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Comments, complaints, broken links, disappointed hopes - please contact the caretaker. 31/07/2009 |
[Baptism page] [History index] The Sacrament of Baptism from the Parish Magazine August & September 1897, written by the Rector, Dr. Samuel Stott The Sacrament of Baptism Children should be brought to Holy Baptism as early as possible. The Church's recommendation is that they be brought on the first or second Sunday after birth; and a warning is given that baptism should not be deferred, except upon great and reasonable cause. The Church's direction is also that children are to be brought to the Church for baptism and are not to be baptized at home without great cause or necessity. The baptism of a child should not be delayed because the parents or godparents have not fine clothes to put on for the occasion. If people are poor, there is nothing to prevent them from being clean; and if they also put on the best clothes that they have, they are "decently" apparelled, and need not be ashamed to present themselves in the House of God. There is no fee or charge for administering Holy Baptism. The Sacraments of Baptism and of the Lord's Supper are not to be sold for money. But this rule, which makes baptism free to all, need not prevent anyone, who is able and willing to give, from making a thank offering to God in any form, and for any good purpose, that he may think fit. [September] It is most desirable that Baptism should be performed in public; that is, before the congregation; because Baptism is the reception of a new member into the Church of Christ. The Services on Saints' Days furnish an excellent opportunity. It is not to the credit of English fathers that they so frequently absent themselves on the occasion of the Baptism of their children. The father certainly ought to be present; and it is difficult to understand why he should take so little interest in his own child's Baptism, as to neglect this obvious duty. At the same time it is not recommended that either the father or the mother should stand as sponsors for their own child; it is far better to secure the attendance and the loving interest of other friends or relatives. And, of course, it is most important that the persons chosen to stand as godfathers and godmothers should themselves be faithful earnest Christian people. For though the sponsors, when they make their answers in the Baptismal Service, do not speak for themselves, but for the child - yet it is evident that good, loving, earnest sponsors are far more likely to fulfil their religious obligations than those who are careless, indifferent, worldly or profane. The office of godfather or godmother ought not to be looked upon as a matter of pure form, but sponsors should take heed of the solemn words addressed to them. "It is your parts and duties to see that this Infant be taught, so soon as he shall be able to learn, what a solemn vow, promise, and profession, he hath here made by you." Those therefore who stand as sponsors for children at their Baptism are undertaking a religious and a charitable duty, and they may be able to exert an untold influence for good on the children for whom they have answered; at any rate, they can do nothing more for them, they can pray to god on their behalf from time to time. At that time the service would have 'The Ministration of Publick Baptism of Infants - To be Used in the Church' - of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. The magazine repeatedly asked for two days notice of a baptism. |
