Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-08-03

For long time the Congregational
lists have been striving to capture Soutl
Baptist Church. Hartford. The Rev
Mr.. Evarts il pastor of the much GOV
esed church, while the Rev. DR.. Parke
is the leader of Congregationalism- /
seems that DR.. Parker conceived tn,
purpose of baptizing a score or two O
young children in the Baptistry of tn,
South Baptist Church. He was pos
sessed of this notion as his solemn du-
ty. and be accordingly beguiled larR,
number Of his parishioners and rheil
children into his scheme. Ii was de
feet at O'Clock on Sunday afternoon
and at the appointed hour q procession
was formed TO march to the South Bap
tist Church. At the head of the pro.
cession vas double qusrtette, led BY q
hand organ, which had lately been re-
paired at considerable cost. Besides
nearly two hundred children in the pro.
cession, there were fully that number OF
adults, men and women, mostly the
parents Of the children. Arriving al
the church, the doors of which were un-
locked, the procession entered and took
possession. By this time the sacrists =
of the South Baptist church had noti-
led his pastor, the Rev. DR.. Eyarts, who
quickly sent him to notify the deacons
OF the church. Meanwhile the Rev.
DR.. Parker and his crowd had turned on
the water which was rapidly filling the
great tank used for b2ptisms. The
children were being prepared for re-
ceivinR the rite, and the Rev. DIR. Parker
vas excitedly spurrin9 ON his followers
to what he called battle for congrega-
tionalism. Presently the Rev. Mr.. Ev-
arts arrived. followed soon after by his
deacons. He protested to DIR. Parker
against the outrageous intrusion, but
the Rev. DR., Parker simply replied that
ne VAS determined to finish what
he came to do. Before the great
tank had filed with water the spacious
editice was resembling with in
quiries, protestations, and recrimina-
lions. Ranged around the haptistery
were the children whom DIR. Parker had
now begun to baptize. The invading
party could not be dissuaded. and il be-
came painfully evident that a fierce
strife was to take place. While the eld-
ers OF the two congregations and the
women were making pandemonium of
the place, the two ministers carried on
fleroe warfare Of words between them
selves. DR.. Parker proceeding all the
time with the baptizing of the children,
who stood about with blanched faces
and forms that shook with fright. Sud
denly q struggle between the two sides
broke out in dead earnest. An indie
scribable scrimmaee took place. The
shrieks of children, the wailing of in
fants and the implorations of women
mingled with the angry cries of the
pastors and officers of the contending
congregations. Many women faint.
ed and many had their Sunday
clothes almost torn off them.
Doctor Parker and MIR. Evarts
had terrible struggle. They
beat each other and tore each others
hair frightfully, and finally fell into the
immense tank firmly grasping each
other. The struggle of the two minis
ters was continued in the baptistery
tercer than ever, and each strove to
drown the other. So busy were
the other fighters that they could
not observe the accident that
happened to their pastors. Policemen
could not be found, but a few sober
minded men of either parish combined
to restore order. BY this time the fierce
fight in the tank was discovered, and
some of the peace-makers turned their
attention to the struggling pastors. 1t
was found impossible to separate them,
and so they were taken out locked in a
fierce embrace and both unconscious.
They we're finally separated, though they
olung to each other with the tenacity of
drowning men, and were resuscitated.,
After little talking to the ministers
they were reconciled, and it was source
of rejoicing to the Baptists that DIR.
Parker has been completely immersed.
A sad rumor prevailed that several of
the young children were drowned in the
baptistery, but careful search of the
premises discovered nothing. That
several were not killed in the fearful
struggle ia miracle, though many are
confined to their beds from the effects
OF fright as are likewise many women.
Both clerRymen are in sad state, both
mentally and physically. The unfortu-
nate affair has cast gloom over the
whole Christian community.