In a message dated 7/22/02 2:51:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: Dear Arthur Thomas: You wrote: > >>available as the IGI, where for some reason, the baptisms are referred to > as christenings. The microfiches also use christening rather than baptism > in order that their contents can be identified by a single letter - CMB is > more positive than BMB<< In the IGI, if it says "Christening", it means "Christening" If there is a "Baptism", it says "Baptism",either by sprinkling or immersion. A Christening takes place soon after the child is born, usually on the first Sunday of the following month. Some churches call this "Blessing the child". A prayer is said for the child and he is given a name. Some churches sprinkle water on the head of a baby soon after birth and call it "Baptism". Some churches wait until the child is seven years old before baptizing it., either by sprinkling or immersion. Other churches wait until the child is eight years old and baptize by immerson. The churches that wait a few years before baptizing believe that: Baptizing is for remission of sins. Until a child is seven or eight years old they are free from sins. Virginia