As to Baptist history of origins, there are a few theories. The Successionist theory ar those
who hold that baptist can be traced to John the Baptist. Those who held this view - Thomas
Crosby, J.M Camp, William Cathcart, John Christian. The Anabaptist Kinship Theory is held by
those who trace a spiritual relationship of Baptist through the long line of Anabaptist sects,
such as German, Dutch, & Swiss Anabaptist, the Waldensians, and Petrobrusians, the Henricians,
the novatians and donatists. Those who held this view, David Benedict, Richard B. Cook, Thomas
Armitage, Albert Newman, Waltar Rauchenbusch The English Separatist Theory - this theory says
that Baptists as a group could be identified from their practice of immersion dating from
consistent practice of the 1640's. this is when PArticular/Calvinistic Baptists of London &
General/Arminian Baptists began to practice immersion as the true mode of baptist. Those who
held this view were William H. Whitsitt, & Augustus H. Strong.

Evidently Ann Landers went the Anabaptist Kinship theory because Smyth, under the influence of
the Waterlander Mennonites (Menno Simmons), became an Anabaptist in the year 1607-1608 time period.He baptized himself by Affusion. (pouring.)

An examination of the erroneous theories of "Church Authority" and "Church Succession"
of the so-called "Landmark Baptist" movement. The term Landmarkism is a nickname which refers
to ecclesiastical views arranged as a logical system or ecclesiastical order and popularized
by the late James Robinson Graves (1820-1893). According to Landmarkers, there is no authority in either the Word or from the Spirit for doing the work of the Great Commission; this authority comes solely from the local Baptist church. It is held in theory by an undetermined number of Baptists in various conventions, associations, fellowships and independent churches.

The system, sometimes called "church truth," is not exclusive to the Association Baptists, but according to Dr. I. K. Cross, the term "Landmarkism" has been widely used in "derision" for those Baptists in the fellowship of the American Baptist Association of Churches with which Dr. Cross is affiliated. There are quite a number of independent churches that are Landmark, but they do not affiliate with a convention or association. Usually, these churches do not believe there is scriptural authority for anything larger than the local church, although many of them do affiliate in "fellowships" and special "conferences."

Landmarkism involves the authenticity of a church as an organization, the administration and administrator of baptism, and the ordination of ministers. It is asserted that a church is unscriptural, baptism is invalid, and ministers are not duly ordained unless there is proper Church Authority for them. This is Landmarkism's "chief cornerstone." Some writers of the past referred to this position as "high churchism." Consequently, the Landmark view is that Baptist Churches ALONE have the authority of Christ to evangelize, baptize and carry out all aspects of the commission.

The system further involves the perpetuity, succession, or continuity of Baptist churches through which authority has descended through the ages and will continue. This position, though not uniformly defined among Landmarkers, is believed to have been taught by Christ in such verses as Matthew 16:18, 28:19-20. While Landmarkers in general profess either an inability to demonstrate the succession or no necessity of doing so, their efforts to advocate their system of "church truth" are almost invariably characterized by several quotations from secondary sources and their own respected authors, supposedly establishing the historical claim.

Generally therefore, they believe that 1) the true and scriptural organization of a church, 2) the valid administration of baptism, & 3) the proper ordination of a gospel minister, MUST all be enacted upon the authority of a sound and true, scriptural church namely, a church that was born through the authority of a "mother" church continuing in like manner back to the original apostolic church of Matthew 28 where "church authority" first "began".

In refuting these errors, Baptists and other Christians today can believe in the continuity of Christianity since Christ and may devote themselves to regulating their faith and practice by the Scriptures (in an orderly manner) without adhering to the Landmark teachings of church authority and succession. The authority which validates baptism, or any other scriptural action of our time, does not reside in the church institution any more than does the authority which validates salvation itself; authority resides in Jesus Christ and is expressed in His Word. The church itself is dependent upon this authority, but this authority is not dependent upon the church. This book advocates no new or novel views in opposition to Landmarkism. The first Confession of Faith set forth by English Particular Baptists is the well-known confession of 1644, and in Article 41 it states: "The persons
designed by Christ, to dispense this ordinance (baptism), the Scriptures hold forth to be a preaching disciple, it being no where tied to a particular church, officer, or person extraordinarily sent, the commission enjoining the administration, being given to them under no other consideration, but as considered disciples."

