The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-04-12
ELEVEN BAPTIZED
IN AN ICY POOL
New Members of Galbraith
Church Observe Rite.
MADE THEIR TEETH CHATTER
Rev. samuel Carruthers Performs
the Task Clad I'm High Rubber
MOrninE-DifficuIty when Tempe
nature Of Water Becomes known.

A little tadpole that came through the
pipes from the Potomac River 10 the
Basin. just southwest Of the Washington
Monument, known 20 the children OF the
neighborhood as the "Swimmin' pool. -
nestled against one Of the bricks yester-
/ day morning al the early hour Of 8
O'Clock.
The tadpole shouldered its tail, bit
savagely az Il with its gelatinous teeth.
and wished Easter had been warmer. so
that the tail might have been shed along
with its winter underwear.
While the chilly pollywog was nib
bling reminiscently at the cause Of its
discomfort. il was startled by a violen.
"Squdge! Plump"
Along with other brethren of the polly
wOg tribe. the tadpole scurried for shell
ter under a protecting jet OF cement, and
surveyed the situation.
Cause of COmmOtion.
The initial cause OF the commotion was
Rev. Samuel Carruthers. pastor Of the
Galbraith African Methodist Episcopal
Church. who was wading into the purIinr
waters. clad in high rubber boots and a
| lugubriOUs black garment that looked
/ like a bathrobe The boots. plus their
abdominal extensions. reached we'll I'D 70
his shoulders. On the top OF his head
was a black skull cap. which was be-
coming in water breast deep at that hour
Of Easter morning
| The polIywog. having watched Rev. Nj
! Carruthers proceed 10 the middle Of the
pool and stand there with an unctuous
| attitude that plainly said he was only a
curtain raiser. looked about for Other
causes OF excitement These were soon
evident
A wagon drew Up 10 the pond. it's sides
bulging out with a load or eleven per
sons all gazing At the pool with a min
gled sense OF reverence and chill. Tbs
wagon disgorged az the brink. Nine
women-sOnle older. some younger-made
for the wOmen's side OF the bath house
while the male contingent. which con
sisted II Johnnie Coleman. thirteen
years old. and Walter Taylor. an adult
made for the other side OF the same
structure.
In White Draperies.
The pollywog unaware that a baptls.
NAL ceremony was about 70 be pulled of
lost interest. and was about 10 take
anothe rbite al its nearly-ripe tail. wher
the door OF the bathhouse few open. and
group % spectral figures emerged. The
nine women were clad entirely IN white
draperies Brother Taylor and Johnnie
| Coleman were dressed in black robes, like
Rev, Mr.. Carruthers
The first woman chosen stepped bare
foot. Wit han expression Of arctic agony
down the brick steps into the pool. unit
she stood in the water breast deep. The
hand OF Rev, John ". Watson. Official
I conductor Of the baptismal pool. was
placed in hers, and she was led I'D q
Rev. Mr. CarrutheTs. Leaning far back
| ward. with the latters arm supporting
her, she bent until her Psyche touched
the food Temperature - degrees. Their
with a ringing "Hallelujahr' from her
Rev. Mr.. Carruthers forced her under
submerged her. blotted her from view
ducked her deep into the frigid water
until the hair stood on the heads OF the
spectators.
And so it went with the rest OF the
women-Miss Emma Grisby. Mrs. Virgins
! Colbert. Miss Lenora Williams. Mrs. Odis
Cisco. Miss Myrtle Hill. Mrs. Lille But
Ter. Lizzie Scott, and Ida Whitney-unri
the pastor in the high boots came 10 Mrs
Elizabeth Devan
Back Of the Monument.
Mrs. Elizabeth Devan had been one OF
the prime movers in the a. m.-Potomar
River-back OF the Washington Monu-
ment baptism. But when the time came
for her TO climb down the steps into the
water. she suddenly remembered thai
she had already ben sprinkled or
the forehead. and had therefore
| been legitimately baptized. This bushes,
/ OF going down into Easter morning water
all over, with the temperature firtine
/ with the zero mark. lost its charms a.
her bare foot dipped beneath the surface
and felt for the first brick step.
Mr.. Watson reached Purple-blue hand
for hers. and led her nto Rev. DR.
Carruthers- She attempted to lean back.
ward, but her spinal column had con-
J gealed and suffered q permanent set %
II was a case for heroic measures. II she
was 10 be properly ducked Rev. Mr.
CsrrutherS was equal TO the coca sion
With a thrust Of his RICH arm he put
her under. She came Up. gasping. Hs
put her under again. this time so Far thai
she came up zigzagging, emitting bub-
5les- that made the pOllywog on its jet
Of cement feel ashamed Of its lung ca.
paCity.
4 When Mrs. Elizabeth Devan finally
reached the surface she took one look a
Rev. Mr.. Carruthers. and made track.
for the steps, while the neighborhooC
Just southwest OF the Washington Noun
ment resOunded with her "Halleluiahs~
The men were taken next, and stood
their respective baptisms with stolcal non
| chalance. Even little Johnnie Coleman
| went In without a whimper. although hi;
eyes rolled for one last look at the bud
ding trees as the strong arm OF the pas
tor impinged on his throat and pushed
[ him dosn.