Church Elder Willie Green Drowns During Mass Baptism in Charlotte, North Carolina, 1926
On September 27, 1926, Willie Green, an elder in a "house of prayer," drowned during a mass baptismal service in the Clinton Park bathing pool in Charlotte, North Carolina. The event, which drew an estimated 10,000 spectators, was led by "Bishop" C. M. Grace, a Portuguese "faith healer." Between 500 and 600 individuals were baptized during the service, including three white women. The incident was reported on the front page of The Robesonian newspaper in Lumberton, N.C., the following day. Green's death occurred amidst a large gathering for a religious ceremony, highlighting the scale and public nature of the event.
