“In the early part of my ministry I was intimately acquainted with Gano, Baldwin, Holcombe, Staughton, Williams, Richards, Fristoe, Mercer and many others, now gone to glory; and I never heard one of them drop a hint, that baptism by a Pedobaptist minister opened the door into a regular Baptist Church.

Indispensable engagements compel me to close.

That there are now many pastors and churches opposed to my views, I know—painfully know—but all this does not convince me that our fathers were wrong in this matter. I must be made over again before I count that to be valid baptism’ when neither the administrator nor those who ordained him, believed immersion of believers any part of their commission, and never submitted to it themselves in obedience to the command of the King in Zion.

Affectionately, your brother in gospel bonds,

S. H. CONE. NEW YORK, September 30, 1845.

Presented by Thomas E. Kresal from excerpts: Graves, James R.. Old Landmarkism: What is it? . First Vision Publishers. Kindle Edition. Chapter 17