The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1893-06-19
THE BAPTISM.


maidens After, the ceremony the in
their fathers.
The rite of baptism had not been per-
formed for several months in the kirk
of Lanafk. 1t was the hottest time of
persecution, and the inhabitants of that
parish found other places in which to
worship God and celebrate the ordi-
nances of religion. 1t was now the Sab
bath day, and small congregation of
about hundred souls had met for di-
vine service in place of worship more
magnificent than any temple that hui
man hands had ever built to deity.
Here, too, were three children about to
be baptized. The congregation had not
assembled to the toll of the bell, but each
heart knew the hour and observed it,
for there are hundred sundials among
the hills, woods, moors and fields, and
the shepherd and the peasant see the
hours passing by them AZ Sunshine and
shadow.
The church in which they were assem-
bled WAS hewn by Gods hand out OF
the eternal rocks. A river rolled its way
through mighty chasm of cliffs several
hundred feet high, of which the one side
presented enormous masses and the 9th
or corresponding recesses. as If the great
stone girdle had been rent by a convul-
sion. The channel was overspread with
predictions fragments of rock or largo
loose stones. some of them smooth and
bare, others containing soil and verdure
In their rents and assures and here and
there crowned with shrubs and trees.
The eye could at once command long
stretching vista seemingly closed and
shut up at both extremities by the CO.
alescing cliffs.
This majestic reach of river contained
pools, streams, rushing shelves and
waterfalls innumerable, and when the
water was low, which 1t now was in the
common drought, it was easy to walk
up this scene with the calm, blue sky
overhead, an utter and sublime solitude.
On looking up the soul was bowed down
by the feeling of that prodigious height
of unscalable and often overhanging
cliff. Between the channel and the sum-
init of the far extended precipices were
perpetually flying rocks and wood pr
geons and now and then a hawk, filling
the profound abyss with their wild cav
ing, deep murmur or shrill shrek.
Sometimes heron would stand erect
and still on some little stone island or
rise up like white cloud along the
black walls of the chasm and disappear.
Winged creatures alone could inhabit
this region. Tho fox and wildcat chose
more accessible haunts. Yet here came
the prosecuted Christians and worshiped
God, whose hand hung over their heads
those magnificent pillars and arches,
scooped out those galleries from the solid
rock and laid at their feet tho calm
water in its transparent beauty, in which
they could see themselves sitting in re-
fected groups, with their Bibles in their
hands.
+. Here upon q semicircuiar ledge OF
rocks, over o narrow chasm, through
which the tiny stream played in muir
muring waterfall and divided the con-
gregation into equal parts, sat about
hundred persons all devoutly listening
to their minister, who stood before them
on what might well be called small.
natural pulpit Of living stone. Up to it
there led a short flight of steps, and over
it waved the canopy of a TALL graceful
birch tree. This pulpit stood on the
middle Of the channel directly facing
that congregation. and separated from
them by the clear, deep sparkling pool
into which the scarce heard water poured
over the blackened rock.
The water as it left the pool separated
into two streams and flowed ON each
side Of that altar, thus placing it i'll an
island, whose large messy stones were
richly empowered under the golden bios
SONS and green tresses of the broom.
Divine service was closed, and row of
maidens, all clothed in purest white,
came gliding off from the congregation,
and crossing the stream on some step
ping stones arranged themselves at the
foot of the pulpit, with the infants about
to be baptized.
The fathers Of the infants, just as if
they had been in their own kirk, had
been sitting there during worship, and
now stood up before the minister The
baptismal water, taken from that pei
lucid pool, was lying consecrated in a
small hollow Of one Of the upright stones
that formed one side or pillar Of the pull
pit. and the holy rite proceeded. Some
Of the younger ones in that semicircle
kept gazing down into the pool, in which
the whole scene was reflected, and now
and then, in spite of the grave looks or
admonishing whispers of their elders,
letting pebble fall into the water that
they might judge of its depth from the
length of time that elapsed before the
clear air bells lay sparkling on the agi-
tated surface.
The rite was over, and the religious
service of the day closed by psalm.
The mighty rocks hemmed in the holy
sound and sent it in more compacted
volume. clear. sweet and strong, up to
heaven. When the psalm ceased, an
echo like spirits voice was heard dying
away high up among the magnificent
architecture Of the cliffs, and once more
might be noticed in the silence the re-
viving voice of the waterfall
Just then large stone fell from the
top of the cliff into the pool, loud
voice was heard, and plaid hung over
on the point of shepherds staff. Their