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 B.
W. Stone's work of restoration began several years before that
of the Campbells but has been somewhat neglected. We quote from
his autobiography, and a statement by David Purviance, found in
BARTON WARREN STONE, by John Rogers; pp. 60 and 127.
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About
this time (1804) the subject of Baptism began to arrest the
attention of the churches ...Robert Marshall ...had then become
convinced of the truth of the Baptists' views… and ceased from
the practice of pedo-baptism... Alarmed lest he should join (the
Baptists) I wrote him a lengthy letter on the subject, laboring
to convince him of his error. In reply, he wrote me another in
which he so forcibly argued in favor of believers' immersion,
and against pedo-baptism, that my mind was brought so completely
to doubt the latter, that I ceased the practice entirely. About
this time the great excitement commenced, and the subject was...
almost forgotten. But after a few years it revived and many
became dissatisfied with their infant sprinkling, among whom I
was one.
-----------------------------
In
the midst of our trial with Shakerism, some of us became
convinced that infant baptism was not taught in the Bible...
However, we rested quietly till in the year 1807, a young woman
who professed faith in Christ and joined the church, applied to
Stone for immersion. In pursuance of which he published a
meeting at a certain water on a day future... Reuben Dooley
preached, and afterwards Stone immersed the young woman and one
or two more. I had not a
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thought of being baptized on that day when I
went to the place; but during the exercises of the day I
realized that it is a command of God, and I am bound to obey.
I
called Stone and Dooley aside, and make known my mind to them,
and asked Stone to baptize me; to which he consented. I remarked
to them that the way of duty appeared plain, but I was sorry to
hurt the feelings of the brethren. Dooley said the best way to
please brethren is to please the Lord. I then addressed the
congregation publicly. It was the first time the subject had
been publicly named amongst us. We went to the water: before we
went in, Dooley said to me quietly, "As soon as you are
baptized I shall want you to put me under the water."
Accordingly, as soon as I was on my feet, Dooley came forward,
and a number more followed, whom I baptized before I came up out
of the water. Stone was not baptized on that day."
---------------------------
Again,
from Stone's autobiography we quote: "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.... As
Brother Marshall had not faith in the ordinance, I was called
upon to administer. This displeased him and a few others."
(Ibid., p. 61)
Note:
Marshall prompted Stone to study the matter, then drew back. rft
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