Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-02-25
4 Negro baptism.

|
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-.
| bouches from the cad of the dam, they are
too thick to bs pleasant on an August day,
for this is the cenirer OF attraction. Here
are the dressing rooms Overshadowed by
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 colcrs 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, E'befo' de
wah" African. And all Colors of the rain.
bow flash and rustic and Gutter in the SUM-
light, as the WIND etirs the garments of the
female portion of the negroes. Each has on
| her Sunday.so to meeting rihbone, and mar
velous indeed are some of the combina-
tons of color in the various hate and boa
nets.
But stir in the crowd announces the ar
rival of the preachers. and they smilingly
| give greetings around as they make their
way to their dressing room to don their wa
tee 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,
selfsatisfed 10 manner, and of that sleek
appearance and rotund outline Of figure
that are the usual adjuncts Of popular negro
| preachers; for the fattest chicken is too
poor for them, the lightest biscuits are too
heavy, and the coolest buttermilk is too
warm for them when they confer the CLAM.
our of their presence On Brother Nj. or Sister
n. st dinner after tie monthly morning
preaching. Verify they live on the fat of
| the land and theic shadows never grow
| ess.
| Some cf the converts emerge from the
dressing rooms and begins to congregate on
the edge of the pond, accompanied By old
| tried brothers and sisters and this ia the sigs
nal for singing to commence.
4 short stoutly built deacon, whote com.
plexion is about that of g new brogsn, starta
the tune:
Oh whar you swine mourner2
| Whsr you gwine saw?
Use gwine down the Rbber oh Jordan.
You cannot cross to day.
Sing, bredren do good Lord hears you.
| Ise gwine down de Ribber Of Jordan,
You cannot cross 10 day.
The first sister, accompanied by couple
of deacoDs, enters the water and wades out
to where tho preachers await her coming.
| She is quiet and nervous and makes no Gem.
ona;ration as she comes out, excitement not
having get got the hold on the crowd that
| it viii have IGter o.
The leader on the bank gives out the next
song. Several more go through quietly,
but tho singing is getting londer, and
| swayiog movement of the singers, led by
the deacon, who is getting worked up TO
| fever heat, denotes that the excitable temp.
erament of the negroes is beginning to
| spread itself A tall young fellow comes to
the front, swinging his arms like wind
mill as ne enters the water. With yell.
| be 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 10 praise de Lawd when was young
Good Lawd, Good Lawd.
The words ere spoken, he is deity Slid
under the water by the practiced bands OF
the preachers, and, as he comes up bap,
iized man, he lets the neighborhood know
| it Use found him, Use found him; bress
de Lawd," and, waving his hands and
splashiug 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 obstruct
the water way, but quickly lead them out
to do their shouting on dry land.
There is sweet rhythmical ring to the
! next tune that floats over the pond, couple
of hundred Of negro voices joining in the old
song;