02.04. On Baptism

On Baptism

One of the really heart-breaking experiences of Elder Stone was that of deciding for himself the mode of Christian baptism. It was not long after he, and his associates, came to the Bible itself that there was a dissatisfaction with their former belief on the subject. Elder Stone had been a believer in sprinkling, and had taught it, and now to face his old faith and the fact and fervor of his teaching, and then to publicly accept and practice immersion as the only mode of Christian baptism, was not an easy task, even for a man as strong as he. Of this experience and event he says:

"The brethren, elders and deacons came together on this subject; for we had agreed previously with one another to act in concert, and not to adventure on anything new without advice from one another. At this meeting we took up the matter in a brotherly spirit, and concluded that every brother and sister should act freely, and according to their conviction of right--and that we should cultivate the long-neglected grace and forbearance toward each other--they who should be immersed should not despise those who were not, and vice versa. Now, the question arose, who will baptize us? The Baptists would not, except we united with them; and there were no elders among us who had been immersed. It was finally concluded among us that if we were authorized to preach, we were also authorized to baptize. The work then commenced, the preachers baptized one another, and crowds came and were also baptized. My congregations very generally submitted to it, and it soon obtained generally, and yet the pulpit was silent on the subject. In brother Marshall’s congregation there were many who wished baptism. As brother Marshall had not faith in the ordinance, I was called upon to administer. This displeased him, and a few others.

"The subject of baptism now engaged the attention of the people very generally, and some, with myself, began to conclude that it was ordained for the remission of sins, and ought to be administered in the name of Jesus to all believing penitents."

Elder Stone’s idea of baptism is expressed in the following words, which are found in a letter addressed to Elder David Purviance, his old-time companion in service:

"It is no article of my faith that God cannot, and will not, forgive and save the penitent believer without immersion--but if a man knows to do right, and does it not, to him it is sin. Our duty is to teach the good and the right way, and not teach two or more ways to obtain the same end."