"Then I am to understand that all these churches and communicants uphold and practice baptism by immersion as set forth in, and enjoined by, the scriptures." "No; that is to say, some do, and some do not." "What is the probable proportion?" "Oh, I could not say as to that." "Do not you and the majority of the others accept of other forms of baptism and in many cases of none at all?" "Yes." "Does not that depart from the teachings of the Bible and the example set by Christ Himself?" "Not necessarily." "Did not He go down into the waters of baptism and receive immersion at the hands of John the Baptist?" "Yes." "And did not the injunction go forth which forms the very corner-stone of His own Church--of Christianity--'Repent and be baptized?'" "Yes; but He did not say that of necessity all were to be immersed. The Bible is fertile in parables and much that is said is left to the intelligence of the reader for interpretation." "By the same authority I have warned you already against 'private interpretations.' However, we need not rest the case entirely upon that. Take up your Bible at your leisure and examine well all accounts given of cases where this ordinance was performed, and you cannot help admitting that baptism by immersion was the only way in which the ancients accepted that principle. You will see that the word of God _commands_, in unequivocal language, the ordinance of baptism by immersion, and His Son set us the example by going down into the waters. Therefore, those who do not perform this have no claim upon the Savior's name, for they obey not His Father's words nor His own example." "You would hold, then, that those who do not conform literally to such example are not Christians." "They may believe in Christian conduct and practice righteousness within a certain sphere; they may be upright and just in their dealings and their hearts may be filled with love for their race, but they cannot establish rules of conduct for themselves and claim to act in the authority and name of Christ. He has set the pattern and it is for them and for us to follow."