Landmarkism, as a system, is of relatively recent origin among the Baptists, although various items in the system have been obvious at certain times in our history. But at least not until J. R. Graves popularized all of the related concepts in systematic form did a significant segment of Baptists finally become a fragmentation from other Baptists (in the Preface of his book, Old Landmarkism =97 What Is It?, Graves takes credit for "inaugurating the reform" which became known as Landmarkism). May this book assist all who read it to see Landmarkism in its proper perspective among the Baptists.

http://members.aol.com/pilgrimpub/writings.htm Pilgrim Publications

Mentions the books The Trail of Blood and Old Landmarkism
http://www.ozsome.com/~fbc/annlanders.html

Addressing Ann Landers, I Don't Know Where You Got Your Information, But You're Wrong" is printed here and is also available in tract form from Wilderness Voice Publications.

To begin with Ms. Landers says, "If you are a Baptist, you owe the tenets of your religion to
John Smyth. . ." According to the New Webster's Dictionary of the English Language, the word
"tenet" means "any opinion, principle, dogma or doctrine believed or maintained as true. . ."

According then to definition, Ann Landers has just said that the doctrines of the Baptists did not come into existence until 1607. This is entirely false. The "tenets" of our faith are laid squarely at the feet of the one who laid the foundation for Jesus Christ to build His church upon (Matthew 16:18). The "tenets" or doctrines of our faith did not come from John Smyth in 1607, but rather came from the first Baptist preacher whose name was also John. The first Baptist, John the Baptist, had a name given to him by God Himself (Matthew 3:1). This very first of the Christian preachers taught the deity of Christ (John 1:29).

He taught the preexistence of Jesus (John 1:15). This Baptist's first public words were the warning of repentance (Matthew 3:1-2). John the Baptist taught the Sovereignty of God (Matthew 3:9). He
taught about the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11). John stressed the confession of sin (Matthew 3:
6). He refused to baptize unbelievers (Matthew 3:7-8). And this great man's baptism was by
immersion, not sprinkling, and this baptism was not for salvation, but rather to "make Christ
manifest" (John 1:31). John the Baptist also preached the absolute certainty of judgment (Matthew 3:12). He taught individual responsibility in the matter of salvation, rather than a salvation by proxy (Matthew 3:9). He emphasized clean living and Christian conduct (Luke 3:8)

He held to the substitutionary atonement (John 1:29, 36). He believed in the total depravity and helplessness of man (John 3:27). He had close fellowship with God and walked with Him (John 1:33). And the world's first Baptist preacher believed in witnessing and winning the lost to Christ (John 5:33,35).

The basic "tenets" of our faith did not come from a man, but from God's Word, from the first
Christian preacher (who was also the first Baptist) and ultimately from God Himself. The basic
doctrines of Baptists have always been salvation by grace, repentance from sin, believer's
baptism by immersion and personal holiness. Some modern "Baptists" may be straying from some
of these basic beliefs, but nevertheless they are "tenets" that have separated us from all others. Not only do the "tenets" of our faith predate 1607 by some 1574 years, but also the history of our church stretches clear back to apostolic times. I don't know where you got your information, Ann, but you're wrong!

At one time all Baptists rejected the idea that Baptists are Protestants and at one time all Baptists believed that we sprang from the first church established by Jesus Christ while He was on this earth. The greatest theological minds among Baptists have always taught that the first church was a Baptist church; that all early apostolic churches were Baptist churches; and that originally all churches and Christians were Baptists. The greatest Baptist scholars, theologians and historians have believed and taught that the Baptist church was established by Jesus and His disciples upon the foundation laid by His cousin and forerunner, John the Baptist.

In 1894, Edward T. Hiscox wrote the New Directory for Baptist Churches. In this book, which
for over 100 years has been a standard among Baptists, on pages 492-493, Mr. Hiscox wrote,
"Baptists have a history of which they need not be ashamed--a history of noble names and noble
deeds, extending back through many ages, in which the present generation well may glory. From
the days of John the Baptist until now, a great army of these witnesses for the truth, and martyrs for its sake, has illumined and honored the march of Christian history. The ages since Christ have known no purer, nobler lives, no braver, more faithful witnesses for the Gospel of Christ, no more glorious martyrs for its sake, than many of those who honor us by being called "our fathers in the faith".

In 1880, the great Baptist historian, author, lecturer, theologian and preacher, J. R. Graves, wrote in the foreword and dedication to his monumental work, Old Landmarkism, "This little work is dedicated and it's dissemination throughout the denomination committed to every Baptist brother and sister and especially my brethren in the ministry and of the press in America, who love those principles for which our Baptist Fathers for 18 centuries suffered cruel mockings, bloody stripes, imprisonment, and martyrdoms. . ." Dr. Graves edited a denominational paper, The Tennessee Baptist for many years. He at one time was pastor of the First Baptist Church in New Orleans. He authored eleven books and was generally considered the most eloquent preacher in the entire South at that time.

