The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-02-12
South Carolina Negro Camp Meet.
ing.
New York Evening Post Letter.

sss3 new YORK evening kost letter.
rBrother Ulysses" was next called
Rpon to address the meeting. He is
known as the golden tongued orator of
the region, and while he spoke the most
perfect silence reigned. He closed with
this peroration:
sWhen de sun am sat to rise no mo-
de eastern horiza; when de stars am
lost from deir azure depths; when de
moon become red as dragging's blood
ali, when de day OBJ judgment come sud.
denly, ah, den dem gates ob de CELESTIAL
city shell be unbarred, ah, yea, dem gates
what opens on dem streets ob gold an
brass an nickel, ah, dem shall be open,
4Ah. an de eransomed one shall parade up
de front streets OBJ heaven, jest like twas
ia perpetual lection day-ah! an de
Lawd shell rise from off his white froue
-ah! an stretchin' out his hand shell
say: Welcome t dis yere place. my
chillum, fo' am de Lawd Of Jacob an
Esau, yea, even of Shem, Ham and ia.
pet--ah :" IS as..t 4
Could more vivid picture have heer
portrayedf Aunt Hepsy "gloryed" to
such an alarming extent that "Angy'
had to start the hymn:
''Some joins de church to put on pretense,
Until de day OBJ grace am spent;
When Sunday comes dey've Christian grace,
But Monday come dsy done lose deir faith; 4
De debbif gets 'em; dey roll up de sleeve.
De religion come out an begin tc leave, %
or man Adam hab neber been out; 80
When guilt condemns den dey git up and git
I out" A "a. ~
| The peculiar meter of this hymn gives
an opportunity for vocal ornamentation,
of which the negroes do notfail to avai
themselves, and the trills, sgrace notes,
and demi-semi quavers are mostliberally
used. Their tunes, however, are usually
very simple, and range through but few
notes, but in q melody like this the mar.
| velous 1exibility of their voices, and the
apparent ease with which they sing, pro.
duce almost the effect on the ordifary
ear OF cultivated singing. '..Ee
AT the close Of "Angy's" hymn the
presiding elder,a sedate old man ia gold
spectacles, began asking the children
questions from the catechism. II there
is there is any one thing upon which the
Southern spicaninny' prides himself, 1t is
upon thorough knowledge OF the cate
chism, but it so happened that the first
boy whom the elder questioned had evl-
IDENTITY been schooled by some evil-mind-
ed person.
gsWho made your" was the question
asked by the sable divine.
"God,' was the reply reverentlv given,
"Out of what were you nader"
"Scot!" was the unexpected answer.
Somewhat shocked but nothing die
mayed the elder persisted:
"What is de chief end oh man p
ITO wait on de white folks, steal wa
tab mellions, an hunt de 'possum," re.
piled the urchin without smile
h By this time there was general litter
Ing in that vicinity and to hide his en-
barrassment the elder commenced sing
ing:
"Man dies and he wastesss away.
Whar does he go?
hear voice say 'Lawd.
Spirit OBJ nan nebbsr dies
Who's agoin' up Z make de dyin' bed2
Spirit OBJ man nebber Dies.
Who's agoin' Judge all quick an deadp
Spirit OBJ man nebber dies.
Oh, de debbil takes sinners unawares.
Spirit OBJ man nebber dies
But One sets in heaven aud answers prayers,
Spirit OBJ man nsbber dies"
3 At, the close of this HYMN benedic,
ton was pronounced and the meeting
was at an end until after dinner.