THE MENNONITE BROTHERHOOD IN RUSSIA (1789 - 1910), P. M. Friesen, 1911

y existed, and usually those who recuperated were barred from the clergy [clerical offices]." c) H. Zeller: Biblisches Woerterbuch (Bible Dictionary), Karlsruhe und Leipzig, 1885, II, 473. “He calls it a bath [i.e. Paul on baptism] because it is known that in the warm regions of the Orient, baptism was originally carried out by immersion in r unning water.” [Compare also F. Oehninger’s Leben Jesu (Life of Jesus), the baptism of Jesus by John.] d) The Council of Trent of the Roman Church (since 1545) found it necessary to prescribe, under threat of excommunication, that baptism by sprinkling was just as valid as baptism by immersion. Queen Elizabeth of England was born in 1558 and was baptized by immersion (as an infant) according to the court records still extant. The church regulations of the English Reformation, as a rule, all mention immersion as the form of baptism. (Ramseyer and Caliuer Kirchenlexikon, II, 805.) Also Bugenhagen (died 1558). e) The first group of Anabaptists in Zurich baptized (each other) Baptism by Immersion 293 by pouring in 1525. But Wolfgang Schorant Ulliman, pastor in St. Gallen, rejected the pouring mode and had Conrad Grebel, who himself was baptized by pouring, baptize him by total immersion in the Rhine River. Within a short time he had baptized some 800 persons “at the river” (the Sitter) near St. Gallen. One has to assume that he baptized by immersion, 93 since he himself had requested immersion, and he would not have had to go “to the river” for pouring, since as pastor, the church was fully at his disposal at the time (Ramseyer). f) Most of the Anabaptists of Switzerland, Germany, and Holland, who later were called “Mennonites,” seem to have practiced baptism by pouring. Thus, the Martyrs’ Mirror says that on one occasion a given number of persons were baptized from one pail of water at night. Most congregations left the form of baptism to the choice of the candidates. The majority of them requested baptism by pouring (Ramseyer). g) The very large Anabaptist church in Augsburg (Hans Denk!) practiced immersion in the period of 1525 to 1530 (according to Professor C.H. Wedel, Bethel College, North America). h) The writings of Menno Simons, in the German version that we possess, are not at all clear concerning the form of baptism. While his treatment of baptism is entitled “ Von der Christlichen Taufe in dem Wasser” (Concerning Christian Baptism in Water), he also uses the expression “a handful of water.” As far as is historically known to date, Menno apparently did not practice immersion, and moreover, like most Anabaptists of his time, was quite neutral, perhaps indifferent, in regard to this question, rigorous though he was in demanding a living faith before baptism. i) There always were immersionists among the Mennonites or Anabaptists, probably until 1750 or later. Jakob Denner, the great Dompelaar minister died only in 1746. The Old Flemish party or