The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1884-07-03
At q punkard,s Lore-feast.

Inc gnuFG0 was ulVfQeQ uOWn the
center by long table, ana this table
was divided in the center to allow
passage between. AT 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. 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, q 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 Sc :
| eral nights. door at the foot of the
stairs led into the kitchen, in which
| tremendous ire or ckled under great
iron pot, hanging on a crane in a
| spacious chimney that world easily burn
a cord of wood uncut, From this pot a
savory ste am escaped and made its way
| through the open door, Ieryading the
| atmosphere with most aIpetizing odoT
| Of beef. Soon there were prayers from
one and then another of the men, al
| tcrnated with ceedingly brief and
crude addresses. Hymns were also
| lined out and sung TO We monotonous
tunes. During ali the time the men and
women at their respective tables were
embrac NO and k ssing each other. 1t
| 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,
/ IocA0vrroI Nhasvs lrfCsru nnDolIsr -
| 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
man, and R towel alb ut 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, rs one of
the preachers explained, was to show
their humility and brotherly love, and
also to follow Christ at the last supper.
A1beE B11S OI1CC udO UCCn COnC1tdCNs
praying, singing, and speaking went
on as before. A man now entered
bearing a great basket of bread, a slice
| of which, about nine inches long, five
wide, and of an indie mite thicknes IS,
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 it 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 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 hrist was feast, and their aim
| was to initiate Him exactly. After a
| blessing had been asked in the ordinary
way, with all standing around, they be-
| an to eat heartily. Without waiting
| to clear up the table they pr ceeded to
complete their communion, by taking
! the latter part of the 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 sort Of
| informal blessing of the elements was
pronounced. The slices of bread were
| lying in a napkin, while the wine was
in two patent medicine bottles labeled
oliver COTrector."
The bread was distributed, one per.
son taking a 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 ''liver 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, p aging and speak
ing were again resumed. = " GsIttRgt0n
| Star.