Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-02-07
Religious Intelligence.

Recently the Bcrean Baptist Church,
of West Philadelphia, was filed to its
utmost capacity, as it had been previous,
ly announced that the interesting cere-
mony of baptism would take place -
Previous to the administration Of the or.
dinance, the Pastor, Rev. Mr.. SrALpiYG,
delivered a very instructive and edify-
ing discourse, upon the sacrament to be
administered. In the explanation OF
this tenet OF the church, Mr. Spulding
did not wish to DO 50 for the purpose OF
making an issue with any one, or out OF
a spirit of controversy. He would speak
Of ,ltc doctrine cf ba ptism. from an hon
ests conviction Of Gods requirements of
him. He then said that mono but b.
levers were entitled to baptism, which
was immersion Of the body in water in
the name of the Father, Son and Holy
Ghost. He alluded at some length to
the baptism Of Jesus in the river Jordan
The Son of God walked sixty miles to
receive this baptism. Mark, in speaking
OF the baptism Of jesus. emphatically
states that Jesus was baptised of John
in Jor'om. Baptism was not essential
TO salvation. We must believe first
thereby We are saved. John preached
the Gospel at Salem because there wa.
much water there. 1t was a singular
fact that John remained at one place be-
cause Of the ABUNDANCE of water The
Acts of the Apostles were next referred
to, as proving the necessity of immersion.
Throughout the discourse the Rev. spca-
ker was attentively listened to. His
logical arguments evidently made deep
impression. At the conclusion, the or
dinancc was administered to three sisters
and one brother, and the audience then
slow y departed.
Recently the ceremony of blessing a
bell took place in the presence of II
large concourse, at St. Johns Church,
Thirteenth street, near Market, Phila.
dclpha. The bell is about l500lbs in
weight. and has clear ringing sound
In the Catholic ChnTch no bell is ever
placed on the belfry before being first
blessed by the Bishop of the diocese
The ceremony possesses Il universal in
| tercst to the members Of that Church
lst. Rev. Bishop Wood officiated on
this occasion, and was assisted by Rev
Fathers Dunn, 1masso. and Kecnahnn
They were dressed in the full canoncul
robes. The ceremony occupied about an
hour, the services consisting entirely Of
singing in Latin by the officiating cler-
gymen At the conclusion of the sing
ing, the Bishop drew the sign of cross
four times upon the bell lie then rang
the clarper three times. producing an
effect at once startling and impressive.
Durn the sermon the Bishop refer
red to the fact, that in all ages bells
were considered as having an importance
and an influence. which no other imam
innate thing possessed. With the Church
the bell played no unin,portant part in
calling sinners to repentance Their
persuasive and comwanding tones pro-
duced sometimes a greater effect than
the words of the most gifted orators. =
In Catholic countries at the present
day. the striking of the Church bell is
the signal for the people to fall upon
their kness in devotion, Bells were
consecracted and blessed; because they
are intended for Divine service. \
Church is blessed and Dedicated for the
same reason that bell is dcdicated.-
In continuing, the Bishop gave short
history of bells, and in tits connection,
instanced the huge bells of Moscow, one
of which, weighing 443,775 pounds, re-
nuircs Lvontu fo,r ,aD IN ri,,,, rh.t