FATAL RESULT OF BAPTISM BY IMMERSION.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1816, 29 July 1891, Page 5

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 stockings in the vestry, put on a cotton wrapper and tame into the chapel to be baptised. She was completely immersed in the baptistry, which was filled with rain water at a temperature of about 40deg Fahr., the ceremony not lasting above a minute. After this she walked into the vestry, but immediately became unconscious, and notwithstanding all possible efforts being made to resuscitate her, succumbed. The post mortem examination revealed that there was cardiac disease. As, however, there was no doubt that the immersion was the determining cause of death, the unfor tunate minister who performed the ceremony was at first sentenced to a week's imprisoment. This was, however, ultimately remitted. The neighboring Baptist congregations have, it is said, taken warning by the oase, and have arranged to have the water for immersion always warmed in future, as is, we believe, the custom else* where. Another suggestion naturally arises from such an occurrence as the above — namely, that persons suspected of heart disease should have the benefit of a medical examination before being submitted to the rite of immersion.

In olden times saints' days were regarded aa luoky days, and were marked on the oalendarwith red ink. From this sprang the term •• red-letter day."