Part 90 (1/2)

Baptism was practiced by the ascetics of Buddhist origin, known as the _Essenes_.[320:6] John the Baptist was, evidently, nothing more than a member of this order, with which the deserts of Syria and the Thebais of Egypt abounded.

The idea that man is restrained from perfect union with G.o.d by his imperfection, uncleanness and sin, was implicitly believed by the ancient _Greeks_ and _Romans_. In Thessaly was yearly celebrated a great festival of cleansing. A work bearing the name of ”_Museus_” was a complete ritual of purifications. The usual mode of purification was dipping in water (immersion), or it was performed by aspersion. These sacraments were held to have virtue independent of the dispositions of the candidates, an opinion which called forth the sneer of Diogenes, the Grecian historian, when he saw some one undergoing baptism by aspersion.

”Poor wretch! do you not see that since these sprinklings cannot repair your grammatical errors, they cannot repair either, the faults of your life.”[321:1]

And the belief that water could wash out the stains of original sin, led the poet _Ovid_ (43 B. C.) to say:

”Ah, easy fools, to think that a whole flood Of water e'er can purge the stain of blood.”

These ancient Pagans had especial G.o.ds and G.o.ddesses who presided over the birth of children. The G.o.ddess _Nundina_ took her name from the ninth day, _on which all male children were sprinkled with holy water_,[321:2] as females were on the eighth, at the same time receiving their name, of which _addition_ to the ceremonial of Christian baptism we find no mention in the Christian Scriptures. When all the forms of the Pagan nundination were duly complied with, the priest gave a certificate to the parents of the regenerated infant; it was, therefore, duly recognized as a legitimate member of the family and of society, and the day was spent in feasting and hilarity.[321:3]

Adults were also baptized; and those who were initiated in the sacred rites of the _Bacchic_ mysteries were regenerated and admitted by baptism, just as they were admitted into the mysteries of Mithra.[321:4]

Justin Martyr, like his brother Tertullian, claimed that this ablution was invented by demons, in imitation of the _true_ baptism, that their votaries might also have their pretended purification by water.[321:5]

Infant Baptism was practiced among the ancient inhabitants of northern Europe--the Danes, Swedes, Norwegians and Icelanders--long before the first dawn of Christianity had reached those parts. Water was poured on the head of the new-born child, and a name was given it at the same time. Baptism is expressly mentioned in the _Hava-mal_ and _Rigs-mal_, and alluded to in other epic poems.[322:1]

The ancient _Livonians_ (inhabitants of the three modern Baltic provinces of Courland, Livonia, and Esthonia), observed the same ceremony; which also prevailed among the ancient _Germans_. This is expressly stated in a letter which the famous Pope Gregory III. sent to their apostle Boniface, directing him how to act in respect to it.[322:2]

The same ceremony was performed by the ancient Druids of Britain.[322:3]

Among the _New Zealanders_ young children were baptized. After the ceremony of baptism had taken place, prayers were offered to make the child sacred, and clean from all impurities.[322:4]

The ancient _Mexicans_ baptized their children shortly after birth.

After the relatives had a.s.sembled in the court of the parents' house, the midwife placed the child's head to the east, and prayed for a blessing from the _Saviour_ Quetzalcoatle, and the G.o.ddess of the water.

The breast of the child was then touched with the fingers dipped in water, and the following prayer said:

”May it (the water) destroy and separate from thee all the evil that was beginning in thee before the beginning of the world.”

After this the child's body was washed with water, and all things that might injure him were requested to depart from him, ”that now he may live again and be born again.”[322:5]

Mr. Prescott alludes to it as follows, in his ”Conquest of Mexico:”[322:6]

”The lips and bosom of the infant were sprinkled with water, and the Lord was implored to permit the holy drops to wash away that sin that was given to it before the foundation of the world, so that the child might be born anew.” ”This interesting rite, usually solemnized with great formality, in the presence of a.s.sembled friends and relations, is detailed with minuteness by Sahagun and by Zuazo, both of them eyewitnesses.”

Rev. J. P. Lundy says:

”Now, as baptism of some kind has been the _universal custom_ of all religious nations and peoples for purification and regeneration, it is not to be wondered at that it had found its way from high Asia, the centre of the Old World's religion and civilization, into the American continent. . . .

”American priests were found in Mexico, beyond Darien, baptizing boys and girls a year old in the temples at the cross, pouring the water upon them from a small pitcher.”[323:1]

The water which they used was called the ”WATER OF REGENERATION.”[323:2]

The Rev. Father Acosta alludes to this baptism by saying:

”The Indians had an infinite number of other ceremonies and customs which resembled to the ancient law of Moses, and some to those which the Moores use, and some approaching near to the Law of the Gospel, as the baths or _Opacuna_, as they called them; _they did wash themselves in water to cleanse themselves from sin_.”[323:3]

After speaking of ”_confession which the Indians used_,” he says:

”When the Inca had been confessed, he made a certain bath to cleanse himself, in a running river, saying these words: '_I have told my sins to the Sun_ (his G.o.d); _receive them, O thou River, and carry them to the Sea, where they may never appear more._'”[323:4]