The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1891-06-25
The GrccnvIllc News at Six lIiIc.

a small party Of Grccnvillc men went to
Six Mile church in Pickcns county, Il few
miles from Central, on l4th inst. to sec the
| ceremony OF washing feet by the primitive
5nplists Of that congregation.
There arc small congregations of "fOot-
| washers" as they are called, scattered
along the mountain ranges from virginia
to Alabama, and two or three scattered
ones IN the lower counties Of this State.
IT is II sect without literature or Il history.
Nobody seems to know whcnceit sprany. Its
forms and doctrines arc much like those of
the ''Dunkcrs" who were founded in IIol-
land in 1905, and came to this country in
large colonies, settling in Pennsylvania,
where they are yet strong.
Well Informed Bnptisis say there arc all
through the history of Christianity traces
Of scots celebrating their communion by
brethren washing each others feet. No
body appears to know how foot washing
was brought to the South. or what forgot
ten preacher organized the church and in
stitutcd the forms that have survived lhro'
so many years without books or ncwspa
pcrS to represent them, or communications
between the widely scatt rcd AMI separat
cd congregations; for the foot washing
Baptist does not trouble himself conc ri
ing the Whereabouts or strength of others
of his faith
The foot washing codes and customs are
simple and primitive adapted toa simp,,
and primitive people They have no clcr
Sy paid and set apart for service. Their
preachers are men who feel "callcd' to
serve without compensation in money, and
who work alongside their nrighbDrs six
days IN the week.
Foot washing" is especially intcrrstinu
because it is said to lc dying out. The
churches in wbichi is custom are fewer
every year, and the ceremony itself is per-
formed at wider intervals and by dccrcas-
ing number of people. 1t is likely the
foot washers have been ridiculcd n great
deal by their ncighbors, for they are shy of
public performance of their peculiar ccrc
mony. AS it becomes more infrcuucnt the
public curiosity to see it becomes stronger,
and the participants, being timid and bash
tul folk, hesitate more and more to be
made a show Of
The Grcnville visitors at Six Mile saw
many thlngS to give them subjects for
thought. The towns and cities along the
Richmond & Danvillc road are in close
daily contact with the centcrs of popula-
tlon ana progress, and are metropolitan
III their methods and habits, and it is hard
for people who live in them to realize that
thcrc Is SO much primitive life as there is
within days drive of them. There are
evidences of advancement in the Six Mile
congregation. The OK carts and foot pas
scngers OF few years ago, are replaced
by road carts, buggies and carriages and
among the stock telhcrcd under the trees
and through the woods surrounding the
plain plank building were some stylish
looking nags. Sun bonncts were few and
worn only by the older women; among all
the young ones there were evidences of
modern patterns and fashions--a good and
wholesome sign, what, yer some good
brothers may think to the contrary; for a
woman takes on adOrnmGnt as naturally as
The: flowers take on their colors and spread
tnelr pctais; SO long as q woman is interest
ed III herself and in looking her best, there
is life and spirit and hope and ambition
in her, all of which things she is entitled to.
Dut the Old fashion of dividing the sexes
by tho aiSlcs Is continued at Six Mile.
About every young or midtllcd-apcd wo-
man had big, strong baby at church with
hcr, ana the statistics from high class show
that babies are likely to soon be regarded
as old and questionable, to say nothing
OF taking them to church. One Young
mother nursed her baby in the face of the
congregation as unabashcd and innocent of
all attempts at conccalmcnt as Eve who |
was naked and not ashamed. Nobody |
stared or noted, and there was no hint or |
thought of its being an improper thing to
do--a curious fact when We think of how |
quickly whisper goes about ball room |
ana how men talk and women look askancc
when young lady transgrcsses by fourth
OF an inch the imaginary line, varying
with the fashions, which divides modesty
from imnodrsty
The services were impressive impress
I've because of the absence of all attempt
To be Impressive. Where there are stained
glass windows, a rolling organ and sur
plced choir, very small thing--a false
no'c, sneeZc, the fall of a book--will
qlsturb the serenity of the congregation.
In a packed frame church where every.
BODY ana everything Is simple, natural and
easy: and there arc no artificial Effects,
nolhing surprises or shocks or disturbs any.
body and the people sing, in tune or ont Of
II MS the case may be, and listen to tho ser
mon mon ana reading and volunteered exhorta-
tio9s--all in words and phrases they can
their whole hearts.
Inc foot washing came after recess of
na'1 an hour. II was conducted to a close