Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-05-10

A Foot. Washing CeremonY.

"You never saw -washing?"
said the Rev. Joseph Bowen, a Baptist
minister from Tennessee, to st. Louis
reporter. "Then you could not have
Travelled much In the back woods sec
tions Of the South and West. | remem-
ber seeing one at Randolph, Tenn, in
June, 1877. Randolph Is In Tippon
county on the Mississippi bluffs. had
to stay there over Sunday, and learning
that there was meeting at Salem
church, six miles away, | borrowed a
horse and rode to the place. The
church, built OF logs, with the cracks
daubed, sat back about 100 yards from
the road in the middle Of grove. In
side, the seats were all pretty well fill
ed, and every head in the church turned
as l entered. | shrank into a corner
and took seat as quickly as possible
In front there were few benches
made Of unvarnishcd poplar. but the
supply falling short the demand had
been met by planks laid on boxes. On
one Of these ! sat down next to a port
ly lady dressed in cotton gown with
broad yellow checks. The minister
had well earned his reputation Of
being powerful cxhortcr,' as found
when he commenced his sermon. As
he warmed 10 his work he walked
rapidly from side 10 side of the pulpit,
stopping occasionally, rs in thunder
ing voice he warned his uncOnvertcd
hearers that they were hanging over
hcll-hre by single hair 10 deal re-
sounding blows % the Bible with his
fists 10y way Of emphasis. When he
concluded hc took long crash towel
and girdcd 1t around his waist. At
the side Of the pulpit was a bucket Of
water and a noggin.' If you don't
happen 20 know what a noggin Is |
may explain that II is a small tub a
size larger than a piggin. This one
had been constructed by saving a
whisky kcg in half When the preach
or commenced pouring the water into
II an old gentleman in the amen cor
ncr commenced pulling of his brogans
and rolling up the bottoms Of his
trousers
"'WM some brother raise a hymn =
asked the minister. and the brother,
who now had his shoes of and was en-
gagged with his homc-knit cotton socks.
raised one: u am a Soldier Of the Cross. -
and n the congregation joined be put
both feet in the noggin. which had
been set before him. The preacher
squattcd down in front Of him. rubbed
his hands around over tho feet and mp
and down his shins half way 20 the
knee. when the brother thought
they We're washed enough, he held
them up out Of the water, and the par
son wiped them on the crash towel.
Then the parson sat down, and, having
pulled of his shoes had his fcct wash
81 by the brother TO whom he had
Just ministcrci. All who wished 20
Join in the ceremony had taken posses
sion II the front scats-the mourners
benches Among those who had gone
mp had been the portly sister by whom
sat The noggin came 30 her next
and she washed the feet Of the sister
next to her, having her own washed
in turn. When all the feet on the
front scat had been hathed, the water
in the noggin was cmptied out the
back door and a fresh supply brought
in from the we'll near the church.
The noggin passed around from brother
t. brother and from sister 20 sister for
an hour. and in that time saw more
varieties Of feet than have ever seen
before or since"