The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-29


at least this feature of the teachings
or the dark ages" handed down to
them by we'll meaning but less enlight-
ened forefatherS
One glance at the matter will suffice
to show our Baptist brethren that the
very strongest features of their teach
ing needs some revision. However
fundamental may be the doctrine of
specting it will be greatly advantaged
by a liberal pruning. But caution
should be used. The Bible should be
consulted. We offer the suggestion
that too hasty a rejection of water i'm
mersion would be a mistake-that the
proper course for our Baptist friends
is to study the sculptures afresh on
this subject. What wonderful advan-
tages are now at the command of all
Bible students. They have marginal
reference by which one passage throws
light upon another. They have also
concordances. glossaries, indexes, and
all manner of helps for Bible study.
Our forefatberS before the Reforma-
ton were generally illiterate. And even
had they possessed education the pen
written Bibles We're expensive and OBJ
tainable only in the Latin language.
Indeed it is only within the last few
years that Bibles have become cheap
and plentiful and the masses able to
read them.
What Must Adyentists Concede?
The doctrine of the second advent
of Christ is common to all denomiDa-
lions. And the Adventist belief that
at that time the earth will be burned
up is also feature of all the var
ious creeds. Many Adventists have
abandoned the thought that the Saw
ior's second appearing is at hand.
thought that when he appears Ad-
ventists alone will be saved and all
the remainder of mankind will par
ticipate in the destruction and burn
ing which shall then engulf the earth.
1t should not be difficult for them to
realize that there is no great neces-
sity for controversy along the lines of
the time of Christ's coming, since
they acknowledge themselves COM
pletely in the dark on the subject
Neither can we suppose that after
thoughtful consideration We should
feel Justified in assuming that they
alone are "the elect Let us hope
that with broadening sentiment they
are more and more realizing that
there are saints and sinners in their
own number. as we'll as in all denom
nations and as we'll as in the world;
and that 1.-THE Lord knoweth them that
are his and will care for them,
regardless IF UNCONVENTIONAL lines.
which considers the keeping of the
seventh day of the week the all i'm
portant part of Christianity we see
no ground for Federation, unless, in
QSGu, lIty Inlay ClOOSS 10 get dOOul ll1S
difficulty by counting the calendar the
other way around the world. Thus
they might bring their seventh day
into harmony with what others term
the first day. Or, by counting the cal
endar in the opposite direction they
may still keep their seventh day and
realize that others are keeping the
same day, though calling it the first
day.
Disciple Doctrines to BE Voided.
Jar. C.ar, an1l
was a good man with a great head
And undoubtedly many of a similar
class following his lead are today
known as Disciples or Christians.
Undoubtedly these are following close
~ to apostolic customs in the matter
of church organization, which in
many respects is beautiful in it's SIM
plicity. Doctrinally they claim most
faithfully to stand by the Word of God
alone. And one of their peculiar dec
, larations is, when the Word of God
speaketh we speak; when the Word
of God is silent we are silent" But
this beautiful simplicity of theory our
Disciple friends have found difficult
to work out in practice. Hence We
find them as strongly intrenched be-
hind unwritten creeds as are others be-
hind elaborated creeds. These are in
culcated through the writings of their
standard Observation-Disclosures the
editors of their leading journals.
the Bible teaching that baptism in
water is indispensable to the remission
of sins. This doctrine is supported by
several Bible texts which declare,
away thy sins;'' Baptism unto re-
pentance and remission of SINS" etc
Before pointing out their misappli-
cations of these texts let US note the
facts that according to their theory
all others IF mankind, Christians,
Jews and heather. who have not been
immersed have not had their sins
washed away. Consequently such are
yet in their sins. Consequently such
are lost. And lost according to the
general understanding of Disciples
and other Christians signifies shut
out of heaven-shut out of Paradise
shut into hell and its eternal tor
ments.
Do our Disciple friends act as 5
though they believed this teaching
Do they spend all of their time and
energy and money in seeking to bring
fellow Christians into water baptism
for the remission of sins and escape
from eternal torture? Assuredly they
do not. Hence we are justified in
supposing that like our Baptist
friends they have not taken seriously
and logically their own doctrines.
Rather they have assAnted to them
thoughtlessiy. 1t would appear to us.
therefore, that doctrinally our Dis
ciple friends might easily be prevailed
upon to abandon their peculiar tenet
to the extent that it would not hinder
them from losing their identity as
advocates of baptism for the remis-
sion of sins and merging themselves
or federating with others.
To assist them out of their difficulty
we remind them that all the scripture
they cite in support of immersion
for the remission of sins belonged to
the Jews, ard none of it to Gentiles-
The Jews were exhorted by John the
Baptist and others to renounce sin,
to return to harmony with Moses Law,
and to show this change of character
by water immersion. But these Ephe-
SLAMS who believed in Christ and whom
ApolIos baptized for the remission OF
| sins did not receive the holy Spirit
st. Paul explained to them that their