Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1895-01-05
A Christmas Supper.

"A VII AstAloo oupPo'
DEAR BEACON On Christmas day
evening yonr correspondent attended
A supper at the residence of Mr.. and
Mrs. Jno. II. Wiudham. given for the
benefit OF Hebron Churh. The table
was beautiful, sumptuous and superb,
and although a steady rain set in at
nightfall and the darkness was almost
Egyptian, the attendance was full and
all seemed delighted with the enter
taiument, in different ways as different
proclivitics led different individuals.
To the epicure il was a refreshing re-
past; to the young and vivacions de-
lighiful Christmas festival; 10 the chill.
drcn a supremacy delightful time; t"
the devout Il christian act of conlnenl-
Grafton of the Natal day, and a
pleasing reunion 10 every one, ami the
OCCASION impressed the writer with
one fact, that he deems a fit subject to
think about aud write about, and
which is, that the contrast with some
former modes of celebrating Christ
mas, enc tolerated by the community.
bears testimony TO o grand work OF re.
formation accomplished chiefly by the
influence OF the members of Hebron
Church.
For q little more than n quarter Of a
century, except the last two years, the
writer has been Unidentified With the
Hebron people and he can speak from
the records Of his own memory aud
prOciuinI the Iaot that tho mosvSss or
Hebron Church as individuals and
MS an organization, by example. b!
preccpt and by persistent effort. lmvc
been largely instrumental in ~ctfeeting
a revolution in the moral and social
order of the shbOrhOod. On the
part of the church prohibition may
have required IL united pull TO carry
The measure through. and the writer.
who here and now says amen TO his
own condemnation, may have pulled
q little ut the other en,l of the string.
but all the same among The other evil
that of intcmpcrance has been abatci.
|: ia the way Of the world thar as
We advance in years, and liie's even
ing shadows begin 10 obscure our
path, we are apt to become subjective
in thoMght, TO ecu to tho nonntimr
Of our day and philosophizc on thing
that were. and in connection with the
Hebron vicinity are some rcminisccn
ces OF Christmas times which, il they
could DO rccnac,cd now, would rather
amaze anyone who has moro ~rcccnll,
colnc upon the stage of action.
On u Christmas day many years ago
away back in the hey day of Raw hide
an acre. more OF less Of negroes OF
both sexes and all ages, from scni!c do
crcpitudc down TO the little tot, AM
intorspcrscd with II sprinklihg Of
whites of the masculine gender and
tho Bacchanalian persuasion. had az.
semblrh in and around the store
Most of The crowd had imbibcd TO q
bout the dipping point and wh,lo in
side the building tho shuflla of many
feet and the HILARIOUS din Of many
voices drowned the sound OF the banj,
and the rattle Of The bones, the writer
stood on a bale of cotton outside tht
building and witnessed thrce fights
going OH at one aud the snme time mn
which proved to no only a prelude I,
the days proceedings. As tho da,
passed on tho programme was diver
siiled alternately with afi sorts OF com
icali,ics, nproars. 6sticnHs, foolSare
and whatever would camsc IL raskct
and the frOlic was continued far into
tho night. At that dry such dis,ur
Dances were common around NIL coun
try and village stores wcrc condouct
bccausc they were common mud wcr,
; common because oil The merchant
dealt largely aud about Christmas tim,
| very literally IN bold, inspiring job
B%nrleycorn" All is changed now
: Hebron church paved the way IN thi
. locality and prohibition is here. Her
by legislation. Here b, common con
: sent. aud here 10 stay. To some TX
toni theoretical It may he, but It HI
nevertheless restrained many OWLS mn,
the result IL a higher civilization M,
Y a noblcr manhood for the rising gene
. ration ln the ncighbOrhood ,her
!. ire other places Of departed spirits be
sides Rawi.;dc which show cvidcnr
OF crumbling ruin and very soon ,l,ci
! namn will be ,lrsola,ion Churchc,
: school, nrc NOW IN the ascendant an,
9 many n former hnbiinr III thu GROCER
Is now u church member or ~nlirndan
J.. j. p.
For n pnin ~ The ailr or chest thor
4 Ia nothing 80 good Ne n niece Of far