VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA. 
49 
planatory of the nature and intentof this ordinance, and the sacred- 
ness of the covenant therein made between the Lord and the per- 
son thus initiated into His Chttrch on earth. Ai'ter the discourse, the 
usual Jiturgy is read, and the parents being interrogated, respecting 
their intention to educate their chikl in the fear and admonition of 
the Lord, as above described (p. 44), baptism is administered, in tlic 
manner usual in our European congregations, one or two of the nus- 
sionaries and their wives generally standing sponsors. 
Adults are baptized in a public meeting on Sundays and fes- 
tival-days, in the afternoon. The candidates appear decently dress- 
ed in Avhite clothes. A h3'mn being sung, and a suitable dis- 
course delivered, a vessel, covered with a white cloth, containing 
the water, with a small basin or laver in it, is placed before the can- 
didate. The liturgy, prescribed to be used at the baptism of adults 
from among the heathen, is then read; and the questions, therein 
contained, being put to the candidates and answered, a prayer is 
offered up, after which the baptism takes place. The candidate 
kneeling and bending forward, the water is three times pouretl upon 
his head with the basin or laver, at the words, " in the name of the 
*' Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost," when, if there 
are more to be baptized, the vessel being removed from one to the 
other by the chapel-servant, the missionary proceeds to the next, 
assisted by other ordained Brethren, if a larger number require it. 
The whole congregation then kneeling down, a doxology is sung, 
and the service concluded, by pronouncing the blessing: after 
which the newly-baptized come to the missionaries into the vest- 
ry, and are exhorted to faithfulness and constancy in the perform- 
ance of their baptismal vow. They are likewise taught to know 
and pronounce the names given to them. Their gratitude and 
compunction of heart on these solemn occasions are generally ex- 
pressed more by tears than words. 
7th. Old Captain Klapmus attended the morning-service, and 
seemed affected both by Father Marsveld's sermon, and by the 
subsequent exhortations of the missionaries whom he visited. 
II 
