The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1886-03-10
INFANT BAPTISM IN GREECE
w.ltlar for the PrI...-rhs cAll4 In.
m.r..d rhr.. Times.

waiting Tor the Priest-The Child 1m-
nerssd Three Times.
One Of tie tenants Of a friend INTENDED
70 have his child baptized, and we were
included among those who are requested
TO witness the ceremony. The small cot
tage, which stood with it's end TO the
street, was entered from the court on It's
side. Here part Of the family, in their
gala dresses, were awaiting the arrival
Of the priest who WIS To officiate. There
Is a large fund Of kindness In tie
Grecian heart, even among the poorest,
and the inmates Of the cottage received
us withpleasure, and exerted themselves
10 the utmost To entertain w. The
priest kept us waiting for him. When
he did come found that he was an ac-
quaintance, and OBLIGATED in the neigh
boring church of ST. Nicholas, Whose
drrill little bell, ringing TO call the peo-
pie to their devotions, used TO break in
upon my morning slumbers.
Alnrge brass vessel, 4 couple OBJECT
in diameter, was brought in BY young
man and placed In tue center Of the
room. Several bucketfuls ofwarm and
cold water were poured in, until the
temperature was judged suitable. But
before the water was At for using an.
other operation was necessary, for the
presence OF my evil spirits or magic in
the water would infallibly impair, II not
destroy, the effect Of the ordinance. II
any such beings or influence lay con.
cealed they were assuredly dispelled by
the manipulations Of the priest, who,
barring his arm, three times drew It
through the water making the sign Of
the cross,
Tie water being thus consecrated, the
child was brought in, neatly dressed in
white, and presented by its godfather
for baptism. And now II was stripped
OF every particle Of clothing, then taken
by the priest, who held 1t up before the
whole company, in order that all might
be witnesses to tile act. A small bot
lie OF oil was presented to the ecclesi-
astic, and after its contents had been
sanctified by receiving nm apostolic bene-
diction the infants entire body was an
nointe,l with it. This Is not, however,
considered a part Of the religious rites,
but is merely intended to prevent any
injurious effect from the application Of
water at so tender an age, us is Gus
tomary among the Greeks.
The act Of baptism itself consisted in
three times entirely immesing the child.
The priest managed this very adroitly,
and prevented It's strangling by cover
ing It's mouth and whole face with one
Of his hands. After this was done THE
name being given at the same time, the
priest returned the crying and shiyering
baby into the hands Of its godfather,
and the Others who stood near, by
whom he was speedily wiped and
clothed. The infant being now removed,
the godfather presented to each Of the
persons present a bright silver coin Of
the date Of the current year, and a rib
bon passed through small hole in It.
The person who receives this little bit Of
money Is bound to keep ii safely, that
it mayEemind him of having witnessed
the baptism Of that child. This testi-
mony he is expected to render, il nee
essary, before men, and also before the
angels at the last judgnent.-Cor.
BrOoklyn En0le.