βWe have observed a disposition on the part of some who accept βalien immersionsβ to make
it appear that rejecting them is a view for which Dr. J.R. Graves is mainly responsible.
He is cited as if he were the original and, in his day, almost the sole objector to
receiving such immersions. But all along the line Baptists have objected to receiving
such immersions.
Dr. Spencer H. Cone of New York, objected to βalien immersionβ in advance Dr. Graves. Dr.
Richard Fuller of Baltimore did the same. And then βalien immersionβ has had no more
sturdy opponent than Dr. James P. Boyce. Why do not these apologists for βalien immersionβ
refer to Drs. Cone, Fuller, and Boyce as well as to Dr. Graves.β β T. T. Eaton, 1899
Many modern Baptists assume J.R. Graves is responsible for the idea of rejecting alien
(non-Baptist) immersions. Here T. T. Eaton shows that three of the most influential
Baptists in America apart from Graves also held this same position. Spencer H. Cone
{1785-1855} pastored the First Baptist Church of New York City from 1841-1855. Richard
Fuller {1804-1876} was considered the greatest Baptist preacher in antebellum America and
an equal to Charles Spurgeon, while James P. Boyce {1827-1888} founded the Southern
Baptist Theological Seminary in 1859. T. T. Eaton {1845-1907} was one of the key Southern
Baptist leaders at the turn of the twentieth century. He pastored the Walnut Street
Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky from 1881 until his death.
This article is from the Western Recorder newspaper in 1899.)
[Provided by Ben Stratton, Pastor of Farmington (KY) Baptist Church; scanned and formatted
by Jim Duvall.
By T. T. Eaton
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