, 1888-10-24
A NEGRO BAPTISM.
A PICTURESQUE SCENE WHICH is
NOT EASILY FORGOTTEN.

Arrival of the PreachePs-The Crowd at
the Waters Ids -Fervid Religious
long Rapture of the Converts A
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
debouehes-frem the end of the dam+they
are too thick to be pleasant this warm
August day. For this is the center of at
traction. Here are the dressing rooms
overshadowed by several shade trees. all
bearing a heavy crop of 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 the real, old fashioned,
''befo' de wahn African. And all colors
OF the rainbow flash and rustic and flutter
in the sunlight, as the wind stirs the gar
ments of the female portion of the negroes.
Each has on her Sunday-Co-to-meeting
ribbons, and marvellous indeed are some of
the combinations of color in the various
hats and bonnets.
But a stir in the crowd the
arrival of the preachers, and they smil-
ingly give greetings round 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 q stake, where the
water is about waist deep. Both of them
are pretty dark in color, self satisfied in
manner, n 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 for them,
the Hghtest biscuits are too heavy, and
the coolest buttermilk is too warm for
them when they confer the glamour of
their presence on Brother NJ. or Sister N.
at dime 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
the signal for singing to commence.
A short, stoutly built deacon, whose
complexion is about that of a new brogan,
starts the tune:
OH whar you gwine, mournerP
Whar you gwine, / sayY
Use gwine down de Ribber OBJ Jordan.
You cannot cross today.
sing, Dredren, de good Lord hears you.
Use gwine down de Ribber OBJ Jordan,
You cannot cross today.
TIL 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 10 demonstration as she
comes out, excitement not having yet 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 a swaying movement of the singers,
led by the deacon, who is getting worked
up to fever heat, denotes that the ex-
citable temperament of the negroes is be-
ginning to spread itself. A tall Young
fellow comes to the front, swinging his
arms like a windmill as he enters the
water. With a yell, he breaks forth into
song; the crowd cease their singing a mo-
ment only to join in the new song with
double fervor:
OH de puttiest thing dat eber I done
Was to praise de Lawd when 1 was young,
Good Lawd, Good Lawd.
The words are spoken, he is deity slid
under the water by the practiced hands of
the preachers, and, as he comes up a bap-
tiZed man, he lets the neighborhood know
it; "I'se oundh him, Use found him; Dress
uO Lahh, anu, waving nS uduuS and
splashing the water all around, he stands
and shouts until the attendants lead him
ashore.
CARE OF H CANDIDATES.
Time is slipping AVA 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 dr.
land.
There is a sweet rhythmical ring to the
next tune hat floats over the pond, a
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,
Ober 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 congratula-
tons. One old woman is apparently
crazy with excitement, and is embracing
everybody who will submit to be saluted
in that way. In her tour of salutation
she gradually approaches our way, and,
rushing up to our companion, who is
standing alongside the buggy, tries to in
clude him among her confidents. docs
you Tub de Marster?" she shouts, as she
spreads her arms abroad and rushes off,
singing:
When l die I'll come befo' his face,
An live on the beautiful shore.
was full OBJ sin an widout any grace;
But / amt agoin' to be no mo-.
Ole Satanll run when you starts to pray,
An he'll feel mighty sick at de judgment day,
So bredren tread in de narrer way,
An doan' turn aside no mo-.
A trio of freshly baptized young women
are locked in each other arms and stand
slowly swaying backward and forward,
keeping time to the music and occasion
ally joining their voices in the melody of
some old camp meeting song.
1t is a curious sight as the afternoon
wears on. The wind drops and the dense
crowd OF darkies around the point of in
terest are hopping the perspiration from
their heads, but the religious interest is
thoroughly aroused and discomforts are