So the Prayer Book teaches. At the reception of a privately baptized child into the Church, it is laid down that "matter" and "words" are the two essentials for a valid Baptism.[1] "Because some things essential to this Sacrament may happen to be omitted (and thus invalidate the Sacrament), ... I demand," says the priest, {64} "with what matter was this child baptized?" and "with what words was this child baptized?" And because the omission of right matter or right words would invalidate the Sacrament, further inquiry is made, and the god-parents are asked: "by whom was this child baptized?": "who was present when this child was baptized?" Additional security is taken, if there is the slightest reason to question the evidence given. The child is then given "Conditional Baptism," and Baptism is administered with the conditional words: "If thou art not already baptized,"--for Baptism cannot be repeated--"I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." So careful is the Church both in administering and guarding the essentials of the Sacrament. And notice: nothing but the water and the words are _essential_. Other things may, or may not, be edifying; they are not essential; they are matters of ecclesiastical regulation, not of Divine appointment. Thus, a _Priest_ is not essential to a valid Baptism, as he is for a valid Eucharist. A Priest is the normal, but not the necessary, instrument of Baptism. "In the absence of a {65} Priest"[2] a Deacon may baptize, and if the child is _in extremis_, any one, of either sex, may baptize. Again, _Sponsors_ are not essential to the validity of the Sacrament. Sponsors are safeguards, not essentials. They are only a part--an invaluable part--of ecclesiastical regulation. When, in times of persecution, parents might be put to death, other parents were chosen as parents-in-God (God-parents)[3] to safeguard the child's Christian career. Sponsors are "sureties" of the Church, not parts of the Sacraments. They stand at the font, as fully admitted Church members, to welcome a new member into the Brotherhood. But a private Baptism without Sponsors would be a valid Baptism. So, too, in regard to _Ceremonial_. The mode of administering the Sacrament may vary: it is not (apart from the matter and words) of the essence of the Sacrament. There are, in fact, three ways in which Baptism may be validly administered. It may be administered by _Immersion_, _Aspersion_, or _Affusion_. Immersion (_in-mergere_, to dip into) is the original and primitive form of administration. {66} As the word suggests, it consists of dipping the candidate into the water--river, bath, or font. Aspersion (_ad spargere_, to sprinkle upon) is not a primitive form of administration. It consists in sprinkling water upon the candidate's forehead. Affusion (_ad fundere_, to pour upon) is the allowed alternative to Immersion. It consists in pouring water upon the candidate.