Baptists generally disclaim being
"close communionists," but "close baptists." That is, they insist that
no person is eligible to partake of the Lord's Supper until after
baptism _by immersion_; and that by a regularly ordained Baptist
minister, upon the authority of a Baptist church, expressed by a vote
of its members. I do not know that I ever saw the ordinance celebrated
in a Baptist church, that some explanation along this line was not
made, by way of apology.

The event that so influenced my future thought was this: At a Baptist
church, some six miles from my father's residence, their annual
protracted meeting had been going on a week,--from Sunday to Sunday.
Some eight or ten persons had joined the church during the week and
were to be baptized at 10 A.M. on this last Sunday, after which was to
follow the regular church services at 11 A.M.; and then the celebration
of the Lord's Supper. A half mile away was a Methodist church, and the
place of baptism was the ford of a creek about half way between the two.

The Methodist Sunday School usually met at 9.30 A.M. But on this
occasion superintendent, teachers and pupils, came in a body down to
the ford to see the baptising. After it was over the Methodist
superintendent, with several of his teachers and older pupils, remained
for the services at the Baptist church. At the close of the sermon two
persons presented themselves for membership, and were accepted, by vote
of the members, subject to baptism, at the next regular monthly
meeting; after which Brother Crawford, the Methodist Sunday School
Superintendent, was called on to lead in prayer, a function in which he
was earnest, able and eloquent, as well as being universally recognized
as a man of unblemished character, sincere and deep piety.

The minister then proceeded to administer the Lord's Supper, prefacing
it with the usual apologies and explanations about "close baptism"
instead of "close communion"; and to illustrate this point, he referred
to the fact that two persons had just presented themselves for church
membership, and had been accepted, subject to baptism, concerning whose
conversion and sincere Christian character, there was just as sure
confidence as there was of any that had been baptized that morning; yet
these two could not partake of the Lord's Supper because they had not
yet been baptized.

Just at this point there suddenly darted into my mind, almost with the
force of a "clap of thun