Jon Gary Williams
Articles / Resources
0319
A. G. Freed vs R. H. Pigue
August 13, 1914
(By J. C. McQuiddy)
Pigue affirmed: The Bible teaches that sprinkling or pouring water upon a candidate is baptism. He quoted Numbers 8:5-7. He said this was an outward, symbolic cleansing, which typified an inward cleansing, and represents the sprinkling of water upon a person now whose heart is purified by faith. Of course this is an assumption pure and simple, and no proof is given that this refers to baptism. Then Pigue went to Hebrews 9:19. Pigue said their hearts were sprinkled with blood from an evil conscience and their bodies were sprinkled with water.
Bro. Freed said that water alone has never been sprinkled upon any one in any dispensation or in any age of the world by divine authority as a religious ceremony. He challenged a denial but no denial was made. Bro. Freed read Numbers 19 and showed how the water of separation was made. A red heifer was to be taken without spot and blemish. Her ashes were mixed with water. The Methodists do not use this kind of water. The water was to be sprinkled upon the unclean as a purification for sin. Mr. Pigue could hardly claim that the water he sprinkles on a person is a cleansing from sin.
Bro. Freed also read Leviticus 14:5-7. He then boldly, fearlessly, and earnestly said that whenever water alone is used by divine authority the candidate is submerged, plunged or dipped in it. For the three English words sprinkle, pour, baptize we have rantizo, cheo, baptizo is anglicized baptize and is not translated at all.
Pigue quarreled with Bible translations, repudiated the American Standard Revised Version claiming it is "a wildcat edition" and that Thomas Nelson and Sons could not publish this edition until the copyright had expired on the British version. When reminded that the Methodist Publishing House sold it, he said they would sell anything.
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