The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-31
Isl. Lonis Glohe-Denocrat.

There was excitement within the BALI
! wick of the Belfast Chicken yesterday
/ afternoon all on account of a baDtizing
and bathing suit It came about in
: this way: Between two score and half
hundred elders and members of the
Mormon church had selected the Belfast
Chicken Dig bath house for the purpose
of baptizing > couple OF cenverts-a man
and a woman. Just before the ceremonies
+ began third person put in an appear
ance. ana II was this spontaneous con-
vert who wore the bathing suit. She
/ created bit of surprise, 10 put 1t
mildly; and before the affair was over
I she mad made a Bit OF history, which
| though not OF public record or import
ance, viii not soon be forgotten by her
self, the other two converts, or any of
/ the faithful present, and Professor Bill
to come.
Be il known that the big bath pool at
Nineteenth and Pine streets is Conducted
by William Clark professor" OF many
things, and known to the world as the
Belfast Chicken. He is authority Tor
the assertion that lit was a great day -
Elders and saints from New Mexico,
Idaho and Utah were present and a large
contingent of the ST. Louis mission work
ers and their converts. Hymns were
sung and the spontaneous convert was
welcomed with open arms. The roof of
the natatOTium was scarlet with flags
and the railing crowded with Pine street
kids, "rubbering." The Belfast Chicken
chuckled at his desk and winked his
{ Irish blue eyes. The Mormons had often
come to his natatOrium for baptismal
purposes, but never before had such
specimen of a spontaneous convert gut
1 Ia an appearance.
She arrived ten minutes before the eld-
ers and introduced herself to Professor
Clark. The professor introduced her to
the elders. The chief elder was Peter
James Sanders, a young Fellow of five
and-tWenty with clean, honest eyes and
an earnest expression. He wore z bell
crown hat. a long black coat and a tie
that spoke the Wasatch mountains. He
at once became interested in the convert.
Il should like to be baptized at once"
remarked the spontaneous one.
lave you studied the doctrines of our
faith? asked the elder.
mo, responded the spontaneous one.
We. would desire you not to be too
Yes, for that reason I wanted to speak
TO you beforehand and ask the special
things l ought to believe"
Have you talked with any of cur eld-
No"
No? WelF'- he hesitated.
ooh. hut I am interested; I should
really ike to be baptized now, and be
sure to be in the church and then | can
Investigate afterwards"
The logic evineed evidently pleased
well, now our church differs from the
others in this way We believe that the
first principles and ordinances of the
gospel are: First, faith in the Lord Je-
sus Christ: second. repentance; third
baptism by immersion for the remission
OF sins. We believe that a man must
be called of God by prophecy. IN our
church today we have apostles, prophets,
priests, saints, evangelists, just as in the
days when Christ lived on earth. We be-
lieve in prophecy, revelations, visions
healing, as much today as in the first
days of Christianity. In the words of
Joseph Smith, we believe in being honest
chaste, true, benevolent virtuous and
doing good to all men. You win not re-
gret Joining u.s. ~ tl
While this talk was going on the rest
OF the party arrived and gathered to-
gether in the large sitting room. The
elders, fourteen men. all clad in long
black coats and black ties, filed in and
occupied one side of the room. They all
had an outdoor look, like men who had
followed the plough But all looked hon
est, straight-goOds and kindly. They had
a simple courtesy about them, gentle and
unObtrusive. The women were much less
'outdOorsy." They filed in and seated
themselves on the other side to COM
plete the ring. They were dressed in
shirt waists and skirts, all save a special
convert, who wore a fluffy white dress
like young brides, and pink roses in
her hat Her name she said. was Annie
Smith and she works in tobacco fac
tory. Her hair is black as jet and her
cheek rose red.