The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-08-07
NEGROES AT MEETING.

A Tennessee correspondent of the Ney
York Sun thus describes the religious exel
cises and eccentricities of the negroes of tina
State:
| Immediately after the war, most of tn
negroes dissolved their connection with tn
white churches, and Let up separate organiza
tons, and, may almost say, religion TO
themselves, for it is different from any of the
other creeds of this country, though resem
bling the Hard Shell Baptists in some respects
They usually hold their protracted meetings
during the summer months, as their churches
are too open for winter, and in many neigh
borhoods where they have no churches they
preach under arbors built in groves
During their time of seeking" as they
call it, they are unfit for any business, since
it is their custom to retire to secluded spots
| and spend most of their time in prayer.
| Their position for secret prayer is in most
cases fat upon the ground, with the face
downward, and they pray as if they were in
an agony of despair. Their prayers some
times take very practical turn. remember
hearing OF one whose prayer was somewhat
in this strain: 30 Lord, give this poor darkey
bout hundred acres of old masters land.
Thou knowest he has more than he can work,
and thy poor servant amt got nary foot +"
Their services are conducted on nearly the
same plan as other denominations. alIernat-
ing with prayer and song before and after the
sermon, which is usually long, incoherent
TRADE, interspersed with Scriptural quotations
at random.
hgurative, and the figures used are quaint and
homely. I recollect a sermon on Noah's ark,
in which the preacher said that it was built
with the hammer of repentance, the chisel OF
faith, and the saw of salvation. In the church
they commence their prayers in low tone,
which gradually ascends to a higher pitch,
when the congregation set up sort of moan,
and this finally breaks out into general
song, accompanied by a regular swaying of
their bodies. They then begin to shout,
shake hands, jump into the air and fall upon
the floor as if in commissions. All this is con-
sidered evidence that their religion is sincere
Before being admitted into the church, the |
colored converts are required to tell long
experience of their struggles with the arch |
lend, which they relate as q struggle of the |
body as we'll as Of the spirit. Most of these
recitals are as fanciful as the confessions of an
opium eater, which is an effect of their highly
imaginative natures. Time and education |
nay do away with the Objectionable features
IT their worship, but is to be hoped that they
nay retain their zeal and sincerity.
The description will apply to almost all re-
igious practices of negroes, where thev as
emble separately from the whites. They are
ssentially emotional and demonstrative. To
hink, to feel, to speak, and to act, is with ne
roes, under any excitement, one spasmodic
nd incontinent motion.
They act from feeling, emotion, impulse
nd passion. When in mental pain they
how it in the writings and distortions of
lelr bodies. When they rejoice they show it
the tones of their voices, by their grimaces,
= loud laughter, and especially by singing
I'D dancing. They are social and very fond
gathering together in crowds. This dispo- ]
ton they carry with them to their churches, l
here their emotional propensity is stimula-
d by that strange contagion which acts upon
en- and women in crowds. Choirs are I'M
'mmon among them, and what is known as
ngregational singing is almost universal A
eat many of them have good voices and all A
g very partial to vocal as well as instrumental S
usic The larger the gatherings are the tt
eater is the prevailing enthusiasm. There
a great disproportion between the noise
ey make and the coherent sense of what
ey sing. Early in the meeting they follow
lining" of the hymn by the preacher
tn some regularity, but after the sermon M
d exhortation, they form themselves into
operative union of independent singers,
lere each worshiper gives vent to his
lotions without the slightest restraint, in ii +.
Id chants without rhyme or reason. Then tt
gin the quaint actions alluded to in the
nnessee letter.
They fall down and roll about on the
'und; they leap, and shout and dance;
y weep and laugh together, and fall into
h others arms; they jump over benches G.
crowd around the pulpit The physical
triton of the average member in one night ge
spasmodic devotion is equivalent to that ",
'ended in shocking forty barrels of corn. ma
9 semi-religious orgies are usually kept up g
ii after midnight, and often until morn wi
What good results flow from such African rol
Christianity could only be estimated by to
wing what could be substituted for it. III
tons of all Southern churches, before the
were Set apart for negroes, Inc
IN their demeanor was much the same as
of the whites, but their attendance was !.
ii in comparison with that which now fills =.
II own meeting houses. There is nothing ~
nge in the fact that while many are
lest and apparently devout at their relig-
meetings, they still splinter up the Ten me
lmandments out of church. and treat all
oerty as the common gift of the Lord. If ~
: have learned at church to love their
hbors they do not forget to love their
hbors' chickens ALSO SUI
ORIGIN OF PAPER MONEY .