A DANGEROUS CEREMONY.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 34, 15 November 1871, Page 3

A DANGEROUS CEREMONY.

A CORRESItONDENT of the Nonconformist writes ns follows : The Baptists in America frequently administer their dippings in what they call the ‘ apostolic mode,” by making use of rivers for baptistries. The dangers attending this system of baptism are sometimes very great, as is shown by the following newspaper paragraph : —“ Dr. A. P. Pownall of Sand-hill Kentucky, attempted last Sunday to unite with the Christian Church in that place by baptism. The clergyman, the Rev. J. B. Hough, led him out into the creek to a considerable distance in search of a spot of convenient depth, when suddenly both went down. They soon arose to the surface, and the minister regained the bank, but the doctor, being unable to swim, was swept by the current under a floodgate, only a short distance below. Every exertion was made to save him, but in vain. The body was soon after found and brought to shore, amid the most heartrending screams from his young wife and friends. The doctor had been married but a few weeks to a Miss Mary J. Wilson, a greatly esteemed young lady of Sand-hill. When travelling in Sweden we hoard of several persons who lost their lives in consequence of having been baptised in winter, the ice having had to be broken. In this case the fanatics who were guilty of the outrage were prosecuted and severely punished : and yet, when we returned to England, many Baptists of our acquaintance declined to believe in the truth of our statement of the facts, on the ground “ that no person could be injured by obeying the Lord’s command.” We make a present of Dr. Pownall's case to such unbelievers, and sincerely hope that the days will soon come when such barbarities will cease in all parts of the world.