The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-06-28
At q Dunkard's LOye-feast

The church was divided down the
center by along table. and this table
was DIVIDED in the center TO allow
passage between. Al one end the men
sat on benches ranged along the table.
The other end or division OF the table
was in like manner occupied by the
women. A strip of plank with pegs in
it was over the mems table, and was
hung full of their immense hats. A
staircase in one corner went up into the
loft above, where all the congregation
who have to come any distance sleep
on the floor and in hunks. They bring
their bedding with them, and, as they
do not insist upon the separation of the
sexes, great many can be accommo'
dated in this garnet. People acquainted
with their habits said that they slept in
sackcloth and ashes while here for sew
eral nights. A door at the foot of the
stairs led into the kitchen, in which
tremendous fire cracked under great
iron pot, hanging on crane in a
spacious chimney that would easily burn
a cord of wood uncut. From this pot
savory steam escaped and made its way
through the open door, pervadng the
atmosphere with most appetizing odor
of beef. Soon there were prayers from
one and then another of the men, al.
ternated with exceedingly brief and
crude addresses. Hymns were also
lined out and sung to We y monotonous
tunes. During all the time the men and
women at their respective tables were
embrac ng and kissing each other. Ii
looked rather strange to see two men
with Esau-like boards kissing each 9TH
er. There were several negroes at the
tables, who were embraced and kissed
Just the same as the other members,
and bestowed their kisses equally as
freely.
After these addresses, prayers, and
hymns had gone on for an hour or
more some of the men and women
brought in some little wooden tubs and
towels. Then one man or one woman,
as the case might be, washed the feet
of another, after their boots or shoes
and wooden stockings were removed,
kissing them both before and after it,
Another with his coat removed (if a
mani, and towel about the waist,
wiped the feet after bestowing the kiss
of brotherly love, as it is called; then
gave up the towel and tub to some one
else, who performed the same Office for
them in turn. This custom, as one OF
the preachers explained, twas to show
their humility and brotherly love-" and
also to- t0l!oY Christ at the last sup
per. Every thing being prepared, one
of the preachers, explained that
according to their reading of the
Scriptures the communion did not mean
simply the taking of the elements
of bread and wine, but that the last sup
per of Christ was feast, and their aim
was to initiate Him exactly. After q
blessing had been asked in the ordinary
way, with all standing around, they be-
gan to eat heartily. Without waiting
to clear up the table they proceeded to
complete their communion, by taking
the latter part of tine feast. This con-
sisted of what appeared to be unleavened
bread, made into long, thin strips eight
inches long. an inch wide. and about
the thickness of a newspaper when fold
ed. An explanation of the ceremony
was made by minister, and a sort of
informal blessing of the elements was
pronounced The slices of bread were
lying in napkin, while the wine was
in two patent medicine bottles labeled
oliver corrector.
The bread was distributed. one per
son taking strip with two of his COM
panions, and breaking it into three
pieces, thus again following out their
idea of preservation of the Trinity, as
they do on every possible occasion. The
wine, or oliver corrector," was next
poured into tin cups, and likewise dis
tributed, both among women and men,
as the bread had been. During and
after the ceremony there was much
kissing and embracing, and after the
communion singing, praying and speak
ing were again resumed. - Washingt0a
Star.