Chickering Hall was crowded Feb. 26, for a service which has long been desired by many of the members of the church. After a hymn, Scripture-reading, Lord's Prayer, and another hymn,— "I think when I read that sweet story of old," twenty-nine children, including a few babes, were led to the platform, and placed in semicircles. Rev. Mrs. Eddy then moved about slowly among them. From each she received a card on which was written the child's name. Raising her hands over each in turn, she then repeated the name, and very slowly and emphatically pronounced this blessing: "May the baptism of Christ with the Holy Spirit cleanse you from sin, sickness, and death." No water was used in the rite, but it was nevertheless impressive, and resembled a union of the ordinary service of Infant Baptism with the Confirmation service of the Episcopal Church.
The Christening took place thus early in the service, to the end that the children might not be weary. They did indeed "run and not faint," for the service attuned them to quiet sympathy with the remainder of the exercises. The short address which followed, by Mrs. Eddy, was on Names and Baptism. In the Bible we read that names were changed: Abram to Abraham, Jacob to Israel, Saul to Paul, Simon Barjona to Simon Peter; but these indicated changes of character and career, not of name only. The baptism of the Christian should be a baptism into Spirit, and should represent "the answer of a good conscience toward God," as says Peter in his First Epistle, and not merely "the putting away the filth of the flesh."
After this address Mrs. E. Humphrey-Allen sang one of Mrs. Eddy's hymns (music by Lyman Brackett), addressed to the Good Shepherd. The collection was then taken, as usual, and (also as usual) the congregation very slowly dispersed.
