John, The question was about confirmation, which is a distinct rite in which infant baptism is reaffirmed as a person becomes an adult member of the church. Confirmation is a stage in becoming a church member that is used only by those churches that practice infant baptism. These churches maintain two rolls of membership: they count "baptized membership" as distinct from "confirmed membership." The groups you are thinking about did not practice infant baptism, therefore they had no confirmation rite. Their singular membership became effective at the time of their adult baptism. Rev. Nelson R. Sulouff //////////////////////////////// ----- Original Message ----- From: J & M Edler To: HESSE-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2005 2:58 AM Subject: [HESSE] Age at Baptisms Hello, all, What was the possibility/probability at that time of there being Non-conformist groups in Hessen / Hesse-Darmstadt, such as Baptists, Anabaptists etc who may have practiced adult baptism, particularly when new members joined their group? Perhaps more data sources are needed to resolve Alan's question? John Edler

Agreed. My oversight! -- John E. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nelson R. Sulouff" <zuli@sprintmail.com> To: <HESSE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2005 01:49 Subject: Re: [HESSE] Age at Baptisms > John, > > The question was about confirmation, which is a distinct rite in which infant baptism is reaffirmed as a person becomes an adult member of the church. > > Confirmation is a stage in becoming a church member that is used only by those churches that practice infant baptism. These churches maintain two rolls of membership: they count "baptized membership" as distinct from "confirmed membership." > > The groups you are thinking about did not practice infant baptism, therefore they had no confirmation rite. Their singular membership became effective at the time of their adult baptism. > > Rev. Nelson R. Sulouff > //////////////////////////////// > ----- Original Message ----- > From: J & M Edler > To: HESSE-L@rootsweb.com > Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2005 2:58 AM > Subject: [HESSE] Age at Baptisms > > > Hello, all, > > What was the possibility/probability at that time of there being Non-conformist groups in Hessen / Hesse-Darmstadt, such as Baptists, Anabaptists etc who may have practiced adult baptism, particularly when new members joined their group? Perhaps more data sources are needed to resolve Alan's question? > > John Edler > > > ==== HESSE Mailing List ==== > Going on Vacation? Longer than 4 days? Go to > http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/intl/DEU/HESSE.html > to unsubscribe > >