The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-04-06
QUAINT NEGRO BAPTISM.
The Weird Melodies Sung on the Banks
OF the River During the Ceremony.
From the Dofrojf Ey.oe T7,esx

OF the River During the Ceremony.
From the Detroit Free Press.
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 de-
pouches from the end of the dam, they are
too thick to be pleasant this warm August
day. For this is the center of attraction.
Here are the dressing rooms overshadowed
10y several shade trees all bearing heavy
crop of small boys to-day, and here in this
open space do the candidates for baptism
enter and leave the water
All cOlors OF skin are represented among
the crowd. from the almost white complex
ion of some of the mulattos to the ebony
black of the real, old-fashioned, ''befo' de
wah" African. And all colors Of the rain
bow flash and rustic and futter in the sun
light as the wind stirs the garments of the
female portion of the negroes Each has
on her y-go-to-meeting ribbons, and
marvellous indeed are some of the combl-
nations of color in the various hats and
bonnets
But stir in the crowd announces the ar
rival OF the preachers, and they smihngly
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 home 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 out
line of figure that are the usual adjuncts of
popular negro preachers for the latest
chicken is too poor for them, the hghtest
biscuits are too heavy, and the coolest but
termllk is too warm for them when they
confer the glamor of their presence on
Brother NJ. 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.
Some of the converts merge from the
dressing rooms and begin to congregate on
the edge of the pond, accompanied by old,
tried brothers and sisters and this is the
signal for singing to commence.
short, stOutly-buIlt deacon, whose com
plexion is about that of new brogan, starts
the tune
Oh whar you gwine, mourner?
Whar you gwine, say?
Sc gwine down de Rubber OBJ Jordan,
You cannot cross to-day.
Sing, bredren, de good Lord hears you.
Use gWine down de Ribber OBJ JoI dan,
You cannot cross to-day.
The first sister, accompanied by a 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 yet having got the hold on the crowd
that it will have later on.
The leader on the bank gives out the next
song. Several more go through quietly,
but the singing is getting louder, and
sWaying movement of the singers, led by
the deacon, who is getting worked up to
fever heat, denotes that the eXcltable tenn
permanent of the negroes is beginning to
spread itself. A tall young fellow comes TO
the front, swinging his arms like windmill
as he enters tho water. With yell, he
breaks forth into song; the crowd cease
their singing moment only to join in the
new song with double fervor:
Oh, de puttiest thing dat eber done
Was to praise de Lawd when | was young.
Good Lawd, Good Lawd
The words are spoken, he is deftly slid
under the water by the practiced hands of
the preachers, and, as he comes up bap-
tized man, he lets the neighborhood know
t;"I'se found him, Use found him; bress de
Lawd, and, waving his hands aud splashing
the water all around, he stands and shouts
until the attendants lead him ashore.
Time IS slipping away, so the officers
dOn't give the candidates much time to OBJ
struct the water way, but quicly lead them
out TO do their shouting on dry land.
There is a sweet rhythmical ring to the
next tune that floats over the pond, couple
of hundred negro voices joining in the old
song: