St. Paul daily globe., 1888-02-23
INTO The WATER.
Baptism Of Fourteen Colored People
by Elder Gray.
AS THE SISTERS SHOUTED.
Fruit Of the Recent Revival in Pilqrim
Baptist Church---A Solemn
Incident.

4SWPt2oA 0AuA On-e-h SUkOukA
Incident.
aTThe cOlored people turned out In
force last evening to witness the bap
tismal ceremonies at the Pilgrim
Baptist church. Fourteen were bap.
tiZed, the fruits of recent revival in
this church. The church was packed
to the doors, and the aisles crowded,
many of the members being compelled
to stand, on account of the curiosity OF
alarge number of white people. Rev.
William Gray opened the ceremonies
with a sermon on baptism, and en-
deavered to show to his congregation
the proper reasons for immersion.
''SuppOse, brethren" said he, ''that !
take a dead man to the graveyard to
bury him, and just stand him up and
come away, some one would say, elder
Gray, did you bury that mani? No. |
would say, but | stood him up there
Brethren, would that be satisfactory .
The faith, as expressed in the book of
Romans, says: Burial in the baptism
of Christ Burial means to be hid.
You can't baptize him while he
stands up. The whole body must
be immersed. Sprinkling is not the
word of God. [ am not attempting to
take away any ones religion. There
are many outside of this church who are
going to heaven as fast as members OF
the church. L am preaching to you to
obey the command of God, and a good
conscience always comes with baptism.
There is too much
BEATING ABOUT THE BUSH,
and too much swinging corners
Leave the bush alone and follow Gods
command earnestly and fearlessly.
Christ said to John: John, have cast
out devils, | have turned water into
land, have turned water into wine, [
have walked on the water with Peter,
| have performed great miracles, and
there is but one more thing for Me to
do and that is to be baptized, according
to the word of my Father After He
was baptised He went right up, and 10!
the heavens were opened. God de-
scended and said: This is my beloved
Son, in whom l am we'll pleased Tell
the truth tomorrow, YOU people. and
don't say that Elder Gray said that none
but BaptiSts would go to heaven, be-
cause there are lots of BaptistS who will
never get there. According to the word
OF God, immersion is the proper bap-
tism. [ might have a new coat,
too, and it may be only half made.
Christ said there was but one faith.
When he said one, he meant one. If
he'd meant two, he'd said two. As a
mathematician he can run up a column
of figures faster than any of you can.
That immersion was good enough for
him, and L guess he is as good as you
are"
Rev. Gray grew eloquent, and he
worked his converts and candidates up
to fever heat. Many cries of Eyes in
deed" ''that's true" "yes he did," ETC.,
ETC., were heard, and in a few minutes
the pulpit was cleared away and the
temporary river exposed to view. Rev.
Cray attired himself in his rubber
clothes and prepared to baptiZe the
took towards the water he repeated two
lines Of a hymn and the congregation
sang it, 1t was curious ceremony, and
people in the audience arose breath
leSSly when one woman, dressed in
white, stepped into the water by Rev.
Gray'S side. This caused him to say,
while up to his waist in water, "YOu
must all sit down, as there is nothing
but order in this church. The
woman was baptized and ran up
the stairs shouting, throwing her arms
about wildly and crying, THANK. God!
Thank GOd!" The second one acted in
like manner, and prayed and cried al
ternately. She cried, ''Thank God! Pm
born again." and after she had disap-
peared in the dressing room her cries
were distinct in all parts of the church.
The deacOnS and others were constantly
singing. ''Nearer, My God, to Thee"
why Not Come to Him Now?' and
other appropriate hymns. One young
girl entered the water, and Rev. Mr..
Gray said: Il have baptized the mother
and | will now baptiZe her daughter"
The little one cried, "Oh, mamma,
thank God! thank Cod"
The baptism of Mrs. Anderson, wife
of the porter who was killed in rail
road accident some few weeks ago,
WAS EXCEEDINGLY SOLEMN.
She was quiet, though tears ran down
her face in streams, and the sympathy
extended to her on all sides was quite
touching. Twelve females were inn
merSed, and two males. When the first
male candidate stepped into the Wator,
the pastor remarked: '!This man tried
sprinkiing awhile, but he's going to try
the other way"
The people around the stage were
greatly excited, and shouted and cried
with those who were baptized. 1t was
an interesting and exciting sight,
though very solemn. Rev. Mr.. Gray
was eloquent, and his hearers moved
with him. At the conclusion of the
ceremony, the right hand of good fel-
lOwship was extended to all those who
wished to come into the church.