The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-02-12
NEGRO CAMP MEETING.
4 NORTH ERN VISITOR'S IMPRES SION OF 4 REL1GhO US FESTIVAL.
Of CoIored People In FIorida--Ac- tions ofSome of the Congregations.

WOuld we Ike 10 go to uafky camp meeting? One cannot imagine for a moment a Northerner's negative an morning our party found ourselves slowed away in two light wagons, each drawn by very sleek pony, who lazily carried us the three and one-half miles to the camp grounds.
 After picketing the ponies and cover- ing securely the lunch baskets away from inquisitive pickaninnies, we hastened to large cammodious pavili- on, where were already congregated over 200 negroes, in all manner of holi- day attire, from the humbly clad wid- owed mammy in a bright purple dress and thin wisp of a black crepe veil, to the ultra a-fashionably dressed maids from the large resort hotels.
 Cordial and graceful indeed was our reception, and with much obsequious- ness we were ushered into a seat com
 nanding a good view of the pulpit. Hardly were we seated when a large, fine-looking young preacher approached the pulpit, then, standing for moment in quiet dignity waited for the buzzing voices to cease and give him attention. My dear brothers and sisters, we will open the meeting with a familiar hymn" Opening the book he read the first line, "Oh, the prodigal son come down. This was at once taken up by the congregation in a dulcet, soft melo ly, and repeated three times, with each repetition the strains swelling until it reached a grand rich climax, never to be initiated by musical instrument, or white singers.
 It commenced like soft, sweet sigh ing the pine trees, then reaching full ness as the wind increased, making the swaying branches shout, then dying away again to the murmuring sigh as the breeze passed on. Then came the next lines;
 "Oh, he hide himself come down,
 Oh, he run to meet his son, come
 down,
 And he kissed his darling son, come
 down."
 Each line was repeated three times, the last two words dying away into sleepy nur1nur. Come downn-n-n-n"
 An exhorter now arose in the pulpit and spoke for a few moments on the subject Take My Yoke Upon You" In good language he handled the sub ject very well indeed, but was constant ly interrupted by the voices of the clergy in the seat back of the pulpit "Yes, oh yes, yes-m-mr rn," and often from an echoing voice in the audience. The earnest words of the preacher, full of persuasive conviction, and the gentle harmonious assent of both clergy and the people, were both sweet and touch- ing. Then followed another lined hymn: "All over this world,
 Sinners, all over this world,
 Preaching time will soon be over; soon
 be over soon be over,
 Preaching time will soon be over in
 this world"
 The voices rising and falling in sweet harmony and ending in a drowsy hum like the honey bees in fragrant apple trees in Springtime.
 Then few more earnest words, with the usual Interruptions of "ah-men ye-es, that's it. Yes Brother Hicks, now talk religion" etc Presently the speaker began to forget himself for he really had reached the limit of his text. In hoarse gutturals he commenced a sort of harangue which no one could understand; then, his brow darkening, he wildly embraced his body with his long arms, and stood looking stern and defiant, ready to fight the Prince of Evil.
 His growing excitement was contagi- ous, and soon different ones in the audi ence began to swing their bodies back and forth, roll their eyes and look as if in agony of pain. Seeing the growing excitement, the preachers words flew fast and faster, often giving vent to his own increasing enthusiasm by inter- epersing quick, sharp shriek which 1 only seemed to make the words come | faster. Excitement was reaching a cl- | max. The swayed bodies were getting | wilder and the speakers voice fast be- 1 coming husky with effort and emotion. when voice from the clergy said earnestly, though quietly: Oh, Lord, take us out of the wilderness, for dan gers are upon us!' Then suddenly from the audience arose very tall, angular woman in bright purple silk dress, who raised her long, thin arms above her head, and in frantic way paved the air As the speakers voice increas- ed in speed and smothered excitement the woman lost control of herself and fairly writhed in her distress, and the weird, rapid voice from the platform communicated its fervor to the listening people. The excited fancy of the VOL man could stand the strain in silence no longer, so, with frightened eyes roll ing she uttered a scream that made the blood run cold. Shriek followed scream in quick succession to the accompani- ment of the reverend voice. The poor brain was exhausted and she fell in- sensible to the ground.
 The audience was nearly crazy, when a kind, fatherly looking minister stepped forward gently waving the now nearly exhausted minister to his seat. The old man stood by the desk in quiet a moment, and then in an expreesibly sweet, touching voice begged them to come to the mercy seat. Why, my people, the very singing in the air bids you come, the stars in the night time say come oh, my people!" Then, hold ing out his hands in an imploring way, he again bade them to come. The quiet which followed was broken only by a wonderful. sweet, trembling humming, and the gentle tapping of excited feet. The soft beautiful sunshine made not only this acutely susceptible musical