The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-11-08

III ,.ttttt} .@El SuoNs luuL tue
1z42l1z1Gl4Az14& ~ d1mnation theo.
lRASIQR RUSSElDj ries grew. grad
----------- '----- ually. First came
the theory that every child Of Adam
was born damned to eternal torture
at the hands Of tlre.proof devils. and
tliat the only escape was through bap-
tism. But It, was claimed that baptism
cancelled only previous sins and not
subsequent ones; hence 1t was the Gus.
tom In Constantine's time TO put OF
baptism until as near the hour of death
as possible. Tertulllan Is credited with
supporting thls view. III s}S7
Later came st. Augustine. advancing
theitheory that only the Church would
be saved and That baptism was for the
purpose Of Induction into the Church.
Naturally 1t followed that If infants
died without being admitted into
the Church they would so to eternal
torture. AS n result of1this teaching
infant baptism sprnng into great pop
ularlty, whicl5Is still maintained. At
first the infants were immersed in
water. but later under the belief that
all bishops were successors Of the
Apostles and equal In authority.
Church Councils took the place of the
Word Of God. They not only sanction.
cd infant baptism. which is not even
mentioned in the Bible. but addition.
ally claimed that immersion WIS un.
necessary and that few drops Of wa.
ter would induct the aged or the babe
into the Church and constitute IN In.
surance against n hell Of eternal tor.
ture. This theory still persists to per.
haps greater degree than many
would Imagine. Luther and bis, coad,
tutors protested against some of the
doctrines OF the Church of Rome. but
accepted without protest infant bnp.
tism. sprinkllng. ETC.. us necessary to
from everlasting torment.
Unbaptized Infants In Torture
Someone suggests, "Ah! we practice
infant sprinkling. but 1t Is merely n
christening We have no thought
whatever that the gracious Heavenly
Father or Ills adorable Son. our Re.
deemer, would consign an infant Ia
torture. even IL 1t died without be
Ing clristened." Do not be too sure
my brother. Superstitions die hard. /
know Of n whitc-haired bishop in the
Episcopal Church who was appalled,
at the very suggestion that his infant
grnndchlld might be safe in the arms
Of Jesus without having been Chris
tened /.
Not only so. but these superstitions
Of darker day are forcefully Impress
cd upon the common people" by somt
of the clcrgy. Let me tell you Of two
Cases: sgs 1s
IL A Lutheran couple in Pennsylva
MIA had some lnpleasantness will
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 80 to his pastor to tell him o
his distress and his fear that the chile
might die and Of his desire to hav,
It baptized. Imagine the anguish o
the deluled parent when the pastor re
fused and told him that the chilli
would so to hell and that this was hi
desert us parent because Of failur
to keep in touch with his Church.
(2) The other case was that of
Catholic couple In Wisconsin. Thei
two little girls died Of diphtheria witt
In few hours of each other. Whc
the parish priest was sent for he dt
cllned to come and refused pcrmissio
to have the children buried in, "hol
ground" The explanation given t
the astonlshed parents was that the
had neglected their duty toward tn
children. that they had not been bar
tizcd into the Church and consequent
" were lost. ,s5.g.4
TO friend the bereaved father d.
rlarcd that he wanted to have nothin
whatever to do with so unjust Go
who would consign his little. innocer
children to eternal torture merely b,
! cause OF his sin. his. neglect. In nc
having a,few drops of water: sprinkle
in their faces by the priest! The frien
had been reading my Studies in til
Scriptures" and explained to the b,
renved father that Church crecds IN
theories are very different from til
plain and simple teachings Of the B
bic. He showed him that his littl
ones were merely "aslecp, In Jesus
waiting for the glorious resurrectio
blessings Of restitution. to be brougl
to mankind at the second coming (
Jesus. after the completion of the ele'
Church and their change to hedvenl
glory. Could you wonder that thi
..Es y 49, 4 -. X. 49,,