Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-04-07
For the Reporter.
Letters from the South.-No. 3.

Memphis, Tenn, Feb. 7th, 1853.
To-day being Sabbath, I, as you
know is my custom at home, concluded
to attend church. I started out accom-
panied by my friend DR.. A., and one
or two other gentlemen. This being
my first church going in the South, my
friends proposed that we attend the
"Colored Church, They had no
preaching, but each took part in the ex-
ercises as the spirit moved. AS we
entered, the whole audience arose to
greet US, because we were ssWhite
folks" and cleared a seat for our espec-
ial accommodation. After we became
seated, an old gray haired white man
who it seems is appointed by the au-
thorities to be present at all assemblies
of slaves-arose and announced that
services would now commence. As
none OF the congregation are supposed
to know how to read, books were not
needed; but the one who first took part
III the exercise, arose and repeated
such parts of hymn as he remember
ed, and when done the whole congre-
CATION arose and sung, the one who
first gave out the hymn, repeating it
two lines at time. Daring the sing
ing each one Of the male portion of the
congregation commenced moving about
the room shaking hands with every one
be met, and all were very particular to
give us hearty shake of the hand, as
II to say "a white man is as good as a
negro If he behaves as well.o Such =
shaking OF black fists l never saw be-
fore. After singing, the one who pub
llshed the hymn either delivered a
snort eShortatlon, or prayer, or both,
as he chose, and this closed his part of
the exercises. Similar exercises were
repeated by others until all who felt
disposed had taken part in the exer-
clses. The white man who was pres
ent to see that no "incendiary'' remarks
were made, and that nothing was done
to endanger the safety OF the 'speculiar
institution, then arose and made a
very few Appropriate remarks on the
duty OF slaves to their masters, and
read some select portions of the scrip
lures bearlngupon the same subject, af-
ter which the meeting closed. These
meetings are encouraged by the mas
ters as being the means of working upon
the superstitious mind of the slave and
making him believe he will surely 90 to
''torment" if he does not in all things
honor and obey his master. It is ex-
ceedingly hard to believe that there is
any genuine piety among slaves hold
ers when we see such glaring inconsis-
tencies as exist among them. Many
of them boldly assert that they don't
believe ''nigger" has a soul. and say
that they like to have the slave think
he has, that they nay the better keep
him under subieeion by practicine
upon his superstitio,s fears.
Although the institution Of marriage
is in fact disregardel entirely when the
interest Of the mastercomes in question,
sun 1t IS encouraged and urged upon
the slaves by the veN men who will
reiio -as''iit'ei' tiAe marriage tie at pleas
'ie' L "l'liesseo themarriage or naoch
marriage of a pair of ou;te ;ntell;oen,
slaves, who came into cbnrch arraved
- "'l 'iie .'ne 'neu ingenuity could
invent AS they stool nm before the
altar, l could hardly realize that thev
were slaves-doomed IL bave this sol
emn ceremony and thei solemn vows
!, disregarded by the viii of one mar
! whenever his seifintersst or passion
shall dictste. The serriee was yer,