The Saint Paul globe., 1905-04-30

OF their church are invited to partake
OF the bread and wine.
While they do not practice It to any
great extent yet foot-washing Is one OF
the principles of their faith. They believe
that as Christ washed the feet OF his dis
cipies and eXhorted them to wash one
another's feet, His example should be fol-
lowed 10 this day. Foot washlngs are US
ually the occasion OF more than ordinary
interest. being a part of the ceremonies of
what Is known as a basket meeting"
The basket meetings arc held only dur
Ing the summer season and always attract
a large crowd. Dinner is brought TO the
church in huge baskets. 1t is spread upon
the ground under the shade trees, and
then all are invited to eat The feast is
abundant and none go away hungry. for
the wives OF the farmers know how to
cook and farmers sons have good appe-
titeS- After the feast comes the foot
washing and another and special sermon
by the minister Often the members visit
some stream near the church and there
IN the clear and sparkling water wash
each others feet II Is an impressive GER
emony. simple. convincing and an evidence
of the great faith of the worshipers.
The principal doctrine OF the Hard
Shell" faith is baptism by immersion No
other baptism will admit members to the
fchurcA. In the country church there Is no
baptistry conveniently located under the
pulpit. where the rite may be performed
in the full view of the congregation. The
suppiiants are baptized in some conven-
lent Jordan, after the manner in which
Christ was b-Stized in the famous river
by John the Baptist. II matters not how
cold the weather baptisms are not post
poned. The country parson Is a hardy m
dividual and he leads an applicant into
the ice cold water with dauntless cour-
age.
The congregation gathers on the bank
A great fire is built OF logs. AS the
preacher and the candidate for baptism
reach the brink OF the water a melody
OF song bursts forth. The strong, but un-
trained voices carry the music far away
into the forests and its echoes can be
heard reverberating throughout the hills
There is nothing more profoundly impress
sive than this ceremony. AS the voice of
song dies away the preacher wades into
the water After going through the US
ual ceremony he dips the penitent into the
water. They are greeted at the water s
edge by the relatives OF the new mem
oer and the cOngrega tion and after a
hurried handshaking they hasten to the
church to get on dry clothes.
1t is often the boast of the hardy coun-
tryman that he was baptized when there
was ice on the creek. and that a hole had
to be cut large enough for ,le perform
ance OF the ceremony. Sometimes follow
ing revival there Is wholesale bap-
tizing. but during ordinary times new
members are not gathered in rapidly. 1t
is seldom indeed that one who has been
baptized into the country church turns
backslder. Whenever he does he is looked
upon with mingled scorn and compassion
by his fellow members, and il is only after
public confession OF his sins and a
promise not to repeat them that he Is
again admitted to fellowship II the Of
fense IL repeated he Is generally dismissed
from the congregation
This Hard Shelf religion is serious and