Also note that the well-respected Baptist apologist, J. M Carroll, whose book The Trail of Blood has been printed continuously since it was copyrighted in 1931, and whose numbers now reach well into the millions, says simply that it is "The History of Baptist Churches from the Time of Christ, Their Founder, to the Present Day".

In 1912, D. B. Ray authored the coveted treasure, Baptist Succession, a Handbook of Baptist
History and in the preface, Dr. Ray wrote, "Baptists have, with one voice denied any connection with the Romish apostasy, and claimed their origin, as a church, from Jesus Christ and the apostles".

David Benedict, pastor of the Baptist church in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, wrote his classic A
General History of the Baptist Denomination, in 1813. All throughout the over 1200 pages of
his monumental work, Mr. Benedict asserts that the Baptist denomination of his day was most
assuredly the same as the church started by Jesus Christ Himself while He was on earth. He is
most emphatic to state that the original church was a Baptist church.

Another venerable author, the Englishman William Jones, wrote The History of the Christian Church in 1812 and stated flatly, "the Waldenses were Baptists". These ancient people and
their churches existed from the early 1300's to the beginning of the eighteenth century. This statement, at its worst, proves that Baptists have believed in their ancient existence for more than 300 years from the date of their founding given by Ann Landers.

Yet another author, Charles B. Stovall, in his book, Baptist History and Succession, says, "It will be seen that the Baptists claim the high antiquity of the commencement of the Christian church. They can trace a succession of those who have believed the same doctrine and administered the same ordinances directly, up to the Apostolic Age."

M. M. Munger, in his book, Baptist Churches from Jerusalem to North= America, wrote, "The
intention of this little work is to show that from the time of Christ, beginning while He was on earth, the church of Christ has not failed to exist down to this present year of 1926. We have chosen this line of history as being the most simple and direct; Jerusalem, Rome, Britain (now Wales), to the North American colonies. . .Baptist church perpetuity is a proven fact."

And, of course, the testimony of the venerable G. H. Orchard, the great English Baptist wrote
prior to 1855, "A Concise History of Baptists from the time of Christ their Founder to the
18th Century."

Perhaps W. A. Jarrel said it best when he wrote in his book, Baptist Church Perpetuity or History in 1894, "the Baptist movement in history has always been back to the New Testament. . .then it was about 150 A.D. that the= first Baptist protest was raised by the Montanists".

While I am not sure it would be profitable to continue to quote Baptist author after Baptist author, my intention has been to show that all credible Baptist historians and theologians have both believed and taught that there is a direct link from the days of Christ and His apostles to the Baptist church of today. Though called by other names, true Baptists subscribe to the idea that originally all churches were Baptist churches. Baptists who deny this historical position and indisputable fact are of modern origin and thought. Certainly they do not reflect the doctrine of church (Baptist) perpetuity as was so universally believed among Baptists of previous generations.

However, to further solidify the premise that the acceptance of this doctrine was the majority
opinion that prevailed in Baptist churches until recent times, we must add that other well known Baptists also adhered tenaciously to this belief. Such great men as Charles Haddon Spurgeon (Pastor of the Metropolitan Baptist Tabernacle in London), Jesse Mercer (for whom Mercer University is named), Francis Wayland (longtime Baptist pastor in New York state), J. M. Pendleton (former Professor of Theology at Union University in Murfreesborough, Tennessee),
B. H. Carroll (former Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Waco, Texas and associate editor
of The Texas Baptist), R. E. B. Baylor (Member of Congress from Alabama, Texas Supreme Court Justice and namesake of Baylor University) and W. A. Criswell (former pastor of the First
Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas).

These, along with countless scores of others, have been faithful to the end to proclaim the "tenets" of our faith and the glorious history of the Baptist church. Although basically passed from church to church, this belief was argued vehemently as early as 1640 when William Kiffin, who for sixty-one years (1640-1701) pastored the Baptist church in Devonshire Square in London and whose granddaughter married the grandson of Oliver Cromwell, wrote an essay defending the Baptist position of exclusion at the Lord's Table (Communion). Again I say, I don't know where you got your information, Ann, but you're wrong!

But do not think for one moment that Baptists have arrogantly propagated this opinion of themselves alone. Many of our adversaries and detractors have also testified as to the antiquity of the Baptist faith. Some, who out of the hatred in their hearts for these people called Baptists, have unwittingly given credibility to our illustrious history.

