Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-12-26
A Juvenile Report Of q colorsd Meeting
in Louisville.


A Louisville boy, who for the first time
in his life visited a negro church few
days since, writes the following descrip-
ton of what be saw and heard there. II
was not written in spirit of ridicule,
but only as a truthful picture Of the man.
ner in which the black race worship in
their own churches, and as exhibiting
some of their peculisrities:
Ii was on a dark, eheerless night that
| started to visit one of our negro
churches. sdt so happened that / arrived
there late. The minister was praying,
ard about twenty FIVE or thirty men and
women were outside in the hall waiting
until he would be through, that they
might 20 in; the men on one side OF the
hall and the womes on another. There
happened to be some negro girls also, and
of course they were laug Ching and talking
among themselves; but this was soon
checked by an aged negro woman, who
said, in solemn voice:
seals, what yoa doin' thar2 You
ought to be 'shamed yoasef, latin sc"
They stopped Immediately. About
this time tho prayer had ended, and we
walked into long, wide room, with q
low ceiling. We had no sooner opened
the door than a most noxious odor sa-
luted our olfactories, as of trowsers in
the last stages of decay. As this was
only meeting on week day, the men
did not trouble themselves to change
their clothing, hence the odor.
As soon as we were seated, there arose
fearful howl as of thousand beasts in
burning building. This was told was
singing. As soon as this was done, the
preacher arose and spoke: Dear
brethren, / would like to see some con-
verts tonight. Young men, come for
ward. Young ladies, come forward and
stand up for Jesus"
Upon this there arose about ton wo-
men and three men, who came forward
to the mourner's bench and sat down.
Most Of the women commenced crying
aud jumping and calling out, "Halelpjah
to God;" also there rose three women,
who ran up and down the aisle, swing
ing their arms wildly sad screaming
loudly, GLORY Glory Save my soul J
Save my soul One of them was very
small and fat, and Of course could not
jump very high, but she made up for IT
by screaming at the top of her voice, roll
ing her eyes and boating her breast.
1t appeared to nae that the woman who
wanted to shout must have told two per-
SONS beforehand, so that they could hold
her, one ct each arm. She then would
get up, and her assistants would com
mence working her as person would
pump, she keeping time, hopping up
and dewn until she perspired. Then she
sank back exhausted and helpless, and
was famed by her friends.
In prayer each seems to pray for her
self or himself, putting in little for the
minister. The responses were loud and
clear. In a negro church you do not
hear any mumbling responses. Unfor-
tunately one of the male mourners was
drunk, SO that the minister only counted
two male penitents. Once at prayer he
had to call to order hardened old sin
ner who sat on the back of seat. He
did so in this way: "Young man, sim
ner, why sit there in sin? Bow down,
my friend, to Cod; which he did not
do. The preacher then said to the con-
gregation he would have to leave that
sinner to the devil, and in little while
dismissed them.