The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-01-31

Dunkard Baptism.-Four persons who had
previously attached themselves to the Dunkard
church at Waverly, were baptsed in Jones's falls,
short distance below Woodberry, on Sunday
afternoon last, the ceremonies being conducted by
Elders Stoner and Hedrick, who had been con-
Quoting a series of meetings at Waverly during
last week. The four candidates stopped at
house near the stream, where they changed there
clothing, and when they reached the bank Ell der
Stoner turned to the large crowd present and
said: MY friends, beg you to remember that
this is the Lords Day, and that we are about to
perform solemn ceremony. Respect the day
and us and yourselves"
A hymn was sung and then all knelt in the
snow while the Elder prayed. After short,
earnest sermon the baptism took place. The Elder
drew off his coat and stepped into the cold flowing
water, followed by Mr.. Geo. W. Creager of Waiver
ly. They went out to where it was between two
and three feet deep, and the men knelt in the
water.
"Do you believe" the Elder asked slowly and
solemny, "that Jesus Christ is the Son of God,
and that He has brought from Heaven the soul
saving Gospel?"
81 do" was the fervent reply.
"Do you renounce the earth, with mans per-
nicous ways and everything not connected with
the sacred Gospel~
Again the earnest "I do"
"And, finally, do you covenant with God and
Christ Jesus to be faithful unto your life's end 2"
And when the convert again assented the Elder
placed his arm around him, and looking up to
Heaven, said: "Then, upon the confession thou
has made before God and the universe, thou are
baptized, for the remission of sins, in the name
of the Father"-and with a strong sweep of his
arm he bent the kneeling mans head and body
beneath the cold stream until the wateres closed
over him. As he raised the man he murmured q
few words of cheer, and then he continued:
"And of the Som
Again be dipped him, and after the man had
recovered his breath he concluded
'And of the Holy Ghost. Amen"
Then, after he had dipped him under again,
both men arose, and the Elder fervently embraced
and kissed his new brother, and then shook him
cordially by the hand. During the ceremony the
friends on the bank sang one stanza of a bap
tismal hymn. As the new brother stepped ashore
the men crowded around and kissed him, and his
wife threw her around his dripping body
and kissed him again and again. A brother
threw an overcoat over him, and then he stood
patiently the bank whilst his wife and son
were also immersed.
Meanwhile the Elder had led Mrs. Creager into
the water and baptized her with the same formula
But when she rose he shook hands with her, but
he did not offer the salutation of the kiss, in
her husbands case. The sisters kissed her, and
one of them gave her one of those quaint little
caps of bobinnette which they always wear, while
Then the little boy, a sturdy little fellow of II,
followed. Mr.. Emmart, young man of about is,
was last baptized.
In one of his sermons at Waverly last week,
Elder Hedrick explained tie doctrines of the
German Baptist Brethren, or Dunkards. He said:
awe must believe in the Bible, in its entirety.
We can't pick out one chapter on baptism that
suits US, or another communion that suits us,
or another on prayer, and reject other portions
we don't like. Faith, repentance, baptism, the
sautation of the kiss and the washing of feet are
all distinctly commanded" He repeated in plain,
simple words the story of Jesus washing His
disciples feet and said 81 find that in my Bible;
1 can't help it: didn't put it there; didn't
make it up. If you don't find it, don't believe it
in it, but if you do, then it's your duty to do
likewise" These are called conservative Dunk
ards and believe in Sunday schools and education
of the ministry, wherein they are opposed to the
old order of Dunkards.