, 1879-03-16
TRYING THEIR FAITH.
THE CEREMONY OF BAPTISM IN FROZEN PAPA
KATtSG CKEEk.

cove Is now called the Dapt1Smal ground OF the
First Baptist Church Of the Town OF Vantage,
in Sussex: County, New Jersey. Halsey Berry
is the sexton. The Baptists of the village have
to drive mile to their westinghouse, which
stands alone on side hill quarter OF mile
from the creek Its pastor, the Rev. J. G.
Dyer, began revival among the farmers early
in December, in a school-house beyond the
church, aud soon afterward separate revival
was begun in the village. The week OF PRAYER
ut the beginning Of the new year had the effect
Of uniting the two movements, and a series OF
enthusiastic revival meetings was begun in the
church. These were continued there until two
weeks ago, when they were transferred to the
opera-house in the village, where they are now
being held every other night. The net result
of the religious movement is ninety converts.
Fifteen OF the converts were baptized in Papa
kating Creek on Feb q, aud seven yesterday.
After the morning service, long procession
of Wagons was driven down from the church to
1.-The ward and fields about Halsey Berrv's house.
The horses were blankcted, aud the occupants
OF the wagons thronged down to the creek to
the number OF about 500 The men, women,
and children stood on the soft ground as close
to the margin as they could get, while the boys
stood OH the unbroken ice or crossed over to the
other side Some Of them climbed into the
crotches OF the oaks aud NAPLES, whose 1ealess
bougls stretched over the little space OF clear
water. One OF the Deacons OF the church kept
the water clear from foatng ice With hand
rake. Brother Jesse K. Little placed himself
close to the edge of the pool, and then the pas
tor, clad to his breast III an undergarment Of
rubber, which was concealed br q long black
robe. advanced into the water. Two weeks ago
he was obliged to go beyond the eddy Of the
cove into the swift black current Of the stream
to find water deep enough Tor convenient i'm
mersion. Yesterday he went only to the middle
OF the cove, where, at distance OF dozen Ieet
from the shore. the water stood at his waist.
He felt his way carefully with stick, aud
when he lad made sure Of good position
be threw the stick ashore. IN the meantime
the choir on the shore had been singing: :" All
had finished the pastor lifted his face and made
q PRAYER; then he held out his bands toward the
snore, where Mrs. Elizabeth Chadwick and Miss
Maggie Giveans were waiting in their long black
baptislnal robes. Cotton was stuffed in their
ears to prevent the ingress OF water.
Brother Little helped Mrs. Cnaowick into the
shallow water next to the shore, and kept hold
Of one OF her hands until the pastor was able, by
extending his arm, to grasp her oy the other:
The choir saug Jesus, keep me near the cross"
No time was lost. First the pastor dipped one
hand in the water and Laid it On her brow. This
was not part OF the religious ceremony. It
was merely to prevent rush OF blood to the
head from the lower eEtrcmities by counter
ACtt!iH EuHi- -$CAt liz kA4AeA LE C4tAAlAaLC 6o
that her back was upstream, and then. taking
her two hands, clasped before her on her waist,
fn MS left hand and placing his right on her
shoulders, he lifted his face and said:
"Sistcr, on confession Of your faith, baptize
you into the name OF the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Ghost.''
AS he uttered the last word, he gently pressed
her backward into the water With his Left hand,
while he supported her with his right. Her
features, which had shown no sign OF fear or
oYFn 1nEa fff,1yn1 hr In
spectators, remained rigialY under control uutil
the water closed over them. Her head was held
resoutely in its natural position, and it appeared
when she was immediately aftcrward lifted up
as If her feet had never stirred from their po-
sition on the bottom. As soon rs she arose,
however, gasping for breath, her self-control for
sock lier for half sccoud, and she began to
struggle for the shore. Mr.. Dyer seized her
shoulders with both hands to steady her His
touch restored her presence Of mind, and then
she walked decorously out OF the water, aided by
the pastor aud Brother Little. Here She was
hurried1y wrapped in blankets, helped into a
sleigh, and carried to Air. Berry's house, zoo
yards away. While she was going out Of the
ratcr, Miss Gireaus stepped boldlF IN without
the aid of Brother Little. She maintained her
self possession throughout the ceremony, eveo In
tile irving moment When she was lifted from the
cold water gaspng for breath and WAS obliged
to meet the view of the multitude on tile bunlss.
Tie blood rushed into her cheeks, and her light
auburn hair gIistened With the streaming water.
The white collar and cuffs that had tastefully
relieved her son,brc baptismal robe we're now
limp and shapelcss. While she was being car
r;ed to the house wrapped in drv shawis, Hum
phrey Martin, son Of cx-Asse,nblyman Lebeus
Martin, Sr., who was baptized in the same place
on Feb %, stepped into the water clad in a
black baptisina1 robe, the choir singing, Near
CT, Ny God, to Thee" His baptism was fol-
lowed bv those Of Frederick Gelston and Will
lam j. Lewis also ia oaptismal rooes. Edward
ConKlin aud Morris Fcnner, two other young
these wore ordinary clothes and the other was
immersed in his stirt-sleevcs. The baptism of
the seven young candidates occupied hardly
more titan seven minutes. The people in at
tendance were respectful and orderly. Among
these were the Rev. Mr.. King, Of the Methodist
Church In Dcckerton'n, aud Deacon - ".
Gelston, Of the Mount Salem Baptist Church,
whose son, Frederick, was one of the seven can-
didates. Tie Rev. Mr. King was formerly
Baptist, while the Rev. Mr.. Dyer was formerly
Methodist. Mr.. Dyer says that there will
doubtless be about twenty-five other candidates
baptized soon. There is no baptistry IN his
church, und the reason Of this. he explains, Is
ttat the general sentiment Of church people IN
that part Of the country is ia 1ayor ol INNER.
sion in a natural stream. He says that none OF
the persons baptized On Feb. % has since suffer-
ed from colds, or otherwise; nor has he ever
known Of case where injury has been done by
immersion in the whole course Of his ministry
MONGOLIAN PAGANISAI.
RELIGIOUS CELEBRATION OF THE CHINESE
SEW-YEAR-
San Francisco Chronicle.
New-Year's being the greatest festival in the