Delaware gazette and state journal., 1895-12-19
speclal correaponeIe Ieneeot 6laaetle ana Joarnsl

I
Special correspondeneeot OF Gazette and Journal
| Bridgeville, Dec. Is. About one
year ago the only organized band Of
sanctified peopleh reported as being
in this section Of the country was, on
Chineoteague Island, Va. On this
island regular and clisgraceru meetings
we're held by the band Husbands ey-
changed wives, and wives exchanged
husbands, until at last the people of
the island tired of the practice and
mode of worship and determined to
break 1t up.
They were partly successful, but
some nf the members became involved
in a shooting affray and gradually the
sanctified band" became thing of
the past, all tho members going to
another eection of the country.
After Leader Lynch's 'sanctified
band" had loft the island 1t was
learned that the negroes Of that section
had organized band with the same
belief and same practice us those Of
the white band. Previous to the dis
appearance of Leader Lynch and his
followers from the island the negroes
were free in expressing their belief in
sanctification, but did not hold any
meetings except at the homes OF people
OF the same belief and then with the
| greatest secrecy.
Early this summer there began
gradual exodus OF the negroes. A few
came here and began advocating sane
tifcation. They encountered no OPP
| position and now the whole band is To-
Gated in this immediate section. When
the negroes first made their appearance
they held secret meetings and very
| Itftta 11,A - fha. oil
they came, until now the band numbers
about 100. The last addition came
about one week ago from near Ocean
City, Md, and numbered 26 persons.
Since their arrival the other members
have taken greater interest in sane.
tiflcation and 1t looks as though the
| Protestant Church would lose some Of
| it's members
A few nights ago the band met al
the house Of member and then
marched to Trinity A. M. E. Church,
a distance Of nearlytwo miles, singing
and shouting as they marched. Reach
ing tho church, they proposed to enter
and get permission of the pastor to adj
vocato sanctifieation. This was refused
and they marched again 10 their homes,
declining tu accept the invitation Of
the pastor to attend regular services.
| Though unsuccessful in gaining adj
mittance to the church they are malS-
ing their influence felt in this section
among the colored people. Some of
the churches have already lost their
best members, with more to follow, it
| Is snid.
Last Sunday the band held an all-day
meeting at the home of one of it's
members, two miles from town, The
services began early in tho morning,
and about 10 o'clock one of tho women
preached. This was followed by a
season Of singing and shouting that
continued until nearly night, there
being no cessation for dinner.
Tho Gazette's correspondent drove
to the house of worship while tho
meeting was in progress and witnessed
an unusual sight When within about
a mile of the house the shouts of the
members could be plainly heard. The
house, a small structure, was crowded
to suifocation, while abont dozen
members of the band walked about the
| yard, shouting and singing and pro.
claiming sanctification.
Crowded about the windows and
doors were many persons, attracted by
| curiosity, and who we're seeking nd
mission to the already crowded house.
| Inside the house men and women were
singing and shouting. Occasionally
one would faint from the continual
shouting and intense heat of the room,
and have to be carried out. Kneeling
beside chair was girl OF about 10
years, who was seeking sanctifcation.
Under this chair was a Bible, tho in
ference being that the negroes expected
sanctification to ascend from that
sacred book.
Around the chair were men In shirt
sleeves, singing and shouting as they
| awaited the coming of aanctifieation
to the child. Women cried and hugged
| each other, and ono little girl Of not
more than yeara Of age stood near the
chair, clapping her hands, aa did her
mother few feet away. Then some
one would command silence for few
minutes SO that every wicked thought
or deed should disappear from tho room
Then the singing and shouting would
be resumed. After awhile the girl be.
came 'sanctified" and there was gen.
eral rejoicing. The Bible was placed
on the chair, while the Ranciified peo-
pie shouted around IL, each endeavor-
ing to place tho right hand upon the
book, as though taking an oath.
Shortly after this there was another
silent period, and each person raised
both hands oyer the new convert and
the meeting was at an end.
The members OF the band believe in
exchanging husbands and wives and
follow the practice. They claim that
the Bible gives the men the right OF
from one to seven wives, but that no
woman can have more than one hus-
band. These husbands or wives are
secured in very peculiar way, and
every member OF the band readily
agrees to exchange husband or wife for
another. Should woman desire another
husband. she seeks some spot where
she can be alone and then begins pray
ing, at the same time concentrating
her thoughts on the man she desires as
husband. The prayer is always
answered. in a short while, and the
new husband is then notified Of it and
begins living with the woman.
An interesting story IL known in this
connection. One of the 'sanctified"
women desired another husband and
prayed for man named Polk. not
member of the band. She approached
Polk and. told him that the Lord had
chosen him for her husband. - Polk
did not appreciate the situation, and
becoming enraged would have done
the woman injury, but for interference
by members Of the band. james Will.
liams, negro of about 6 feet . inches
and weighing 200 pounds, is leader Of
the =" sanctified band'' and his
brother, Charles Williams, is also q
member. The latter in describing the
exchanging of wives said: "The first