A FATAL RESULT OF'BAPTISM BY IMMERSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8610, 4 July 1891, Page 2 (Supplement)

A FATAL RESULT OF'BAPTISM BY IMMERSION.

A most distressing occurrence is reported in a German medical journal. A young woman who was a candidate for baptism by immersion amongst the Baptists, after undressing to her chemise and stocking in the vestry, pub on a cotton wrapper and camo into the chapel to be baptised. She was completely immersed in the baptistry, which was filled with rain-water at a temperature of about 40 degrees Fahr., the ceremony not lasting above a minute. After this she walked beck into the vestry, but immediately became unconscious, and notwithstanding all possible efforts being made to resuscitate her, succumbed. The pott-niortem examination revealed that there was cardiac disease. As, however, there was no doubt thab the immersion was the. determining cause of death, the unfortunate minister who performed the ceremony was at firsb sentenced to a week's imprisonment. This was, however, ultimately remitted. The neighbouring Baptist congregations have, it is said, taken warning by the case, and have arranged to have the water for immersion always warmed in future, as is, we believe, the custom in this country. Another suggestion naturally arises from such an occurrence as the above—namely, that persona suspected of heart disease should have the benefit of a medical examination before being submitted to the rite of immersion.—Lancet.