The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-05-06
NEGRO WORsH1pDowN SOUTH.

NEGRO WORSHIPDOWN SOUTH.
Description of.a Days Services in Georgia
-Discouraging View of the Negro Relis-
1ous Status.
The people were gathering about the
Methodist Church as we arrived. They
rumbled along, whole families Of them,
| in diminutive carts of their own mann.
facture, drawn by a single animal, usual
ly an OK, or what at the north would be
called small steer, with every bone
sticking out and every hair standing on
end. The meeting house was the rudest
kind of structure, and 80 small that
half the seven hundred church members
stood outside, which was just as we'll,
considering the marvellous elocutionary
powers of the minister. The service be-
gan before twelve and never slack
ed an instant till four. Every brother,
as he came in, shook hands all around,
and every sister made q courtesy. Many
of them were 80 black you could not see
them but for thei, Hashy turbans and
white aprons. They sang uproariously,
keeping time with their feet, till the min
lister appeared, when the singing grew
louder still and wilder, and their bodies
rocked more and more. He gave out a
hymn. Everybody sang-it was enough
to lift the roof-the strangest melody and
music. They have a harmony all their
own, very many parts, and not correspon-
| ding to our harmony, and usually minor.
They stood, and as the music swelled, their
powerful bodies swayed and rolled in a
mass and the billowy roar was like unto
the sea. It was magnificent. Suddenly
it ceased, and the entire feminine crowd
dropped courtesy. Then prayer by
one of the deacons, who wound them
up to a shouting pitch, and the minister
read another hymn. "God moves in a
mischieuous way" and another line,
"Judgs not the-Lord by feeble saints"
Negro preaching is usually a feryid de-
scription of Heaven and hell, the resur-
rection and judgment, of sin and saliva
ton, too, in q general way, but with moth.
ing practical, and few, either of preach
ers or hearers, knowiwhat sin or salvation
mean. This was the farewell sermon,
and most narrowing, and as the preacher
kindled and glowed, the FIRE caught and
blazed like the pine knots they burn; the
sisters began to vail and scream, the
brothers to shout; tears, means and groans
were on every hand; they wrung and
elasped d,clapped their hands, swung
hsir bodies ileaped and danced, ainging
out theif:arms; they Whistled and yelled,
crooned. cheered, chirruped, tatooed, and
howled, and at short intervals came q
sharp report, possibly at your very ear
like loud pistol, till the whole: was in
the widest tumult. But a close observer
could see shrough alla certain order, a
melody, even ; it was sort OF natural sym.
phony, and controlled by one hand and
will, and at the will of the preacher, in
ferior as he looked in comparison with
many ofhis hearers; the7blast softened, the
rumble ceased, and all was a., the, grave;
The minister, whe was consnmptiye, de-,
clared: that he was almost dead, but he
prayed with undiminished force, and
thus: 20 Lord, We do beseech dee to sem
de locomotive of dy ,Holy Spirit down
into de camp Of de Philistines an convert
all de sinners"
Next.came the contribution, when for
three-quazters Of anshouf. they sang and
danced, while the people deposited their
inickles-yery slowly, for they have little
money aud less confidence in those that
receive it. AT length the minister be-
came impatient, and shouted, I'VE has
Igot ty raise IS mo- an I tell 70 now, ye
won't get q mite o. sacrament till ye've
raised it." and the tramp began afresh.
AFTER receiving several into the church,
we had communion, and six hundred
Ipartook. All through the service the
music continued, often very beautiful.
They sang Old Hundred and ct. Martins
with decided variations Of their OWL, and
I' Jesus, lover Of my SOUL" 10 minor
tune Of exceeding sweetness. As the
women left the altar they dropped "a cour-
itesy, as they did after each exercise: A
number were baptized and received on
;probation, and then the babies were
brought, dark blossoms in white vestments.
with gay streamers. "A name was asked,
II"Gufy tAustin," was the answer. "OufyP
exclaimed, the minister, with some anger,
i"What do you glib your chile such name
as dat for? Cufy amt no name It all !
Don't neber glib chile no such nick
name he'll be shamed on it as soon as
the knows anything" Again be inquired
the name, the woman was mad and flung
out: ''CuAy AustinI'' The pastor took
the child in his arms, sprinkled some MA.
ter on it's besd, and said :"I baptise thee,
Cufy Austin, in ignorance" and that
was all the christening that baby re-
ceived.
"A couple then appeared to be married,
but the minister said be was too tired to
marry them that day, and they would have
to wait till he came next time. He was
then 10 exhausted that we began to fear
I'VE should have dead man to carry home.
he was quite through however. The prin-
cipal steward Of the church, fne look.
ing, full blooded negro, who sat behind
the altar and was particularly active, was
called 10 account fdr appropfiating church
funds, and dismissed from hisaofhce.. he
did not take it at all to heart, and the
whole assembly looked upon it as quite
regular proceeding.-Savannoh Cor.
-OO5tOt SV0yI Ieyutt0"ottot'
f; ~ - -. - -
! A SPOILED MAN.AIn. Europe there is
spoiled man. He has been indulged
and pampered to such an extent that it
it costs Sill, ,O00,0 900 q year to keep him in
good humor.
This spoiled man is the Sultan Of Tur-
key. His house isr defended by thirty
great gums and guard of 5000 men. His
head servant, or grand marshal, has a
salary of 100000 year. Five secreta-
ries are employed to save him the trou-
BILE of writing. Four chief chamberlains
live with him, who when they march in
procession, carry great bunch Of keys
on their backs. He has twenty three
aids de camp, all Of whom are persons Of
much consequence. 49,. =:
This enoiled man keeDs f1ya takers tn