The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-12-31
THE SOUTHERN PROM
The Reader 10 Advised that this % "a
brooklyn Beecher.

brooklyn Beechcr.
ST. HELENA's ISLAND, Dec. 13-WiIt l.lv
sitting on the wide porch Of an old pla fi1n
house that overlooked the sea- dreamily 's,er
ing to the dull roar Of the surf It foameu owe,
the distant bar. lazily compared the slow beat
OF the surf with the sharp nervous rattle OF the
long-staple cotton gins in operation behind
the house. Suddenly there rushed from the
gin house q bevy OF colored female children.
They were running. They were almost breath
less. They were greatly frightened and scream
ing loudly. These girl children we're from TO
10 years old. They took refuge under the porch.
Curious to learn the cause Of their fright.
walked down the wide stairs and around to the
corner OF the porch. saw tho little creatures
start nervously when peered into the dimly
lighted hole where they were hiding. What
is the matter with you youngsters ?" asked
pleasantly. For an instant they remained
silent; then one OF the Oldest said In earnest
tones: "'Fo' God. sab we'uns seed Henry Ward
Beecher coming down do big road" then. with
q sharp emphatic nod Of her woolly head she
added. sagely: Weuns has to watch out for
dat Niger" Astonished at the presence OF the
eminent divine on this island. gazed
silently on the children for an instant and then
walked over to the gin house to inquire into
the doings Of Mr.. Beecher since his arrival.
greatly feared the author OF the unfinished
Life OF Christ" had been acting badly. Find
ing tho owner Of the gin house. I asked him
whom the famous preacher from Brooklyn ar
rived. Loudly he laughed. Recovering from
his merry mood he told me that the Beecher
OF st. Helena's Island was q black man. TAX
ing me by the arm, he led me into the Weighing
room. and. pointing to a gross. burly negro
who was sitting on bag Of cotton. said con-
tapn mi, al hat nj Ia
Beecher. and. il possible. he is worse man
than his white" l capped my hand over
the mouth OF the owner Of the cotton gin, who
evidently had no knowledge Of the law Of libel.
When the mouth Of the cotton-gin man
was unstopped he went on to say: The
Henry Ward Beecher on that bag OF cotton Is
an utterly depraved and licentious brute. He
and the class he belongs to are curse to these
islands They create trouble. They are con-
stantly misleading the other negroes. They
are the political as well as religious ad-
visers OF the blacks. The negro women look
up to these men. and Of course. the low brutes
take advantage Of the freedom with which they
are received into the negroes houses. These
so-called preachers arc the worst men in the
Black Country OF South Carolina"
II this was 80. 1t was worth investigating; so
looked into affairs religious. After carefully
WcISuluS Wuut ! utufu siW, dkEco Will
my cotton-gin friend in his estimation Of the
character Of the black preachers and deacons
Of the church which is in the Sea Islands. 1t
must be understood that there is no religion
among this people. They make a pretence OF
religious thought and conduct. There is much
cant talk and parrot-liko repeating OF
verses believed to have been written by apos-
ties. There is large rolling upward Of black
eyes. and much psalm singing. and great deal
Of shouting. and much heavy dancing done in
the Lords honor. But Of religion. in the true
sense Of the term. there is none.
The preachers plant a little patch OF cotton.
and then. leaving their families to tend the
crop they hitch their horses to their buggies
and ride around pastornlly visiting women
whose husbands they know to be at work in
distant fields. or absent at the phosphate fish
cries or at the gin houses. These preachers
manage to sponge one or two meals every day
of OF their poor parishioners. Wherever they
feed they debauch the wives or daughters Of
the men whose food they have eaten. They
have no understanding OF things political; but
with the confidence that belongs to ignorance
| and stupidity. they never fail to advise the
negroes to vote the Republican ticket. They
! constantly interfere in tho bargains made be
tween the negroes and the men owning tho gin
houses. They talk fairly to the faces OF the
white men, and then lie about them to the
blacks. They are dangerous. unscrupulous
| class. and they tend to degrade the colored
race. FRANK WILKRsoN.