Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1919-07-09

IN accordance with their ideas, and
decided that it was their duty to
come out Of that institution and es-
tablish Il pure church," consisting
only of the regenerate. These early
Separatists grew into the modern
denominations known as Congrega-
tionalists and Baptists.
From about 1893 groups of sepa-
ratists gathered in and about Gains
borough, in Lincolnshire. About
1906 persecution drove them to Hol-
land. Part Of them, who had met at
Scrooby manor, went to Layden,
whence many afterward became the
Pilgrims Of the Mayflower, and they
established the colony of Plymouth
in 1921. The Gainshorough group
went to Amsterdam with their teach
er, Rev. John Smyth, who had been
clergyman Of the Church of Eng
land and a lecturer in Lincoln in
1900. Here Smyth first became ac-
quainted with the theology Of Ar
with the Mennonites, whose rejection
Of infant baptism seemed to him to
be according to Scripture. He gave
utterance to his new views in a tract
called THE Character Of the Beast"
5000, and SO adherents joined him
in establishing q new church on the
principle Of baptizing believers only.
Smyth baptized himself and then his
followers, and on this account he is
often called the Se-Baptist. In 1911
members Of the sect returned to Lin
coin and established a church there.
Similar churches were formed in
other places, and these General Bap-
lists $50 called because they believed
In general or universal atonement)
increased rapidly. In 1914 their op-
ponents estimated their number at
AZ churches.
In 1916 a congregation OF Sepa-
ratists was gathered in Southwark,
London, by Henry Jacobs, a former
minister Of the Church Of England
A peaceable division Of this church
took place in 1888, a part going out
to establish new church and receiv-
ing new baptism, which probably
meant baptism on profession Of
faith. In 1910 further division oc-
CURED, and some Of the new group
became convinced that baptism
should be immersion; so they sent
one Of their number, Richard Blunt,
to Holland, where he was immersed
by Mennonite minister at Rhyns-
berg. and on his return the members
Of this church were all immersed. In
few years this became the estab-
lished practice Of all the Baptist
churches.
In 1914 seven churches issued a
Confession Of Faith, in which bap-
tism was for the first time defined
as "dipping" or "plunging" the body
under water. This group Of churches
became known as the Particular Bap-
lists, because they insisted on the
Calvinistic doctrine of an atonement
FOR the elect only. This distinction
of General and Particular Baptists
became less significant with the lapse
Of time, and ceased altogether with
the formal union Of the two bodies
in 1891. Both groups were one in
| their advocacy Of believers baptism
and soul liberty. The Confession Of
lGll was the first document to assert
liberty Of conscience for all men as
1.-The tenderest thing unto all consci-
cntious men, and most dear unto
them. and without which all other
liberties will not be worth the nam
| ing. much less the enjoying The
Revolution, just then beginning, was
| their opportunity. Baptists were uni
formly on the side Of parliament.
and several Of them rose to high
rank in Cromwell's army. while their
| churches grew rapidly. 1t was natu-
raj that they should experience their
| full share Of the persecution after