The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1873-06-06
Word Letter.
A, NEGRO BAPTIsING IN MISS
rssIPPT.

( $1,000 = -
The ceremonies had already be-
gun when | arrived A negro
preacher, assisted by two attendants
who only appreciated the importance
Of their position, stood in the edge
of the stream, and one by one the
candidates, or "seelxers," as the me-
groes have it, descended to the water
from tent on thes slope above. The
sacred formula vas pronounced over
each one, thea came little splash
as the sinner was buried mo-
ment in baptism, and then that shrill
and to me almost terrifying shrek
which constitutes an orthodox relig-
ious 'sshout" was heard as the re
generate darkey emerged from the
water and was led back shrieking
and struggling to the shore, where
the older brethren and s'sisterenn
were waiting to receive him AS
soon as the preacher had pronounc-
ed this formula the whole assembly,
led by magnificent bass VOICE, set
up one Of those wild, wierd, negro
choruses which, once heard, can new
er be forgotten. The music contin-
ued till the next candidate was about
to be Immersed, and then ceased on.
ly moment 20 rise again as soon as
the preachers voice was hushed.
rhase who have never heard cho-
rus Of this sort don't know what
music is Such magnificent vol
nme Of sound, such grand roll oil
human voices, as some tavorite strain
such as Lets 20 down to the wa
ter" or .Stand on the walls Of Zion"
came surging and swelling over the
river, never greeted my ears before
1t beggars oil description. Tht
grand organ at Cologne is but pen
ny whistle to it; the Boston Jubilee
but piping Of sparrows. There
was not single false note, not slip
in time or tune, as the wonderful
chorus came swelling over the water
making the very heavens ring with
melody. All four parts--tenor, bass,
alto, soprano--were carried in such
perfect harmony that it was as it one
mighty voice were hymning its
praiss 10 heaven. How they mans
age il " q mystery; not one Of all
that sable multitude was acquainted
with even the FIRST rqdimeptg Of
music, yet no trained orchestra ever
kept more perfect time.
We kept our station on the raft
over an hour, while some thirty
s.seekers" were converted into sspro-
fessogs,'' and then at the suggestion
II ny friend, proceeded further
down the stream 10 have q nearer
view Of the ceremony. | was sorry
afterward that / had done 80, for all
the solemnity Of the occasion immed-
lately departed. Some Of the gest
ures ofthe negroes as they came up
on. of the water were ludicrous ia the
extreme. and their language often
irreverent, even blaspheWous. Me-
groes consider some violent physical
demonstration a necessary evidence
Of the validity Of their conversion
indeed one old woman informed me
that she never had knowed nobody
to come through all right without
they went into 9 trance. /"
The effect If the music was decid-
9oiy spoiIed by too close proximity.
The gotcag which had sounded 50
grand aud eeDsroas from distance
were harsh and coaree close by while
q distinct hearing Of tbe cords did
not conlribatc by any meaay 70 the
grandeur Of the music Who, for
instance, could repress q smile at the
following, though aung 70 the most
exquisite melody:
ssasp moan. what make moan 30 Slow
wonder ii Zion traveller has gone along be-
lore
Mary and Martha feed my lambs,
Feed my lambs. feed my lambs,
May and Martha feed my lambs,
Ssssa9g on theg golden altar.
There 10 4pother specimen, the
effect of which 4 leave to the read
er's imagination:
/ meef 10y soul Il de bar N God,
ileerd mighty bamber;
ItsVaa my sin fell down 10 he'll
I,ef lfha q olats ~ flffsfla ~