The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-08
AND BAPTIZED FOUR CONVERTS IN
THE CHILLY WATERS.
The seventh-Dny Adventists Are
Holding a Convention i'm This
City-The Work Outlined.

spectators, were gathered about the frozen
edge of the stream at noon to witness
Elder o. s. Hadley administer the rite Of
immersion to four candidates. The in
tensely cold weather of a few days ago had
frozen the small stream well-nigh solid
except out toward the center. where a
current Of sufficient depth for the cere-
mony was secured by chopping a hole
these preliminary operations, candidates,
church members and on-lookers stood pa
tiently on the ice with shivering limbs, wet
feet and chattering teeth. Elder Hadley
seemed about the coolest individual pres
ent, If the paradox be allowed. Clad in a
threadbare Prince Albert coat over a bap-
tismal suit of thin rubber, he waded about
in the freezing current up to his waist,
carefully sounding its depth with five
foot switch.
At last he announced that everything
was ready, and, as the four candidates
stepped forward, the little band of Ad-
ventists began singing.
"Oh, now see the cleansing wave"
This was followed by a fervent prayer.
which was mercifully brief, and expressed
thankfulness in thus being able to parti-
cipate in a divinely ordained rite con-
Quoted according to the will Of Cod"
The first candidate then stepped forward.
She was Mrs. Lily Shirley, of North ILL
nois street, a buxom matron Of perhaps
forty years. She wore only thin white
gown and a resolute expression of counten-
ance. Her resoluteness, however, wavered
perceptibly as Elder Hadley lifted her into
the stream and it's chill waters mounted up
nearly to her arm-pits. She clutched con-
vulsively at the pastors arm While some
of the female spectators shuddered sympa-
thetically and shut out the sight by placing
their hands over their eyes.
Blessed assurance" began the tuneful
members of the crowd, but Elder Hadley
cut the singing short by lifting his hand
and solemnly pronouncing the familiar
words of the baptismal service.
A plunge of the white-clad, shivering
form beneath the freezing current, a con-
vulsive. half-smothered shrek Of alright.
and the ceremony was over. The dripping
woman, whose clinging cerements made of
her living statue in white. was quickly
led to the shore where anxious friends
hastily threw warm garments about her
and led her to carriage In waiting,
whence she was rapidly driven to her
home. b.
STOICAL FORTITUDE.
A young man, named Clyde Lowery, was
next immersed and stood the ordeal with
stoical fortitude. He was followed by Lizzie
Miller, sweet-faced little girl aged about
twelve Weeping and trembling with cold
and fear, she was lifted into the water.
With convulsive sobs she attempted to
break away from the pastors kindly hold
and escape to the shore. but finding her ef-
forts in vain, she threw her arms about
Elder Hadley's neck and besought him no.
to immense her. Hastily spoken words or
assurance seemed to steady the child some
what, while the Elder in broken tones ana
amid the breathless silence OF the crowd
pronounced the formula and plunged her
beneath the stream. Moaning with at
fright, the little one was quickly sWaddled
in warm clothes and driven back to the
church on Central avenue.
The last candidate was Mrs. Harvey,
an old lady of corpulent build, aged about
sixty. She took the ceremony as herlocaliy
as did the young man, after which Elder
Hadley and the other participants took
car for the church.
The baptismal service was the closing
event of a meeting of the Adventist In
diana Conference, which was held at the
Central-avenue Church yesterday morning.
Many representative Adventist preachers
from all over the State were present, and
the meeting itself was marked by peculiar
feature. The chief speaker of the morning
was Elder A. G.. Breed, pastor or the larg-
est Adventist church In the world, located
at Battle Creek. Mich. From red-covered
volume containing typewriter manuscript,
Elder Breed read what purported TO De a
prophetic article written by Mrs. Il. G..
White, an Adventist missionary now in
Australia. Most religious denominations de-
rive from their large institutions Of learn
ing and charity a sense of qualification and
encouragement. Mrs. Whites message,
whose statements and sentiments met with
warm approval from the Adventist minis
tiers and laymen who listened to it. pre-
sented strong contrast to the spirit of
other denominations. From beginning to
end it deplored the multiplicity OF Advent
list institution which had been established
at Battle Creek. and excoriated what it
termed the selfish, unwise and sinful ex-
pendture Of Adventist money In this d.
rection. Last March, the Adventist Gen
eral Conference adjourned from South
Lancaster. Mass, to sit at Battle Creek.
During the meeting there sentiments were
enuncated exactly in keeping with those
set forth in Mrs. Whites address, and In
some cases, 1t Is claimed, expressions were
used identical with the language which APP
pears in some portions Of Mrs. Whites
article. Mrs. White being In Australia at
the time she wrote the article. the Bat
tie Creek meeting being held at nearly
the same time, she discaims any knowl-
edge of what there transpired at the time
she wrote the article, and speaks OF 1T as
a direct revelation to her by the Holy
Spirit. 1t was so regarded and referred to
yesterday morning by Elder Breed and the
ministers present.
CONTRARY TO WILL OF GOD.
The article declared that the erection of
so many institutions at Battle Creek, such
as the Adventist College. Sanitarium,
the pure food industry and other branches
of Adventist work, together with the debt
incurred in building, was contrary to the
will of God.
People who are engaged in doing the
last grand work that is to be done for the
world" ran the article, should not erect
great buildings with heavy debts on them.
1t is contrary to faith and consistency.
BY spending so much money in one place
we are intercepting the light that God in
tended should go to many places. There
would be settlements of SabDath-keepers in
every city in the land If the Battle Creek
interests were scattered. The work we do
now must be done with the unworked por-
lions of the Lords vineyards in mind
The Adventist property interests in Bat
tie Greek are valued now at over s.. 000. 900.
A debt amounting to something like $50. 00C
rests on some OF this property. and Mrs.
White urges that a movement should be
begun to convert the creditors of this debt
so that they will cancel it.
Elder Breed depressed In the reading of
the article to say that in all his expert
ence Battle Creek was the wickedest city
that he had ever come in contact with.
1.-The devil himself holds that territory
and will not consign ii over TO his angels.
The very powers OF blackness contest the
ground there inch by inch"
Elder Breed further declared that he be-
lieved the time would soon come when Ad-
ventist converts from such centers as Bat
tie Creek would dispense to other cities
and carry to them such message as
Jonah did TO Nineveh.
you will see men going right out here
on, "a M T-1df a he