The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-01-26

good, pure and impure, are nicely defined
in this community; so that somtimes YOU
find Pandcmomium and Paradise in fright
full proximity. Blasphcmy on this and pray
ing and praising OH that side of the same
street. Indeed, there is one street in Charles
ton of which it usctl TO be said, that it
contained more churches and houscs of Ill
fame than any other III the city. The lat
Ter have disappeared; the former are flour
ishing. But, now, let me Introduce your
readers into the basement story of one OF
our city churches where they can Le quiet
spectators OF Il
LOVE FEAST MEETING
held for the exclusive benefit of the colorcd
members of the Church. The hymn is sung
10y the congregation and the prayer Offered
up bv the pastor; when cubes Of bread
and glasses OF water arc passed around.
Then follows the collection, fmc-wiIl
offering to the Church. BY this time, there
are four or five hundred persons present,
and the speaking bcgins.-Them, that is
the patriarch OF the whole tribe now on his
feet. Hear linn, as with a cracked AMI
feeble voice, he says: "My brrdrrn, MS lay
on my bed, new wears mornin, long time
atnre daylight, been thinking, how God
Almighty awaken and convert myself, in
l79G: and how give my han'l to de minis
ter i'll old Charleston; and how been sup.
port by divine grace, all dis time {; and ny
heart feel tankful: and bless de Lord.
He wild Inc tonight. and just wait for dc
Master take me home to Heaven. Bless
de Lord" There is commotion in the as
semblv, for there is not one there who does
not know, and reverence too, old daddy
STRAP MoRGAS. He is an African BY
birth, and one Of the few last links in the
chain which binds us to 4 past generation.
But there. look there at that bril- i@ht, in
teiIigent looking colorcd man. His face
glows with delight, rs he refers to the ser
mon Of last Sabbath, and adopts for him
self the language Of Rrrr, and says: ''Thy
people shall be my pcnpie-O, thy God,
my God;" and then, aIluding 10 a sermon
preached by Bishop CArEns a few weeks
letore, he adopts the text as expressive of
his own feelings, and with deep emphasis
he repeats: any heart is fixed, O God my
heart is fiXcd"-will ''halielujah,'' which
made the basement ring, and which drew
forth responsive lialleIuiahs from many Il
heart, he took his seat.
Quick rs thought another is up. Look
mt linn, see what IN animated countcnancc
he wears; listen, he speaks in low, soft at:-
ccnts-you feel there is humility there. lie
warns up Il little, yon are struck not only
with the quiet feeling he exhibits, but with
the propricty of his language and sentiment.
lie tells YOU lie is a carriage driver and that
being awakened and distressed, he retired
to his hay loft TO pray, after taking care of
his cattle. lie pravs until near nine o'clock,
when his heart suddenly warns and mclts,
(glory from him, and h"liclujoh from many
voices, then lie joined the Church, and
now, sometimes i'll the stable with the horses,
and sometimes in the street, on tic carriacc
box, he rjoces in the love Of God. His
ssnple, artess and moving Qor that very
reason, story is told, and you cannot resist
the conviction that there is real pictv in
that dusky son of HAM.
See there is woman rp-hcr tones are
mild and scarcely audible ut first: she tells
her brethren that she was at love feast but
once tire past year,-how anxious she had
been to enjoy this privilege with them,
how she had asked the "deary owners' to
allow her to comc-how much she loved
the brethren, that they were her people
how much she desired their prayers, &c.
BY this time the whole congregation is on
the point of great outburst of religious
feeling-the tide is coming in-the waves
are swelling and rolling all around you
the feeling is contagious. and you mnst yield
to youhgcnerous impulses, orpronouncc the
whole an imposture.-Ihis last :You cannot
do, being present and cognisant o. all the
Observation-Disclosures give you but spec
linen Of the whole, say if YOU please, the
best selections; very well, but if YOU had
been present, as the writer was, and witnessed
the buoyancy Of religious faith and feeling,
and heard, as he did, the expressions Of un
wavering confidenc in that particular dcvel-
opement Of Christianity, I am sure you would
think that many years must elapse before
all this zeal. and religious energy will sub
side in staid forms and ceremonias of re-
Iigious worship.
But must not forget that your readers
have nerves, and sometimes irritable ones
too. and must therefore close, wishing you
q pleasant year, and increased subscription
lists. Yours truly, g., IcoS.
Charleston, january 9th, 1865.
.. H->-e--
"Zeb" said chan to his churn. the other