The times., 1897-04-26
Picturesque BaptiSmal Scene on
the Beautiful River Bank.
CHANTS OF ANCIENT ZION
Ceremony Performed in a Font
Not Made by Man-Participants
Though of the ColoreG Race, Had
as witnesses of Their Conversion
Large Contingent Of Whites.

| 600 souls in Washington, of all colors.
| Very near its base, the Potomac, which
| symbolizes the Jordan, flows away to
| eternity. fine breeze swept over the
| waters to the feet OF a thousand or more
| people who lined the shore of the bathing
| beach, where took place the interesting
! ceremony Of baptism in one of God S
| own fonts.
1t was a very solemn and picturesque
memorial scene, although great many
| people thought ii amusing, and they even
| laughed outright when the spring wagon
| which contained the candidates for bap
tisni, dripping wet and singing songs Of
| joy lost one of its wheels and scattered
| the whole party into the fine yellow
dust of the vicinity Again, unthinkine
| people saw suggestion of opera bouffe
| in an emotional act OF Mr.. George Wash
| lngton, one of the candidates, on his arrival
| at the river. He came down to the water
| alsoin spring wagon, and when it arrived
on the bluff, after a smart allegro move
| ment through the Agricultural grounds,
he jumped from the front seat TO the
| ground, singing as he leaped:
'Oh, I've been tested and I've been tried,
| And I've come down here to be baptized. :"
While Mr. Washington was evidently
very serious, there was lot of un-
seeinly laughter at this feat, and il
wasn't by white people, either. In fact.
the ministers present complincnted the
white people for their good behavior and
regard for the sanctity of the occasion.
The irreverent crowd also laughed CON
sumedly when the spring-wagon, with the
baptismai party-two men and two women
was driven up. The horse, IL is trde,
had q heliotrope ribbon tied to one of his
blinkers, but il was not put there for the
occasion, at all. As q matter of fact, the
horse was drawing very heavy burden,
which was evident later in the afternoon,
when the party set out tor home in IL.
The left rear wheel broke, and the passen-
gers came down into the road in one
indistinguishabe ruin. The candidates
were in it, they We're, OF course, wet to
the skin after the baptism, and they set
out good-naturedly to walk home, when
a good Samaritan came along in another
spring wagon and gave them a lift.
1t was very pretty morning for An
edifying and sacred ceremony. All the
seats in front of the beach were taken
early, many white people being present
in Sunday dress and bathing beach para
soils. There was an additional crowd at
the waters edge, and out in the stream
in a semi-circle. We're many small boats
with parties of observation. Over on the
other shore the hills We're limDed through
a blue haze A stiff breeze from the
south ruffled the stream, which flowed on
the Joyous quality of the ceremony Some
dredges were lying in shore, and these
with the boat houses, were alive with
people who took an interest in the
proceedings.
just about noon the spring wagon above
referred to was heard rafting toward
the beach and soon were heard the strains
of How Lovely is Thy Ship, on, Zion
In the next moment the party, inci--Iing
the minister, the Rev. Mr.. kelyn, of the
Street Baptist Church, was on the
ground, Mr. Washington, first, in the
manner above described Then the party
retired and the women arranged their
skirts so as 10 keep them down In the
water BY and by the procession was
formed in the clearinghouse yard, aud
emerging, walked slowly along the shore
singing the hymn, And Found by Faith
The line was preceded by an attendant
carrying the staff which was TO measure
the depth of the water at which the bap-
tism could most conveniently be performed.
The stake was planted at the proper dis
tance in the river, and there the preacher
went and stood, probably as St John did
in the Jordan. All the songs of the day
had some reference to the Jordan. One
especially beautiful and appropriate hymn
was sung when the minister walked ia1o
the water, we Are Waiting by the River. =
The Scripture was read by Rev. Mr..
Davis very impTessively from the first
chapter Of St John, and very eloquent
prayer was offered up by the Rev. Mr..
Copeland. This was followed by the
singing of lon Jordan's Stormy Bank /
Stand The Rev Mr.. Kelyn delivered
a most excellent discourse on the author
ity for this kind of baptism, and referred
especially to George Washington, the cam
didate for baptism, who was then stand
ing by the preacher, with a white hand
kerchief around his head and wearing a
faded blue coat, which was stated to
have seen service with Gen. Custer and
earlier in the civil war When Mr. Wash
ington was immersed it struck a rabble
crowd near the water as humor GUS, and it
laughed boisterously.
What are ve laughing at?" inquired
one of the attendants, severely.
''Oh, let 'em alone,' said Mr.. Washing
ton, not hurt at all by the unseemliness OF
the demonstration: 81 know what I'm
about, tell you"
The other IL an candidate took the baptism
calmly and quietly, did the old soldier.
but both of the women were affected deeply
1t required some force TO keep them from
plunging about in the water. Their ef-
forts to get away ended only in the illusion
of an attempt TO fly. While they were
being brought ashore the people on the
beach began to sing with equal fervor and
emotion, when the Ship Of Zion Comes
Sailing In" The candidates were then
led back to the place whence they came,
and after q few moments the party got
into the spring wagon and rolled away.
1t had not gone far, however, when there
was a crash. One Of the wheels gave way,
and as stated, there was an indiscriminate
commingling of the wreckage Of the
vehicle and its occupants. The horse did
not run away. In truth he looked tired
when he arrived to contribute his share
to the scene. Although it was Sun
day, and an extremely edifying and solemn
spectacle had just been presen ted, the crowd
broke away from the beach and ran with
more or less glee to learn the results The
reporter of The Times asked one of the at
tendants, while the people in the wreck
were being separated AM identified, if any
body was hurt "Oh. no, sir, he said, cheer