The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-17
BAPTISM M EIRE
New Religious Belief Making Hsadway In
Eastern Pennsylvanin.

New Roun10un Boltot hnktn9 hoAdWny N
Eastern Pennsylvanin.
LoHzGAN's onovr. Pa. Sept. 1e.-since the
grand rally here OF the Fire Baptized Holiness
Association. many converts to the new scot
have been made. Meetings have been held all
the week In various farmhouses. and Letter.
kenny township 10 thoroug lilly aroused on the
subject OF Baptism By nre." as proclaimed In
the Scriptures. The Holy Ghost de-
soended in oloven topRues. a. by q
mighty whirlwind. and these enthusiastic
Christians proclaim everywhere that the
Holy Ghost can also descend upon others.
The Rev. B. II. Kirwin OF Kansas came on here
and started the new religious wave. Thou
sands OF farmers. their wives and children at
tended the meetings. Evangelist 5ilas Hensell
assisted in the preaching. They erected plat
forms In the grove. spoke on stumps in the
woods. on farmhouse porchos. on barn 6oors.
at every suitable country place whore the
people would listen. Both speakers are active
in movement while they talk. They swing
their arms and jump about. Both say they
were baptized BY fire and show marks whore
the clovsn tongues OF fame from Heaven
touched Thorn. as It were. with divine power
disqualification and holiness looking unto ster-
nal salvation. This 10 the way they talk:
God hath often appeared In lre and en-
eompassed with lre. as whom he showed Him
self In the burning bush and descended on
Mount Sinai in tho midst Of flames. thunder
and lightning. Fire 10 q symbol OF tho holiness
and Justice OF God He showed Himself to His
prophets In fire and will do so to His people on
this earth at this day; the Psalmist dsscibes
che Lords chariot as all In flame. God will
appear In the midst OF fire at His second
coming. Jesus Christ will purify those who
are sincere BY the IRE OF His doctrine. He
shall baptlEo you with tho Holy Ghost and
with nre. says Matthew ill., IL. To verify this
prediction Jesus sent the Holy Ghost. who de-
seendsd upon His disciples In the form Of
tongues or like sparks Of lrs. IL Is the work
Of the Holy Spirit to snlighten. purify and
sanotify the soul. and to inflame II with love to
God and zeal for His glory.
''Those who sincerely believe will surely be
touched by q tongue Of flame OF the Holy Ghost
in some mysterious way. 1t may not be In pub
lilo. 1t may not como In the meetings. but It |
may como In the silence OF the night and in
privacy. and may be made manifest to the be- |
lever when he least expects It, The Holy
Ghost fire will touch the convert Some show
marks on face. arms. hands. eviden ,es OF the |
effects Of baptism by FIRE OF the Holy Ghost. |
but these pass away leaving the holy infu- |
ences OF Christian conversion in the heart and |
soul"
The Rsvs. Irwin and Hensen seem sincere.
good missionary workers. and they teach |
humility. honesty. plain worship and a strict
obedience to the letter OF the law as found in tho
four Gospels. They deplore that much has
been said against them which Is not true.
They preach the word OF God as they under
stand 1t and ind it written in the Scriptures.
Both are eloquent in their appeals to the farm
srs not to work too hard for worldly gain. but
10 work more for Heaven-ior the eternal rest
Ing place OF the soul.
One OF tho believers In the new doctrine 10
Amos Masser. we'll to- do farmer who thinks
Kindly Of the efforts OF these missionaries. He
outertains them llberally and oares for many
meetings. providing IRE and supplies. These
missionaries say they are busy burylng the
devil but that he will not stay buried. They
have no churches and want none. They want
faith. and pray for more OF it. Faith will do
anything. they say. II proper faith is mani
fested they can do anything. even to flying.
There must be less fpery. less fashion. less
extravaganza. Ono sister burned all her fine
dresses In a bake oven. Other sisters are
reported to have burned their fnsry under the
wash kettles In the back yards. Some have sold
their hogs. believing them to be unolean beasts.
Many Dunkards are reported to 30 coming
over to the Fire BaptiHers. Members OF several
Christian denominations are attending the
meetings and are joining their ranks. because
Of the simplicity OF their worship. The weak
points" Of other denominations are sharply
attacked BY the new scot There 10 . report
that one farmer. thinking himself baptized by
IRE and full Of faith. attempted to ny from one
beam Of his barn to another beam. but he
fell heavily on tho barn floor. He WAS told
that his faith had not been strong enough.
number Of nervous Affections are reported to
have been cured by faith by the missionaries
Of this new doctrine.
Converts must receive evidence OF baptism
By fre before they are supreme in the possess
sion OF holy forgiveness. As yet not many IRE
spots have been exhibited. but they are sx-
poctsd. The majority OF converts. however.
cay they have felt the heat OF the presence OF
the Holy Ghost. and at night have seen won
drous sigma that convinced them they were ON
the right track for Heaven.