Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1856-02-09
Brother Craford's Farewell Sermon
REPORTED BY BILL EASEL.

Il
sand s.rugs,) | had occasion to visit
friend in the neighborhood Of Port Glib
son. The next day being Sabbath, ac-
eompanied him to Zion Chapel. A new
miuister had been called to that neigh
borhood, and this was to be his sau-
tory sermon.
Zion Chapel was some hundred yards
from the main road and surrounded by
forest trees. Having arrived rather too
early for the service, myself and friend
sauntered about the woods rather active
Iy employed in brushing away the cloud
Of mosquitoes that surrounded us. At
leugth strange specimen of the genus
homo made his appearance on horseback
it was Brother Crafford.
His dress was decidedly peculiar. On
his head he wore an old-fashioned bell.
crrwr beaver, several sizes too large
- remedy this defect cotton bandana
handkerchief was stuffed between the
hat and forehead, His coat was of
most ancient pattern: blue, with brass
buttons, short waist and long swallow.
The collar came within an inch of hiding
the back part Of his head. His vest was
extremely long, and his pants ditto short.
The latter were held down by leather
strap passed under huge pair Of bro
gans Of an untanned leather color. AL
together his presence strongly suggested
Dau Marble in his Yankee character Of
Jonathan Homespun. But to the SER
mon-or at least a portion of it-for it
was utterly impossible to report the
whole of it.
The congregation was large, as it had
been '.'norated" abroad that new SER
want IT The Lord was to make his debut
at Zien.
Btther Crafford skunk in the pulpit
with t,ore than ordinary humility, and
after tdevoting a few moments to silent
prayer be rose.
Giugerly pushing up the sleeves of his
store coat, whereby he displayed a pair
of large, long, bony hands of a beet-red
color, he grasped the handle Of an earth
ern pitcher and poured into Il tin cup a
drought Of water which he drank with
ininitabIe gusto.
| His appearance in the pulpit was a
study f,r an artist, His face was long
aud lank, eyes pale grey, nose aqueline,
complexion sandy, hair greyish sandy,
head bald on the top, with the exception
of a small patch on the organ of re'er-
ence, las If to shade it, and, altogether
the picture of Greely whilst indicting a
Freesoil Abolition document for the ben
eft of his Southern subscribers.
lie began apologetica|ly as follows:
You don't see me to-day in the dress
| alters wear; come among you as a
stranger and ! am now tficlsed out in
my store clothes-I am not proud man,
but thought it more becoming before
strangers"
After this he raised hymn in which
the congregation joined. lie then began
his sermon:
| 'My dear brethren and sisters, first
and foremost, Pm gwine to tell YOU about
the affecting partin' had with my con-
gregation at Bathel Chapel. Arter l
had got through with my farewell sar-
mont, as + came down outen the pulpit
the old grey headed brethren and sisters
who had listened to my voice for twenty
years crowded around me, and with sob.
biup. and fearful ewes, said--FareWeIl
brother Crafford!
| AS / walked down the aisle, the young
ladies, tricked ou. in their fnery of brass
Iiewelry, gewgaws, jimcracks, paint and
hounces, looked with their bright eyes
and pronounced with their rosy lips
Farewell brother Cratford!
/ The young men in their tight paten'
leather boots, high collars and hashy
misunderstanding of pomatum and
cigar smoke-with their shangha coats
and striped zebra pants-they too, said
! Farewell, brother Craford
| The li.tls child-en-lambs in the field
lifted up their tiny hands and small
voices, and with one accord, said-Fare'
we'll brother Cratford
| The colofed bretheren Of the congre,
cation now came forward-(black sheer
who had been admitted to the field un'
der my ministry with tears rolling down
their sable cheeks, they too said-Fare
well brother brother Craford!
| AS I got on my horse and bade adleu
to my congregation forever, turned te
take a last look at the old church where
| had preached the unsearchable riches
of Christ for morn twenty years-ano
as | gazed at its delapidated walls and
| moss covered roof, it, too, seemed to say