I think that it is extremely unlikely that any main stream Quakers in
Britain took part in water baptism. George Fox preached against the
sacraments, including baptism. (John L. Nickalls, "Journal of George Fox",
CUP 1952)
Robert Barclay in his Apology (1676) said that although baptism by the
Spirit was to continue, water baptism was to cease; possibly on the grounds
that Christ never baptised with water. (Dean Freiday (ed.) "Barclay's
Apology" New Jersey 1967)
A modern examination of the subject of early Quaker attitudes to the
sacraments may be found in Dandelion, Gwyn & Peat, "Heaven on Earth"
Birmingham, 1998 where Timothy Peat suggests that Quakers believed that they
were living during the time of the Second Coming and that reliance on the
sacraments, inter alia, "was an obstacle to coming to unmediated guidance
from God."
However, in the schisms of the early 19thc, "Evangelical Friends" around
Manchester and Kendal, led by Isaac Crewdson, possibly observed the
ordinance of water baptism. They later disappeared as Quakers and joined
with the Plymouth Bretheren. (John Punshon, "Portrait in Grey", London,
1984) Could these be the Friends referred to in Wales and not "early
Quakers"?
John H. Hall
----- Original Message -----
From: <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 06 March 2000 09:39
Subject: Re: baptism by unbelievers
>
> Patrick - did the Society of Friends ever practice water baptism - and
> particularly adult baptism by total immersion? I've been reading something
> on well cults in north Wales which identifies one well with a particularly
> big tank as having been used by 'early Quakers' (ie late C17). It didn't
> sound right to me but I know the Friends have changed a lot since those
> early days.
>
> Maddy
>
>
> Dr Madeleine Gray
> Department of Humanities and Science
> UWCN
>
> 'Reading is sometimes an ingenious device for avoiding thought'
>
>
>
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