The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-10-17
THE NEGRO AND HIS RELIGIOUS
ASPECT

THE NEGRO AND HIS RELIGIOUS
ASPECT
Nothing is more apparent to an attentive
ond impartial observer than the fact that the
mass of our colored population tends con.
tinually to drift back to the ancestral crednlity
ana superstition which are the blrthr1ght OF
every African. So long as they were under
the absolute control of the whites this lapse
was preyented. It remains now to be seen
wbe ther the influence which can be exercised
over them in their present changed relations
will be equally eficacious. 1t Is true that the
mixed race have these hereditary character
istics in less marked degree than the undi-
luted blacks. A few drops Of whittier blood
than that which rightfully courses through
their veins may infuse more logical mode of
thought and a regard for the practical into
the sensuous African nature. More than this,
this mixture Of blood often lays the founda-
tion of more rational religious faith than
that which animates the souls OF their darker
brethren; but the former are the exceptions;
assuming, it is true, larger proportions
and more consequence than exceptions
usually do, and comp posing that motley mass
of all tints and hues Of brown that push for
ward toward something, they know not pre-.
cisely what, stupg by absurd ambitions, and
vexed with irrational discontents, thrustlng
themselves into Office, and wrangllng for pre-
posterous rights 1t is not OF this monde
script class, representing neither the white
man nor the negro, that We now speak; nor
is it of that small minority who, endowed
with better intelligence, are honestly endeav-
oring to adjust themselves to their new con-
ditions. We are dealing at present with that
enigmatical mass of sable humanity that well
tiers in confession and anarchy in our South
ern land. II is strange and unbeautiful
mass heaving with misrule and discomfort
dmlv conscious of its own anomalousness
and from time to time dashing in indefinite
revolt against the low bulwarks that partial
government has been compelled, in sheer
selCdefense. to rear against their absurd de-
mands. This mass, as it sways to and fro
appears like some huge leviathan cast ashore
out Of its natural element-aimless, purpose
less, and to superficial eyes almost lifeless.
But disintegrate the mass, and every particle
will be found to possess soul imbued with
superstition, woven into its very grain as it
were, never to be eradicated. We speak Of
the negro knowingly, having labored among
them in the days when the southern people
were supposed fit guides for him.
Prominent among these people in bis self
assumed Office, stands the preacher" He
is their spiritual thermometer and weather
gauge; determining the religious status Of
each member Of his flock with precision
and decision that out Peters st. Peter himself
This Office, as before remarked, is always self
assumed; at least, We have never known of
any instance where the "preacher" was set
apart by any rite or ceremony or was re-
ouired to show any qualification. He has q
call, not well.defned perh APPS, but miracu-
lous; not one voice among his credulous fol-
lowers ever daring to dissent from, or ques-
ton, his ;pse di1it The preacher, who, per-
force. must be shrewd, and supremely self
complacent, grasps the keys of celestial
kitchens with as firm hand as though he
understood all about Apostolic Succession
and stood in line, solemn. unapproachable
in all the distinction of black cloth, specta-
cles and standing collar-three requisites
for erecting q pulpit The "preacher is
never facetious, except unwittingly; can not
dig, to beg is not astamed. never loses guard
over his sef.importance, and allows no liber-
ties. He lives by souls. usually charging
from f " cents to one dollar per soul for its
admission into the Told. Fifty cents is the
ordinary price for trial experience; one dol
lar for sure and saving hope. from which
there is no backsliding. And these things are
neither sec ional nor denominations, depend
ing entirely upon the arbitration OF the
preacher" and proportionate to the depth
of superstition in the character of his follow
ers. Should q truly honest "seeker" come
to his preacher, with q heavy burden of sin
upon his conscience, and request prescrip-
ton to rid himself Of this load, he is indig-
nautly dismissed with. "Yahi Yer begone,
wild yer white-trash religion" No. the
"seeker" must come with vision, dream,
lightning at midnight, darkness at MONDAY.
2 froYo Sc ahri q
tootine. horn" or loud call and command to
"drap that bucket" or "hoe," as the case
might be, etc. These things, and the hard
earned dollar to back them, are convincing
nroof that "white trash" have never put
their profane fingers in this spiritual pie: the
"seeker" is prepared to Zine the army"
These blind leaders of the blind usually
have a set day for putting the "seekers
through" On that day, the love of the mar
vicious is triumphant; the revelations of Swe-
denborg fade into the fimsiest insignifcance
by the side Of African visions, and the IN
written catechism used on such occasions
would puzzle the Twelve Apostles in con-
clave, leaving out the Latter Day theologiaps
of every school. In one instance, where
Gabriel's ever-ready horn had been the means
NJ conversion, the length Of the horn was SO
strenuously demanded by the preacher, that
the ..seeker" was inclined to step down,
until the fortunate idea struck him to describe
the horn IS covering the "yuniyersal air;h. )"
No one in the assembly could gainsay or equal
that, and the preacher had to give in:
AZ 40 called "trial meeting" in the noun
tains OF Virginia, the following question was
propounded to every "seeker".: docs yer
feel as il any link was rising in yer throat
like? Does il pear TO you as II It was chokln
yer like?" Now, this was the test question.
Those who experienced no "chokin's" we're
"hipplscrits tearing among the .aheat' to whom
were forbidden to give the right hand Of fel-
narbans instructed. when attending the trial
meeting, but this was enough to sadden any
heart: and our sympathies. which We thought
less seekers" probably because We s were IN
another class was harangued by the preacher,
who had not the requisite fee; these were dis
missed with an aomonition to "work out