New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-14
FIT Y-SiX BAPTTSMS At ONS SERVICE
THE REV. Mr.. wIsHER, OF THE MT. oLIvKr coll
nnrp CHuRCn HAS An EXCITING DAY OF 1T.

THE REV MR. wIsrER OF THE MT oLIvEr coll
oRED CHURCH, HAS AN EXCITING DAY OF IT.
Tho Mount Ollvet Church, in Fifty thrd-st., near
is the largest colored Baptist church In
the city. For the last three weeks revival has been
in progress there, which eliminated yesterday morn
ing I'm the immersion Of ffty-slx converts. There
werc eghtytwO candidates for BAPTISM but tho others
will have to wait until next month. The church seats
perhaps 1900 persons, and was packed yesterday
with audience in which were few white people
Everybody full Of joyous excitement, and IL was
hap eleven before the lively strains Of the organ
hushed, and the pastor, the Rev. d. ". Wisher,
to begin the services. His sermon was careful
revow and defence of the doctrine of immersion
Some people," he said, assert that tho three thou
sand converted on the day Of Pcntecost could not
have been baptized by immersion, for 1t would have
taken too long But 1t could have beon done in two
hours, and I'll prove IT to you. In addition to ST.
Peter there present the other apostles and the
seventy disciples, all Of them qualified to baptize
II thoy all assisted, there would have been only thirty
seven converts apiece, whom they could easily bap
tie in two hourso 6
The Rev. Edward Robinson, a coored Tennessee
delegate to the Methodist General Conference came
next In an imprisoned prayer.
When the prayer the pastor said: The
quickest way for to get down into the water with
these willing souls is for you to give ne
$780, The baskets were passed, the
dldates withdrew, and the collection was counted
by four brethren. It reached only 1853, and
the minister directed second collection Then he
went out, and the congregation srent the half hour
waiting in singing hymns. IL was nearly o'clock
when the loud chanting Of the baptsmal procession
was heard In the of the church Tho participants
marched up the isle two ana two, tho women in white
or can-colored Mother Hubbards thoir heads en-
veloped in improvised iurbans and tho men In black
robes. Ono brother wore celluloid collar, which
stood the water-tcst well All took seats near tho
front, while Mr.. wsher and stalwart deacon sta
toned themselves in the font, with two or three
Of the strongest brethren at the top OF the bsP
tisery stops Tho sisters came first, and the Intense
excitement soon burst all bounds. The second cendi-
date to enter the tank was large, stout woman, who
shouted Glory" "Glory1 she descended the
stops. After immersion she led up the opposite
steps, leapIng and shekns and beating tho air with
her hands, and took the efforts Of two strong
to hustle hor through tho door into tho retiring room
One stout femaio convert dropped as she reached
the water, and hung, heavy BURDEN In the arms OF
the two immersers while the solemn invocation was
pronounced her. Another descended the steps
singing I've been redeemed and refused TO leave
INC font spaterng the water away over into the front
pews and struggling tho attendants bore her
through the narrow door, Thoro wcro several similar
experiences, and at zach the religious fcrvor OF the
house hndled anew and burst forth Hereby The
last 10 be immersed four boys about ten years
old. Every one OF them was carried out Kicking and
screaming. In all, nlnetecn malo and thirty seven
female converts were baptized.