The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1878-09-25
NEWTON'S COLORED "'MA-
.,.r- SONS"
How the Rev. Mr.. Smith Opened
"a Darkey Lodge and Raked
in the Money.

the manner in which the very "Rev.
ereud't @. +. Smith (who, until last
Thursday. ministered to their spirit
uaI wants. or, at least. those of the
Methodist persuasion) has treated
them. -tofAAfl ..N --aA a.t
There is generally ridiculous side
to every story, and there is no ex,
ception to the rule in this case.
Smith seems to have engrafted him
self so fully into the confidence Of
his flock that they thought him 10
capable of deception.
Among other ventures outside of
his immediate profession" he in
stituted a lodge of Free Masons,"
and drew therein all the colored gen.
try who had any desire land money!
to be Initiated into the secrets of the
ordera He fixed the Initiation fee
at the small sum of $3.50, and only
demanded fifty cents for each and
every degree. 49, flHIVs q
One of these full-fedged Free
Masons'' was sought and found by
reported recently, and the modus
operandi Of becoming a member was
fully detailed. thereby letting out
the secret which Old Solomon him
self treasured. and for not doing the
like the good enough Morgan mys-
terry occurred.
"Dar's no aithly use in talkin',"
said this native of "Georgy," dat
are Sniff is yillun in lambs cloze.
tie kun down var to fees de cullnd
folks and he did it,"
chow did he manage to get into
the peoples good graces so quick
ly?" asked the reporter
.Whys dat. rascal eud make de
debbil himself believe he was de
great saint in de flesh, if he would
only listen to him. I've sot right
yah in dis place and heard him preach
oh de fish an de birthstone until |
have thought lots O. times | cud
smell a smell hot from de debbil's
monf. Den he'd wheel off an talk
OBJ de glory oh de Lawd, an de joy
OBJ de angels. till I've thought de
whole place was changed. an I'd feel
so good dat I'd think l snuffed de
perfume fresh from de garden OBJ
Hebben."
"And that's the way be got the
peoples love?''
.Suah! suah! An we all thought
he was a perfck angel in de flesh"
He made you a Free Mason. |
believer
Yes. sab, Tze a Mason"
He was no Mason" said the re-
porter. sarcastically, "he was only
fooling you to get your money"
This didn't have a very good ef-
feet upon the colored man, and he
shook his head doubtfully for some
time.
Can you tell me the number of
nails in. the golden shoes?' quizzed
the reporter @A+ D4t@1 Il
"De golden shoe?'
Eyes. That's the first thing in
Free Masonry" -a t-t
mo golden shoe in our lodge.
Nebber heard OBJ DAT afore."
"Wby, of course not. That par
son was no Mason
We'll. be dog goned! An you
think we've no Masons?"
why no. Do you wear goat
skins?''' { { j.'is- J Z ~
what? O. +
why. goat skin undershirts?"
"Nebber wore one in my life. sar
Didn't heah anything OBJ datr
That shows you he's fraud then.
why. if. you went to the city and said
YOU we're a Mason, and didn't have
on a goat skin shirt, they'd murder
you, sure p
"You rally think sop
Il know it." -.-...-
Den liz you Mason!
20. yes. belong to the Gray
Elk division - -----
He put out his broad. black palm
and grasped the reporters hand in
vice like grip. and squeezed and
and squeezed, while a look
Of veneration stole over his counten-
snce and he reverently dotted his
nat. ,e-,-,--.-
well, I'm right smart glad to
nave met YAH he said at last. an
f you'll, jist sot down heah llrtell
yah how dat infernau fool toIe.-ns
4boHt Masons. said the African.
And with no further ado. he threw
limself down upon the edge Of the
perch and began: - 4
He got US up TO bis house. an
le tole us he'd initiate us into de
ole.zaAn' he prayed an prayed, and
ang and sang, an then we took
oath. Den he GIBBS US some aprons.
IN We put 'em on, and marched
house free simes5 on gde
outside. Den we went back inside an
,rayed some NOAH an den we sang.
I'd ia M de grip-I Glib il toll |