in the library yesterday in
some of the encyclopedias about baptism and I copied something about
that very point you mentioned. Let me get it."

She hurried to her room, brought the book and read as follows: "'Not
less than sixty of the ancient baptisteries are found in Italy alone, of
which seven belong to the fourth century, four to the fifth, eleven to
the sixth and fourteen probably to the seventh.' Then after describing
these baptizing pools found in these ancient church buildings the writer
continues: 'Now baptisteries such as described above are found in all
parts of ancient Christendom, and their presence makes it impossible to
doubt the form of baptism in the patristric and medieval churches. Such
structures were plainly intended for immersion. Their size and form and
arrangement entirely preclude the idea of their use for sprinkling or
pouring.'"

"That is a great point. What were those baptizing pools doing there in
the churches if they were not for immersion? If the churches in the
fourth century baptized by immersion, it surely must have been because
that mode had been handed down to them from the beginning."

"There is one argument against immersion that I have not mentioned,"
said Sterling.

"Exactly," said the father with a smile. "You are going now to bring out
your Imperial Guards. You've been holding them back for the last
assault, I suppose. All right, trot them out, Sterling."

"Oh, father, what awful figures you use about these Bible matters."

"That's right, daughter, call me down. I will jump the traces every now
and then, and I beg pardon. And now, Sterling, what is that argument
against immersion that you have not mentioned?"

"It is this: Immersion cannot be right, for it would make infant baptism
impossible."

"Infant baptism," exclaimed Dorothy with a very puzzled look. "You
don't mean that you baptize infants?"

"Certainly."

"Why do you baptize infants?" asked Dorothy, with an expression almost
of horror on her face.

"It is one of the sacred ordinances of the church and is really one of
the most beautiful and effective."

"Do you mean little children just two or three years old?" asked
Dorothy.

"Yes, indeed, and often only a few weeks old. Where have you been that
you have never heard of infant baptism?"

"I never heard of it. You know I have been to church very little in my
life and have known almost nothing about church matters and have had no
one to tell me. I am ve