Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1911-11-11

ually First came
the theory that every child Of Adam
was born damned to eternal torture
at the hands of fire-proof devils, and
that the only escape was through bap-
tism. But it was claimed that baptism
cancelled only previous sins and not
subsequent ones; hence it was the GUS
tom in Constantine's time to put off
baptism until as near the hour of death
as possible. Tertullian is credited with
supporting this view.
Later came St. Augustine, advancing
the theory that only the Church would
be saved and that baptism was for the
purpose of induction into the Church.
Naturally it followed that if infants
died without being admitted into
the Church they would 90 to eternal
torture. AS a result of this teaching
infant baptism sprang into great pop
ularity. which Is still maintained. At
first the infants were immersed in
water, but later. under the belief that
Apostles and equal in authority,
Church Councils took the place of the
Word Of God They not only sanction
ed infant baptism, which is not even
mentioned in the Bible, but addition
ally claimed that immersion was un-
necessary and that a few drops Of wa
ter would induct the aged or the babe
into the Church and constitute an in
surance against a hell of eternal tor
ture. This theory still persists to per-
haps a greater degree than many
would imagine. Luther and his coad-
tutors protested against some Of the
doctrines of the Church of Rome, but
accepted without protest infant bap-
tism, spripkling. etc, as necessary to
preservation from everlasting torment.
Unbaptzed Infants In Torture
Someone suggests, "Ah we practice
infant sprinkling, but it is merely a
christening We have no thought
whatever that the gracious Heavenly
Father or His adorable Son. our Re
deemer, would consign an infant to
torture. even if it died without be-
ing christened" Do not be too sure,
my brother. Superstitions die hard.
know of white-haired bishop in the
Episcopal Church who was appalled,
at the very suggestion that his infant
grandchild might be safe in the arms
of Jesus without having been Chris
tened"
Not only so. but these superstition
of a darker day are forcefully impress
ed upon the common people" by SOM
of tie clerm Let me tell you of tw'
Gases:
Il, A Lutheran couple in Pennsylva
MIA had some unpeasantness wit
their pastor respecting Church dues
This caused them to absent themselve
from Church service for severa
months. Meantime their babe be
came sick. The father humbled him
self to go to his pastor to tell him o
his distress and his fear that the chill
might die and of his desire to hav
it baptized. Imagine the anguish o
the deluded parent when the pastor re
fused and told him that the chill
would go to hell and that this was hi
desert as a parent because of failur
to keen in touch with his Church.
q, The other case was that Of
Catholic couple in Wisconsin. The
two little girls died of diphtheria will
in few hours of each other. Whe
the parish priest was sent for he d,
clined to come and refused permissio
to have the children buried in mol
ground" The explanation given
the astonlshed parents was that the
had neglected their duty toward tn
children. that they had not been bal
tized into the Church and consequen
~ were lost.
To friend the bereaved father d
Clared that he wanted to have nothln
whatever to do with so unjust a 90
who would cOnsign his little. innocel
children to eternal torture merely b
cause of his sin. his neglect. in nj
having Il few drops Of water sprinkle
in their faces by the priest. The frier
had been reading my Studies in Il
Scriptures and explained to the b
reaved father that Church creeds ar
theories are very different from Il
plain and simple teachings of the I
BILE. He showed him that his lit
ones were merely "asleep in Jesu
waiting for the glorious resurrectiC
blessings of restitution to be broug
to mankind at the second coming
Jesus. after the completion of the ele
Church and their change to heaven
glory. Could you wonder that tn