Springer. Elihu, a Methodist Episcopal minister, was born in Bond County, 111., July 21, 1811. He was the subject of religious impressions at a very early age ; united with the INIethodist Episcopal Church in 1824; entered the Rock Spring Seminary, St. Clair Co., 111., in 1827; was licensed as an exhorter Slay 29, 1832, re- ceived by the Illinois Conference on trial in September, 1833, and appointed to Carlin viile Circuit, Sangamon dis- trict. The following were his subsequent appointments : in 1834, Iroquois Mission; 1835, Oplain Circuit; 1836-37, located, owing to feeble health; 1838, Somonauk Circuit; 1839, Bristol Circuit; 1840, ordained elder and reappoint- ed to Bristol; 1841, Lockport ; 1842, .Joliet ; 1843-44, St. Charles; 1845, Mineral Point; 1846, Ilazle (ireen Circuit; 1847-50, presiding elder of Milwaukee district, Wisconsin Conference, where he died, Aug. 22, 1850. Mr. Springer was a man of strong intellectual develop- ment, well versed in theological subjects, and an able expounder of the truth. See Minutes of Annual Con- ferences, iv, Oil. (J, L, S,)
Springer, John M., a minister of the ISIethodist Episcopal Church, was born at Petersburg, 111., Jan. 13, 1H37. He was converted at the age of sixteen, but, fearful of the toils and sacrifices of tlie ministry, fell back, and eventually became an actor. In 1857 he yielded to the influences of the Holy S])irit, and joined the Church Sept. 6. He was licensed to preach April 17, 1858, and admitted into the West Wisconsin Conference on the 29th of the same month. Being drafted into the army, he was appointed chaplain of the Third Regiment of Wisconsin Veteran Volunteers, Feb. 3, lfS64. He was wounded in the battle of Resaca, Ga., INIay 15 of that year, and died on the 28th. See Minutes of Annual Confeiences, 1864, p. 186.
Springer, Moses, a minister of the Methodist
SPRINGERS
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SQUARCIOXE
Episcopal Church, was converteti in his eighteenth year, anil in 1H4<> was admitted into full conni-ction in the Maine Conference. He ininiedintely located to take cliarjje of the Maine Wtslrydn Juurnal. which he con- tinued to e<lit until it was united with the Zians llenild. In XKb'i he was admitted into the Miinies<^>ta C^niference, and placed in a supcrannuateil relation, which he sns- tainetl until his death, at Winchendon, Mass., Dec. 21, 1«()5. Mr. Sprinpjer was a man not only of faith, but alsi) of sui)eriur intellect, and devoted to scientific stud- ies, the last years of his life being spent in the National ( )b9er\-atory. Washington, I). C. See Minutes of An- nual Ci't'JiTi-iictif, l><Gt>, ]). 212.
Springers, the jumping sect among the Ingrians (a trilH! belonging to the Tclunlic branch of the Finns), which traces its origin to 1M13. Proceeding from a religious excitement independent of the Church, they came to the conviction that every individual required the direct illumination of the Holy Spirit in order to his s:dvation. They also soon believed that they enjoyed this illumination, and ecstatic praying, singing, and cry- ing, connected with clapping of hands and jumping at ilieir meetings, gave evidence of being possessed by the Holy Spirit. This special illumination required as cor- relative also a special holiness, and this was sought not only in despising marriage, but also in abstaining from meat, beer, brandy, and tobacco. He who applied for ailraission into the sect was required to prove, nudus super uudwn. before the eyes of the meeting that the old Ailam with his sexual susceptibility was dead in him. 'I'he "holy love" which they placed in the stead of mar- riage also led here, as ever, to Heshly errors, and this was the reason why many of them, after the example of the Skoi'/.i (q. v.), with whom they were probably connected, chose the much more certain means of cas- tration. Authors and chiefs of the sect were named, and were said to have been present at meetings, but the civil authorities were not able to get hold of them. The sect is now near its end. See Kurtz, Church His- tory, ii, 40C.
Springing, or Springer, the impost or point at which an arch unites with its support. The bottom stone of an arch, which lies immediately upon the im- jHist, IS sometimes called a springer or springing-stone. Also the bottom stone of the coping of a gable. — Par- ker, Gloss, of A rchitect. s. v. See Skew ; Volssoik.
Sprinkler. See Asi-EUfjiLi.iM.
Sprinkling, as a fSrm of baptism, took the place of immcr>ic)n after a few centuries in the early Church, not from any established rule, but by common consent, and it has since been very generally practiced in all i)ut the (ireek and liaptist churches, wiiich insist upon im- mersion. In its defence the following considerations are offered : (1.) The primary signilication of the word " bafitize'' ("/^aTrri^w) cannot lie of great importance, in- asmuch as the rite itself is typical, and therefore derives its moment not from the literal imjiort of the term, i)ut from tlif signilicance and design of tlie ordinance. (2.) .Mthouu'h nip instance of sprinkling Is exjprcssly mention- ed in tlie New Test., yet there are several cases in which immersion was hardly possible (Acts ii, 4! ; x, 47, 4H; xvi, IW). (.'{.) In cast's <if emergency, baptism by asper- sion was allowed at a |>eriiHl of high antiquity, esi)eciallv in ilie can*' (ifxjcX- persons. .See (^i. ink- H.M'-ris.M. This form was als<i admit l<'d when tlie bajitismal font was too sninll for immtT^ion, and generally, whenever considera- tions of conveni<nce, health, or elimate required (Wala- frid Sirabo, he liihus Knlis. c. 2('.; (Jerhard, l.or. 'I'lnid. ix, I4<)). Aspersion did not U-come common in I lie West- ern or Latin Church until the I3ih century, altliough it ap)K'ar» to have been introduced much earlier (.\(|uinas, Summii, (jua-st. CC, art. 7). Sec Coleman, ChrUl. A utitj. ]>. 270 (Mj. See IUitism.