Ritual Conformity / Interpretations of the Rubrics of the Prayer-Book Agreed Upon by a Conference Held at All Saints, Margaret-street, 1880-1881

by Unknown

THE MINISTRATION OF

PRIVATE BAPTISM OF CHILDREN

IN HOUSES.

165. The Curates of every Parish shall often admonish the people, that they defer not the Baptism of their Children longer than the first or second Sunday next after their birth, or other Holy-day falling between, unless upon a great and reasonable cause, to be approved by the Curate.

166. And also they shall warn them, that without like great cause and necessity they procure not their Children to be baptized at home in their houses. But when need shall compel them so to do, then Baptism shall be administered on this fashion:

167. First, let the Minister of the Parish (or, in his absence, any other lawful Minister that can be procured) with them that are present call upon God, and say the Lord's Prayer, and so many of the Collects appointed to be said before in the Form of Publick Baptism, as the time and present exigence will suffer. And then, the Child being named by some one that is present, the Minister shall pour Water upon it, saying these words; N. I baptize thee, &c.

Bishop Cosin observes: "It is not here said what shall be done in case a lawful Minister cannot be found; or whether the child ought to be baptized again, or no, when only a midwife, or some other such, hath baptized it before." According to the ancient custom of the church, recognized and affirmed in the case of Mastin v. Estcott (1841), a child baptized by a layman is validly baptized. It follows, that though Baptism by any other than a Bishop, Priest, or Deacon is discouraged, and is only excusable in extreme necessity, the Sacrament should not be repeated.

In selecting the Collects for use after the Lord's Prayer, the Minister should be careful to prefer those which would not be used in the church, when the child (if it afterwards live) is brought into the church. He will therefore say (if time and present exigence will suffer) the Collects beginning,

Almighty everlasting God, who of Thy great mercy, &c.

Almighty and Immortal God, the aid of all that need, &c.

O merciful God, grant that the old Adam, &c.

Almighty ever-living God, &c., which last Collect should always be used, except in a case of extremest urgency.

168. Then, all kneeling down, the Minister shall give thanks unto God, and say, We yield Thee, &c.

169. And let them not doubt, but that the Child so baptized is lawfully and sufficiently baptized, and ought not to be baptized again.

THE RECEIVING OF THE CHILD IN THE CHURCH.

170. Yet nevertheless, if the Child, which is after this sort baptized, do afterward live, it is expedient that it be brought into the Church, to the intent that, if the Minister of the same Parish did himself baptize that Child, the Congregation may be certified of the true Form of Baptism, by him privately before used: In which case he shall say thus, I certify you, &c.

171. But if the Child were baptized by any other lawful Minister, then the Minister of the Parish, where the Child was born or christened, shall examine and try whether the Child be lawfully baptized, or no. In which case, if those that bring any Child to the Church do answer, that the same Child is already baptized, then shall the Minister examine them further, saying, By whom, &c.

172. And if the Minister shall find by the answers of such as bring the Child, that all things were done as they ought to be; then shall not he christen the Child again, but shall receive him as one of the flock of true christian people, saying thus, I certify you, &c.

173. After the Gospel is read, the Minister shall make this brief Exhortation upon the words of the Gospel. Beloved, ye hear, &c.

174. Then shall the Priest demand the Name of the Child; which being by the Godfathers and Godmothers pronounced, the Minister shall say, Dost thou, &c.

175. Then the Priest shall say, We receive, &c.

176. Here the Priest shall make a Cross upon the Child's forehead.

177. Then shall the Priest say, Seeing now, &c.

178. Then shall the Priest say, We yield Thee, &c.

179. Then, all standing up, the Minister shall make this Exhortation to the Godfathers and Godmothers. Forasmuch, &c.

The final exhortation in the Office of Public Baptism was probably omitted here by an oversight, and should be used.

180. But if they which bring the Infant to the Church do make such uncertain answers to the Priest's questions, as that it cannot appear that the Child was baptized with Water, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, (which are essential parts of Baptism,) then let the Priest baptize it in the form before appointed for Publick Baptism of Infants; saving that at the dipping of the Child in the Font, he shall use this form of words. If thou art not, &c.

It seems very difficult, if not impossible, to combine properly the Office for Public Baptism with that for the reception of infants brought to church after having been privately baptized. But if it must be attempted (and in large parishes it is difficult to avoid it), the Office of Public Baptism should be used, with the interposition (immediately after the reception of the infants then baptized) of the inquiries and certificates of the children privately baptized, and of their reception into the Church. The Office of Public Baptism can be taken up again at the words, 'Seeing now, dearly beloved brethren,' and continued to the end.