"Yes," said Mr. Walton, "it is a fact that all the denominations were against the Baptists, and in a sense that has been the case ever since. In this country grievous punishments were visited upon the Baptists during their fight for religious liberty. They began their fight alone, but the world is gradually accepting their beliefs. Other denominations may not take our name, but they are taking our doctrines. I have spoken about religious freedom. Take the case of infant baptism. And, by the way, our doctrine of infant baptism has not been picked up by accident. It is logically connected with the doctrine of religious liberty." "How can that be?" asked Sterling. "I fail to see any connection between infant baptism and religious liberty." "The doctrine of religious liberty means that every individual is accountable to God only, and that each man's religion must be an act of his own free choice, and therefore no religious ceremony must be forced upon anyone, infant or adult, without his own consent. Infant baptism violates the principles of religious liberty and individual accountability. In fact, I think you will find that there is a logical, as well as Scriptural, connection between all our Baptist doctrines. This, however, is parenthetical. I started to speak of the spread of Baptist principles among other denominations. Three or four hundred years ago the Baptists were almost the only ones to lift their voices against the universal practice of infant baptism. How is it today? Though it is still on the creed books of the other denominations, yet it is a fact acknowledged on all sides that the practice is becoming rarer and rarer. The Baptist teaching about this practice is permeating the other denominations." "What is that?" asked Mr. Sterling. "Infant baptism going out of use?" "I do not say that it is on the point of going out of existence, but I do say that under the influence of Baptist teaching it is becoming rarer and rarer." "Even though it should be somewhat on the wane--which I do not at all admit, Mr. Walton--yet supposing it to be the case, what have the Baptists to do with it?" "I thought such questions might come up and so I came prepared," Mr. Walton replied, drawing a newspaper clipping from his pocket. "Here is something written by Lyman Abbott in the Outlook of November, 1897." "Is he a Baptist?" asked Dorothy. "No, indeed," replied Sterling. "Does he believe in infant baptism?" she asked. "Yes. What is your quotation from Dr. Abbott, Mr. Walton?" "Dr. Abbott is writing about the Baptist Congress that had held a recent meeting." "The Baptist Congress?" exclaimed Dorothy. "What is that?"