The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-14
COLORKD CONTNA.s IMMERSED.


Tho Mount Zion Baptist Church membors
in West Kinney street Newark. celebrated
Eaeter Sunday with baptism service in the
Passac River. Tho church Ia composed OF
scccdcrs from tho Bethany Baptist Church.
The cause OF the secession was dissension be-
tho deacons and the pastor. tho Rev. William
Hill short fat negro from tho South relative
to Mr.. llill's alleged conduct.
Tho Rev. Mr.. Hill hold special services in his
church yesterday morning for the candidates
for immersion fourteen In number. The place
selected for tho immersion Is tho west bank
OF tho Passac River. adjoining one OF the stands
at tho finish OF the rowing course. About 1000
blacks and whites gathered there. The grand
stand was packed with men and women. and
the river wns covered for two or three hundred
feet with rowbonte.
The congregation Of Mount Zion Church. led
by the Rev. Mr. Hill. fled into boat house on
the bank OF the river. and the singing OF hymns
was begun The candidates for immersion.
who were all adults. wero Mary Whitfield.
Darkis Boldon. Addy Harris. Emma Taylor.
Rachel Pitman. Hattie Ptman. Mary Smith.
Caroline Taylor. Francis Debmars. JoIephinia
Yancy. Annie Montgomery William Stack
house. Mathew Purnell. and John Tyler. Two
Of the men at the last moment refused to be i'm
mersed but the women did not ialter. Tho
candidates. dressed for the ceremonies. filed
out OF tho boat house In twos. tho pastor and
the dencons leading the procession. They
chanted monotonous hymn.
As the procession emerged from the boat
house the spectators cheered. The majority OF
the women wore old faded and patched calico
dresses. beted Mt the waist, hut three Of their
number were dressed in full suits OF white cloth:
They gave no heed to the laughter. but marched
they began to sing sing. e Sec See ' the SHINING
RWveEr, Which l % was 50 soon changed for Wei
| Smith OF BrOOklVu. n fall angular then
offered ,up.a. prayer. after which the candidates.
.c.hented. Am ! Soldier Of the Gross Z"
Christ, Son Of qod. He didn't walk eixty
sprnkied on him. No, but he had John the
| Baptist put him clear down under the water
DOWN uSae m9 y1Sd nd Ss' nus ali AZ The S Ss 70 SeNr
| Don't mind the folks who laugh and make fun
nt you, for the Jews laughed ut Christ in the
river Jordan. You wouldn't think n little child
was buried If only n shovelful OF clay was put
on the coffin. So II is with baptism. You have
| the commands Of Christ by making n public
profession OF your faith
After the candidates sang We're going into
| the water 10 be baptized. =" a deacon wnded up
| 10 his waist In the river. and then fixed long
pole in the muddy bottom. The Rev. Mr.. Hill.
| walked out to tho pole with n deacon. Then
| two deacons led q very fat woman into the water.
and black spotted Calico; calico dress. With a large large
| white patch on the breast The fat woman
| tremDled and rolled ncr eyes Wildly when she
entered the water. nnd she leaned on tho arm
Of the deacons. When she reached the Rev.
Mr.. Hin he, took her hand. raised his RICH,
hand toward the black clouds in the sky. and
| said My sister on the profession Of your
| faith. l now baptizo you In the name OF the
Father. Son. and Holy Ghost" AT the word
ghost" the Rey. Mr.. Hi with the aid Of
q deacon. plunged the woman under the water,
They had difficulty lifting her out. and
| when her head was out OF water she spluttered
and sneezed. while the pastor said 'Ameni .
| and the congregation sang I've been washed
| in the waters OF Jordan" The fat woman had
not closed her mouth. and therefore had
| swallowed considerable water. The spectators
laughed at her appearance us she was led out
| OF the water. She waved hor arms and cried
| Glory I'm saved. bress do LordV
| The next person immersed was n small,
back-eyed young woman. Her dress was of
black cloth, A portly woman in a white dress.
| with white bandanna tied around her head.
was next baptized, and after her the others.
| The man walked into the water In his shirt
| sleeves. The last person baptized WAS n cr D.
| pied young woman. who was very much ngl-
| tatcd when she was being carried ashore. Tho
deacons took up collection In cigar boxes
while the. women were dressing in the boat
house. After the hymn. There Is a fountain
filled with blood. the worshippers departed.