Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-14
a Colored Church Revival.


All. however, were not absorbed in
spiritual devotion. The scoffers, too,
were there. a group Of irreverent
yellow girls, who occupied the rear
benches. greeted the fervent celebrations
of their elders with suppressed filters.
and party of worldly young men sOrely
tried the Christian fOrbearance of an old
deacon by their untimely comments.
"SMay, Ose," remarked a South street
gent" to his companion, who spOrted a
loud buff necktie, observe dat old Br'er
White parts his hair in de middle. Mus
be "A dude, eh?'
The worthy deacon, who seemed to
unite the functions of spiritual adviser
with those of tip-staff, or Sergeant-at-
Arms. overheard the ieer and turned upon
the youth with righteous Indignation.
Hi, you young cOOn," he retOrted. "ef
you dOan' stop your blasphemin' I'll fro
You right out in de rain"
Br'er White has finished his sermon
now, and for a moment there is a pause
and the Lombard street hOOdlums can be
heard humping a tattoo on the front win
dow. Then Sister Hannah Scott. one Of
the elect, rises to offer a few words of ad-
vice and state some hOmely truths.
"SOme folks" says Sister Hannah,
''t'inks dat de ole cullud woman ought to
keep still i'm meetin' Now, l say. let de
cials. OATS de men folks bisness. But
ole Hannah's bound to say word for
Jesus every time. Some of you Young
men makes me ashamed of Yourselves
You knows dat you only comes in here to
git warm by that stove, an old. White he
has to pay fer de lights am de fuel, but
You nebber puts a cent in de hat for to
help him out. You comes in dis church
an shouts yourself hOarse. an den goes
about an gets drunk ha'f de week time
S'pose somebody gOin' along see dat
young coon what ies came i'm here
drunk an had to be pnt out. Dey say,
lie was IN the prOtractiOn meetin'.
an consequently Brer White shoe to cit
de blame Ofhis sacreligesness. want you
young uns to go to glory wild ole Hannah.
Don YOU know about dat PrOdigaI?
Didn't de Lord promise to put big gold
ring on your finger and give you de new
coat Of many cOlOrs, an kill de failing
lamb sO0n's YOU come home to de house?
Didn't He. Massa White?"
''Yaas, He did, ''Shure 'nuff,' "Bless
de Lord" came the fervent responses
from all over the room.
And then old Hannah turns to the
young girls;
"Oh, you gals, Hannah mus talk to
you, too. Some oh YOU thinks more bout
your ribbons an your furbellOws than
be a trugenerate chile oh de Lord while
you're gaddin' about in your birds
feathers an your rabbits feathers and
your furbellOWs.. Pull 'em off now an
ham ZEN over to de devil" and suiting
the action to the word Hannah seized a
! bundle of coats from the front bench and
carried them over to an aged brother, who
took the bundle and nursed it in his
arms, as he rocked to and fro and shout
~ rTf1c
Iannnah's goin' to glory les as shoe as
you see dat gasli@ht," the sister cOntnu-
ed. as her trembling hand pointed to a
Kerosene lamp, Fan she wants to meet
you there" And now an old brother
from Baltimore mounts the rOstrum.
''Oh, my friends" says the good man,
as he mOps the perspiratiOn from his
brow, Pm glad Pm culled man. The
cullud people are foremost in the Gospel
band. When the Lord was carrying de
cross to Calvary an it got too heavy AL
cXander came along an helped tote it.
Alexander was cullud man!' The eX-
FOUNDER made this revelation with the
air of an orator who knows Just where to
touch the most effective point. The wOr-
shippers are on their feet in an instant and
such chorus Of shouts and half singing
| breaks forth that the speakers voice is
| totally drowned. Before the spectator
I
statement white haired old brother be-
/ gins a hymn in a slow monotone, Occa-
| siOnally broken by an explosive metrical
| infection. The brother sings off one line
at time, the congregation joining in the
refrain;
DE debil am walking over the land,
ON. YES. praise de Lord!
| And he nabs everything dat comes to hand,
Oh, YES, praise de Lord!
I He nabbed me too. and her me fast
on, yes, praise de Lord!
/ De Lord he set me free at last,
/ oh. yes, praise &c Lord.
Chorus-Praise de Lawd, praise dc Lawd.
I'm goln' on to glory.
/ sob, sinner. doan you stan and wait.
Oh, yes. praise de Lord!
/ Go fOOlin' round until too late,
Oh. YES praise de Lord!
/ I look at my hands an my hands seem new.
! oh. yes, praise de Lord!
/ l look ut my feet an | got new shoes,
/ Oh, YES, praise de L0rdr'
/ Meanwhile, as the old man sings, the
| female portion Of the congregation keen
| up a subdued wailing and moaning. All
with rhythmic precision, beat time gently
| with their feet. The strange music grows
| faster and faster. An occasional shout
| breaks in upon the singing, and the list.
/ ener almost feels himself moved by the
wild spirit of fantastic devotion that per
vades the room.
Now the white haired brother who is
| leading is upon his feet. He is almost
/ hOarse from vocal eXertions; but his eyes
/ are full of fire and his frame full Of motion
/ as he sways his body and throws out his
! arms, still stamping his feet in time with
! the hymn. The strange music suddenly
/ ceases and the leader drops exhausted
! A deep silence broOds over the place. Al
| last it is broken by some one who leads in
/ prayer, and then with renewed strength
J all is in voice again in a tune that runs
/ like one of the old melodies of Florida:
"Tse got on de back Of the Mefodis' mule.
/ Sinner doan We stan dar lOOkin like a fool
/ De bride, 1t am SLIDER; de saddle. il am goal,
An Sc boun' for to 60 to Abrahams fol-
And I'm ride. yes / will.
/ An III ride right on to glory