Edgar Estes Folk on Close Communion
Baptist and Reflector, 1905“It has frequently been said that if Baptists would only drop their close communion they would sweep the world, that their other principles, such as religious liberty, individualism, congregationalism, regeneration, and immersion are popular, but that their close communion is so narrow and bigoted as to repel people. Well, in reply to this several things are to be said:
1. These other principles were not always popular. As a matter of history, all of them have been very unpopular. They have won their way only by the force of truth contained in them. So it will be with close communion. In fact, other denominations have now come to accept the Baptist position with regard to communion – that baptism comes before the Supper.
2. Even if, by dropping our close communion, “Baptist would sweep the world,” they could not drop it. Back of this is the fundamental Baptist doctrine of loyalty to the Word of God. Baptists have never sought popularity. It is always with them principle first and popularity second.
3. Really, though, it is to be doubted whether, if they should drop their close communion, they would “sweep the world.” As a matter of act, experiments have been made in this direction. For instance, the Free Will Baptists of this country are open communionists. They have not swept the world. One wing of the English Baptists practice open communion. They have not swept the world. On the contrary, the close communion Baptists of America and also the close communion Baptists of England largely predominate over their open communion brethren. The same thing is true with reference to the Welsh Baptists, as shown by Rev. John Lewis, in a paper on “Life and Religion in Wales. He says:
'As was perfectly natural, he (Vavasor Powell) did not ally himself with the Baptists at once, but in 1656, after a visit to Wales by Henry Jessye, he also became a Baptist. Though Mr. Powell never joined the strict communion party, headed by Mr. (John) Myles, yet the fact that a person of his influence and weight of character coincided with their views of the ordinances, when it became known, added not a little to the respectability of their cause in the estimation of the public. A notable and instructive fact in connection with this is though Powell established open communion churches in Wales – there is a controversy about the exact number – not one of them can be found today as a Baptist church. They either dwindled away, or, as was natural, became Pedo-baptist churches. On the other hand, it is claimed that churches founded by Myles have flourished.'
These things all go to prove the falsity of the theory that open communion is so popular. The truth is, the greatest popularity comes not when it is sought for its own sake, but from adherence to principle." – E.E. Folk
====================== [E. E. Folk was editor of Baptist and Reflector. This article appeared in his newspaper on August 3, 1905. Provided by Ben Stratton, Farminigton, KY. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
More on Baptist Bios
Baptist History Homepage