The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-11-18

Some of the Reasons Which
Prompted Him to Take Such a
Course-Baptism Not Saving
Ordinance He Declared.
Rev. DR.. Madison e. Peters, who re-
signed from the pastorate of one of the
largest and most influential churches in
New York city to enter the Baptist de-
nomination, and who is now the pastor
of the Emmanuel Baptist church at
Baltimore. delivered u lecture last night
in the Penn Avenue Baptist church, in
which he gave the reasons which led
him to embrace the Baptist faith.
DIR. Peters wide fame as a pulpit
orator and lecturer attracted large
gathering from all parts of the city,
which he charmed by his eloquent and
forceful discussion OF the fundamental
doctrines of the Baptist church. He
was briefly introduced by S. Fletcher
Weyburn, president of the Baptist
lecture was given.
DR.. Peters said, in beginning, that he
became Baptist through a careful and
conscientious study of baptism. He de-
clared that a study of all the authori-
tative historians of all denominations
led him to unreservedly believe that
baptism in the primitive church was
administered by immersion only. All
recognized standard historians admit
this, he said. The Greek church, which
he declared to be the oldest living
Christian church, practices baptism by
immersion.
He then traced the history of bap-
tism by sprinkling. which was first au-
thorized in special cases by Pope
Stephen III in Sll, but which was not
clearly and definitely defined until 1911,
when it was formally declared to be fit
and proper by a church council. DR..
Peters then took up the views held by
John Colvin and John Wesley on the
subject of baptism by immersion, and
showed how each Of these religious
leaders admitted that it was the method
employed in the primitive church, and
were inclined to the belief that it was
the only proper method. IF the Pres
byterans and the Methodists followed
the lead of the founders of these
churches, he said, baptism by ilnmers-
ion would be today a tenet of the re-
ligious creeds of these churches.
Scriptural Grounds.
He dwelt at some length upon the
Scriptural grounds for a belief in bap-
tism by immersion, paying especial at
tention to the passage describing the
baptism of Philip and the eunuch, in
which the inspired writer said that they
went Into" the water. To assert that
this means that they only went "to"
the water is to assert that into" has
the meaning of "to" in every other
place where it is used in the same con-
nection, and to declare that no man can
enter into" the kingdom of heaven, but
only "to" it,
Baptism is only a symbol" he said,
but it is glorious symbol of faith,
and because it is a symbol preach it,
Destroy the symbol and you destroy
the thing symbolized."
If baptism is a symbol of the triumph
of Christ over death and of His resur-
rection, what likeness can there pos
sibly be, he asked, unless the whole
body is immersed in the water and
then lifted out into the light and
brightness without"
"Baptism," said he. lis a symbol of
Christ's resurrection; symbol of that
act by which he abolished death, rolled
back the stone from the tomb and
painted upon the black clouds of de-
spair the rainbow of Immortality"
He then discussed the question of in
fant baptism, which, he declared, has
no warrant in scripture. There is not Il
single recorded instance of Il baptism
in the new Testament, he said in which
1T was not an act entered into by the
personal and deliberate choice of the
person baptized. The custom of infant
baptism, he said, is born of the old
error that baptism is necessary to sal
walton.
Infant baptism, he said implies Il
libel on God. 1t implies that baptism
is Il saving ordinance and no matter
how much people who believe in it
may say aloud, they all have a secret
fear that if their little innocent child
rem should die unbaptiZed they would
be lost for eternity 1t is an outrageous
perVersion of the gospel to declare that
there is scriptural warrant for the as
sertOn that baptism is a saving ordin-
ance, he said.
To believe this is to believe that God
is IL tyrant veritable demon. DIR.
Peters declared that he believed God
would sooner have a man deny him
than to assert such n belief. 1t places
the minister in the position of a worker
of miracles, he said.
",rhe minister becomes n Veritable
wonder worker, If we believe such Il
thing" said he. Here is the child a
lump of depravity. Al this moment he
is II fit candidate for perdition but Ia,
| and behold, the clergyman approaches
with "A ritual in one hand and Il bowl
of water i'm the other. Heigh. Presto.
| the child of perditiOn becomes a child
| of God and the worker of miracles
pockets Il good sized fee.'
Baptism, lie said, does not save. II
has no sacramental efficiency. People
are baptized not to be saved. but be-
| cause they are saved. The blood of
| Christ is the only thing that can wash
away the sins of man and make him
white as snow. While not essential ia
salvation, is nevertheless essential to
complete obedience of Gods COM
mands and to complete satisfaction of
mind and heart. Obedience of God $
commands, he said, is not optional, but
obligatory, and baptism is a test of
obedience.
In closing, DR., Peters said that he laid
down one of the most attractive posi-
tions that a minister could wish for,
because he became convinced that his
Pronounced and powerful as was the
sorrow of separation, the complete and
pleasureable satisfaction of having
LII.