The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-05-12

In the presence Of upwards of 1000
persons, Mary White, young colored
woman, was yesterday afternoon dipped
In the muddy waters Of the Roaring
Brook and declared baptized into the
Christian faith.
The baptismal service was conducted
by Pastor Boddie, Of the Shiloh Baptist
church, the tall. angular clergyman,
whose figure Is SO well known on
the central city streets. There were to
have been two candidates, but the
young man got little bashful when he
saw the big crowd and a little scared
when he felt the water. He decided
that he'd wait until another time.
The baptism took splace at a point
several hundred yards above the site
of the old Lackawanna Iron and Steel
company's rail mill. The crowd which
gathered was made up largely of adults
though there was a goodly percentage
Of the genus small boy. Comparative
good order was maintained, but this
may have been due in some measure to
the moral effect lent to the scene by the
presence of Captain of Police Williams
and Patrolman Johler.
Pastor Boddie first gathered the
members of his little flock about him
He read those passages of Scripture on
which Baptists base their belief in bap-
tism by immersion, and then a prayer
was offered by Brother Coke. The lat
ter began in quiet tone, but the
emotional side of his nature gained the
upper hand, and he quickly lashed him.
self into an enthusiasm that knew no
bounds.
A negro preacher. from Philadelphia
known as Prophet Jones, who has
achieved some fame because of his
alleged success in prophecying future
events, was next introduced. Rev. Mr.
Boddie assured the gathering that the
prophet had never been to school for a
single day.
Prophet Jones started out by refer
ring to the recent terrible disaster in
the Danish West Indies as that hola-
caust on the European coast, where
thousands were killed because of their
wickedness." He said that all the
great disasters Of the past century, the
Charleston earthquake. the Johnstown
food, the Galveston flood and others.
cause of man wickedness.
God, in His own good time" said
he, will lay the cities of America as
low as he has laid st. Pierre, because
OF their wickedness. The poor man is
now suffering because of the high price
Of meat. but l say to you that three
years hence the millionaires and the
laborers. all will suffer. The farmer
will go out into his field and find no
crop, and the whole land shall be
stricken with famine. God has brought
other lands into His kingdom by famine
and He will bring this land also.
Gods will shall be enforced. They
robbed the negro of his rights for 2JO
years in the South, until the North
freed him. Now they are hanging him
without warrant and burning him at
the stake. and for this shall the South
suffer. She shall pay dearly at the
hands of Cod
When the prophets voice had ceased.
Pastor Bodde, clad in a long black
robe. waded out into the stream and
called to Miss White to follow She
was clad in white gown. and as she
stepped into the water some persons
t'tiliS'Cu VII pPpositN i'u3
outright.
Beware lest ye mock" shouted the
prophet "for the Bible says that who
soever shall laugh in this world shall
cry in the next. Have a care lest you
scoff at Gods work."
The laughter ceased and Pastor Bod
die, taking hold of the candidates 3
hands. began to chant IL negro hymn,
beginning:
'l'm going down to Jordan, and I'm going to
pay my fare.
"Amon.
"It will be long journey, hut don't care.
"Amcn."
The congregation gathered on the
bank Joined heartily in the responses.
When the singing had been concluded,
the candidate was dipped under the
water and was hurried ashore and into
waiting cab. as Pastor Boddie pro-
nounced the benediction.