Wichita eagle., 1888-03-14
A NEGRO BAPTISM.
A PICTURESQUE SCENE WHICH Is
NOT EASILY FORGOTTEN.

NOT EASILY FORGOTTEN.
Arrival OF the Preachers-Tho Crowd at
the Waters Edge - Fervid Religious
Curious Sight.
On the banks Of the pond, between the
road and the water, the pedestrians are
ranged five or SIX deep, and down at the
lower corner, near where the mill race
debouches from tne end of the dam, they
are too thick to be pleasant this warm
August day. For this IS the center of at
traction Here arc the dressing rooms
overshadowed by several shade trees, ali
bearing heavy crop ot small boys to-day,
and here in this open space do the candi-
dates for baptism enter and leave the
water.
All colors Of skin are represented among
the crowd, from the almost white COM
plexion Of some of the mulattos to the
ebony black Of ttA real, old fashioned,
'.befo' dc wah" African And all colors
of the rainbow fash and rustic and futter
in the sunlight, as the wind stirs the gar
ments of the female portion of the negroes.
Each has on her Sunday 90 connecting
ribbons, and marvellous indeed are some OF
the combinations Of color in the various
hats and bonnets.
But stir in the crowd announces the
arrival Of the preachers, and they smil-
ingly give greetings around as they make
their way to their dressing room TO don
their water garments. Two of them enter
the water and wade out to the homo
plate, as marked by stake, where the
water is about waist deep. Both of them
are pretty dark in color, self satisfied in
manner. and OF that sleek appearance and
rotund outline Of figure that are the usual
adjuncts of popular negro preachers; for
the latest chicken is too poor fer them,
the nshtest biscuits are too heavy, and
the coolest buttermilk IS too warm for
them when they confer the glamour of
their presence on Brother n. or Sister n.
at dinner after the monthly morning
preaching. Verify they live on the fat of
the land and their shadow never grows
less.
AT THE WATERS EDGE.
Some Of the converts emerge from the
dressing rooms and begin to congregate
on the edge of the pond, accompanied by
old tried brothers and sisters and this is
A short, stoutly built deacon, whose
starts the tune:
Oh whar you gwine, mourner?
Whsr you gwine, say?
Use gwine down de Rihber OBJ Jordan.
You cannot cross today.
Sing, bredren. de good Lord hears you.
Use srine down do Rikber oh Jordan,
You cannot cross today.
The first sister, accompanied BY q
couple of deacons, enters the water and
wades out to where the preachers await
her coming. She is quiet and nervous
and makes no demonstration as she
comes out, excitement not having yet got
the hold on the crowd that 1t will have
later On.
The leader on the bank gives out the
next song. Several more 60 through
quietly, but the singing is getting louder,
and swaying movement of the singers,
led by the deacon, who ia getting worked
up to fever heat, denotes that the ex-
citable temperament Of the negroes /. be-
ginning to spread itself A tall young
fellow comes to the front, swinging his
arms Like s. windmill es he enters the
water. With yell, h. breaks forth into
song; the crowd cease their singing mo-
ment only to join in the new song with
double fervor:
OH de puttiest thing dat cher done
Was TO praise do Lawd when Was young
Good Lawd, Good Lawd.
The words are spoken, he is deftly slid
under tho water by the practiced hands of
the preachers, and, as he comes Up bap-
tized man, no lets the neighborhood know
it: ''Ise found him, Use found him; bress
de Lawd," and, waving his hands and
sp,ashing the water all around, he stands
and shouts until the attendants lead him
ashore.
CARE OF THE CANDIDATES.
Time is slipping away, so the officers
don't give the candidates much time to
obstruct the water way, but quickly lead
them out TO do their shouting on dry
land.
There is swee, rhythulical ring to the
next tune that floats over the pond, q
couple Of hundred of negro voices joining |
In the old song:
In de sweet fields OBJ Eden,
In de sweet fields OBJ Eden,
In de sweet fields OBJ Eden,
ODER dere.
Excitement is getting a good hold on !
The crowd now, and many Of the newly |
baptized members are going around !
among their friends receiving congratuls-
tons. One old woman is apparently !
crazy with excitement, and Is embracing !
everybody who will submit to be salutod |
n that way. In her tour Of salutation |
she gradually approaches our way, and,
rushing up TO our companion, who Is
standing alongside TIE buggy, tries to in
dude hin, among he uonndents Does
;ou lub de Marster?' she shouts, as she
spreads her arms abroad and rushes of,
singing:
When die I'll come befo' his face,
An live on the beautiful shore.
Iva. fun Sd sir an widout any grace;
But Ant azoia 70 be no mo-.
Ole Satan II rus when you starts 10 pray,
Az he u feel mighty sick 81 de judgment day,
So bredren tread in dc narrer way,
AN doan' turn aside no mo-.
A trio Of freshly baptized young women
re locked in each other arms and stand
iowly swaying backward and forward,
keeping tine TO the music and occasion
lily joining their voices in the melody Of
ONE old camp meeting song.
1t is . curious sight as the afternoon
wears on. The wind drops and the dense
rowd OF darkies around the point of in
crest are hopping the perspiration from
heir heads, but the religious interest is
thoroughly aroused and discomforts are
,nroticed. The ever moving throng Of
black and yellow and tan sing and
ing, then get drink Of water or water
melon, and sing again. The newly bap-
lied ones keep things lively with their
Xcited gestures and talk, and the whole
icture IS one, once seen, never to be for