It tells me all about heaven and Galilee,
Bye and bye.
When the storm of life is over.
We’ll anchor in the harbor,
We will praise God forever,
Bye and bye.’
“Such hymns were sung with the intonation peculiar to the singing of colored congregations in the South. Men and women arose, and as the singing progressed, their bodies rocked and their feel kept time to the swing of the melodies.
“The greatest single victory over sin in the minds of those present was the conversion and baptism of Mrs. Octavia Adams, of No. 117 E. 21st St., the city home of the late Col. Robert G. Ingersoll. Mrs. Adams had been a cook in the family for years.”
From New York Tribune, March 12, 1900:
“One hundred and eighty-four persons were baptized by immersion at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, Fifty Third Street, near Broadway yesterday morning. Of this number 89 were women. In all 408 persons were received into the church. It was originally intended that 233 persons should be received in the church by baptism, but of that number 49 did not present themselves. The remainder were received into the church on profession of faith. The baptismal ceremonies were conducted by Rev. C. T. Walker, the pastor of the church, and Deacon Webb.