The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-09-20
FAITH CURISTS
IN COsvOCATION
Lively Scenes In the Church
of the First Born at Bran
hall and Ocean Avenues.
NO PUBLIC IMMERsIoNS
CONVERTS WILL BE IMMERSED
IN A POOL IN THE CHURCH AT
THE FOOT OF CHAPEL AVENUE
INSTEAD OF NEW YORK BAY.

IE OQ4 Ot ~ E1-Af ILL n EN- Y q
INSTEAD OF NEW YORK BAY.
Next Friday morning, when the Faith
Curists who are holding their twenty
third convention in the Church of the
First Born, Jesus Christ, Bhamhall
avenue, immerse the converts that
marks the close of their services
every year, the men and women to be
baptized will be immersed in a pool in
their small church at the foot of Chap
rell avenue, opposite Newark Bay
Heretofore the baptisms have taken
place in the running waters of Newark
Bay, but this year. owing to the pub
licity that has attended these ceremo-
nies, the baptisms will take place within
the church.
The Faith Curists object. strongly to
the way the newspapers report their CON
ventions, and every day they make it a
point to pray for the newspaper men
present. They plead that they may be
made to see the error of their ways,
and that their pencils may be directed to-
ward heaping glory on their religion of
faith. One old woman makes a personal
plea to the reporters every chance she
gets, but no conversoinns have been re-
ported.
With the close of the convention three
days off, the Faith Curists are whooping
things up liyelier than ever. and several
conversions have been announced. Sis
ter Antoinette jackson. founder of the
sect, and her husband, Pastor William
Jackson, are on the platform morning,
noon and night, exhorting the wicked to
join the ranks of those who believe.
"Oh, We of little faith,' they call from
time to time. and in their effort to
arouse the proper emotional degree they
are ably seconded by Assistant Pastor
John Hancox. He has magnificent
bass voice and it is worth going to the
church just to hear him boom out his
magnificent Amen"
Baptizing with the Faith Curists is a
ceremony that in past years has always
drawn crowds to the shore Of New York
Bay. In long, black gowns they parade
solemnly to the waters edge ,or.to the
pool, according to whether the ceremony
is indoors or outdoors. and as the con-
verts are one by one plunged below the
surface the choir sings. Still There Are
More To Follow" Thousands have
watched the baptizing in past years, but
this year it is thought that the ceremany
will only be public to those who are
members of the faith.
The experience row is still crowded
viii PcopiS duAicuS ~ 'lSiA VI -Hldf seluus
cures brought about through prayer.
Little old ladies who look as though
they could take five mile run without
turning hair, insist tnat they were
bed-ridden two years ago. Half the
men in the gathering ONCE had eonsump-
tion, SO they say.
How did you ret cured Y demands
Sister Jackson from the platform.
Prayer, they answer
A list Of the complaints that the ex.
perienced workers say have been cured
would read like the index of a work on
medicine. Thus far. jungle fever is
about the only ailnent that has not beer
reported, and the raith Curists are il
hopes that they VII have case of that
before the week is over
Day after day girls arise to tell of the
way they were turned from the wicked
paths of sin--sin in their cases beins
mostly matter of waltz or two and
| chewing tutti-frutti. The men seem tc
| have all had the liquor and tobacco hab
its in their younger days Every person
who has thus far told of their marvellous
cures are what might be termed ths
''has-beens of the army of vice.
One man told of having the tobacco
habit 50 bad that he chewed in his sleep
What did you do with the jaiceg de
manded voice. The man sat down anl
the voice was put out.
Thus far the convention has been th,
| largest il point Of attendance that has
| ever been held in Jersey City. Will
each year the fervor seelns to grow ane
| so does the membership. Also, LET it bs
remarked the list of experiences seem Il
grow more wonderful each year.