The account of baptism below comes from Will Campbell's novel The Glad River. Will Campbell was a Baptist pastor in North America. The Glad River tells the story of Doops, who spends most of the novel refusing his mother's wishes that he gets baptised. The novel ends with the scene below.
Kingston and Mr. Corbitt stood at the foot of the bunk, saying nothing Three prisoners sat on the edge of the bunk, all of them handcuffed together. There had been four but one had been released that morning. The prisoners knew no more what to make of what was taking place than the judge and the prosecutor.
"Wonder why his mamma didn't come," one of them whispered.
"I don't know," the one in the middle answered.
"I heard she wanted it done in church," the third one said.
"I heard she don't think's a baptising," the first prisoner said.
Doops and Model T moved to face each other squarely. The others moved closer together, leaving them as much room as they could.
“You have shown me the truth, my friend,” Doops began. “Now I am asking you for the sign.” He spoke in a clear, eloquent, and oratorical fashion.
“Are you asking to be baptized?” Model T said with equal fluency.
“Yes,” Doops replied. “I am asking for the sign.”
“Are you heartily sorry for all your sins?
“Yes.”
“Do you desire the baptism?”
“Yes.”
“Who will forbid me, that I should baptize him?” Model T said, looking around the room.
“No one,” Kingston, Mr. Corbitt, and the nurse said in unison.
“No one,” the three prisoners mumbled in hushed tones after them.
“Humble yourself before God and His Church and kneel down,” Model T said. Doops, wearing seersucker trousers and a new white shirt with the collar unbuttoned and the cuffs turned up, knelt as close to the washbasin, already filled with water when they came in, as he could get. Model T cupped both of his hands together and dipped into the water.
“I baptize you I the name of God the Father,” he said, letting the water trickle over the tips of his fingers and onto Doops’s bowed head. “God the Son,” pouring another handful of water. “And God the Holy Spirit,” the water running off Doops’s cowlicked head, down his back, and onto his shirtfront.
Doops stood up, making no effort to dry the water from his face and clothing. The judge and prosecutor edged their way towards the open cell door. All the others formed a circle around Doops, embracing him, the prisoners joining in the embrace as best they could with their hands cuffed. The judge and district attorney moved back in and shook Doops’s hand.
Will Campbell, The Glad River (Smyth & Helwys, 2005 [1982]), p.322-323.
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