The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-11-20
DIXIE NEGRO REVIVAL
A BLIND PREACHER OF GEORGIA
sTIRs THE SOULS OF HIS
HEARERS
HIS FREEDOM OF ACTION

The Negroes Shout and Sing and
Dance Under His Impressive Dec
larations, in Which They Evil
IDENTIFY Agree, That Some, If Not
Fantastic Scene
TWEED. Ca. No. 15.-"CIar to de Lawd.
Massa Zeke. you an de res OBJ de buckra
people mus come ober to de meetin' tonight
fer shure. De sperrit am movin' de niggers in
De quarter, an dey is jinin' like hot cakes,
Bring de m1ssus, an de ehiilen, too, an dey
viii like de shoutin' an singin'," said Aunt
Huldy, an aged negress of ants-bellum type
as she carded some cotton in corner of The
kitchen Dem niggers from ober de criek
am terribly stirred I'D. Dey am checked
fun of 'hgion. Use bin gettin' a heap of 'ligou
myself. an If 1t hadn't bin fur de toofache
Pse had, I'd wouldn't min get up an shout
too"
And Aunt Hubby carded with more vigor as
she pondered over the good results of the
''traeted' meeting. Massa Zeke was the son
Of her former cid ''marster," and she loved
him from childhood. Now, honey. rs nussed
you fom q baby, an yo' nebber has toll ma
an untrufe. A blind preacher rom de Norf
viii preach tonight, an he jes' speaks his
min. / shall look To- you ALL" Aunt Hubby
SAAChAS4 Win QS44AuLs anu sang q verse OF
weird melody she placed some cotton
IN the cards The young man promised 10
attend the meeting, and on a recent even
ing. in company with the writer visited the
Cave Springs Baptist church, situated two
miles from here and q short distance from
the Ocomee river. Seats were provided out
sloe, and through the open windows the weird
proceedings could be observed. The congre-
CATION was large. and the women's side was
gay with bright-eolored head keTchiefs rib
bons and streamers. while the men were more
nrF
About two weeks ago Pastor Simpson no.
uced deeper religious feeling than usual in
his flock so, 10 increase It, called to his aid
the Rev. D. W. Ford. the blind revivalist of
Maryland Mr.. Ford has been bind for
twenty-five years, but such is his freedom of
action in the pulpit that no one would imagine
he was deprived OF his sight. His sermons
are series of emotional climaxes, aided 10
their completion by appeals TO the congrega-
ton. TO which the worshippers eever fail to
respond by cries OF Yes or mo" as the
question may demand.
The church was very full the night the
writer attended for the fame of the wonder
full preacher had gone forth among the COL
ored folks, and he had already made fifty
seven converts. In the three front seats sat
several converted sinners. bowling their heads
penitently and weeping bitter tears. Revival
list Ford spared none. He hguratively Jumped
into the congregation, slashed fearlessly right
and left, regardless OF who were hit, and
preached the terrors OF hell and the delights
of heaven. The congregation were powerfully
affected. AT times shrieks. screams and
groans drowned the speakers voice, and
many women were overcome to fainting At
other times the revivalist was fred to point
OF incoherence and shouted words not un-
derstood, but the terrible import Of which
was felt If not realized. At these moments
were enacted scenes OF wild excitement He
talked about the steps leading to hell. There
is too much pride among you" he shouted,
Pride is running away with the world.
hell Isn't that so?"
Yes 1t Is So shouted the congregation.
You can't deny it, can your"
''No, we can't" was the reply.
"Oh. II had my voice tonight we'd carry
these people home. Did you knox that some
of you are drifting to He'll as fast as time
part? You stay away from church and COM
NIT sin. You'd better halt, sinner, or he'll
will be your portion"
up from the mourner's bench. and with rapt
gaze and arms extended in duplication
whiFled round and round, swayed backward
then skipped lightly forward with q solemn
look on her face. While the convert was
shouting the worshipers sang:
OH you better git 20 prayin'
Do my Lordi
An you better git TO Ehoutin'i
Do my Lordi
''You come in here and pray. and so out
and swear" resumed the preacher. you
don't pay your honest debts That's another
link 20 hell Here's a woman with half
dozen lovers Is that the way TO live in this
Here several cried out:
That's right. Tell EN- the truth. Talk
IT outl@
band" shouted the revivalist. There's
man living with another mans wife.
Suddenly with an unearthly shrek, an
elderly woman seated on the front bench,
on one side Of the chancel. sprang into the
clear space before the altar and began TO
shout She rolled her head. stifTened her ell
bows. and jumped up and down shaking the
floor the ETeEafiOu
20, sinner, viii you let the harvest pass,
And R 6 DIE an. sSu e. t9 he'll at last shoes
the wooden floor was in perfect unison with
the music On she danced. hinging her
arms wildly over her head the while, and
screaming "Gioryi Ha,le.ujahr' at frequent
intervals, as loud as her violent bodily move
ments would permit bending backward and
forward swaying this way and thai In an
hausted into the outsFetched arms Of two
You must reform or you all will get into
a hot place" shouted the preacher Your
sins viii find you out some day. You can
go on in your wickedness as much as you
want 10. but | tell you. God bless your soul
there is q day a-coming when It will be
toe late and you VIII regret It, Mother,
where is your daughter and son tonight? At
froie or card party? Is that where you
found Jesus? Get on the Gospel train and
girl in the "amen corner shouted some
unincelligible words. Several Joined in, keep
whole assembly singing a sort Of
chant the refrain Of which was alternately:
II you wants TO 60 10 heaven wild me-
Den put on your trablR' shoes
voice IN high key singing out the ar
gument, as Il were, the congregation voeife-
rating the chorus. TO the rhythmic patting
Of countless feet. swaying OF bodies and
nodding OF heads, all In perfect time
Brother Ford pictured heaven in what
sounded like verse; the verse had a certain
melody and a regular cadence but the lines
did not rhyme and had little connection with
each other. The whole, however had a weird
picturesqueness about Il that wrought the
audience 10 great pitch Of excitement The
preacher appeared utterly unconscious OF
himself at times, and swayed back and forth
monotonously. When he finished the sister,
IN the amen corner sang:
Il We mother in glory, she outshines the
sun.
outshines the sun outshines the sun;
I've q mother in glory. she outshlnes the sun
way Up beyond the moon
All Joined In the chorus The very air SEEM
ed 70 pulsate with emotion, and the effect
was thrilling With the inspiring strains the
shouters are again their feet whfrlfpg
bounding and swayilg with fresh vigor II
was long past midnight before the meeting