The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-09-28
A NEGRO REVIVAL.
What the Colored Folks Sing at
Their Quarterly Gatherings.

What the Colored Folks Sing at
Their Quarterly Gatherings.
The Wilmington. Del, Every Evening
describes an interesting negro revival,
recently held near that place. 1t reads,
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
brethern and sisters who participated,
Two circles of penitents were formed in
different parts of the grounds, and the
preparations for the exhilarating exer-
clses began. Goats, busters, vests and
hats We're dot1ed, neckties
were transferred to pockets,
and paper collars opened. One, more
enthusiastic and demonstrative than the
rest, took a position in the center. and
sort of chant. The center figure would
sing a 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 i'll 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 ,ongest
began.
1f0nce I get inside the door
You'll never find me here no more.
This was sung with refrain, the sing
ers jumping into the airaftcr each verse,
and for moment their voices were
again. Continuing in the same meas.
ure with another hymn, they wrought
much eXcitementfr from its chorus, which
ran:
When l am dead and gone
don't want no one ter grieve after me.
A strange HYMN with which all the
elngers seemed to be acquainted, had for
II chorus: another ran:
Dead sea beat up high,
But children Of God Iass through dry,
What's the matter now.
Don't you wish you were there
Angels tl9ing through the air,
WHAT'S the matter now.
Snatches OF hyms such as quoted were
sung for more than au hour to the same
tune, varying in earnestness and pitch
as the singers could recover their breath
after the violent exercise OF clapping
jumping and swaying their bodies, re-
sembllng not Il little an lLdian wal
dance. AS they grew exhausted in q
measure, they Were sparrei up by a
minister IN charge of each circle and the
singers dropping out after their
places were filed up by fresh
and vigorous penitents without inter
ruptlon. At long intervals one of the
penitents would express a desire to
pray, and seemingly worn out, the 9TH
ers would bow in the dust and the
speaker wonll chant in solemn measure
part OF a hymn that he had been sing
ing. Rising. the shout would begin
again with Increased enthusiasm.
The revival is described rs being ne
culiur to the southern negro, but i has
been greatly modified and is lessboister-
Gus than the big quarterly revivals OF
slavery days.
Services of similar nature were kept
up. with occasional intervals for rest, uil-
til late at night. The big quarters will
continue through the present week.
The attendan ,e will he considerably less
than yesterday, as nearly all the visit
ors returned to their homes last even
ing.
During ole of the shoutsa big. fat fe.
male rushed into the tent and jerked a
small negro out of the ring in a hurry
Planting one hand on his shoulder and
eesticulating wildly with the other she
argued as follows: Now, Nose; what's
maitah wild you, nigge,? You's breaking
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 a brother BY the hand,
said; Brown, Pse got bizness wild the
Lord" "Dat's right, sister," said Brown
"Brnwl4, you live in Delevare an libe
in Pennsylvania" You's right, sister,
"Ef 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
ella t,sed before one of them drew cigar
from his pocket aud said, Pete. you
pick 'er 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 duster, pink Jersey,
yellow skirt and a flaming red sash.
Her escort wore a full evening dress
suit under a linen dnster, and black
slouch hat. They were objects of admi.
ration from the time they left the train
until they turned the corner of Front
and Fourth streets
A disgusted 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 farce out OBJ soleme.
tes."
RATT nnNC