The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-11
G FERvoR RoUSED.
acENEa AT TIE PROTRACTED MEET
LyQ IN THE SOUTH

Hands Get Religion.
watormolon.timo ioprosants a certain meas
urc OF rapture to the plantation darky, espn-
ciAlly when vagrant vinos grow voluntarily In
betwecn tho cotton rows, as IL inviting appre-
~cisticn. Noxt in his estimation OF tho years
delights comos tho protractcd meeting.
: tprluging, likewise, spontaneously, without
cost either IN coin OF prnctiliousnoss. In July,
when tho melons and tho meetings come to-
<cthcr. his cup OF contoEt is full ma running
Svrr. IL may be q granite OF pewter cup, u bent
tin clipper, or only n yoliow.skinnod gourd cut
from the vine that last year grow over his clay
chimney, but 1t is full oil tho same. There may
DO two, even three liens on his crop; his
OK or mulo may DO moriRngcd; he may
not b, nbie to see clearly where his
noxt suit Of clothes 10 coming from or where ho
and his art 10 get shoes when the first nipping
frost falls; but thoac things arc not pertinent TO
the moment. fe cnn 20 to tho protractcd meet
ing without shoes. IT Is not n full dross affair,
like tho camp meeting or the caka walk or tho
Christmas jolliflcation, and Its freedom from
such observance accounts FOR Its popularity and
tho lusty interest regarding all that pertains to
It from tho rising Of tho sun on the first day
until its rising on the last day. when the partici-
pants. woary with SO many successive vigils,
leave the tabernacle with tagging steps but
contented spirits.
There is marked difference between the fall
camp meeting and the July protracted meeting.
To tho first tho whole countryside goes, each
plantation yieing with the others in appearance
and .ouipsRe and the sum II can contribute 70
conference. Learned college graduates, colored
and white, preside Mt the services. and devoted
missionaries bring their influence to bear. Tho
black bellcs--veiled, gloved. bcrutflod. and para
~oled-aro handed in and out of buggies and
wagons by their tall-collarcd escorts with u
miraculous imitation Of accepted form. The
singing is done by q prearrangcd choir, intent
on carrying tho long metre and the short metro
tunes far beyond tho reach Of ungifted aspi-
rants. no matter how Jealous. There Is an ar.
tiecial flavor to tho whole affair, and things are
MT such n pitch Of formality that nature has
little chance 10 show itself, and Heterogeneous
fees tho place.
Tho protracted meeting. gotten up for the
affair in comparison, a frocand.easy function in
criticism or preparation. Ten chances to one
snoro is a tragedy Of one sort or another going
.Me u",t'. NJ sio y, o.e. win Az
Iorn. chuckling or chaing, whatever the case,
,hos, hIact.srinns hmshon ds md ,ovors sweet
$50. ~ ni,,a. $500 ,sona.van a.
nightly sessions in just that ferrnent of mind
most iikciy 20 respond 10 stirring influences.
Is dat riied. look ilke 1 cant SEQ straight.
a.mc . -" m ,VU "s - : ,.,s a." tho moo,;n t.s s"a"'
.A""u " na'oe l i" Il n'''ih fosu'
And another not 10 s . poor. d;s,rourb, Young mother
who f,ncics that son,e rival has nrecinitated
evil on 1ah her ail ins' b sIDs' out tut of spi,o pf roes to tho
her mn" 'S
After the evening hoecake has been baked and
eaten. when the whip-poor-win is whistlins
y MS uhseeh pereh ~ INC hfeiiics arc
kindling sparks in tho woods. these ardent wor.
sn,ppet - SET ea, o sno i1p .n r, meeting Il pace so no t%ay
means TO get excited, really or TO DO more than
show a seemly Difference to that part of them
that may not DO fed with food or clothed with
clothes: but. as the, stem along. one behind the
leader with torch uplifted to guard against
sRSske'' ia 5hsy e ssa,ei6 6now; deep sb,t' eoT be,ot in
the night is over, they will have
cause eShaied from the friction Of human rUsJne e,po-
lions rather than from a chemists compound.
ps5haps si'is m pSiTjlS!'i'y ya hss a!sS to 9o do b with i m tne
tifying contradiction. the, thing Of all others
that mankind d. li it., next best to itself is The II,
circumstances that compasscs that result never
lacks for patronage. These plantation arkies,
All untutored and unlettered as they are. are
intensely human. way ~
IL ia hot in the church of a summer night, Re.
sides. lamps are a Consideration. and moi needed
reaiiy. Tor the preacher could not read n word
out Of any praycrbooE or manual, il he had ali
Inc IKnI I'm me WOTI0 10 Rulue MN. EelD from
printed ideas ia denied him in his services hui
Re ia n host In himself: his countenance shines
with an enthusiasm thai no degree nf iearning
could brighten, and his motions and Rest,res
have been learned in no school of oratory vet
fonnded The bcnchcs from Tho cbmrch have
been placed under the bush arbor, which stands
from Yenr In wear for this nurnnas needipy only
fresh bou9bs laid unon II Tor or 4 csnonv and mn mn.
der the new.cut pine, and black jack and myrtle
Inofs. on The firestands without Iiehtinn nm the
faces of preacher and congregation,
The cam mcetin1 and The cake WALL even
fine ecT pickins and C5ristmas "festibuis "
arsnS sotuewhat OF prosnerity' md draw to
tbcm Yes oniv tho asnipsnis f3r snciaI resnoc.
tahiti scattered within The precinct TSn IN.
shod Tho ho,srless The bnnqer.nn and The
Nearero Of trousers -seatiess and snnoeed' or of
sL;-ts sScav.Iess md Viii Avn, ;ihs Sra outn
Sarrcd az, nv % law none he loss '. AZ riinaend he.
cause unexprcsscd To the protractei meeting
ali ,Seso IsRutaels NAV go and ind nonri shment
fberaaI> much as they NAV taste or tho volun.
t.er ;yni ermoion by The roadside that yyas pInnt.
ID nv no mans hand. Sobod ~ substnnc" finnn.
= tIaiiv considered hns been laid mi on tho nru.
frn,.fed n'sctinr The nrenchcr .i,nniy. fsit Rim.
self called anon to breach lust as Gc: felt him.