Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-12
Primitive BaptiSts of Mississippi
and Their Quaint Ways
SIMPLE BUT STRONG PEOPLE
They Exist in Mississippi in Fairly Large Num-
berS-The Primitive Baptist in His
Home Life.
Philadelphia Times.


and fall among the Primitive Baptist ele-
ment in these back-country neighbor-
hoods is like stepping back into the mid
die of an ancient history. The barbarism
which characterized those past ages may
be absent, but the other features remain
much the same. To one harried with the
affairs of the world, a peep at these peo-
pie would be positively restful and re-
freshing. There is a lulling sense of de-
llberateness in their mode of life which
insures them a ripe old age, and tempts
one to decry the energy of his genera
ton; they afford a glimpse of unchanging
loyalty to their church. and, above all,
plain integrity in small matters which is
by no means universal
Of this sect there is a large force In
this sectlon-mere handfuls, perhaps, in
any one neighborhood. but aggregated
large number. They have their own bits
of churches where the other denomina-
lions unite in building their house OF wor-
ship, for they worship with no other peo-
pie, and no other ever officiates in their
church. That would be in their eyes an
objectionable proclamation, for they be-
lieve themselves to be the only creed JUS
titled by the Bible. They are opposed to
missions but are less acrid in their dog
matism than some sects having wider
creed.
In a trade the Primitive exacts the ut
termost farthing, but all Christendom
could not induce him to take more. What
you buy of him will weigh or measure
exactly what you bargained for-not an
ounce or an ell more. The housekeeper
who buys her butter and eggs of her
Primitive neighbor knows the pounds are
honest pounds and she grows out of the
habit of breaking her eggs into saucer.
None of the Primitiye's pocket money
goes to missions, and he decries the
practice of ministerial salaries. What
he pays the preacher is given secretly
and no man knows what 1t is, but the
preacher has enough for his simple
wants.
The Primitives differ from other de-
nominations with respect TO their attl-
tude toward the use of intoxicants. Each
family keeps a supply of wine or liquor
to dispense to guests and the ELDERS at
all times, particularly during the May"
and the district meetings Much of this
is concocted at home; the rest Is brought
in market wagons from Meridian. fifty
odd miles away. In fact, the only
source of actual harm which is found IN
their narrow creed is embodied in this
one feature. Their opposition to eduea-
ton does not amount to much. But
Primitive fathers rear, perhaps, a large
family of boys, constantly keeping
drink freely before them. and they yet
make, oftener than not, good, sober citi-
zens, and it has a deplorable influence.
Other youths, viewing the effect In thelr
case cast admooitions to the wind and
sprinkle their wild oats with the vile
'.lnoonshine" whisky and turn out sots.
| For it is to the credit of the state that,
outside the Primitive vhurch, dram
drinking is no longer tolerated by re-
spectacle people. s46tsel lsiig.af
A stranger can but be interested in the
church services of the Hardshells, as the
Primitives are Familiarity styled.
First the people gather so deliberately,
and from such distances that you may ex-
pect the sermon to begin on time, or an
hour or two late just as happens. They
| roll up in wagons, buggies and on horse.
back. There is always sprinkling OF
rustic bellies and beaux. In this case the
bow (he will be married before one would
cali him young NAM assists the girl to
dismount and while she extricates her
self from her long, black, blue variegated
riding-skirt HES away to tie his mule
and her horse to some safe limb; then
they walk self-consciously up to the door.
He will solemnly assist her up the steps,
be they one or a dozen, but she must
find a seat for herself, no matter now
great the crowd.
cotton and candidates till the first hymn
calls them in, but the women sit inside
and talk in hushed voices, sharing thed
snuff with one another the while, or go
outside to quiet the babies. Mothers car
ry basket or grip containing biscuits or
cakes for the children. Those small
enough to require only lacteal noursh-
ment are accommodated in full view of
the congregation, and no one is In the
least discomposed at the spectacle. Anu
of these babies there are always plenty
to insure the future OF our common
weolth. and ranging from the tiny new
conner. with the bloom of nativity sui on
its red face to the toddlers whose moth
ers have constantly 10 run anu eaten
them in the doorwayS.
few promenade gravely about, look
ing Tor familiar faces, their bare feet
cleaning redly in winter or summer ana
their hands crammed with pieces.
Larger sizes go out ana play among the
grayestones, but the boys usually sit
with their fathers on the mems side.
The display of fashions would indicate
that the poet who prays so patheticaiiy
for "time" to turn backward In his
flight, had got his wish with ven
geance. Among the older women and the
young matrons the sunbonnet, marvel
ously quilted and ruffied, Is the favorite
headgear, and. the wearers usually SIT IN
the amen corner that they may get
good view of the rear without either
twisting their necks off or sitting bare
headed When the sermon begins all are
attentive, and this is an ordeal, for there
will be sermon by each preacher pres
ept, be 1t one or six. Fortunately for the
carnal-minded. their mode OF oratory so
exbausts them as to render 1t physically
impossible far to exceed an hours dis
course. There is no intermission be-
tween sermons. One sits down and an
other begins at the beginning, and that
il all there is about 1t. The pulpit Is
framed around so that little of a man
shows, standing; If you get very tired
YOU may wonder how many others sit
meditating behind the barriers, waiting
their turn. Sometimes you may see
row of bald or hirsute pates peeping
a boye the edge, and in the case of very
tall men the eyes may be visible-never
more But whether one man OF, six sits
ensconced there, the amount OF pious.
commendatory CALCULATIONS issuing there
from is prodigious. t,j
Each preacher preludes his sermon
with apologies and explains minutely
lust what is the matter, be it cold, rheu-
matism or what-not. Then he readS his
chapters fiuently or otherwise. as he is
able: there Is a quivering upheaval of
some antedeluvian song with prehis-
toric tune, the women's voices soaring
higher above the soprano In the old-time
tenor of the Sacred Harp" Then the
preacher sets brayely to work to prove
that all are lost who do not ship for Zioni
In his craft. He warns up fiercely. until
presently he is In a frenzy that dyes his