CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6053, 12 April 1881, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE BAPTISM CONTROVERSY. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Mr. Webb's "clincher" fails to clinch the nail in the critical place. Your correspondent " A." had said that, if " baptize" were equivalent to " immerse," there was no reason for retaining the Greek word (baptize) in the ancient Latin and other versions. Mr. "Webb retorts A precisely similar argument would prove that "baptise" cannot be equivalent to " sprinkle." Of course it would. But what of that ? The rite of baptism consists of two parts—a certain declaration made, and a certain application of water. Two wayß of performing the bodily act appear to have been employed from the most primitive times. First, dipping the body, or a part thereof, into the water j secondly, pouring water upon the body. The first, I doubt not, is the full primitive form, but the modification, which seems to have been practiced from the outset, it is, I think, clearly within the lawful power of any church to adopt. The argument of "A." is a good argument to show that " baptize '* was considered equivalent to "immerse," and Mr. Webb's rejoinder may be accepted as evincing that the same term is not equivalent to '' asperse " —or rather, I should say, '' infuse." In the case of the baptism of a person of riper j ears, the Church of England directs that the officiating Presbyter "shalldip him in tlie water, or pour water upon him." In the baptism of an infant, the direction is that if certified "that the child may well endure it, he shall dip it in the water discreetly and warily, 1 ' but if he be certified " that the child is weak, it shall suffice to pour water upon it." Such directions appear to be manifestly in consonance with the dictates of right reason, or common sense, and with the whole genius of the Christian religion.—l am, &c., Catiiolicus. [Theological discussion is, as a rule, inadmissible to our columns. The Baptist controversy arose accidentally, and we have printed several letters on it. The contribution. of "Catholicus" is so moderate and sensible that we cannot exclude it, and we hope it will have some effect, even upon the Rev. Mr. Webb.—Ed.]