The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-04-07
BAPTIZED IN THE
ROARING BROOK
Disagreeable Weather Prevented All
of the Candidates but One from
Putting in an Appearance.

The baptismal services arranged by
the Shiloh (colored) Baptist church took
place according to schedule, yesterday
afternoon, despite the rather unpro-
pitious weather.
The immersng occurred in a pool in
the Roaring Brook opposite Irving ave-
nue., just above the old rolling mill. One
| candidate only appeared, John Left
right. There were others, but at late
hour they concluded to put off their i'm
mersion until the next service, which is
to take place the first Sunday in May.
Fully 300 persons stood about the two
banks of the brook for more than an
hour, shivering in the cold, pelting rain.
Nearly half of them were members Of
the little church under whose auspices
the service was conducted. 1t was a
very decorous gathering and only once
was there the semblance of anything
irreligious. That was when the man
who was baptized came to the surface
spouting water from his mouth, which
by mischance he opened when i'm
mersed. The crowd on the opposite
bank set up a guffaw. The pastor re-
buked them, but with true Christian
spirit Immediately followed the rebuke
with his benediction.
The pastor, Rev. Jacob Boddie tall.
stalwart, young man, with the trustees
of the church arranged q dressing room
in one of the half-demolished buildings
of the old steel plant. and here the pas
tor and the candidate changed their
street clothes for long black gowns, tied
around the middle with a belt.
The pastor appeared first and. taking
Sfo Mt 11a <n,>Sc, nf1era
that there was only one candidate for
baptism, but at the next service there
would be more. He then went on to
say that there was, to his mind, nothing
theatrical about an open-air baptism
and he didn't want it to appear so. To
him it was all as solemn as death. The
authority for baptism in the Liquid
stream" was shown by many quotations
from the Bible, and then came an ex-
hortation on righteous living, in which
the big fire at Atlantic City was pointed
out to be a visitation Of Gods ven-
geance for the Easter Sunday excur-
sions from Philadelphia.
Patrolmen Saltry and Quinnan, at the
request of Pastor Boddie. chased the
boys away, the trustees went about to
lift collection, and the congregation
sang "Glory to His Name" and II Hear
Thy Welcome Voice."
With a long, red curtain pole the pas
tor picked his way into the brook until
he was up to his middle, and then the
candidate. his head bound around with
Il white handkerchief. came from the
improvised dressing room, descended to
the waters edge and was led into the
stream. while the assemblage sang
Garry Me to the Waters"
Clasping the candidate by the right
hand and placing his left to the back of
the candidates head. the pastor spoke
at some length on the significance and
efficacy OF baptism and then immersed
him backwards, uttering at the Same
time the usual words.
Pastor Boddie was plainly ill-pleased
at the outlaws provoked by the cdndi-
date having thoughtlessly kept his
mouth open, and after leading the can
didate to the shore, turned OH the crowd
to tell his displeasure. In u moment,
however he followed with his blessing.
impaired while he stood in the water,
with his hands lifted high above his
head and the cold rain beating down on
his face.