Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-08-14
kissing Sister Green.
I Baltimore American. /

venient spot the proceedings Of a
meeting of the ste ards D! a col.
Ored church in parliamentary
style; it nevertheless demontrated
the ability Of the colored divine
70 run a meeting on "his own
hook The minister presided,
and the meeting was opened with
the hymn, con, for a thousand
tongues to sing after which the
minister delivered an effective
prayer. in when occurred this re-
markable ! assage. 20 Lord, light
on this benightsd soul, and teach
him tina, sich practices won't be
tolerated in dis cOngregashuu. y
Like the minister vino threatened
TO throw brick from the pulpit
at the biggest sinner iu { ~ churc1,
ste shot took effeci, as several
heads popped up frotu me bench
es and Immediately popped down
again, as II conscious OF quit. The
prayer being ended, tn pr acher
arose and said: dearly belub'd
breddern, de first bisness befo' dis
meeting is case of moral distur-
bitude. When | first came among
you, like lamb in de flock |
thought had lighted in paradise,
where all was beautiful and sub
lime. | didn't tn nix such prac-
tees would go on (more necks
stretched and more heads elevated)
under de vesy roof of dis temple
ct goodness. Bar de do don't
iet no man out or woman either,
That's right. To come to the
point, without circumlocution,
breddren, and you sisters, charges
have been preferred against Brud-
der johnson, the leader of We'd
aesday class, Of having willfulIy,
Cardinelly and OF his own free will,
while Brudder Wilson We're lead
ing in prayer, kissed Sister Mary
Emmeline Green-kisSed her ma
IiciOu7ly in the presence Of the
Lord, and what's mo-, in the pres
cnc4 Of de entire class. For dat
reason, breddern, | have seen fit
20 dispose Brudder johnson from
de head of de class. Exceptions
was made to my ultimatum, and
you are called upon to decide.
Brudder johnson w IL retain his
seat till he's asked to speak. Sit
down, Mr.. Johnson. Now, Brud-
der Wilson, We'll hear from you"
MAY it please de Lord" said
Che venerable Brother Wilson,
when Moses on.de mount glib out
de laws TO de children of Isreal,
Che last thing contained among
does pieces of marble was, you
shall not convet de neighbours
Vife, nor any udder Of his process
Sions.' Now, breddern' | hold
dat Sister Mary Emmeline Green
am de wife of no man nor is Brud-
der johnson. Derfo', if de spirit
of de Lord move him to print up
on her cheeh de kiss of grace, and
she do not Object
"Datll do. Brudder Wilson.
Sit down! Do you hear? When
a man of your venerable appear
ance gifts up to excuse sin, it's
cime for de roof to cave.n
Brother Phillips was then recog-
aized by the Chair. ats disgrace
iul," he said, "dat such thing
happened. / amt a member of
the Wednesday class, but | was
present dat night by invitation,
an l heard de smack clear 'cross
Ghe room. Such a thing am de-
mOralizing in de extremity. l
move dat the course of the Chair
be sustained. If we don't do dat,
who's goin' to protect our daugh-
ters from de attacks of de persidi-
oas"-
"Who wants to kiss dem moIas-
ses-colored gals o. yourn ?" inter-
rupted voice in the rear.
Half dozen members were on
their feet at once and talking, or
rather trying 10 talk each other
down. The minister raped, but
this and his ofterpeated cries OF
"Set down! Set down dere ~ only
added to the confusion. From the
diejoipted expressions Of the now
excited stewards it was evident
that the majority Of them sided
with the accused, and one member
got on bence and tried frantical-
~ to read a protest from the We'd
nesday class, Directing to the dis
Enissal of Brother johnson, Some
one touched him where the vest
pocket lies, and he doubled up on
the floor. The reverend gentle
man who presided had been
watching the course ofevents, and,
seeing that his side was in a large
minority, he rose and annouced
the meeting adjourned, subject to
a call, in the following brief
speech: "When breddern under
take to dwell in unity and peace,