Volume 2

Jesus in Adama
137
from the huts, were baptized. These last Jesus had on
several different occasions instructed when returned from
their work. The pagans were the last to be baptized. They
had to prepare themselves for the ceremony by certain
purifications. Jesus poured from a flask into the baptisnlal
basin some of the Jordan water, which the disciples always
carried with them, and then He blessed it. The
trench around the basin was filled high enough for the
neophytes to stand in it up to the knees in water.
Before administering Baptism, Jesus prepared the
aspirants by a long instruction. These latter wore long,
gray mantles with hoods over the head, something like the
mantles worn in prayer. When about to step into the
trench around the basin, they laid aside the mantle. Their
loins were covered, as also the back and breast, while
from the shoulders fell a little open mantle like a scapular.
A disciple laid one hand upon the shoulder of the
neophyte, the other upon his head. The baptizer, in the
name of the Most High, poured over his head several
times fronl a flat shell water dipped from the basin. First
Andrew baptized, then Peter, who was afterward relieved
by Saturnin. The heathens were baptized last. The
ceremony, including the preparations, continued until
near evening. 1
When the people had retired, Jesus and the disciples
left the place separately. They met again on the road and
went eastward toward Adalna on Lake Merom, resting by
night in the beautiful high grass under the trees.
1. Upon the signification of pagan baptism, see p. 335.
4. JESUS IN ADAMA. MIRACULOUS
CONVERSION OF AN OBSTINATE JEW
Although Adama did not appear very distant, still Jesus
and the disciples had to journey some hours up a river