The Osceola times., 1884-06-28

ration OF the sexes, a great many can be
accommodated in this garret. People
acquainted with their habiis said that
they slept in sackcloth and ashes while
here for several nights.
A door at the foot Of the stairs led into
the kitchen, in which a tremendous fire
cracked under great iron pot hanging on
crane ina 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, pervad.
ing the atmosphere with most appetiz-
ing odor of beef.
Soon there were prayers from first one
and then another Of the men, alternated
with exceedingly brief AM crude adj
dresses. Hymns were also lined out and
sung to very monotonous tunes. During
all the time the men and women at their
respect ye tables were embracing and
kissing each other. 1t looked rather
strange TO see two men with Esau-like
boards kissing each other. There weie
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
little wooden tubs and towels.
Then one man CT one woman,
as the case might be, washes the feet of
another, after their boots or shoes and
weolen stockings were removed, kissing
them both before and after it. Another
with his coat removed (if mani, and a
towel about his waist, wiped the feet al
Ter bestowing the kiss of brotherly love,
as il is called; then gave up the towel and
tub to some one else, who performed the
same Office for them in turn. That GUS
tom, as one of the preachers explained,
was TO show their humility and broth
erly love-" and also to follow Christ at
the last supper.
After this office had been concluded,
praying, singing, and speaking went on
a great basket of bread, u slice of whicn,
was about nine inches long, five wide,
and of an indefinite thickness, was laid
in front of each person; next a spoon was
put at each place, then dishes of soup
with square bits Of bread broken in il
were placed so that there was one for
every four persons; then appeared huge
pieces Of boiled beef Everything being
thus prepared one of.the preachers ex-
planned 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 blessing had been asked in the
ordinary way, with all standing around,
they began to eat heartily. Without
waiting tc clear up the table they pro-
ceeded to complete their communion, by
taking the latter part Of the feast. This
consisted of what appeared to be unleav-
ened bread, made into long, thin strips
eight inches long and an inch wide, and
about the thickness of newspaper when
folded. 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
lyii g in a napkin, while the wine was in
two patent medicine bottles labelled civ
er corrector."
The bread was distributed, one person
taking a strip with two of his compan-
ions, 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 liver corrector," was next poured in
to TIN cups, and likewise distributed,
both among men and women, as the
bread had been. During and after the |
ceremony there was much kissing and |
and after the communion |
singing, praying and speaking was again