General Baptist Incidents.

139

six departments: the "Sister-house;"| Protestant chapel, where there is divine the sick-house; a Pensionary for girls service every fortnight. For many of from nine to fifteen years of age; a years an English lady, endowed with public girls' school; a Magdalen insti- high qualifications, has superintended tution; an institution for the educa- this institution. tion of orphans. It contains besides a

General Baptist Incidents.

FIRST CHAPEL AT BARTON.

many instances, almost surpass credibility: and their success was proportioned to their zeal.

ORIGINAL NAME OF THE

BARTON DISSENTERS.

THUS far they had preached in the dwelling-houses of their friends; but the increasing number of hearers now induced them to wish for a meetinghouse. With their usual zeal, they soon determined to build one at Barton, the centre of their exertions: which THEY were so intent on the great was as quickly executed. The dimen- object of winning souls to Christ, that sions of this edifice were thirty-six feet they overlooked minor arrangements. by twenty-two. It had a convenient Though they had now existed for vestry; and a spacious pulpit; in which several years, they had adopted no eight or ten of their preachers sat, on name to distinguish them from other public occasions. Over the whole professors. Their enemies, indeed, building, chambers were constructed, called them Methodists: but they had designed as apartments for the single never been properly connected with brethren and sisters, on the plan of the that party, and disapproved of several Moravians. This addition was probably things in their doctrine and discipline.* made by Messrs. Dixon and Kendrick, But, having now a regular church, and in anticipation of introducing this prac- a meeting-house, it became necessary, tice among their new converts: but, if for the protection of the public property, so, they were disappointed; as we to assume specific appellation. They find no traces of any such orders in felt no inclination to rank with any their churches. Though the members of their neighbours: and, therefore, of this congregation were, in general, adopted a denomination, which, though in poor circumstances, yet they cheer- it had long been appropriated to a fully exerted themselves, and defrayed all the expences of this erection. Mr. William Collins, a minister whom Mr. Kendrick invited from London, opened this new meeting-house in 1745.

Mr. Collins continuing in the neigh

party of professors, from whom they greatly differed, yet expressed, as they thought, their determination to think and act for themselves, uninfluenced by foreign control; they called themselves Independents. Mr. Dixon and Mr. Kendrick assumed the principal direction of this infant society; but were assisted in spreading the gospel by several others: especially by Messrs. J. Aldridge and J. Wyatt; who had been, for some time, occasionally employed; and were now considered as regular preachers.

bourhood for several weeks, took considerable pains to instruct those inexperienced professors in the nature and design of church-fellowship and discipline and his efforts produced considerable effect. They appointed weekly conferences of the ministers and members, for mutual edification, and to conduct the affairs of the church. * Some of these preachers had been connected These conferences were held on the with the Moravians; and thence their followers Friday evening: and, though many of were sometimes called Moravians. This strange the ministers resided at a great dis- who appear to have had no great relish for hard term, however, puzzled their illiterate neighbours, tance, yet they were regular and punc-words. They therefore, perverted it into the more tual in their attendance. Their zeal intelligible appellation, Ravens; and Ravens and Methodists were commonly united as terms of reanimated them to exertions, which, in proach by the persecuting rabble,

Science and Art.

Literature.

HINTON'S HISTORY OF

BAPTISM.*

THE design of this volume is to put before the reader some instances of every class of facts relating to the history of baptism. In our judgment the execution does not in any way fall short of the design. Mr. Hinton first takes up the term baptizo, and shows its meaning in the writings of the Greek classics, the Old Testament, and the Apocrypha; the New Testament use, literal and metaphorical; the term baptizo as contrasted with other terms relating to the use of water; and briefly refers to the testimony of pædobaptist authors. His three next chapters embrace the testimony of the Gospels, the Acts, and the Epistles. We have then chapters which take up the various passages erroneously presumed to refer to baptism, the evidence of church history as to the mode and the subjects of baptism; the doctrines and the ceremonies associated with infant baptism; the baptism of the apostles, the fathers, and the reformers, and the philosophy of baptism.

Here is an account of an ancient baptistery

Mabillon gives the following description of a baptism by a pope:—

"The pope went on to the baptismal hall, and, after various lessons and psalms, consecrated the baptismal water. Then, while all were adjusting themselves in their proper places, his holiness retired Evangelist, attended by some acolothists, into the adjoining chapel of St. John the who took off his habits, put on him a pair of waxed drawers and a surplice, and then returned to the baptistery. There three children were waiting, which was the number usually baptized by the pontiff. Silence was ordered. When the first was presented, he asked, 'What is his name?' The attendant answered, John.' Then 'John, dost thou he proceeded thus. believe in God the Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth?'

6

'I do believe.' 'Dost thou believe in Jesus

The same was re

The

Christ His only Son our Lord, who was born and suffered death?' 'I do believe.' Dost thou believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the remission of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life eternal?' 'I do believe.' John, do you desire to be baptized?' 'I do desire it.' 'I baptize thee in the name of the Father (dipping him once), and of the Son (dipping him a second time), and of the Holy Ghost "It may not be improper to gratify the (dipping him a third time). The pontiff reader by a description of one of the most added, May you obtain eternal life." John celebrated baptisteries of the Roman em- answered, Amen.' perors. That of St. Sophia, erected by peated to Peter and Mary, the other two. Constantine, and adorned by succeeding Attendants with napkins received the emperors, was splendid and spacious. children, and retired to dress them. Justinian, at an immense cost, rebuilt it, attendants of his holiness threw a mantle and his artists, with elegance and mag-over his surplice, and he retired. The nificence, distributed variegated marbles of exquisite beauty, gold, silver, ivory, mosaic work, and endless ornaments, so as to produce the most agreeable and lasting effects on all beholders. The baptistery was one of the appendages of this spacious palace, something in the style of a convocation room in a cathedral. It was very large, and councils have been held in it, and it was called mega photisterion, the great illuminatory. In the middle was the bath in which baptism was administered. It was supplied by pipes, and there were outer rooms for all concerned in the baptism of immersion, the only baptism of the place.""

