The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-30
WITHIN A BAPTISTRY.
Immersion of Four Candidates at the
metropolitan Temple.

Immersion of Four Candidates at the
metropolitan Temple.
Last night for the first time in many
years the baptistry in Metropolitan Tenn
pie was opened.
The occasion was the receiving into the
Baptist church, by immersion, four candi-
dates, two men and two women, who had
announced their belief in the Lord Jesus
Christ.
Every seat in the building was occupied
and on the platform were many prominent
members of the church who were seated
around the open baptistry.
This was the first immersion service of
the union revival meetings, led by Rev.
]. Q. A. Henry, held under the auspices of
the Baptist churches of this city.
An opening hymn by select choir and
assisted by the congregation filed the
building with sweet melody, and while it
was being chanted the candidates were led
from an inner room and to seats on the
rear of the platform. These were Louise
Russell, Mrs. Plamgriven, III. d. Wycoff
and John j. Gale.
The ladies were dressed in white with an
outer garb of brown linen, while the men
wore long robes of black.
The opening hymn was followed by a
lOW Clldlib, duI1llS W HlCn tllC hCNs NIL
Henry, attired in black, descended into
the baptistry from the south and, taking
his position in the center, in modulated
tones full of sOlemnity explained what
baptism is and the belief of the Baptists as
to salvation.
After asking blessing in His names
sake, he gave sign for the first candidate
to approach from the north. The first was
Mrs. PIamgriven, who, removing her linen
oIao1- stood hnfnra fba of
tired in spotless white and rather timidly
walked into the water toward the pastor,
who led her to the center where he whis-
pered to her to fold her hands over her
breast, then standing little behind her
pronounced her name and asked her ii she
believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.
To this the candidate in low tone re-
piled in the affirmative. She was then
asked as to her belief in the church. Her
answer being satisfactory, the minister,
taking her two hands in his left and
placing his right forearm against her
shoulder, said that in the profession of her
faith he baptized her in the name of the
Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost; then
pressing the candidate backward allowed
her to sink gently beneath the surface of
the water.
The candidate disappeared from the
view of the congregation, but almost in
stantly was restored to standing position.
The pastor with a handkerchief removed
the moisture from the face and led the
convert to the point where she entered and
she was received by two members of the
church, who enveloped her dripping form
in warm clothing and led her to the robing-
room, where she was taken in charge by
friends of her own sex.
The other candidates followed and when
the last had been given the care of at
tendants the minister declared that the
work had been done in the Lord.
Shortly thereafter Rev. Mr.. Henry ap-
peared upon the platform in his usual
church attire and announced that the
revival meetings would be held at the
same place every evening except Satur-
day, that on Saturday there would be a
prayer-meeting, and that next Sunday
there would be service for men only, to
which admission could be had by ticket.
After fervent prayer Mr.. Henry de-
liyered a sermon, taking for his text
st. Mark xvi:16, He that believeth and
that is baptized shall be saved but he that
believeth not shall be damned."s
Before the close of the service, at the re-
quest of the pastor, a number of those in
the congregation who felt that a change of
heart had come over them advanced to the
front row of chairs and were prayed for.