Roman Catholic Cardinal Stanislaus Hosius, President of the Council of Trent in 1524, said,
"Were it not that the Baptists have been grievously tormented and cut off with the knife
during the past twelve hundred years, they would swarm in greater number than all the
Reformers." Did you get that Ann? A Roman Catholic Cardinal, the personal representative of
the Pope, in the year 1524 acknowledged that the Baptists had existed for 1200 previous
years. That, by Catholic admission, puts the Baptists back within three hundred years of
Christ's ministry on earth. Ann, that is almost 1,300 years before you say the Baptist church
was started. I don't know where you got your information, Ann, but you're wrong!!

Even the principal Lutheran historian, Johann Laurenz von Mosheim, wrote, "Before the rise of
Luther and Calvin, there lay secreted in almost all of the countries of Europe persons who
adhered tenaciously to the principles= of modern Dutch Baptists."

And the Edinburgh Encyclopedia, a Presbyterian publication, states, "It must have already
occurred to our readers that the Baptists are the same sect of Christians that were formerly
described as Ana-Baptists. Indeed this seems to have been their leading principle from the
time of Tertullian to the present time." Tertullian was born just fifty years after the death
of the Apostle John. I don't know where you got your information, Ann, but you're wrong!!

Other renowned scholars and writers, some knowingly, some cluelessly, have lent their support
to the notion that the original church of Christendom was a Baptist church. Such men as
Heinrich Bullinger (1504-1575), the aide and successor to the reformer Zwingli admitted that
as contrary as the doctrine was, this doctrine of the Baptists persisted from the days of the
Apostles. Even Peter Allix, the learned scholar and historian of the Church of England,
"furnishes us a list of thirty-three errors charged against this people by the Jacobite priest
Raynerius" from his work first published in 1690. Rainerius Saccho was a thirteenth century
monk and sworn enemy of the Waldensian Baptists.

Even famed English scientist, Sir Isaac Newton, wrote, "The modern Baptists formerly called
Anabaptists are the only people that never symbolized with the Papacy." He thus admits that
the beginning of this illustrious group of Christians began sometime before the Roman Catholic
system itself. Testimonies to this fact can also be extracted from the writings of such great
minds as those of Professor David Masson of Edinburgh University (1822-1907); William C. King,
editor of Crossing the Centuries; Robert Barclay the Quaker theologian (1648-1690); Alexander
Campbell, founder of the Churches of Christ; and respected American educator and historian,
John Clarke Ridpath, a Methodist. Mr. Ridpath, professor for sixteen years of what is now
known as De Pauw University said, "I should not readily admit that there was a Baptist Church
as far back as A.D. 100, although without doubt there were Baptists then, as all Christians
were then Baptists." Once more, Ann, I don't know where you got your information, but you are
wrong!!

Perhaps the most excellent testimony to the antiquity of the people called "Baptists" comes
from the very unlikely source of Doctors A. Ypeij and J. J. Dermout, Chaplain to the King of
Holland. In 1819 these men received a royal commission to prepare a history of the Dutch
Reformed Church. This history, prepared under royal sanction, and officially published,
contains the following testimony to the origin of the Baptists, "We have now seen that the
Baptists, who were formerly called Anabaptists...were the original Waldenses...On this
account, the Baptists may be considered as the only religious community which has stood since
the days of the apostles, and as a Christian society which has preserved pure the doctrines of
the gospel through all ages. The perfectly correct external and internal economy of the
Baptist denomination tends to confirm the truth, disputed by the Romish Church, that the
Reformation brought about in the sixteenth century was in the highest degree necessary, and at
the same time goes to refute the erroneous notion of the Catholics, that their denomination is
the most ancient."

Well, Ann, there you have it in a nutshell. From the pages of the Bible, the New Testament in
particular, we are able to prove that the "tenets" of our faith did not come from John Smyth
in 1607, but rather from John the Baptist and Jesus Christ Himself. We are able to establish
that Baptists for centuries have laid claim to be the original church, the one started by
Jesus on the foundation set by John the Baptist. And, even though many of these men hated the
Baptists, non-Baptist sacred and secular historians alike have attributed the beginning of
the church to the Baptists. Be that as it may, however, I am not angry with you, Ann. As a
member of the Jewish religion, I could not expect you to know much about Christian church
history. However, I conclude this little rebuttal by saying, "I don't know where you got your
information, Ann, but you're wrong!!"

More on Landmarkism
http://members.aol.com/brwoodbc/oldlndmk.htm

http://www.ashlandcc.org/fah/voices/holmes.html

http://members.aol.com/pilgrimpub/writings.htm