The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-02-20
A NEGRO BAPTISM.
a PICTURESQUE SCENE WHICH Is
NOT EASILY FORGOTTEN.

Arrival of the Preachers-The Crowd ut
the Waters Edge - FervId Religious
Songs Rapture OF tho 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
debouches from 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 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 10 the
/ ebony black Of the real, old fashioned,
.befo' de wah" African And all colors
Of the rainbow flash and rustic and fiutter
! in the sunlight, as the wind stirs the gar
ments of the female portion Of the negroes.
| Each has on her Sunday -go-to-meeting
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 10 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 outline of figure that are the usual
adjuncts of popular negro preachers, for
| the latest chicken is too poor for them,
| the lghtest biscuits are too heavy, and
/ the coolest butternilk Is too warm for
/ them when they confer the glamour of
/ their presence On Brother Nj. or Sister \.
/ ut 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
the signal for singing to commence.
\ short, stoutly built deacon, whose
complexion is about that of a new brogan,
| starts the tune:
OH whar you gwine, mourner'
Whar YOU gwine, say,
Use gwine down de Ribber ob Jordan.
You cannot cross today.
Sing, bredren, de good Lord hears you.
Tse gWiue down de Ribber Oh jordan,
You cannot cross today
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 having yet got
| the hold on the crowd that il 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 ex-
citable temperament of the negroes is be-
ginning to spread itself. A tall young
| elbow comes To the front, swinging his
arms like windmill as he enters the
water. With yell, he breaks forth into
song; the crowd cease their singing a mo-
nent only TO join in the new song with
double fervor:
Oh De puttiest thing dat cher done
Was to praise de Iawd when 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 bap-
| tzed man, he lets the neighborhood know
| it: Use found him, Use found him; bress
de Lawd," and, waving his hands and
splashing 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 give the candidates much time TO
| obstruct the water way, but quickly lead
| them out to do their shouting on dry
/ land.
There is a sweet rhythmical ring 10 the
next tune that 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 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 10 be saluted
| in that way. In her tour OF saiutauon
| she gradually approaches our way, and,
| rushing up 10 our companion, who Is
standing alongside the buggy tries to in
| clude him among her contidents. Docs
| you Tub de Marsterr' she shouts, as she
| spreads her arms abroad and rushes of.
| singing:
| When die III come befo' his face,
| An live on the beautiful shore.
| was full OBJ sin an widout any grace
| But amt agoin' 70 be no mo.
Ole Satan ii run when you starts 70 pray,
| An he'll feel mighty sick at de judgment day,
| 80 bredren tread il de narrer way,
| An doan' turn aside no mo-.
\ trio Of freshly baptized young women
| nre locked in each other arms and stand
| lOwly swaying backward and forward,
| Keeping time to the music and OCCASION
| ally joining their voices in the melody OF
| some old camp meeting song.
| IL is a curious sight as the afternoon
| wears on The wind drops and the dense