The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-09-02
THEY HAVE BURIED satan.
Negroes at MountviIIe A:e in State
Of Religious Hysterla'
CHURCH BELL THE INSPIRATION
Thousands of Blacks, Regardless OF
Food or Physical Energy, Arc Gath-
sred at tho Place of Gloriflcatton.

A special from Mountville, this State
to the Atlanta (Ga.) Constitution OF the
cath, says: The white people here are
Witnessing deeds amazing and exciting
that are performed by frantic negroes
religion crazed.
Two weeks ago church bell was re-
ceived here for the colored church
which sits in the southeastern part OF
this city, and since that time not ten
minutes have passed when the sound OF
this bell was not heard. Then the cr1sis
came on. AS soon as 1t was mounteu IL
the steeple it was rung for SIX consecu'
tive hours, after which the tolllns ap-
paratus was for six hours used.
The ringing, they claim, was TO an
'nounce the time of gathering TO witness
the final burial Of the devil, whose
death was announced by the tolling.
The ministers claim that they have at
tended the court of heaven, where God,
the Judge, after the devil had been con-
yicted by jury Of twelve representa-
tive angels form abroad the universe,
passed sentenced on him, turning him
over to the colored people OF Mount
vile vicinity to bury once and forever:
When this claim was announced
abroad an invitation sweeping every
where was sent urging all colored per
sons to come to witness the destructlon
of satan. Forthwith they began to as
semble and since two weeks ago they
have come to remain.
THERE SEEMS TO BE SPIRIT.
The first to come have not yet left
here. There seems to be spirit work
| ing from home to home, causing every
one to come. The news is scattered
more and more each moment and still
thew come. No sign offood they bring,
nor drink, nor does it seem they do
aught but shout. Every passenger
train that passes carries by people
| wondering whether such unceaslng
sounds as that may be caused by Joy
The grounds are not dotted here and
there with group, but one immense
throng fills five acres square and IN tne
center packed.
A nearby corn field is being tramp
| led down, and like wave that from It's
center spreads this people stretches OUT
broader and broader.
A portion shouts from one sounding
| of the bell to the other-ten minutes
and then another begins. There Is
sLord, don't call the roll till gifts
dar." goes up from four or five thous-
and voices and they say voice speaks
out from the throne Of God, saying:
81 will not call my roll till my
Mountville negroes get here. :,
According to their saying they hold
a position midway between earth and
heaven and that they have no more
earthly feelings and have no mem
ory of the past and recognize no bodily
needs.
HORSES LEFT TO sTARVE.
Mountyille negroes are more inde-
pendent than negroes elsewhere In
South Carolina and have nice convey
ances, but mules and horses are driven
here to starve, receiving no attention.
Each train incoming unloads fifty or
sixty negroes and they strike run for
the church.
Benches are debris and the floor is
wreck. Women embrace men and mon
each other. Now and then eight or ten IN
a tussle and q woman comes out hall
naked or more, but still she PAGES
about in wild shouting. Their faith
strengthens. Several black maidens
are stepoing from timber to timber
across an unceiled loft and worship
there; the bell now rings and now
tolls.
Now and then hands on q passing
train, by some spirit moved, desert
their post and lock themselves in this
heaven going throng.
THEY LOOK TO THE EAST.
A platform is built in front OF The
church three feet high aud twenty feet
square, on which negroes are LAID TO
recover strength and senses after they
have lost them in their shouting. This
platform is increasingly filled. Occa.
sionallv the congregation looks toward
the east in concert and says:
sIol See stars and moons and suns
rolled back from our aerial path and
hear the mighty song Of welcome echo
ing from universe to universe.
When the sun is rising they pat their
feet, keeping time to the music made
by angels bows as they glide across
the gray lines that fret the morning
| skies.
Thunders roll and lightnings leap,
but this excited throng does not seem
to hear them.
A bicycle rider of their color, whose
faith is strong, attempted to wheel it up
to heaven by inclining twenty.foot
plank upward and by rapid speed as
cending it to run off its upper end and
fall cripple.
Once or twice they said something
about Toccoa and the millennium-this
all in concert.
WANTS RAIMENTs OF WHITE.
There i, great craze among these en-.
Unused people for raiments of white and
if one happens to arri7 7e with dark
suit on, 50 mich is at once removed as
shows up white costume.
The white people in this place are un-
easy as to what will result from these
proceedings. :.
It would be useless to attempt to dis
perse such congregation, for it is in
creasing daily by 600 to 800 and as soon
as q negro arrives he falls into their
III II L. nd