p. 20 | A BAPTISMAL FACT

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 10, 1879

A BAPTISMAL FACT.

One of the stereotyped arguments against immersion, and in favor of sprinkling, as the apostolic mode of baptism, is that it would have been impossible for the apostles to immerse in one day the three thousand converts on the day of Pentecost. The Alliance of May 24, 1879, publishes the following report from a missionary in India, which very easily settles this vexed question:—

At Ongole, in India, 2,222 persons were some time ago immersed in a single day. Rev. J. H. Gunning of Titusville, Pa., wrote to Missionary Clough at Ongole to ask him how many men it took to baptize 2,222 persons in one day. The missionary replies as follows:

“With reference to your question: ‘How many men does it take to baptize 2,222 persons in one day?’ I should say that depends on several things; but in the present case the simple reply is ‘Six.’ But, lest this be too laconic, I will enlarge a little. Bear in mind that the baptistery was admirably situated for expeditious work. It was at the ford of a river, with a sort of basin on either side; and no time was lost in coming or going, as the water was sufficiently deep close up to the road. Remember, too, that the examinations and all necessary preparatory work had been previously attended to. The people were arranged in groups according to their villages. Only two preachers baptized at one time; when those were tired, two others took their places: these, in turn, were relieved by the other two; and so on. The baptizing commenced at about 5 A. M., and continued till 10. It was resumed at 2 P. M., and completed at 6. It will thus be seen that the baptism of 2,222 converts occupied two preachers 9 hours, or about 30 seconds for each candidate. If the six preachers had all been employed at the same time, the 2,222 converts would have been baptized in just three hours!”