The World View of Baptist History
An Ingenious diagram drawn with great originality and beautifully arranged has been prepared by the Rev S. J. Ford, Pastor at Hanham Baptist Church. which gives a bird’s eye-view, as it were, of the history through the centuries of the Baptist Faith. He has entitled the diagram “The World View of the Baptist History” and a number of interesting lantern slides have been made illustrating its various sections. These were shown for the first time at the church last evening, when a large number were present to hear Mr Ford give a lecture on the subject. At the bottom of the diagram, which is completed in various colours, is given a picture of Palestine from the Mount of Lebanon to the Dead Sea. The whole Valley of the Jordan is depicted, and many scenes given of incidents in the life of Christ. The central picture shows the Saviour’s Baptism, which the lecturer declared was the genesis of the Baptist Church. From this scene of the Jordan is shown radiating a number of circles which, as shining stars, represent the Baptist churches named in the New Testament. From the one representing Rome, however, because of her love of pre-eminence and perversion of the truth, there emanates the black cloud of Roman Catholism which, in the course of 400 years, was to obliterate the churches of the New Testament.
Time of Darkness - During this period Baptist-like stars are shown endevouring to break through the darkness and bring the church back to the simple faith and practices of New Testament times. It is not until 1350 that a star of first magnitude appears, which is shown near the centre of the diagram-that of John Wycliffe. His star is shown shining upon the rock, Christ Jesus, on which rests an open Bible displaying the text, “ Believe and be Baptized.” Flowing away from the rock on either side is a stream of water, which forms the Baptismal pool. Here John Smythe. founder of the modern Baptist Church, is seen baptising himself. From the pool flows away the Baptismal river, which, in its course, early surrounds the first Baptist Church founded by John Smythe at Amsterdam in 1609, and later the earliest church or the denomination in London., dating from 1613. The river then spreads away until it is represented as encircling the whole world. National Baptist “streams”are shown covering almost all the countries in the world, and on their banks circles are drawn. in each of which the date of the first Baptist church and association are given. These “streams,” through their respective union boards and conventions converge in a central pool which represents the Baptist World Alliance formed in 1905. The top of the diagram is devoted to a representation of the missionary “crown” of the denomination. The diagram is also crowded with picturisations of familiar events in Baptist history, and portraits of great men in the denomination. Some of the incidents shown along the “Via dolorosa” are the flogging of Obadiah Holmes: John Bunyan’s prison; the first meeting place in Hanham Woods of 1658; Benjamin Bampfield dying in Newgate Gaol: Broadmead meeting house barred and shut against worshippers. Andrew Gifford of Pithay Church, Bristol, demanding his release from Gloucester Gaol; and others of equal interest. Portraits are given of Bunyan, William Carey and C.H.Spurgeon. There are also statistics which include the estimated number of Baptists at present (excluding Russia) viz, 9,750,000. The diagram is entirely self-explanatory, and contains an abundance of information. Mr C. King-Smith presided over the meeting and mentioned that Mr Ford had spent two years preparing his chart. He has been invited to give the lectures at various Bristol churches..
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