Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-08-20
BAPTISM.


result that all scholars were agreed
that immersion is the only Scriptural
mode, and that the only point In dis
llpute now is whether the Scriptural
4 motie OF baptism is essential or whether
some other mode may not be just as
4 valid. But Rev Andrew Gray, rector
Of ST. Paul's church, Pekin, Ill, has
just issued a pamphlet In when he
re "Opens the old discussion and main
taIns that immersion is not essential
70 a valid baptism
4 The subject IS not OF the same inter-
est to the Latter-day Saints as 10 other
y believers In the Scriptures. for there is
no controversy among them on that
question. and there cannot he. because
as far as they are concerned, IL is set
fIted. by the word OF revelation, be
yond controversy But It may. never
ltheIess. be Of some benefit TO review
ibriehy some Of the threadbare argu-
lments Of the pamphlet.
Il Dr. Gray begins by quoting the com
+ mission OF our Lord to the Twelve, as
follows: Go ye therefore and 'mathe-
l4tcusate'-make disciples of-all ma
siltions." by baptizing and teaching them;
/. and ne concludes that, because infants
are part Of every nation, therefore they
Unjust be baptized.
n This Is curious reasoning. Suppose
the American government were to COM
mission someone to go and civilize all
ihe Indian tribes and the aborgines OF
E the islands OF the sea belonging 10 this
country. by establishing schools among
tithem and teaching them the arts and
sciences OF America. would that include
a command to put helpless infants in
(, SCHOOL, The nations. according 10 the
commission OF our Lord, we're TO be
s"mads disciples or" not by baptism and
teaching ot infants. but by the bap-
usm and teaching OF those in the ma
ton who are capable Of understanding
land receiving both the sacred symbol
! and the instruction.
N The very establishment OF a church
lin nation with its teachings and
.tprlctices. is an influence in that ma
ton, Just as a school Is an influence
for civilization even over those who
may not attend Il. Lincoln for in
lstance. did not go to school, but he
had the benefit Of the American school
none the less. II he had been born
in darkest Africa his career would
have been entirely different from what
Il was. The centers from which knowl-
.ege flows exert influence over wide
areas. This is true Of the churches.
too. The church by preaching. baptiz-
ing and teaching makes disciples Of
nations. The truth permcates the ma
tions through the influence Of the
church and the nations become the
benefciaries OF the instructions OF the
Master.
DR.. Gray next maintains that our
Lord teaches that I'm the use Of water
as symbol TO represent the office
and the work OF the Holy Spirit. no
more IS required than that II should
touch some part OF the body, II mat
ters not which, the foot, or the hand.
or the head. and the object is attained
completely and fully. just as much as
/ n the person were immersed"
This curious doctrine he dcducts from
+ the words OF the Savior to Peter, on
tho occasion Of the washing OF feet be
fore the crucinxon. when Peter sug-
gested that not only the feet but also
the hands and the head be washed:
IA He that Is washed needeth not save
( 10 wash his feet. but is clean every
y whit" Whether this has any applica.
ton az all 10 baptism. We leave to our
4 readers to judge for themselves. Or.
4 Gray seems to confuse the two ordi-
nsnces. He seems to argue that either
+, ordinance Is valid no matter how OF
q where the water Is applied. IL is hap
81 tism, no matter n only one foot Is
touched by drop; by the same rea-
soning we suppose It Is washing Of
I feet, even II the water Is poured on
the head. The reasoning refutes itself
N The author next takes up the ques.
q ton OF the meaning OF the words
s "bapto" and "baptizo." He concedc,
the point that "bapto" means to "lm,
N morse" TO dip" 20 plunge" but b,
withdraws that concession by main.
tanning that baptize"-
means less than "bapto." from which q
~ Is derived - dcrivative word" b,
says. always means less than prim
Tive word from which Il is derived. .
n Does Il? Does "hlackeu" mean {,
render "less" black than the adjectiv,
from which tho verb IS derived? Doe.
criticize mean 60 lessen the work oi
the critic7 what about "legalize, p
"scandallzc," "cpitomize." etc, etc
DO these words mean less than the PEI
mitiVe words from which they are de-
rived7
1 The Century dictionary gives the
meaning OF "baptizcln" as dip OF
plunge IN or under water, sink "a
ship. drench, soak draw (wlne) d,
dipping with a cup. From Liddeil snt
scotts dictionary We quote. "Bar.
tho" 70 dip repeatedly. Of Ahipn tc
sink them, Polyb 2. 81. 0, eto--pas.
sive. TO battle; hoi hohaptismonol
soaked in wine" This is tho teati.
mony OF lexicographofs on tho mean,
ing OF the word "baptiEo." and n Their,
ia any doubt as 20 that, tho entir,
Greek Catholic church OF today IA n,
irrefutaele witness 10 that moantnu
For that church uses Enumeration an,
haa svsr naaA A..