The Mineral argus., 1883-08-23
Feet Washing in Kentucky-A
Renaissance.
San Francisco Bulletin.

San Francisco Bulletin.
In the southern part OF Kentucky, be-
fore the war, the ''hard-shelp" Baptists
were accustomed to hold their camp
meetings in the big groves of walnut,
hickory and oak trees which abound
throughout hat region.
At these gatherings, the ceremony Of
fleet washing (which they claimed our
Lord himself had instituted and COM
manded His followers to perpetuate)
was usually a part of the ceremonies.
When it was known among the soft
shell outsiders that this rite was ION the
programme for the day, crowds of the
curious came to the camp grounds "to
see the fun as the boys called It.
1t was somewhat of a satire, however,
upon the lesson Of humility which our
Lord sought TO inculcate when He Him
self had washed the feet of His disciples,
to observe upon these occasions, that the
feet washers were invariably chosen
from among the good old coloTed breth-
rem and sisters of "hard-sheil" persua-
sion, and never by any mistake from
the ''white folks" who formed the large
majority of the membership. Whether,
under these circumstances, the latter
were as much benefited as il was in
tended they should be by the ceremony
remains to this day a question in our
minds. Their feet were washed, to be
/ sure, but some old aunty with a towel
| sung over her shoulder and her basin
Of water did the humility" part Of the
business. The ceremony on their part
consisted simply in dipping the bare
feet into the basin presented to them
when it was dried with a towel by the
kneeling "foot washer" who passed
down between the benches, taking each
of the members in turn as she tame TO
them, nor making any delay, as all were
supposed to be ready to perform their
part of the ceremony as she reached
Them.
"Aunt Melindy," "a quaint old col
ored woman black as the ace of spades,
but with a faith founded upon the facv
that "John went down into the water, /"
and a belief that nothing else could suf-
fee for the rest Of us) was a member of
this church. AS usual, upon these occa-
sions, she was conspicuous among the
footwashers, as she came down the aisle
with her brilliant bandana handkerchief
arranged in a towering peak abou5 her
head, her basin in her hand and a clean
white towel thrown over her shoulder.
We sat with a party Of young folks upon
the first bench behind the members
over whose pedal publication Aunt Me-
Indy had charge. When just in front
Of US she came to an old brother" who
had trampel in his low shoes ave miles
through the dust to attend the meeting.
As the foot-washer reached him he
slipped these off and extended to her a
foot, dust-covered and grimy to the
last degree. When her eyes
fell upon the NANCY object held
out to her Aunt MelindY gave an indig-
nant snort and looking to right and lett
as If for advice in this emergency, she
at last got up from her kneeling posi-
ton and, pointing to the brothers foot,
exclaimed in a voice loud enough to be
heard by all in that part OF the camp
ground.
"Fo' de Lawdl Dis heah foot 'quires
soap and scrubbin'l Oats mo- dan l
greed 10 do, and l amt a-gwine to Spite
my towel for no such hoof as datl'
And with a scornful toss of her tur-
baned head the old woman passed the
brother by and went on to the next
member, leaving the discounted candi-
date for foot-washing to resume his
shoes in his unWashed state, whilst she
went on her way amid the audible tit
ter of those of the congregation who
had witnessed the by-play, and the ir-
repressible laughter Of the young men
in the back benches.