Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1860-03-30
The Prayer of The Colored
Elder.

Tho PRAYER OF INC COlOTGC
r,,I
IhuoA'
4 fascinating work on i" the aspects o
religion in the United States Of America
has made its anpearance, and is crea :ne
considerable intere st in the public mind -
The author dwells with much truthfulnes.
and force upou the denominations of tn.
slavery ef the Southern States, and relate,
many incidents as illustrative of the intel
leetual mower Of the colored race The fol
lowing is peculiarly striking
There il an African Baptist Church in Rich
mond wbit h has more than 3 900 members
who make n creditable Christian profession
and an account of a service in it may be in
terestino as showing how Negroes worship
God. The service was held on the last Sab
bath of 1853, when Richmond was crowded
with Negroes, who were to be sold or hireC
during the next week. The church was q
nlaln. low building, in the f rm of the let
ter T. with deep galaries and seats for 2,O0t
nersons. IL was closely packed U this occa-
sion. The women sat in one half of the
church, the men in the other. There were
black men, with faces shining like we'll pol
ished boots. brown men, and yellow men
-
with tl,..ir black ak ms. and Young men, dress
ed in the extreme of the fashion. all chewing
tobacco. There were Young girls, baHutitul
hrunrtt,s. with nothing but their slightly
rri,ped hair to indicate their African origin:
huqc. fat mammies,' with immense facee
radiant with plelsnre, and old smoke-dried
rrones. who sat swaying to and fro, Their
i.,ys muyjpft ceaselesSly. The Young women
we're Dire essrd in the ravest colors and the
smallest boanets, and wore, very inapl ro-
rriutoIv the cast OF GneIy Of their mis-.
irr.ses Before the minister arrived, tie
peo1,le were singing with mouths and ewes
I,strn1cd. md their feet beating time houvi.
Iv but probably their untaught praise dis
cyuls scd sweeter music to Him who seeth not
as man seeth than the harlnOnies Of the ca
thedral5 et All lands,
a. The minister first called unon on elder
Ia uray. A euIory upon this PRAYER NAV
apIear rather extravagant to those whose
Sl,I,. IDEAS of negro worship are derived from
stories Of the undiscipiined exaggeration ot
campneetin.s, where the oIditv Of the
IDEAS is ONLY edua!led by the grotesqucness
Of the language. This PRAYER, considered III
all rpsp.e Is -arprlpriateness Of language.
manner and matter-was well wort Y to b.
preserved. Long before it was over, tears
were rolling down the cheeks Of most OF the
white persons present; one wealthy slave
holder was CRYING outright, So great was tho
power Of su6limity, simplicity and pathos
even with the running accompaniment, on
the part of the congregation, OF means.
rroans. and Amens, ant. whispers sufficient
IL audible, of .Nh, dear : Oh, grant it
Oh. J lsus' The elder was n very dark
mulatto. with woody hair, fat nose and thick
lips. but with an intellectual forehead aud a
fne EXPRESSION OF c5uutenanca. His prayer
commenced with II deep confession OF sin
then followed sublime expression OF ad r
alton ot the GOODNESS and wisdom of God.
especially as evidenced in the schem. Of re
,lenptlon next thanksgiving and 1t might
have ,hamed many Il disc0ntcnted heart to
hear these enslay,ql mort..ls thanking God for
their mercjes THIS was followed by peti-
tons as comprehensive az those Of the Eng
fish E.itanv. + rhe hiring time was at the
pew year. FIVE davs Afterwards, when atout
, $40 neIr5rs changed masters, BESIDES th. sc
that were sold. In allusion To these changes
over which they had no control. he used thes,
words tiuiic us in all our changes take
as MT far from thine house or, il wc are re.
moved from Zions assemblies, may thy rr"--
.nce be b tier To us than an earthly te.nple
Oh. take us not where We shall b. tempt i
above that we are able to withstand? Max,