Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-10-21
UeathenIsm in North Carolina.

ing eight lines fifty cents
HeathenIsm in North Carolina.
From the Wilmington IN. c. Evening Post
About mile above Brown Marsha station
On the Carolina Central railway, about 40 miles
from this city, and about 200 yards to the left
ot the railroad track be seen the Sane
tuary of Tena" Just here We think it would
no, be out of place to give as much of descrip-
tion of this strange beings history as our iu-
nuries could elicit: lena the God is a ne.
prcss, apparently about fifty years of age, with
a head of perfectly white hair. There Is moth
inc about her person or features, with the ex-
ception of her hair, that would particularly
strike Que, and she does not differ from most
cclored persons 10 appearance. Lena, We learn,
was originally from Wilmington, and memher
of the Front-otreet Methodist church, OF this
city, while under the pastoral charge OF the
Rev. Mr.. Bobtitt. She was very demHnstra-
tive and noisy during the services 10 the church.
and very often would run out and climb up
tree in iiout of the ed;6ce, aud there IKE the
most horrible noise imag Unable. Finally, on
.cconnt Of her noisy manner and repeatedly
annoying the congregation, she was exconmu-
nicatcd. We failed to learn Of her wherea-
honts from that time until the fall OF 1868,
whcu she located at Brown Marsh, where she
has resided ever since Upon her arrival there
she Immediately commenced to establish a
Church of her own among the colored people,
but did not succeed very we'll until the close of
the war, when she pushed her work with re-
uewed vigor until she has now about sixty per-
sons in her band
The ''Prophetess'' asserts that she can fore
see and forete any and everything that is to
be, aud makes the band worship and respect
her as such. The sanctuary" is rude log.
cabin containing one room, built In the COM
uoucs way imaginable, and In very many
PAGES the clay which is used to stop the space
between the logs has fallen out, and by that
means only can circulation of air be obtained
as there are 20 windows in the room. Near
ug the sanctuary in front, from the railroad
track the first thing that strikes the eye of an
observer is couple of poles, about forty feet
nigh and about eight feet apart, each with
uau 5 shirt hanging on it; the shirts are made
Of coumon uubleached home-spun. On enter
ipg the enclosure one would be struck with the
cleanliness Of the yard; not a stick or even
pEc straw is allowed to remain in the yard, as
would be considered an i'll omen if perchance
should remain 10 the enclosure a half-hour
uuObserved immediately in front OF the gate.
ami about half way between the fence and the
"sancury," is small pen about ten feet square,
aud iu the middle of the pen is block, the
seat Of the God. This pen is termed by
them the singing house." Here they all
huddle up together, and dance and sing some
thing that would remind one OF an Indian war
soup Proceeding around the LETT corner OF
the Sanctuary the Dext thing to observe VIII
be peculiarly shaped clay-hole about nineteen
feet long aud two aud a. half feet deep, half full
of muddy clay-water. Our searching inquiries
failed to elicit the technical uame for the clay
hole In this clay hole each one of the
band goes, makes a clay ball about two
inches in diameter, aud places it on the
edge of the bank to dry and become
hard. Following our guide around the house
to the back door, We noticed four poles placed
in the ground, forming square, about three
feet from the door, On each one ofthese poles
there is covering for the head, two bonnets
and two hats. Around these poles the band
dances on certain days (supposed to be holy
days of the baud). 'Tena the God has two
>ca> of honor during prayers-one IN the nre
Place and the other in the bed. She invariably
Ns la Turque during the services, and her
followers kneel PROSTATE on the floor. They
Band" They have their day OF atoDement,
aud ON this occasion the God" offers up
herself as sacrifice for the sins OF her
followers During this portion Of the ceremo--
ulcs for the day she sits iu the fireplace and
throws ashes over herself then walks over
Stepping on every one of her followers; who are
Iying on the eround, face down, to mash out
their sins The band obey her, and perform
every one of the dogmas of lena scrupulouSly,
as it is part of their religion and faith. The
baud is sometimes seen on the railroad, sweep
lug the track aud ties, and on every Wed,
nesday, each and every one is required
70 visit aud carry the Cod small
ta> ket of provisions. Any who fail to comply
with the requirements are punished: Ihe
'Gcd'' is very protane, and is held 10 fear and
trembling by the colored people OF the nelgh.
borhood though, however, they do not tear
that she will hurt them by doing them an 10
lnry by physical strength, but by "conlurlog,
putting mouth on them, or gufferiug them.
lhe band has been in operation tor the past
eight years, aud by its earnings succeeded 10
budding shed in which to worship. The
authorities refused to let them use the shed
'"r that purpose some twelve or eighteen
Mohths ago oD account of the bad effect it had
oil the colored people, who were disposed 10
eFedt lcna's assertions.
CnAMpAGNE's RlsE.-It was during Napo-
scu long period of prosperity that champagne
4'>t acquired its worldwide reputation. The
eclquvror did not bimself care much for any
SOe bu, chamber,in; but the baDquets of the
uue were enlivened by the popping of innum-
e'able corks, and wherever the French eagles
Were carried there also appeared the gistening
DECKS Of legion of pump bottles decked with
SaSer foil or pink tiusel, and yielding spark
"us fuld that bubbled and beaded in the tall
sa,>es, and which the ladies of Europe at once
WV. w:k Under their especial protection. 1t was 10
r1 ra'a that some haters of Innovation protested,
IN; "se Alfred de Musset, that the first duty OF
S'u S'ue was to be red, and that other and more
;.nS ;:a1nS dl>idents refused the vinous title to the
| 'O'lsoue iuterloper.