The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-21
Four Women and a Man Wade
Into Lake SingIetary With
Their Clothes On and Are Bap-
tized
A CURIOUS AUDIENCE.
WATCHED THE CEREMONY
A BrindIe Bull Dog, and Two
Young Women Cause a Sen
ton and Nearly Break Up the
CEREMONIAL Disciples of
Chicago Preacher

Millbury, Oct 20-The much talked
of and long delayed baptism of five
people took place at Lake Singletary
at 8 o'clock this afternoon. One week
ago the weather was too wet for the
ceremony. Two weeks ago it was too
cold. Today the weather conditions
were considered all right.
The story Is as follows: A man, G..
H. Elmer, home Chicago, came to
Millbury six weeks ago. He made a
house-to-house canvas. He claims that
to be saved a person must be baptized,
or "ducked" as was the case today.
The people ducked today are not of
any particular creed. They claim they
are acting according to the Bible and
will be saved. The baptism itself was
a spectacular one. The event took place
at the grove of w. A. Harris at Lake
Singletary, near West Millbury. Over
500 people were present. Five persons
were baptized. They were: Mrs. s. c..
Glover, Mrs. Annie Quincy, Miss En-
ma F. Glover, and Mary L. Aiken, all
of Millbury and William r. Bartlett
of South Hadley Falls. A chilly west
wind blew across the lake, and in the
teeth of 1t the four women and one
man waded into the water, shivered,
tried to smile, nearly tainted away and
We're baptized,
o'clock They were driven to Lake
Singletary in D. A. Powers buss.
Happiness" Every car on the Con-
solidated line brought passengers to
the Lake up to 8 o'clock. At that time
c. H. Elmer of Chicago who had charge
Of the ceremonies, opened the exercises
by singing a number of psalms. The
converts Joined in the singing George
Willard was organist. The crowd by
this time numbered at the least 500
people. Back Of the preacher who was
perched on a high bank were two
stylishly dressed young women. They
were accompanied by a brindle bull
dog. One young woman held the dog
by a strap, the other carried a short
raw-hide whip in one hand. The
preacher was demonstrating the adj
vantages of his religion above all
others when a mongrell terrier came
along. The brindle bull made a leap
and caught the terrier by the neck and
all was confusion. The young women
were equal to the emergency. One
piled the raw hide while the other
dragged the animal away.
The preacher kept on while the
youngsters all shouted sick em" to
the doge. Elmer finally finished his
sermon and all made a rush for the
waters edge. A hasty consultation was
held between the women who were to
be baptized Mrs. Glover then took off
her veil. Next her cape came off and
then she was ready for the ducking.
c. H. Elmer by this time had removed
his jaunty cutaway coat and donned
a short blue coat
Elmer then took Mrs. Glover by the
left arm and both waded out about 20
feet from shore. Mrs. Glover who by
the way is over 60 years old was by
this time trembling and shaking. Ell
mer gave advice to his convert and
suddenly down she went out of sight,
back first, under the water. Arm in
arm they came to shore and wraps
We're furnished Mrs. Glover.
Next came Mrs. Gurney's turn. Out
she waded and. was pushed under the
water. young man of the party that
lined the shore cried out Are your
feet wet?" Miss Emma F. Glover came
next. She was all smiles and waded
out with an Il am the right person"
expression on her face. After a few
hurried instructions down she went, up
she came squirting water from her
nose and mouth but still smiling.
Mrs. Aiken came next. She was at
tired in a summer costume of white
and was cold before she reached the
water. Out she went down she went,
then back she came shaking like leaf.
Mr.. Bartlett, cripple, was the last
to be baptized. He was rowed up to
where Elmer was standing Help was
needed. George Willard waded out and
between the two Mr.. Bartlett was
soused. The ladies then were put into
the buss and driven to the cottage of
w. A Harris where dry clothing was
waiting for them. Mr. Bartlett was
rowed up the lake - he changed
his costume.
If none of the party die within
month Of pneumonia they are lucky.