The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1865-12-18
THE DAILY EMPIRE.
Extraordinary ReIIplons Frnnnr.

EXTRAORDINARY Religious Frenzy.
The Worlds New Orleans correspondent
relates the following strange scene in a
negro church in that city, as witnessed by
him on the occasion of an administration
of the rite of baptism: .t
For some time past there has been a re-
vival here during which the church mem
bers have acted more like wild beasts In n
cage than like human beings. The sight
beggars all description, and were one 10 tell
truly all he saw at one Of these revival
meetings, he would receive many piuus
blessings for burlesQueing religious cere-
monies and the worship Of the Deity Pas
sing the eolored church few nights ago,
stepped In for moment where Some con-
verts were taking the rites of baptism from
white missionary from Massachusetts,.
The scene would have been rather de-
mOniac than Christian had it not been
supremcly ridiculous. Before the altar was
large tank OF water, upon which the con-
verts marched In turn, while the assembled
company were shouting, screaming yelling,
whistltnR, stamping and singing; two
groups were dancing In the aisle; some
were embracing or shaking hands negro
woman was jumping backwards and for
wards over seat, and delivering lusty hi
HIS from q corner.
As a convert approached the water there
y
mersed and stepping out upon platform
on the other side, the yelling and screaul-
ing again commenced. Then the newly
born began series of gynnastic feats
upon this platform that threatened to break
every bone In her body. Going through
the most indecent and almost obscene mo-
tiOns, she screamed and kicked until ex-
hausted, and finally ended by stiffening out
like a log of wood. Half dozen stout
men now stepped forward To carry her out
the woman remaining all the time in this
rigid state, with eyes set, teeth shut hard
together, and muscles strained TO their Mt
most tension. ..... .... .i....
Seven went through this same operation,
and were each carried out in this stiffened
state In the arms of men. The white mis-
sionary from Massachusetts uttered the
word "gl0ry" as each one passed, with the
eyes turned upward, hands closed above
his head and an approving smile playing
about the hard lines of his mouth. He was
man who understood well how to excite
these simple creatures, and had learned the
art Of working their feelings up to a pitch
that was almost frenzy. And all the time
ne believed, or appeared to believe, that he
was doing the work of God. ,''.
BRIEF BUT POINTED VILLA novel viii
case has just been decided in the New York
courts. The will in question was made in
Aoso W VhS Nuhi leS DTueslnR, IOfHefly an
extensive music dealer in New York, trans
lated from the German in which it was
written; "When die, Regina Kaufman,
OF Handehersheim, shall have all / leave
behind me- II was signed and, attested.
The father and sister of the deceased con-
tested the will on theground that it was a
forgery. The legatee had lived with the
testator as his wife, but there was no posi-
tive proof that they had been married. The
Surrogate refused to admit the will TO
probate, but ON appeal to the Supreme
Court, the decision was reversed. A large
amount was dependent upon the decision.
YANKEE SMARTNRss.-An exchange tells
OF bridegroom In the western part OF
Massachusetts, who borrowed a shirt 10
wear ON his wedding day. He wore the
same three weeks without change, and
the dutiful wife, at the end of that time
took an article of wearing apparel from
her own back and quickly transformed il
into robe for her loving spouse. The
proud mother-in-law retails the gossip TO
eager neighbors, in proof of the smartness
of her new son.
A printer on his death couch and about