The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-11-07

tlRASI0R RUSSELD) ries grew grad
ualiy. 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 1t 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. Tertullian IL 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 II infants
died without being admitted into
the Church they would go to eternal
zorture As result of this teaching
jnfant baptism sprang into great pop
ularity, which Is still maintained. At
flrst the infants were immersed In
water, but later. under the belief that
all bishops were SUCCESSORS OF the
Apostles and equal I'm 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 I'M
necessary and that few drops of wa.
ter would induct the aged or the babe
into the Church and constitute an in
Burance against hell of eternal tor
Eure. This theory still persists to per
1aps Erenter 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, sprinkllng. etc. as necessary to
preservation from everlasting torment
Unbaptized Infants in Torture
Someone suggests. "Ah! we practice
infant sprinkllng, but It Is merely u
christening. We have no thought
whatever that the gracious Heavenly
Father or His adorable Son, our Re
deemer would cOnsign an Infant 10
torture. even II 1t died without be-
ing chrlstened" DO not be too sure,
my brother Superstitions die hard.
know OF II white-halred bishop In the
Episcopal Church who wdg appalled,
at the very Suggestion that his Infant
grandcbilh might he safe In the arms
OF Jesus without having been 'chrls
tened"
Not only 80. but these superstltlons
of n darker day are forcefuiiy Impress
ed upon the common people" by some
of the clergy. Let me tell you OF two
cases:
IL A Lutheran couple In Pennsylva.
their pastor respecting Church dues.
'fitds caused them 60 absent themselves
SrGEn Church service for several
tnonchs. Meantime their babe be
scame sick. The father humbled him.
sch to 40 TO his pastor to tell him of
his distress and his fear that the child
smight die and OF his desire TO have
'tt baptized, lmuglue the anguish OF
the deluded parent when the pastor re-
fused aud :o.d him that the child
would 70 60 hell and that this was his
desert as parent because of failure
10 keep In touch with his Church.
Ca The other case was TINT of d
Catholic couple In Wisconsin, Theil
4wc little girls died of dlphtherla with
~ n few hours OF each other. Whcr
the parish priest was sent for he de
,clined to come und refused permlssloy
40 have the children buried In "holy
ground The explanation given L
the astonished parents was that they
had neglected their duty toward th,
children. thnt they tad not been hap
Ntized into the Church and consequent
ly were lost
To friend the bereaved father de-
fclared that he wanted 10 have n6thiDl
'SghatevPr to do with 40 unjust Goo
'whO would consign his little inn0cen
children 10 eterual torture merely bc
~enuse Of his sin. his neglect. In no
having n few drops Of water sprInklet
4n their faces by the priest. The frient
'nnd been reading my STUDIES In Tia
scriptures" and explained to the bu
'reaved father that Church creeds an,
theories are very different from tn
''plain and simple teachings OF the III
Sble, lie showed thin that his liitl
ones were merely 'asieep In Jesus
waiting for the glorious cesurrectio
BLESSINGS OF restitution, 10 be trough
20 mankiud At the second coming o
Jesus. after the completion of the eleC
Church and their change 10 heavenl
@szlory, Could you wonder that tbs