From a survey of the famous edifices of this kind which still remain, we find that a baptistery was an octagonal structure, with an arched roof like a dome. In the Lateran baptistery at Rome, which is the most ancient in that city, thecupola is supported by eight pillars, and between them and the wall there is a piazza or broad walk quite round. The porch or vestibule of the baptistery was sometimes also sup ported by two pillars ; and in this the confession, orcism, and unction of the catechumens took place. To the outside of the walls of some baptisteries small buildings were added, in the form of cloisters; and the whole circumference, in the inner sides of the walls, was divided into a number of apartments, which were employed as vestries, oratories, and school rooms. The middle of the building was a large hall, where the priests, the catechumens, and the specta tors assembled when baptism was to be administer ed ; and in the centre of this hall was an octagonal bath, which, properly speaking, was the baptistery, and into which the persons to be baptized descended by steps. As the catechumens were often naked when baptized, decency required that the men and the women should be separated. For this purpose many baptisteries had more than one bath, and some times water was conveyed into the side-rooms. The inside of the roof was frequently ornamented with the most beautiful Mosaic work. This is particu larly the case with the celebrated baptistery at Ra venna. In the centre is an emblematic representation of the baptism of our Saviour, and on the sides are the twelve apostles in long habits with their names, and many other figures, all of the most exquisite workmanship. Baptisteries were taken into churches
in the sixth century, and continued to be used in the time of Charlemagne.
Some time after baptisteries were built, fonts were erected in them for the baptism of infants. These were small baths raised on platforms, to which the administrators ascended by steps, and in which they could immerse children without going into the wa ter themselves. When immersion was superseded by sprinkling, a bison of water was placed in the font, and from it the ceremony was performed. Many fonts still remain both in England and on the continent, and are beautifully ornamented with various figures 1 relative to the baptism of our Saviour, and to the ceremonies which were annexed to baptism in the .dark ages. Some of these fonts were moveable : .amongst which may he mentioned the silver one which was kept at Canterbury, and which was ge nerally brought from thence to the place where any child of the royal family was to be baptized. It was hung round on the outside with cloth of gold, and -lined on the inside with cloth of linen, puckered and folded, to prevent the child being bruised. The whole was covered with a canopy of rich damask, bordered with fringe or cloth of gold, and above the bason, or font, was a gold or silver dove, to represent the Holy Spirit. See Justini Mart. Apol. 2. Ter tulliani de Baptissimo. Joan. Ciampini Vet. menta, cap. xxv. Du Cangii, Glossar. in verb. Bap tisterium. Paciandius. Muratori, Antiq. Ital. Bing ham's Antiq. book viii. Robinson's History of Bap tism. (N.