The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-31
SPONTANEOUS CONVERT"
SURPRISED THE ELDERS
ST. Louis Girl Appeared at Mormon Baptism Attired in
Bathing Suit.

oh ! am so glad another young lady
= coming IN, she. cried as the spon-
taneous convert took a chair beside her.
l was SO afraid Id have TO go in alone. =
Are you going in that dress" asked
the spontaneous one.
"Oh, yes what are you going to wear?'
"A bathing suit, 1 guess
girl. - = e''s
What else can 1 wear? I can't ruin
these clothes"
Why. 1 don't spose it viii make any
| dllIerence, interrupted a kindly-faced
m1ddle-aged woman. I was baptized
mere two years ago, and what do you
think wore?"
.What?7
'.My-m.my nightgown9'
Just here one of the elders arose.
We will sing, Come, Come Ye saints
on page 81, he announced.
mixed voices
Then one of the elders gave a short and
simple prayer without the affectation Gus
tomary in some sects. The assembly
then sang Farewell All Earthly Hon
prs, after which two more elders spoke
at some length on the articles of faith
and the practice Of Joseph Smiths re-
igion. The company was silent, reverent
and earnest.
After another hymn. Utah, We Save
Thee" Elder Sanders arose I'VE will
now go to the waters edge" said he
Inc company repaired in a body to the
swimming tank. The women went to the
upstairs gallery, the spontaneous con-
peared in her bathing suit there was a
fiutter.
Dear, dear"' said one lady. observing
the extremely abbreviated skirt and the
bare arms; haven't you a long white
petticOat or something?''
No; you see, I just decided to be baD-
uzed, responded the spontaneous one
Wen, Well but your mother will be
happy Never mind the bathing suit; it's
only us, and the men won't look
but some quivers came to the elders
eyelaShes when the spontaneous convert
bounded down the stairs like a ballet star
and executed her grand entrance with a
smiling bow that made the Belfast
Chicken slap his Falstaff sides and flee
TO privacy. The elders mastered their
shocked surprise heroically.
Annie Smith was called first Elder
Rltchie walked slowly forth, and respect
fully took her hand. She was a little
tlmid at the cold water, and went forth
Ike lamb to the shearing- Elder San
GERS, boots and all, was waist deep in
the water. The young girl, bareheaded,
her bride dress cleaning white against
the muddy water, walked slowly to the
center or the tank, where the water was
deepest. The elder raised his right arm
sOlemnly, and uttered slowly, Il am
commissioned by the Lord Jesus Christ
10 baptfze thee, Annie Smith, in the
" NAAC Il rNLEts the Sun ana the
Holy Ghost! Then down quick as a
wink he plunged her, head and all.
on, If her mother could see her now"
cried one woman with tears in her eyes,
how happy she would be-.
Is that the way he'll do me?" an
xiOusly asked the spontaneous one. and
there was bright prospect for a sprint
IN bathing suit costume, but before She
could run she was called and seemingly
almost before she realized it, she was
being led out into the pool. She begged
10 be allowed TO carry a towel, and no
serious objection was made. When asked
her name she said 1t was Eta circuit,
and under she went. That she didn't
like 1t was evident from the way she
elutched at the air and sputtered when
she came to the surface and the vigorous
manner in which she used the towel
The man went into the water in, street
attire and was immersed without uotahSe
incident After the spontaneous convert
and Annie Smith We're made comfortable
again the company assembled in the
sitting room The elders all shook hands
gratefully with the spontaneous convert
and welcomed her into their fold and
called her sister" She was instructed
and to bring her certificate of birthplace
parentage, etc.
You will grow more and more TO like
the elders. said one of the younger eld-
ers, handsome young man, with dark
eyes, "and you will want to be with them
more and more. You will enjoy their
society. You will never regret your
step"
She said she hoped not" and then, as
if cOnscience-stTicken--' am sorry wore
the bathing suit