“During the baptism ceremonies religious fervor was worked up to such a state that several women and two men fainted. Three women fainted while being immersed. All, however, were revived.
“For five weeks, the Rev. Mr. Walker has been conducting revival services in the church, and yesterday’s ceremonies were the result of the work of conversion.
“Anticipating the crush that would be at the church, and fearful that there might be trouble in handling it, Capt. Donohue, of the West 47th Street Station, detailed five patrolmen from his command to remain at the church during the services. Several times the patrolmen were forced to resort to rather rough tactics in order to keep the big crowd in check. Finally at the request of the church officials, the police cleared the big corridors of the church and drove several hundred persons who were late in arriving into the street.
“The jam about the church was terrific. Every conceivable vantage point was taken inside the big auditorium long before the services were begun.
“People were jammed in the church like sardines. They filled the aisles and stood about three or four deep about the pulpit. Some time before the service began, the church was filled and the police were instructed not to allow more to enter. Then began a wild scramble. In a few minutes there were fully 1,000 persons struggling in the vestibule and on the pavement outside the church.
“The candidates for baptism were seated in the center of the church, the women on one side of the aisles, while the men, black-robed and in their stocking feet, were on the other side.
“The women were all clad in loose fitting white flannel gowns. The majority of them had white ribbons in their hair. The regular sermon was preached by Rev. S. X. Floyd of Augusta, Ga.
“The women were baptized first, the children and men last. The first to be immersed was a little blind girl; as she was brought up dripping from the big tank she cried, ‘Thank God, I am saved.’ The child’s cry was taken up by the big congregation.
“While the men were being baptized somebody in the congregation began singing, ‘Bye-and-bye’; the song was quickly taken up by the entire congregation and the religious enthusiasm was increased. Men and women arose in their seats, and while they sang they waved books and handkerchiefs.
“It was announced by the Rev. Mr. Walker that on the list of converts were men and women from every clime. There were several blind, deaf and dumb. Mr. Walker said that among those who received baptism was a colored woman who for many years had been employed in the household of the late Robert G. Ingersoll, the agnostic.”