St. Landry democrat., 1882-06-10
BaptisiMg.

Early on Sabbath morning last while
seated on the gallery Of our domicil
we saw occasional ones of our colored
friends passing with bundle in hand
and walking hurridly toward the cas-
tern part of town, and were told that
baptising was to take place at An
derson's bayou in close proximity to
the Colored Baptist Church of this
place. Seeing them in such a hurry,
we inquired the cause, and were told
that there were great many to be i'm
mersed, and that in order to get through
before the heat of the day, they would
be compelled to commence early. That
did away with all ideas Of breakfast
for US, and we fastened to the scene OF
action in hope of securing a place
where we would be able to see all that
was going on. We had been there but
few minutes when we saw negroes with
bundles and grip-sacks coming from
all directions and making their way to-
ward the Colored Baptist Church,
where preliminaries were being gone
through with. BY sunrise the church
was filled to it's completion with the
handsomest set of darkies that we ever
put our peppers on. While ceremonies
were in progress-which was not little
while-a considerable crowd was gath
ering around shaped hole
in the bend Of the bayou, at which
place steps were put down the banks
in order to facilite them in baptising.
A large thorn tree overlook the good
work, and afterward afforded shade for
the ladies, and it's top, an uncomfortable
seat for your reporter and the balance
of the "niggers." Finding out that we
would have time to slip over to an old
acquaintance and get breakfast before
the crowd assembled, we did so,
and as majority have it, we were
cleaning on' a hearty meal when the
procession started from the church.
We had heard that several would be
immersed, but could scarcely realize
that the approaching line was headed
by seventy three applicants. As they
filed over the bridge and around the
bend of the gulley we are told that a
sinful negro remarked that, 'if it was
night and | were comin' long here, l
would "a swore dat der grade yard had
tarned loos' all der chooses in it an
wouldn't "a stopped long 'nugh ter
count 'em nuther." With the excep-
ton of an umbrella lecture admins
tered by persuasive old woman on
a disobedient husband, nothing occurred
to mar the solemnity of the OCCASION
and this could only be seen by a man
up tree. AS the assembIage crowded
around the poole it was like putting a
number fourteen foot in number six
shoe, to find standing room, and for any
one on the ground to get a
sight at what was transpiring would
have required more than a perceptive
ey looking through the largest telescope
Of modern invention. Preparatory
to receiving the applicants, the Rev. Mr..
Burr, with able assistants, sung apprO-
pirate hymns, while the committee of
reception formed a double line for
helping them in and out OF the water.
The males being in front, were first
immersed and seemed to fully realize
the duties and responsibilities incurred
by the act, yet making little demonstra-
ton except toward the last. After wit
Messing the initiation Of males into the
virtues of the healing stream, the wo-
men were more serious and gave vent
to their feelings, nearly every one
swooning away to be carried of by their
friends, who stood in readiness with
blankets and other coverlids. After
witnessing the procedure from a dizzy
height, we descended cautiously from
our cramped position in the thorny
sphere to mingled with number friends
who, to witness the closing exercises
at the church, were marching off each
with a member of the fairer sex. The
programme for the day was closed with
appropriate songs while the new men,
bers, dressed in white, marched around
and thro ugh the church and were re-
ceived.
Carriers Little Liver Pills are free
from all crude and irregular matter.
Concentrated medicine only; very
~,or,, ,ox, fn f.l-o M M