New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-22
THEIR ANNUAL BAPTISM.
A Religious Ceremony in the Rising Noun.
tain District

The dusky members of the Rising Mountain Bap-
list Church had big time not long ago at their
annual baptism. held on the banks Oh th@ Not.u
River. down In Gloucester County, va DuiiHs '4ie
preceding month a spirited revival meeting had
been held at which all the members or RISING
Mountain had gathered together to DID dehahee 10
the devil and bring into fold all who were pre-
pared to bid farewell to worldly Wiies- As re-
suit OF this warfare against SIN eiSh'ee'i
had got through" as they termed II. ana awaited
official membership in the church by being solemn
Iy baptized at high tide in the river
The eventful day dawned auspiciously-nature
smiled upon the converts with a eioudIess SKY ana
a warm temperature. AS early as O'CLOCK n the
rnornng the CONGREGATION began to assemble at the
annointed spot on the shore. From each road
equipages Of every description drove up In state
carts drawn by blk oxen. antiq-e Dugsies ana
carryalls whitened by wear and creahng with in
hrmities and ancient horses harnessed 0y unique
arrangements OF chain and rope to every concely-
able kind of vehicle. In the mean time the candi-
dates for baptism. eleven women and seven men,
of varying ages. had been penned up IN two barns
for the moment when their Impressive entrance
into the open should be made
Brother Carter knew his cue ana olu not make
his reverend appearance the scene until ex-
pectancy was at fever heat The burning sun was
directly overhead. the tide was at It's highest when
the glad cry was given. "Hyar he come. down de
roadV' and "Sho' 'nuf dar he!" and at snail
mace came an attenuated gray horse drawing an
old ramshackle buggy, in which the minister was
seated In majestic, Napoieonic attitude. driven
by his assistant
The reverend men. each carrying carpetDag
containing his robes. aHghted with dignity and
disappeared into the barn set aside as dressing
room for the candidates
Ten minutes later the doors opened. and fro-l
the two barns came a weird procession Brother
Carter headed the men converts. who were attlred
in long black calico roles made In Mother huo-
hard STYLE their heads wrapped In white cloths
tied so tightly that the kinks OF wool oeheath
could be seen. Their skins shone oIack as eVohy'
and their eyes protruded from their headS WIN
nervous eagerness Meeting them from the op-
posite side came the dusky sisters arrayed In pure
white robes and with similar cloths on their heads
As the two professions net and formed IN one
solid line marching toward the river. the specta-
tors raised a dirgelike hymn. half wall. nan Chah-
that suggested the barbaric melody OF Zuiu
tribe On the river shore Brother Garter pauseo'
and from ponderous Bible read the third chapter
of St Matthew Then will Sister Aaraat lead Us
in sacred song?" he requested sister AaraaI,
heavy matron in purple velvet dress despite the
heat advanced with inimitable dignity ana Win
a voice of PIERCING sweetness began, Oh Chlldren
Of Light de Hour Has Come" The nervous ten
sion OF the moment noticeable in the atttuoes
and expressions of spectators and converts anu dS
the long procession Os converts. headed by Brother
Carter and fanked by his assistant. made the hrst
stem into the river arms heads and bodies began
swaying in movements Of religious frenzy Every
one was working up the critical moment
When the proper location in the river had been
selected Brother Carter advanced toward the hrst
candidate, a girl of seventeen OF the puTesI
African type. who. with bullying eyes and chatter
ing teeth. awaited the awful dip. After the pre-
liminary form OF address. with the words; i pap
tize thee" etc, ne and the assistant holQInS the
girl nluneed her head and body far below the
Surface. Fer one second there was oreathle sS
silence then wild eyed, dripping inquire eIlers q
with rrodigious snort. Thank Gawd, she yelleq
in piercing accents that fairly rent the ar InanS
Gawd my sins Is done washed away. Use freed
from my transgreshuns 49,. -. -. =.
sSiiat's So sister cried old Aunt Patsey from the
black satin skirt "dats so dey is Now, chile.
foaf right away on de waves Oh regeneration.
Amt Patsey by the way. is the religious 'rooter
~ The annual baptism an Indispensable parsonage.