River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-09-27
.
A NEGRO REVIVAL.
What the ColOred Folks Sing at
Their Quarterly Gatherings.


recently held near that place. 1t reads,
n part, as follows:
At the conclusion of the afternoon SER
vices the graveyard was the scene of an
enthusiastic revival, and resounded with
the shouts and songs of scores of the
brethren and sisters who participated.
Two circles of penitents were formed IN
different parts of the grounds, and the
preparations for the exhilarating exer-
cises began. Coats, busters, vests and
hats were dotted, neckties
were transferred to pockets,
and paper collars opened. One, more
enthusiastic and demonstrative than the
rest, took positiI.l in the center. and
the exercises began with solemn weird
sort of chant. The center figure would
sing couplet, and the heavy chorus
came in on the refrain. The singers
gradually warmed up to the highest
pitch of enthusiasm, and grew complete
ly absorbed in the work of rendering
the selections at the top of their voices
The excitement increased, the singers
beat the time with vigorous claps of their
hands and swayed their bodies and
heads in unison with the melody. A
hymn which they fingered over longest
began.
If0nce l get inside the door
You'll never find me here no more.
This was sung with a refrain, the sing
ers jumping into the air after each verse,
and for a moment their voices were
hushed until they could catch breath
again. Continuing in the same meas
ure with another hymn, they wrought
much excitement from its chorus, which
ran:
When / am dead and gone
l don't want no one ter grieye after me.
A strange hymn with which all the
singers seemed to be acquainted had for
81 chorus: Another ran:
Dead sea beat up high,
But children Of God ass through dry,
What's the matter now.
Don't you wish you were there,
Angels f wing through the air,
WHATS the matter now.
Snatches of hymns such as quoted were
sung for more than an hour to the same
tune, varying in earnestnes5 and pitch
as the singers could recover their breath
after the violent exercise OF clapping.
jumping and swaying their bodies, re-
sembling not little an Indian war
dance. As they grew exhausted in a
measure, they were spIrred up by
singers dropping out after their
exhaustion was complete, but their
places were filed mp by fresh
and vigorous penitents without inter
ruption. At long intervals one Of tue
penItents would express a desire to
pray, and seemingly worn out, the 9TH
ers would bow in the dust and the
speaker would chant in solemn measure
part of hymn that he had been sing
ing. Rising, the shout would begin
again with Increased enthusiasm.
The revival is described as being Pc
cuiar to the southern negro, but it has
been greatly modified and is lessboister-
GUS than the big quarterly revivals OF
slavery days.
Services of n similar nature we're kept
up. with occasional intervals for rest, I'M
til late at night. The big quarters will
continue through the present week.
The attendance will tie considerably less
than yesterday, as nearly all the visit
ors returned to their homes last even
ing.
During one of the shoutsa big, fat fe
male rushed into the tent and jerked
small negro out of the ring in a hurry.
Planting one hand on his shoulder and
gesticulating wildly with the other she
argued as follows: Now, Nose; what's
=
yourself all up for work next week when
you knows you's got to pay for dat shirt
an dis Jersey. Now, don't you shout no
mo-; hyar me?" Nose heard her.
Another negro woman became excited,
and grabbing brother by the hand,
said; Brown, Use got bizness wild the
Lord" Oats right, sister" said Brown.
''Browu, you live in Delaware an / libe
in Pennsglvanny?" Yous right, sister,"
EFF you dies in Delaware jess report at
headquarters up dar and ask hab Lie
Jonson arriv, an eff amt daryet tell EN-
to watch out for me-"
Brown promised ner he would, intro
duced her to another brother and made
his exit
Shortly after the train arrivals, while
two of the brethren were escorting an
immense sister up French street, she
suddenly threw up her arms and sank
to the ground in fit. At this neither
OF the brothers showed the least sign of
agitation, aud several seconds had
ELAPSED before one of them drew cigar
from his pocket and said, Pete, you
pick Ter up while / lite this cigar" and
Pete struggled with her while the smok
er prepared to burn the weed.
One Of the female arrivals was dressed
in a blue cambrick buster, pink jersey,
yellow SklfJ anu Adlulng T6u SASH.
Her escort wore full evening dress
suit under a linen dnster, and black
SLOUGH hat. They wee objects of admit
ration from the time they left the train
until they turned the corner of Front
and Fourth streets
A disguised and truly good brother
said TO the reporter: MOS OBJ desc
niggers will nebber see de church
dis day. Dey jess cum here for ter
monkey an make a farce out OBJ soleme'
tpsn