SIXTY BAPTISED IN TANK

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1935, Page 10 (Supplement)

SIXTY BAPTISED IN TANK

Men, Women And Children At Gospel Demonstration ALBERT HALL GATHERING DRAWS THOUSANDS SIXTY men, women, and children were baptised by total immersion in a talik at the Albert Hall, Kensington, London, recently, when the 10th annual demonstration of the Elim Foursquare Gospel Alliance was held. ’ ' The meeting , was attended by 10,000 people, many of whom did not leave the building from 9 a.m. till 10 p.m. At the meeting nearly 1000 sick people were anointed with oil and prayed for; communion was administered to many thousands; and more than 100 people declared conversion. The services were conducted by Principal George Jeffreys, a handsome man, with dark, curly hair. Among those who attended were a number of cripples carried in the arms of their friends. For an hour and a half Principal Jeffreys made his way among the cripples and sick people, and anointed their foreheads with oil. When members of the congregation were asked if they had been cured at previous services of various ailments the following response was forthcoming:— Cripples, 34. Blindness in one or both eyes, 19. Deafness, 22. Cancer and other ailments, "8. '> A large tank had been erected in front of the platform for the baptisms. n Principal Jeffreys, wearing wading boots beneath his black gown, stood in the warm water, while the men converts, in white shirts and flannel trousers, and the women, in white dresses and bathing caps, entered it by a

flight of steps. Each convert was plunged under the water by the principal. The first to be baptised were a man and wife—Mr and Mrs Harbour, of Rushton, Northamptonshire—and their daughter and son-in-law, all of whom stood in the tank together. Children were among those baptised. One member of the congregation was Lady Holman, wife of LieutGeneral Sir - Herbert Holman, who told a “Daily Mail” reporter that as a result of a healing service conducted by Principal Jeffreys she had been cured of a complaint which had made it almost impossible for her to use one eye. A message of greeting to the King was sent from the Albert Hall, and a telegram of thanks was later read out. DROPPED DRUM COMEDY HTHE band of the Grenadier Guards x was marching at the head of the new guard as it made its way to Windsor Castle for the ceremony of changing the guard when one of the drummers dropped his drum. He retrieved it, but in doing so lost his buckle and strap. A spectator jumped between the ranks, snatched up the buckle and strap, ran along and gave it to the thankful drummer. Apparently the strap gave way and caused this unrehearsed incident — which amused holiday crowds looking on but was viewed with great disgust by the drill sergeant. VILLAGE WATER INITIATIVE r T'HE inhabitants of Winterslow, a x village near Salisbury, England, have formed a company, trapped an inexhaustible supply of spring water, and installed a modern water system at a total cost of £3OOO. The Duchess fo Hamilton turned on the supply. No other community - has yet installed its own water supply without financial aid from the Government.