The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-10
PRICE TWO CENTS.
IMMERSED In ICY WATER.
THE CEREMONY or BAPTISM IN FRO
ZEN PAPAKATING CREEK.


Pastor Dyer Performing tho Rite for tive
Women and Five Young Men, while .
Brother Rakes the Water Clear OF Ice.
The miniature cove, with its shelving.
pebbly bottom In Papakating Creek near Deck.
ertown. whore farmer Halsey Berry waters his
horses. was cleared OF Ice on Saturday after.
noon with the aid OF axes and stout iron rako
This cove is now called tho baptismal ground
OF the First Baptist Church OF the town OF Wan.
taRe in Sussex County. New Jersey Halsey
Berry Is the sexton. The Baptists OF tho village
have TO drive a mile to their meeting house
which stands alone on n side hill quarter OF
mile from the creek. Tho church Ia ono hun.
dred years old. but not the church building.
Yesterday its clean white paint and double row
OF windows Rlistened in the sunlight. It's pas.
tor. the Rev. J. @. Dyer. began a revival among
the farmers early In December. in a school
house beyond the church. and soon
aitorward separate revival was begun
In the village. The week OF prayer at the bo-
ginning OF the new year had the effect OF unit
ing the two movements and a series OF enthu.
siastic revival meetings was begun in the
church. These were continued there until two
weeks ago. when they were transferred to the
opera house in tho village. where they arc now
being held every other night. The net result
Of tho, religious movement is ninety converts.
About half this material Mr.. Dyer says goes TO
increase tho membership OF his church. which
now numbers 200. At tho last report to tho
North New Jersey Baptist Association II num-
bored 1i3. The remainder OF the material has
sought membership in other churches in tho
PapakatinS Creek on Feb 2s' and seven yesler, ia
After the morning service. long procession
OF wagons was driven down from tho church
to the yard and fields about Halsey Berrys
house. The horses were banketed and the oc-
creek to the number OF about 500 The men.
women. and children stood on the soft ground
as close to the margin rs they could get whila
the boys stood on the unbroken ice or crossed
ovor to the other side. Some Of them climbed
into the crotches OF the oaks and naples. whose
leailess bows stretched over the little space Of
clear water One Of the deacons Of tho church
kept, tho water free from floating ice with 2
himself close to- the edge Of tho ,''p pool iId and
then the pastor, clad to his breast in an under
long black robe advanced into the water. Two
weeks ago he was Obliged to go beyond the eddy
stream to find water deep enough Tor con.
venient immersion. Yesterday he went only to
the middle OF the cove. where. at u distance Of
his waist He felt his way carefully with stick.
and when he had made sure Of good position
choir on tho shore had been singing; :, All hail
the power OF Jesus,s name" When they had
prayer; then he held out his hands toward
the shore, whore Mrs. Elizabeth Chadwick
long black baptismal robes. Cotton was stuffed
Brother Li,tlo helped Mrs. Chadwick Into the
| of one OF her hands until the pastor was able.
by extending his arm. t. grasp her by the
| the cross" No time was lost. First the pastor
| dipped one hand in the water and laid II on her
brow. This was not part oi the religious
ceremony. II was merely to prevent a rush OF
by a, counteractine chill. Next no turned the
| then. taking her two hands. clasped before her
on her waist. In his left hand apd PLACING his
right on her shoulders. he lifted his face aud
Sister, on confession Of your faith. baptisq
you into into me name OF tho Father. the Son. and
As he uttered the last word. no 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
agitation. though closely scrutinized by the 500
spectators rnmnined rigidly under conlrolu until
the watcr cosel over them. Her bead was held
rcsolulcly in its natural position. and it ap-
| lifted up rs il her feet had never stirred from
| their position on tho bottom. Al soon as she
| control forsook her for half a second, and she
| began to struggle for the shore. Mr., Dyer
seized her shoulders with both hands to stendy
her. His touch restored her presence Of mind.
! and then she walked decorously out Of the wa
Ter. aided by the pnSlor and Brother Liule.
| Hero she was hurriedly wrapped in blankets.
| helped into sleigh. and carried TO Mr.. Berrys
house. goo yards away. While she was going
! IN without the MD Of Brother Lit
| le. she maintained her self possession
| lil'AEIhuA Au' ttItmon1. even IN ln0
! trying moment when she was liftad from tho
| cold water Easping for breath and WAS obliged
| 70 meet the view Of the multitude on the banks.
! The blood rushed into her cheeks. and her light
| auburn hair g.istened with the streaming water.
| Tho white collar and cuffs that had tastefully
| Followed her somhre haptismal robe were now
| limp and shapeless. While she was being car
| ried to the house wrapped in dry shawls.
| Humphrey Martin. son OF ex-AssemblymRn
l.ebeus Martin ST.. aud fathcr Of Lebeus Mar
| tin. Jr.. who was baptized in the same place on
| Feb. % stepped into the water clad in n black
| baptismal robe. the choir singing. Nearer. My
| God. to Thee His baptism was followed by
| those Of Frederick Gelston and VIM. j. Lewis,
| also in haptismll robes. Edward Conklin and
| Morris Fenncr. two other young men. followed
| Immediately aftcTward. One OF these wore
| ordinary clothes and the other was immersed
| in his shirt sleeves. The hautism OF the seven
candidates occupied hardly moro than seven
! minutes. The people IN attendance were ro-
! spectful and orderly. Among these were the
| R'y. Mr.. King of tho Mrthoiist Church in Deck
! ertown and Dracnn J. W. Gelston OF the Mount
| Salem Baptist Church. whose son, FREDERICK
! was one Oi tha S"V"n candidates. The Row Mr..
| King was Formerly a BAPTIST. Whlln the Rev. Mr..
! Dyer was formerly Methodist Mr.. Dyer says
| TINT there viii doubtless be- about twenty five
! other candidates tuptil II soon. There is no
hr eNplaiu- is that the general sentiment OF
! church people ia that part ~ the country is in
! favor OF immersion IN "A natural stream. lla
| say, 'lat nOne ~ the persons bar tiHol on Feb.
! % has = poe suffered from colds. or otherwise;
nor has no ,:"r known uf "A case where iI .irY
| hn, been dono hl ,.'"lcrsion in the whole course
! OF his ministry.
The signal once PredIsIte..