Newspaper Page Text
March 30, 1910. THE
Church. But I do know that many Presbyterian
ministers and sessions receive
them without ascertaining whether they
have modified their view of the mode
of baptism. In that way many members
have been received from the Baptist
Church who still hold to that view of
baptism. If the contention of the editorial
is correct, viz., that those who hold
to such a view cannot harmonize with a
Presbyterian congregation and will prove
a disturbing element then we shall have
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the Baptist Church who have not changed
their views on this subject. For surely
immersion by a Baptist minister does
not better qualify a man to be a Presbyterian
than immersion by a Presbyterian
minister. I have known a number of
Baptists to enter the Presbyterian
Church who have never lost their personal
preference for immersion. And I
have never known one of them to cause
dissension or confusion. On tbe contrary,
they have, without exception,
proven useful and valuable members.
That is the 'difference between facts and
theories. The author of the editorial
may have in mind some who have caused
confusion, but "one swallow does not
make a summer," and others besides immersed
Presbyterians have caused troubles
in the Church.
There are but two alternatives for the
Presbyterian minister who refuses to
immerse a man who insists on that mode
of baptism.
One alternative is to send him to the
Baptist minister for immersion and then
receive him into the Presbyterian Church.
Such a course seeks to evade the issue
and makes an unsuccessful attempt to
shift the responsibility. I once knew a
negro preacher who, jointly with his
brother owned a garden. One night the
cows broke in and made havoc of his
vegetables. The preacher felt that
something had to be done. He turned
to nis orotner ana s;tiu. oam, i m a
preacher and can't cuss. But you ain't
no preacher." The minister who adopts
such a course escapes no difficulty and
concedes all that is conceded in "Presbyterian
immersion". The other alternative
is the one adopted by the writer of
the editorial, viz., to send the candidate
to the Baptist Church to s'ay there until
he learns that his view of the mode
of baptism is wrong, which will probably
never be until he reaches heaven!
Such a course may, in some cases, be
the wisest and best. In other cases, it
is unwise and harmful. It drives a man
to a Church which he does not wish to
join. He may not be in accord with the
Baptist Church on some very important
matters?for instance, close communion
^nd Church polity. In fact, he is not in
harmony with the Baptist Church on
the doctrine of baptism itself. For while
he insists on being immersed himself,
his desire to be baptized by a Presbyterian
minister who has been sprinkled
and to commune with Presbyterian members
who have been sprinkled is an admission
that he considers that mode of
baptism valid.
PRESBYTERIAN OF THE SOU:
This clearly puts him out of harmony
with the Baptist Church which would not
for a moment tolerate such liberality. It
puts him farther from the Baptist
Church than his preference for immersion
puts him from the Presbyterian
Church. Furthermore, he desires to join
the Presbyterian Church because he is
convinced that he would be more content
and useful therp. Thero la littlo Hon.
ger that he would prove a source of discord
in either Church. But under these
conditions he would be less likely to
cause friction in the Presbyterian Church
than in the Baptist Church. And if the
Baptist minister and the other ministers
of the- town should refuse to admit him
on the ground of doctrinal differences and
danger of dissension we should have presented
to us the strange anomoly of all
the churches shutting their doors in the
face of a true Christian.
And, take the case of man whose wife
and children are Presbyterians. Refusal
to immerse forces one of two situations:
either one of which should be deprecated
and avoided if possible.
it separates me man irom nis lamiiy
and drives him into a Church which forbids
him to commune with his own wife
and children. Or it results in the wife
and children following him into the Baptist
Church. The wife publicly repudiates
hei Presbyterian baptism, the
scripturalness and validity of which she
does not for a moment doubt. It takes
her from a Church in which she is happy
and useful and places her in a Church
whose doctrines in her heart she does
not accept, and which denies to her the
privilege of communing with her own
father and mother and the pastor who
was counsellor of her youth and the
friend of her mature life. A pastor should
be sure he is right before he forces a
familv tr? lippiHp hptwpon those twn Ho.
plorable situations, by refusing to baptize
by a mode which is valid according
to his own Church's standards.
The Assembly of 1872 discourages Presbyterian
ministers from practicing immersion.
But it gives no iron-clad rule
or positive proscription. The counsel
of the Church must have its weight as
well as every other consideration. But
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case and the responsibility of the decision
must rest upon him.
A. H. McArrn.
A*. H. McArn.
LAYMEN'S LEAFLET LIBRARY.
A great many men?more now than
ever?would like to study missions If
they had time. Few men feel that they
have time to belong to a mission study
class and go deep into all phases of missions.
Some kind of spare moment
library, In leaflet form, that could be carried
in the pocket to be read' going to
and from work, and In other spare time,
should appeal to every busy man. Just
such a spare moment library is to be
started by your Executive Committee of
Foreign Mission*. To every man sending
his name and 10 cents, to help cover
rH. 399
re V(PB/
| The Old Reliable 1
1 ROYAL
| Baking Powder I
Abaolutmly Pure
*; The only baking powder made
1 from Royal Grape Cream of Tartar
I Mo Alum Mo Umo Phoephmtm 1
nostafire. we will RPnH aovpra 1 loofloln Kw
return mall, and then every month for a
year such leaflets of interest to men as
we have issued during the month. Ten
cents will cover only part of the postage
for a year, but it will indicate that the
sender is Interested and intends to read
the literature. A few leaflets already in
hand, part of which will compose the
first mailing, are: "Missionary Platform,"
"The Present Urgent Need," "A Call to
Men," "Our World Field," "Expense Account
of the Executive Committee,"
"Shall the Unfinished Task Be Finished."
Your spare time turned to profit,
to say nothing of the pleasure, will
amount In information in a year to something
that will surprise and gratify you.
If you are a man, order today.
S. H. Chester, Secretary.
A SUGGESTION TO PREACHERS.
Some time ago I read in your paper
of a plan for a resort in the mountains
for tired ministers. The idea seemed to
be that ministers should subscribe and
purchase such a place, where they might
take refuge when broken down, and
build up.
I do not think the idea materialized,
but it suggested another plan to me?
i. e., that a worn-out minister down
South might supply a vacant group of
churches in our mountains during the
summer, to the mutual advantage of
both preacher and churches. The writer
Knows 01 one sucn group where a good
preacher would be most acceptable, and
where he would find balm for Ills of
mind and body. If such a man sees this,
let him write to me, and I will refer him
to our Presbytery. Can secure address
at the office of your paper.
Virginia Woman.
Character is a by-product of service.
The person who is forever worrying about
V? Atir J 1 - 111 * *
nun w uc guuu is 11 ko me woman who
is constantly thinking about her looks:
both defeat the object of their solicitude.
Character comes as a consequence of service
and love and Ideals. Serve Christ
devotedly, and character will take care
of itself.