A History of Baptism from the Inspired and Uninspired Writings. By Isaac Taylor Hinton, of Saint Louis, United States. London: J. Heaton & Son, Paternoster Row. (Bunyan Library, Vol. xii.)

rest of the catechumens were baptized by deacons, who, in clean habits and without shoes, went down into the water, and performed the ceremony as the pontiff had set them an example. After all was over and the children dressed, they waited on the pope in an adjacent room, where he confirmed them, and delivered to each chrism and a white garment."

Infant communion soon followed infant baptism. Cyprian relates the following ridiculous story to make those who had gone back to idolatry during a persecution in Carthage sensible of their guilt and of God's wrath :

"I'll tell you what happened in my own presence. The parents of a certain little girl, running out of town in a fright, ha

almost forgot to take any care of the child, "Quarterly;" but the two replies by M. whom they left in the keeping of a nurse. Roussel are of a different stamp. QuickThe nurse had carried her to the magis-witted, rhetorical, and clever, they are trates; they, because she was too little to just the sort of essays to put into the eat flesh, gave her to eat, before the idols, hands of young people whom Renan's some of the bread mixed with wine which book may have bitten. They are every

way the best answers we have yet seen to the romance which Renan calls a fifth gospel. We hope they will be published in a cheap form, so as to ensure their widest circulation.

Our Churches.

Intelligence.

THE ANNUAL SESSION OF THE BAPTIST UNION will be held on Monday, April 25; the Rev. J. P. Mursell, of Leicester, will be Chairman.

BAPTISMS.

BRADFORD, First Church.-On Lord'sday, March 6, we baptized five believers, and in the afternoon, at the Lord's table, We gave them the right hand of fellowship. B. W. B.

MINISTERIAL.

REV. S. ALLSOP.-On Feb. 23, an LEEDS BAPTIST MISSION TO THE General Baptist chapel, Whittlesea, on interesting meeting was held in the UNCONVERTED.-On Tuesday evening, the occasion of the removal of Rev. S. March 8, in Call Lane chapel, (kindly Allsop to Longford. Two hundred and lent for the occasion for the use of fifty persons sat down to tea; after the Baptist church at Armley), nine which the chair was taken by Mr. R. Y. persons were buried with Christ in Roberts, of Bourne. baptism. An address on the subjects crowded. Addresses were delivered by The chapel was and mode of believers' baptism was the chairman, and Revs. G. Towler, W. delivered to an attentive audience by Telfer, and T. Barrass. In the name of the Rev. J. J. Poulter, at the close of the church, congregation, and friends of which our missionary, the Rev. J. Stut-every religious denomination, Mr. Barterd, went down into the water and bap-rass presented to the retiring pastor a tized the candidates. MILFORD, Derbyshire.-We had the pleasure of witnessing the baptism of seven candidates six young females, and the father of two of them-on March 6. They were received into the church in the afternoon, when a copy of "Pike's Persuasives" was presented to each of the young friends.

LEEDS.-On Thursday evening, Feb. 25th, before a crowded assembly, twelve persons were baptized in Call Lane chapel, after an address by the Rev. Jabez Tunicliffe. One of the candidates was formerly an avowed infidel; one a Wesleyan; two Independents.

large map of Palestine, a handsomely bound copy of the works of the Rev. J. G. Pike, and a parse containing £12. These proofs of affection were suitably acknowledged by Mr. Allsop; and after earnest prayer for his happiness and success in his next sphere of labour, the meeting separated. On the following Sunday the children of the Sabbath school presented to their late minister and superintendent a massive silver pencil case, as a token of their love; and each child received from him a coloured picture card in remembrance of the day.

REV. S. ALLSOP, LONGFORD.-Recognition Tea-meeting.-On Monday, March SPALDING.-On Sunday, March 6th, 7th, we had a tea-meeting in our new ten friends were baptized by our pastor. school rooms-about four hundred sat Two of them, husband and wife, had down. The place was tastefully set been for many years regular attendants. out with laurels, evergreens, and artiThe remaining eight are young, and ficial flowers, with various mottoes seven of them connected with our schools. suitable to the occasion. In the evening BARTON FABIS.-On the 13th of a public meeting was held. Mr. J. March four believers were baptized and Wright opened the business by reviewadded to the church. Two of the candi-ing the various circumstances through dates were from our new station at which the church had passed for nearly Desford.

G. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, Baxter Gate.-On the first Lord's-day in February three were baptized and added to the church. S. T. TODMORDEN.-Feb. 21, five persons were baptized.

two years, which led to the cordial and unanimous invitation of Mr. Allsop to the pastoral office among us. After which in his own name, and in that of the church and congregation, he gave him the right hand of fellowship. Messrs. J. Smith, H. England, G. Smith