The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1904-01-29

ANAns ANWA nANN 4 NN 4 NNAh q 49,
mis-conception Of the position Of the
great Baptist denomination. The writ
er may be coming to the point, but
evidently he has long and difficult
road to travel. DIR. Smith places the
Baptist position on slightly different
ground from other directors Most
writer's say Baptists are restricted com
muuicants because Of ignorance, mar
rowness, selfishness or meanness The
good Doctor says it grows out Of conceit
and folly He says it hides their great
ness, goodness and usefulness. Just
how he does not explain. He makes
much Of the thought that they would
not eat bread and drink wine with
Lee, Moody and other great and good
men; but would partake with little
James Smith or Sally Jones'"
From loosely worded sentence, the
reader would infer that the Baptists
teach that those not immersed are not
Christians at all. From this the writer
reaches the conclusion that to call upon
unimmersed people to preach, pray or
perform any Christian service, is sin
lul. Let it be understood that this Is
DR.. Smiths position and is not that Of
the Baptist denomination. | greatly
doubt the probability Of leading DR.,
Smith to the point where he can see
clearly the reasons for the Baptist
position on the communion question.
But for the sake Of others, wish space
enough to state it briefly and clearly.
We have both Scriptures and Scrip
ture example for our position. Why
do we take such position and what
are our reasons for it? These are fair
questions and shall have fair answer
1t is true that these reasons put Us out
Of harmony with all others That
means nothing to us when we are fol-
lowing the truth.
In Acts 24O-4l, we are given the eX-
act order which was followed by the
disciples in apostolic times. The re-
cord says, "Then they that gladly
heard his words were baptized and
added unto them about three thousand
souls. And they continued steadfastly
in the apostles doctrine and in fellow
ship and in the breaking Of bread and
in prayers Herein is the Baptist
position, from which no argument
however subtle, no sentiment however
pathetic, no friendship however true,
no earth-born love however strong,
can move true Baptist Let US ex-
anime this passage Of Scripture.
GLADLY received his word" means
Regeneration or Conversion as that
term is commonly used. Baptized"
means immersed, the sense Of the
scriptures and the scholarship Of the
world being witnesses. added unto
themn means joining the church after
baptism. "The Apostles doctrine"
means the great doctrines Of the New
Testament without addition, subtrac-
ton or modification in one j0t or
title. Fellowship" means church
relationship with those who continue
"steadfastly" in the faith as herein set
forth. Breaking Of bread" means the
Lords Supper, to which, each and all
ofthe preceding are prerequisite in their
order. This is the Baptist position.
Briefly stated its order is, Regenera-
ton. Baptism which is immersion
Agreement in doctrine, Fellowship in
the church, then the Lords Supper.
We did not make this order nor do we
propose to violate it to please our
friends. Upon this Gibraltar we have
taken our stand and God helping US
we will do none otherwise. Men talk
about their conscientious convictions.
We too have consciences and convic-
tons. BY these convictions we stand
and by them we have conquered. Our
fathers have been burned at the stake
have been jailed, have been whipped
and hunted like criminals, for these
convictions and for these truths, but
we have never yielded nor will we
Weld, for behind them is the word o.
our God. The reason that we do mol
commune with other people, is because
we dare not violate his commands mol
do violence to his dlvinely appointed
order Of procedure. We believe il
these doctrines and we will not say
otherwise even to those whom we love
If others change his order it is their af
fair not ours and we will not be party
toit. If others substitute sprinklinl
or any thing else for baptism we arr
not to blame We enter our protes
lint wish them no harm. If other
| teach that a few drops OF water on
person is baptism, we point to Christ
immersion in the Jordan. "Burie'
with him in baptism" is not to b
blotted from the book while there is
Baptist in the world. When other
teach that a spoonful Of water on tn
head of an infant saves it from eterna
death, we ask for the chapter and vers
where tits taught
When our friends Of other denomi
nations insist that we shall accept thei
doctrines which are not in accord Will
our own conscientious convictions, b,
eommuning with themlh the Lord
supper as they set it RB or by inviting
them to commune with US, we respect
fully but firmly decline. We do no
care whether the men who believe ant
teach these things are the great ones
earth or not. We are trying to follow
our Lord and not men. Our so-calle
close communion is our defence agains