Pilgrim Pathways: Essays in Baptist History in Honour of B.R. White

Baptist History and Heritage, Wntr-Spring, 2001 by Michael E. Williams, Sr.

Edited by William H. Brackney and Paul S. Fiddes with John H. Y. Briggs. Macon: Mercer University Press, 1999. 328 pages.

Few British Baptists have contributed to the study of Baptist history and church history in the same scope and depth as has Dr. Barrington Raymond White, former principal at Regent's Park College in the University of Oxford. Written by friends and students, this collection of essays in honor of White focuses attention on particular interests of White's distinguished career in research, writing, and teaching.

The collection is divided into four sections with each section arranged around a particular subject. The first section addresses "Issues of Baptist Identity" and contains only two essays, a rather lengthy but outstanding article by Alan Sell and an important essay by Paul Fiddes on the role of the covenant in the Baptist community. The second section, "The Baptist Way of Being the Church," contains four essays on selected issues in Baptist ecclesiology ranging from questions regarding the baptism of children to the social relationships in the English Separatist tradition. The third section provides four essays in English Baptist biography, while the fourth section consists of four essays provided by North American scholars examining Baptist principles in connection with specific contextual situations.

Certain of these essays warrant special mention. Sell's "Doctrine, Polity, Liberty: What Do Baptists Stand For?" explores doctrinal questions and debates that have been a substantial part of English Baptist life virtually since its inception. He establishes the argument that one matter that has not divided English Baptists is the question of the authority of Scripture. He also addresses the matter of Baptist ecclesiology and governance. His final focus is on the significance of liberty, a time-honored belief for most true Baptists. Not everyone will agree with all of Sell's conclusions; nonetheless, they must be considered.

Likewise, the entire collection of biographical essays successfully promotes White's interest in the significance of Baptist biography, although the article on "The Case of John Norcott" is rather brief. In other sections, Ken Manley's essay on John Rippon and Baptist hymnody is excellent, and Morgan Patterson's essay explores the connection between Evangelical Revival and Baptists in outstanding fashion. While revisiting familiar ground for some, William R. Estep's essay is an excellent introduction to the relationship between the English Baptist focus on religious liberty and the "American Experience." All things considered, this reviewer almost hesitates to single out particular essays because almost all of the essays are excellent.

Sometimes, books of this type are lacking in key areas of coordination of themes, focus of purpose, and quality of writing and research. These usual criticisms are not valid here. The editors of this volume are to be commended for not only the quality of their own essays but also for the choices made in terms of inclusion of writers and subjects. Likewise, they and Mercer University Press are to be commended for the clean copy and attractive volume. A helpful bibliography of White's publications is included at the end of the work. It is a fitting tribute to the distinguished White.--Reviewed by Michael E. Williams Sr., Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences, Associate Professor of History, Dallas Baptist University.