The Washington herald., 1911-01-01
IS IMMERSION ESSENTIAL TO
THE MODERN BAPTIST FAITH?

One Of the very livest questions agita-
to-day is the question whether one can
be a good Baptist. holding denomina-
tional fellowship with other Baptists, If
he no longer believes that baptism by
immersion is essentia; to communion in
Baptist congregation.
1t is hardly q question in some parts
Of the country. In the South. for in
stance. though the leaders have heard
that the question is being seriously dis
cussed in Baptist circles, the average
church member hardly knows that such
a question has been raised. Few Bap-
tist ministers in the South would have
the hardihood to admit publicly that
the question may be, and by some
Baptists is. thought of as an open one.
and the UNCONVENTIONAL press is re-
markable reticent on the subject. 1t is
considered closed question in that
section Of the country. closed never to
be opened. Close communion is the
rule, and IL it has any exceptions they
are not advertised through the press. A
recent event, however, carried this
question right to the heart Of the
South and laid it down to the doors q
Southern Baptists as an open question,
and it remains to be seen what the out
come will be.
Last November the Baptist congress
held its annual meeting at Augusta. Ga.
This body was organized about thirty
years ago for the purpose Of promoting
"a healthful sentiment among Baptists
through free and courteous discussion
of curreIA questions by suitable persons"
and at NAst once befo4 it met in the
South-at Nashville twelve years ago
but ~ r1le its sessions are held In
other sections and its attendance does
not usually have a large proportion Of
Southern representatives This time.
according to some Baptist papers. the
congress made q sortie into the land of
orthodoxy, for 1t Is generally admitted
that. from Baptist point OF view' tne
South is decidedly nore orthodox than
the North-especially on the subject of
immersion and its corollary, close COM
munion.
HampeFed By SectaFian Spirit.
There were other subjects discussed
at the Augusta meeting. important sub
jects Of interest not only to Baptists.-
but to all Christians. but the ono which
aroused the most spirited discpssion-
1t was almost too one sided to Be called
a debate-was the theme. Tho relation
of the Baptist denomination to the
universal church." It was recognised
by all that the church universal Il
hampered by the sectarian spirit and
less eficient than It might be II there
were fewer distinctive denominational
marks to keep Christians In entirely
separate groups. and 1t was stated by
some that Baptists are now Indifferent
to the demand for greater efficiency
through closer cooperation, and urged
by others that q beginning must be
made by uniting the various bodies OF
Baptists. Then the discussion drew
close to the vital question whether hap
tism by immersion should be considered
essential to church membersniN
The addresses on this subject brought
out the fact that Baptist principles and
Baptist practice are not altogether In
harmony with one another. The Bap-
lists . : people have always placed
great eQnp6asis upon the right Of the
individ1G 70 frame hle own religious
creed. They have seood Tor independencs
end foe ~ peincipls of liberty q eea-'