monial qualifications of the administra-
tor of baptism. The London conference
says that any disciple of our Lord NAV
baptize proper subject for baptism. To
this most ancient faith of the Bantist 7
myself subscribe. There are Baptist
ministers who hold that the Character of
the administrator is essential to baptism
This l do not believe. Some fifty odd
years or more ago some of the leaders
among the Georgia Baptists imagined if
TO be necessary to be put under stress T
think, in the matter of the administrator
of baptism. They have many worthy fol-
lowers in the State, but as every Baptist
church is independent it exercises its
sovereign rights to approve or disap-
prove what are called alien dimensions
or unbaptist baptisms. Throughout the
Northern States, in Virginia, South
Carolina and many other parts of the
South so-called alien dimensions are re-
ceived without question"
DR.. Broughton leaves this week for a
I'VE weeks tour through the east, where