The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-16
TIE WATERMELON REVIVAL.
An Interesting Religious Ceremony of
Annual Recurrence.
From the chieoq, Tribune.

Annual occurrence.
From the Chicago Tribune
GREEN Cove SPRINGs, FLA, July 3d.
This town is in the midst of one of the most
successful watermelon revivals ever known
in the south. The unusual fervor of the ex-
element Is said TO be the result OF the ex-
ceptionally fine melon crop, which in quality
and quantity surpaSses anything seen here
in recent years. The revival began some
three weeks ago, as soon as the quality of
the luscious yield had been proved by eat
ing. and it is now 81 its height. AS conse-
quence household operations are ct a COM
plete standstiil, and business OF every kind
is Sc iously interfered with.
The watermelon revival is citro-
religious event of annual recurrence in the
melon growing regions OF the far south. 1t
lays hold of the colored people only, and
gets its strongest grip on the sisters. bur In
temporal way it affects the white residents
hardly less powerfully. Throughout the
melon season the cOlored sisters and
majority OF the brethren entirely give
themselves up to tbs exquisite pleasure OF
the melon and the pain of religious con-
viction that precedes the ecstasy Of CONVEX
sion, which in turn leads quickly to exalta-
ton and comEtOse condition. This latter
condition is next to HEAVIER, the end sought
frances or subjugation to "the power,n as it
10 called here, many of the sisters are In
the present instance failing to assimilate
all OF their share OF this seasons melon
crop. Thus Mrs. Kirkpatrick's cook lay in
a trance for several days. and neither cooked
nor ate, and this was whom the melons were
at their very best Mrs. Buddington's col
ored maid was brought home in dray at
o'clock in the morning aud deposited on the
kTf nh H.. ~. Il.
eyes sot," as this manifestation is termed,
until at the end Of three days Mrs. Budding
ton had her carried back TO the church in
which she ''got the power.n Mrs. Buffers
cook got religion and rigidity early in the
revival, and, the task # finding O substi-
tute belng manfestly hopeless the family
at once made arrangements to take their
meals with family in the same street who
are not dependent on colored servants.
The industry that is doing nearly all the
hourishing IN the present crisis 10 that Of the
few worldly minded negroes who own a
mule and cart. Business is brisk for these
just now from the hour when the full moon
shows above the further cypregs-bordered
shore of the ST. Johns until the yellow disk
fuses in the golden sky of midsummer
morning. All the colored churches are
open twenty-four hours day--in the day
time for such as attain safety of melons
early aJu are prepared IOf the religious in
duences long before nightfall; throughout
the night for all who come. Many who
come TO scott remain to be cartad away
and those who have religion get it again,
and likewise have need Of the mule cart. So
this teaming of precious and rigid human
freight begins early in the evening and goes
on until the balFbat cease their pursuit OF
nocturnal bugs.
The white residents are so seriously af-
footed by the melon revival, in consequence
of the impossibility of getting any service
done by the oolored sisters, that some of
them do not hesitate to speak impatisntly of
the whole business, and to declare that those
who get the most religion also collar the
most melons from the white mans patch A;
and now and then a sister who has seen
many melon revivals and is thus prepared
to take a conservative view of the situation
replies: well, 'spects that's So" All of
the white residents are looking forward
somewhat impatientIy to the closing Of the
melon season and the synchronous compile
ton Of the religious work. not because they
mind the loss VI few melons, but because
they greatly need the services of those who
at all times, barring this period of annual
occurrence. ara faithful and valued SER
wants