Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-15
BAPTISM
ENDORSED BY
CHURCH
TABERNACLE BAPTIST MEM
BERS IN CHURCH CONFER.
ENCE LAST NIGHT DECIDED
TO HOLD TO ALIEN BAPTISM.

despite the request OF the stone
association that this church stop the
practice. At a special church conference
that night the members unanimously de-
last night the members unanimously de-
cided that "alien baptism was not in de-
fiance of the laws of the Baptist church,
and that church would continue to re-
celve "alien baptists."
The special meeting was held in the
Tabernacle church for the considera-
ton of the subject. After a devotional ex-
ercise the report Of the deacons in regard
to the matter was read to the church by
DIR. Broughton. he having been specially
requested to read the report.
The report of the deacons that "alien
immersion" was I'm direct accordance with
the lines Of the Stone Mountain associa-
ton, and that the other churches Of the
association had no right to call the Tab
ernacle to account for the use Of 'alien
immersion"
According to this report, other churches
of the association have, in the past years,
used "alien immersion" and that the as
ISOLATION had by it's silence sanctioned
this. The report also brings out the fact
that each Baptist church is the sole judge
Of its membership and claims that the
action of the association was unwarranted.
The report respectfully and courteously"
refuses to accede to the request of the
Stone Mountain association.
After the report was read there were
several short talks, and then a vote was
taken on the report resulting in one dis
senting member, who was o. L. Moncrief,
who is employed as a stenographer in the
office of the Baptist State Mission board.
The report is as follows:
THE action OF the Stone Mountain asso-
citation at its last session on September
2. 1902 in which II adopted preamble
and resolution directed to this church,
~ Ito In cd
vance of any communication from the as
ISOLATION TO the church We waive the
formality of official notice for the time
being and beg to present promptly to the
constituency of the association and to the
public our answer to that action.
I'VE do not speak in anything but the
kindest Of feelings. We are fond OF our
brethren and certainly do not want to be
Independent Of them. We feel sure that
the brethren who voted for the preamble
and resolution did so without knowing all
the facts, and we feel very sure that the
sober second thought, aided by the spirit
of brotherly love and a desire for Gods
glory, will bring them to a better view
Of this case.
whenever an association is formed OF
any sort secular or religious. which is not
provided for by law, the association is
voluntary. 1t prescribes terms OF member
ship for itself and enacts laws for its
own government. The terms Of member
ship cannot be changed except by unan-
imous consent. In its internal administra-
ton II is governed by no laws except its
own. because no legislative power has
prescribed any laws for 1t. 1t can in no
case control fits constituency except in
matters wherein its members have agreed
to be controlled by.
'If a majority Of the members should
pass an order changing the term Of the
original agreement, the act would be rev.
olutionary and destroy the organization,
and in such case the minority which ad-
hered to the original compact would be
the association, and the majority chang
ing IL would cease to have any right or
power in It, This is a legal point which
has been well established. Baptist associa-
tions are of this kind. The laws that gov
ern them are entirely arbitrary. and are
adopted by an agreement between the
messengers of the churches and cannot
bind the churches except strictly within
the terms of the agreement.
Church Did Not Violate Rules.
''There IS nothing in the Scripture for
the organization of associations, and hence
there can be no Scripture rule for its gov
eminent. Such bodies are voluntary and
make their own rules arbitrarily. When
rule refers TO a Scripture text the rule ex-
presses the full meaning of the text so
far as the association is concerned. Tho
articles of faith may vary in some par
ticulars. but the associational articles pre-
sent so much of the doctrines and rules
held by the several churches as are need
full to the association. And those adopted
by the association are the only ones nee
essary to its formation and the only ones
q can require any church I'm the union to
subscribe TO- A church that departs from
anv Of the rules violates its agreement
and breaks its fellowship with the associ-
alton. Outside of these rules the assooia-
ton has no power to coerce.
I'm the rules of church order unoer
which the Stone Mountain association
vvas constituted, Nos. 3. 4 and give all
that the association has seen fit to require
of churches that come into the union, so
far as baptism Is concerned. These are
obligatory and nothing else is. They are
as follows. to-wit:
q Baptism in water and the Lords
supper are ordinances of Jesus Christ, to
be observed till the second coming. Matt.
xviii. 1920; Mark Ixvi. 15-16; Matt. xvi.
26-2e. Mark xiv, 22-25; Luke xxi, 1870;
I Cor Xxi, 1926; 1 John V. s.
90 The Scriptures prescribe no mode
of baptism The Lord commands the i'm
mersion of a believer in water into the
name of the ather and of the Son, and
of the Holy Spirit; and a change In this
I'm any particular violates the command,
and what is done is not baptism. Matt.
xviii. 1920: Mark xvi, 15-16 Acts wifi,
$685. xix, is; Acts Xxx. Z.
"'6 II is the duty of every regenerate
soul to put on Christ by baptism, to be-
come a member of a gospel church. and
to discharge every duty which the church
relation imposes. Acts ii, 3S-41-42; Gal. iii,
Il: I Cor. vi. 20; John XIV, "a; Jude ill.,
Rule 8 gives what are the ordinances
of the church, but makes no reference to
the one who is to administer baptism.
Rule 4 describes the act of baptism and
declares that the Lor- commanded It, but
does not say who may or may not admin
lister II.
The rules of the association, there
fore, leave the question of the qualifica-
ton of the administrator to be settled
by the churches Under these rules
church may practice alien immersion or
not, just as it pleases. anu no clause of
its agreement with the association is vio-
lated Hence, under ---e rules by which
we all agreed to be governed. the Taber-
nacle church has not broken fellowship or
transgressed in any matter over which
the association has jurisdiction.
Tabernacle Not Alone.
This c..urch denies that 1t is subject
TO correction at the hands of the associa-
ton for further reason, that whatever in
depreciation the association has given on
the subject OF alien immersion has been
I'm favor OF a. and not against it, because
heretofore some sixteen or eighteen years
ago the Second Baptist church received
v,ar,bar into tie feIlOvyshfrl on allen inn