BAPTISTS, a Protestant denomination based on the belief that immersion is the only Scriptural mode of baptism, and that those only are proper subjects for this ceremony who are converted and profess personal faith in Christ. They thus reject both infant baptism and baptism by sprinkling or pouring of water as invalid. There are, however, other sects, including the Mennonites, the Christians, the Disciples of Christ, etc., who accept the prominent prin ciples of the Baptists in whole or in part, and yet are not classified with them, owing to some minor differences. The Baptists first appeared in Swit zerland, in 1523, and soon spread to Germany, Holland, and other continental countries, whence they were driven to England by persecution on account of their rejection of infant baptism. The first regularly organized church was Arminian, and was established in 1610 3r 1611. A Calvinistic Baptist Church was founded about 1633. Those holding Arminian views received the name of General Baptists, and those holding Calvinistic views, the name of Particular Baptists.
The Baptists in the United States spring historically from the English and Welsh Baptists; but the first Baptist Church was organized by Roger Wil liams, who was a minister in the Massachusetts Colony previous to his immersion. After being immersed, in 1639, by Ezekiel Holliman, whom he in turn immersed with 10 others, he organized a Baptist Church in Provi dence, R. I. There were other Baptists, however, who emigrated from England in the 17th century, and, before the end of the 18th century, became numerous in New England, New York, Penn sylvania, Virginia, Georgia, and other States. In all the British colonies, ex cepting Rhode Island, the Baptists were persecuted for a long time. After the Revolutionary War the Baptists increased with great rapidity, espe cially in the South and southwestern States, and have steadily increased ever since.
There are at present three principal bodies of Regular Baptists, the Northern, the Southern, and the Colored, all of whom agree in doctrinal and ecclesias tical principles, but each has its own associations, State Conventions and general missionary and other associa tions. In 1845 a controversy concern ing slavery, caused a division between the Baptists in the Northern and those in the Southern States, after which the Northern Baptists continued to support the Home Mission Society and the American Baptist Missionary Union, on an anti-slavery basis. The Southern
Division is the largest branch of white Baptists. After the division of 1845 the Southern churches established the South ern Baptist Convention, which holds annual meetings. It is composed of representatives from associations, other organizations, and from the churches. The Colored Baptists compose the largest body of Regular Baptists, those being included who have separate churches, State Conventions, and associa tions. The Colored Baptists of the North are generally members of churches belonging to white associations. In 1866 the first State Convention of Colored Baptists was organized in North Carolina. Besides these associations there are the American National Con vention, which deliberates upon ques tions of general concern; the Consol idated American Missionary Convention, the General Association of the Western States and Territories, the New Eng land Missionary Convention, and the Foreign Missionary Convention of the United States.
Besides the three large divisions of Baptist; there are several smaller ones: The Six Principle Baptists, Seventh Day Baptists, Free Will Baptists, Original Free Will Baptists, General Baptists, Separate Baptists, United Baptists, Baptist Church of Christ, Primitive Baptists, Two-Seed-in-the-Spirit Bap tists. Regular Baptists, etc. The Free Will Baptists joined the Regular Bap tists in 1911.
All Baptist denominations are con gregational in polity. Each church, un der its officers of pastor and deacons, manages its own affairs. There are Associations and State Conventions, composed of pastors and delegates from the churches, but none of these bodies have any ecclesiastical authority. Coun cils, consisting of ministers and laymen, may be called to advise churches, to ordain ministers, or to recognize new churches at the invitation of individual churches.
Statistics of the Churches.—The fol lowing table gives a summary of the various Baptist Churches in the United States: The total membership of the Baptist Church in 1920 was estimated as fol lows: United States and Canada, 7„600, 000; British Isles, 408,000; elsewhere, 1,000,000; world total, 9,008,000.