The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1886-07-08
THE NEeRo's RELIGIOUS LIFE.


At the Mourners' Bench-The Baptismd
Ceremony-At the Camp Meeting.
There are three episodes in the Negroes
religious life that are looked forward to
with delight. This trinity is composed
of the shout" the Baptism" and the
scamp meeting" Let us enter one of
their churches in some little country
town. The main sermon is over. The
preacher, so coal black that you dreamily
wonder if you could not put your pen in
his mouth and write with the saliva, de-
sends from his pulpit and takes his
place within the altar rails. He is fol-
lowed by the leading brethren in various
stages of perspiration and dignified hui
mility. There is strange tremor of ex-
element in the church. Then strong,
lusty voice takes up strange waifing
hymn. Voice after voice joins in. Up
to the roof that music scars in wild, in
coherent cadences. Through it and over
it comes the stentorian voice of the pastor
calling for mourners. The audience rise
to their feet, and all is excitement. Then
handsome wench, wild-eyed and tear
full, takes her place within the circle of
the brethren. Others follow her. Hymn
after hymn rings out with strange, wild
sweetness.
A wild, piercing shrek, and one of the
mourners drops ON the floor as though
shot through the heart. The crowd
press nearer. The air is filed with pious
shouts and CALCULATIONS. Others are I'M
der conviction, and wall and plead for
mercy. A convert leaps to her feet, and,
half crazed with excitement, runs
through the church, pleading with
others in hysterical, incoherent language.
She tries to drag her friends up to the
mercy seat. Wilder and wilder becomes
the scene, until it ends in complete ex-
haustion.
The second commingling of souls is the
baptismal ceremony. This always brings
a swarm of the negro race to the scene.
A small stream is selected, or the shall
low portion of a river. Amid triumph
ant singing the preacher walks solemnly
into the water until it covers his stom-
ach. Clothed in long gowns, the con-
verts enter, are seized by the preacher,
and plunged beneath the waves.
q, The greatest diversion of the entire
season is the camp meeting. l shall
never forget one that I attended some
months ago. The camp ground was
about six miles from the city, and in the
shape of quadrilateral. The four sides
were formed by little shanties of
Shakes" facetiously called tents. Some
of these would not allow a person over
five feet in hight to enter save in
STOPPING position. These were for the
devotees. The preachers, six in number,
lodged in a more pretentious domicile.
In the center of this square was a large
rooted structure, open at the sides. AT
each corner huge stands were erected,
made of hewn timber. Upon these
stands were hung deposits of sand, upon
which great fires of pine blazed, lighting
up the entire place and casting lurid
shadows over the surrounding darkness.
There were nearly 1000 people upon the
ground when we arrived. Fires were
blazing in the rear of nearly every
shanty, and supper was being prepared
for the hungry ones. The pungent smell
of fried bacon vexed the air. From the !
fire where the preachers meat was being
prepared came the appetizing odor of |
fried chicken. After supper Gabrielle |
horn was blown. and the waiting throng |
gathered at the tabernacle. The usual |
singing, preaching and praying followed,
some of it intelligent and thoughtful, but |
too much of it mass of incomprehensi- |
Jay in New York Sun. |