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newspapers, classed as Baptists, though radically different. Some who believed
in infant baptism were classed as Anabaptists.
Says Dr. Ludwig Keller, the Munster archivist, a Lutheran, than whom there is
no higher authority on this subject:
“The name Anabaptist, which is used to designate alike all the South German
societies, generally awakens the conception of a party homogeneous and of
like religious views. The conception, however, is an entirely erroneous one. It
has been usual since the time of Luther to designate as Anabaptists,
Catabaptists, or fanatics, all those who renounced the Catholic church, but
would not become Lutherans. Indeed, Luther at the very outset designated
Zwingli and his followers as the party associates of those who held views in
reference to infant baptism that were different from his own. It is susceptible
of proof that not even in reference to the last mentioned doctrine, which was
the occasion of the designation of Anabaptist was there a perfect agreement
among the so-called Baptists. Much less was this the case on other points
which possessed a greater significance for a religious party than that special
dogma. It were the more correct, therefore, when the reference is to the
religious conflicts of the period of the reformation in general, to speak not of
the spread of the Anabaptists, but of the anti-Lutheran parties in Germany. …
Among the so-called Anabaptists, retaining here the usual designation, we
must distinguish three principal parties which come upon the scene in three
epochs, under the preponderating influence of different personalities. These
three groups were not the only ones into which the party were divided —
indeed, not less than forty are enumerated by their contemporaries — but
there were three parties which in the number of their followers and in the
importance of their leaders, were especially prominent in the whole
movement. All other groups were only degenerate, independent interests of
ephemeral and limited influence.” f512
From the statement, that there were different kinds of Anabaptists, no reliable
historian or well read and honest person, upon this subject will dissent.
While the absurdity and the injustice, therefore, of branding Baptists with the
disgrace of the Munster riots, simply because they were then known under the
word Anabaptists, is apparent, from the foregoing, yet, as so many Baptist
opponents resort to this injustice, I will next notice the verdict of those who
have carefully and honestly investigated the charge.
(2.) Historians and other writers exonerate Baptists from the disgrace of taking
any part in the Munster riots.
Says Burrage, alluding to a conference between Thomas Munzer, Grebel and
Mantz:
“Nor do we find that the Swiss radicals had any subsequent dealings with
him. As Grebel’s letter shows, he and his associates were not in agreement