The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-10-01
|NTE-BELLUM SUNDAY.
GWine ter Chu'ch" Was a Season
Of Social Enjoyment for
Everybody.
sfore the War the Colored Man
Was Picturesque In the
Extreme.
o Route to the Place of Worship--Sor-
vices In the Chureh-An Object
of Envy.

stful idleness of the day, but tho addi-
pnal pleasure afforded by opportunities to
tend divine worship, writes Edward A.
hdham In Kate FielG's Washington.
The negro, az a race, is q social being.
he absence of extraordinary brain power
knies to him the privilege Of thoughtful
leditation or tho solaos of reflection. His
~Etuitive impulse is to loose the cords that
Ind him to himself and seek the congenial
Sm~panionship of others.
The innate characteristic of sociability
las intensified in the plantation darkey.
hose masters family WAS usually tho
bnter around which a highly social micro
bsm revolved. Sunday was the day above
the rest when he could give full play to
lis tendency, and he was never happier
Ian when In the midst of a group, hearing
himself and others talk. "Gwine ter
hu'ch," therefore, always meant for him
lore Of a season of social than religious
hioyment, though occasionally there we're
bnerable exceptions to this rule. The
arkies from all the neighboring planta-
lons were to be seen at ''meetin'," and all
he grotesque happenings of the week and
Its Of highly colored gossip were to be ex-
hanged amid hearty outlaws, in which the
host innocent good nature %abounded.
The ante-bellum negro was always pia-
hresqus in his attitudes, adiuncts, and
~hrroundings. and particularly 30 "ob er
lundays." The manner of his locomotion
and from the 'maetin' house" made a
briking picture, with a touch of irreslsti-
Ia drollery about it, More than likely he
Droceeds afoot, and if the day be pleasant
Ee carefully removes his SUNDAY shoes"
md the thick cotton socks. draws of his
nd bangles the shoes from his right
land. With his inn ediments thus I'D
listed he advances upon his way with a
nick, swaying, shutting gait, a light heart,
plantation hymn at the tip of his tongue,
Tx a cheeery. rollicking whistle upon his
Ups. II the roads be muddy. tne distance
Unusually great, or the darby himself the
lbiect of master or overseer's especial ia
or. he ia INDUCED with the use OF q horse,
stride whose backbone he strings himself,
Lis wife, and q youngster or two. They jog
long slowly. putting up with the ludicrous
discomfort of the arrangement with every
violence of good humor.
mr. advanced in years. his master, with that
aspect for the aged so CHARACTERISTIC OF the
onfhern gentlemen of the old school, places
|Lt his and de ole 'ooman's" disposal an
humble vehicle, which has outlasted tho
,reater part Of It's usefulness. 10 this he
harnesses a plantation mule whose solemn
Iemeanor and highly deliberate movements
me in keeping with the measured. easy
,oino characteristic of the dusky twain.
|rhey set out, the webbing wheels describ-
ng an endless series o. curves, convex ana
soncave. The venerable occupants are
|Bsnted in split-bottom chairs and are attlred
In their .ibes' bib-~en-tuoker." with their
flaming apparel ''settin' two ways fer SIM
lay'-to employ the yernaculat--by which
|Ehey mean to suggest the all-pervading
|bresence of starch, which plantation dark
Ies were accustomed to use unstlntedly.
Thus, with an entire absence OF self-con-
|~bciousness, the aged couple arrive at the
in due time.
If it be a shrine intended exclusively for
husky worshippera the building will be a
aree rectangular structure composed of
oos. tie apertures between being chinked
with mud md clay and the roof consisting
|of rowe of rough oak clapboards. held in
blace by long saplings lying lenRthwlse
with the building, and these in turn being
secured by prongs of hickory. The most
,onspiouous adjunct of this humble house
of worship is the chimney, which leans
AWAY from the structure with a hurt. Of
Tended air. Ii looks as though it were
about to topple down, and its heserogene-
bus materials constitute an impenetrable
m mystery, held Wlthln u lfahleWork Oh sticks
and clay.
There was no scarcity of negro preachers
lin the ~ante-bellum days. On every planta-
zion there were q number of "exborteIs,"
who we're regarded with pious fear and ven
~eration by the negroes. In the SERVICES
by these black ministers the
women participated as much as the men,
and some of their Experiences" wore ex-
Itremely amusing, but all in all their wor-
ship WAS peculiarly impressive, If not weird.
No rites of pomp or pride beguile their soul;
No organ peals, no clouds of incense roll;
!, But, line by line, untutored voices raise.
Like the wild birds, their simple notes OF
praise;
And hearts Of love. with true devotion, bring
Incense more pure to heavens eternal king.
Singing is one of natures first md best
gifts to the Negro, and no music is moro
resonant with melody than the voices of
several hundred blacks singing DE Ole
Ship o. Xion," as with supple genutloxion,
bodies swayina back and forth and
their hands clapping, they keep time with
the singing. An emotional race, the negro
IA intensely susceptible to the influence OF
music, and with melody comes the ire
Bistible desire to move the feet. pat the
knee, or make Joyous Gesticulations with
the hand.
In the milder seasons of the year the ne
gro worshipers assembled beneath a spa
cious harbor formed by n framework of
saplings resting in tho forks of small grow
ing trees, Oh OF others cut Town and stuck
into the ground. Upon this crude scat
folding were deposited quantities of pine
boughs, which protected the congregation
the sun and the showers. and dis
persed an aromatic oder that was by NO
means disagreeable.
An object of the most envious concern to
the other darkies on the plantation vas the
family eoachman, or carriage driyer. or
that one of their number who was singled
out TO go with young mistis' or any other
member of their household to church.
Aside from this being considered a rec ogni-
ton of superior merit and a mark of special
confidence, il carried with ID many privil-
eyes which were greatly enjoyed. 1t meant
more comfortable transit to and from
church, moro p~resentaple apparel. and,
best of all. good eatin's."
The sermon over, n general h~andshaking
by the dispensing congregation was in
order, and sometimes, when a sermon was
to follow in the afternoon and the day was
n pleasant one, the attendants divided
themselves into little groups here and there.
The baskets were opened and the lunches,
prepared BY the old-timo southern cooks,
were heartily enjoved. A general inter
change of small talk and the news Of the
neighborhood made tho time rsss
swiftly; then came the second sermon.
after which young nistis" 10 escorted
back to the carriage by some gallant
beau, who. seeing her and perhaps the ''old
folks comfortably seated within, bows
himself away in n Chesterioldien manper.
The sable aristocrat with the rigid de-
meanor slams the door to with q bang, and
with becoming dignity asccnds to his perch.