Twelve French Converts Receive the Spirit of God at Baptism

While Curtis E. Bolton and others, including John Pack (also identified as Brother Pack) and De La Mare, were performing baptisms in France, twelve French converts were baptized near Havre at a secluded mill stream. The converts experienced a profound outpouring of the Spirit of God, described as though the heavens were weeping for joy, and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. One of the converts, a former Roman Catholic woman, also felt the influence of the Spirit; participants cast away religious relics and charms and worshipped the God of Israel.

Fuller account of this event (in the witness’s own words):

The place of baptism was a green sward, and the stream was as clear as our own mountain streams. We had to walk some distance to get to it, but the beauty of the country, and the fine weather, made it a pleasant walk. We arrived at the water, and after singing and prayer, five persons were baptized amidst much feeling of the Spirit of God; I have never seen more among new converts; indeed, they had every reason to rejoice beyond measure, for we could say, the heavens wept for joy, and hung out their gayest flag during the whole time. After the baptism, we retired to a secluded spot, and laid our hands upon them for the gift of the Holy Ghost. The power of God was present in a remarkable manner. One of the sisters, who had been a strict Roman Catholic, and who had been very zealous in her religion, was present. By the side of the water she took off a silver charm, with relics in it, and cast it from her, determined to worship none but the God of Israel, and serve none other. She was baptized, and received the Holy Ghost, and was filled with joy. She had a number of other things, such as beads, crosses, &c., which she had kept as sacred. These were offered in burnt offering in the evening, a great relief to many of us, delighted to be no longer an idolater.