The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-13

Heat oppressed Westinghouse who took
advantage of last evenings GOODNESS to in-
dulge in a car ride on the Chevy Chase
line perhaps had their attention attracted
by faint CLEAN of light from that bit of
woodland locally known as Chestnut Grove.
And IL the rumble of the car subsidized
somewhat there was borne to the ear on
the evening air the plaintive melody OF
negro hymns. II curiosity had prompted
one to leave the car he would have found
in the grove picturesque scene.
In little clearing there was in progress
colored bush" meeting. St. Marks
NJ E. Church holds meetings Sunday morn
ing, afternoon, and evening during Au-
grst in the grove different minister
breaches at each OF the services. Yester-
day three sermons were preached to the
Widows Charitable Working Club. Rev.
Henry Wiseman, of the Lutheran Church,
spoke in the morning. Rev. Shelton Miller
in the afternoon, and Rev. G. l.. Brown
in the evening. These meetings ere held
every year in the neighborhood of Chevy
Chase
There were several hundred colored peo-
pie in attendance last night, in spite OF
the signs of rain. Many OF them had been
at the grounds all day The clearing in
the middle Of the grove is shaded by tall
trees and is surrounded by fence
small admission fee is charged at the gate
and the proceeds defray the expenses or
the meetings and if there is any surplus
it is devoted to charitable purposes. Sew
eral tents, for the offices" Of the min
listers. give a camp-meeting aspect TO the
scene At one side was a table under a
canvas where refreshments were served to
the sisters and the brethren. Fried chick
en- and sandwiches were in abundance, TO
say nothing of the inevitable watermelon.
AT one end of the enclosure there was
platform with a board top to protect the
minister from the sun during the services.
There were number of hymns sung in
the first part of the service, aid there are
also long prayers. but the principal part
of the meeting is the sermon.
II is the sermon that the colored minister
most relies upon to move his flock. The
sermons generally are laid on radical lines,
dealing with the rewards OF a weli-spent
life. or with the awful punishment that
is supposed TO be meted out to those VINO
have habitually transgressed during their
worldly existence.
There are no seats provided for the wor-
shIpers. who stand during the entire ser
vice. except during prayers, when they
kneeI on the ground. When that point OF
the service was reached when it is Gus
tomary for the minister to deliver the SER
mon he moved toward the pulpit and open
ing the Bible announced the text in
slow and deliberate tone. This was re-
peated twice. so that ii might fasten itself
in the minds of the listeners. Then he
proceeded to the discussion Of the text.
As the discourse progressed the preacher
became more fervent and moved from the
desk on which the Bible lay to the middle
of the platform His gestures became more
frequent and his voice rose higher and
higher, the words following each other
with almost incredible rapidity. At these
points the effect on the congregation was
NEST noticeable. Frequent cries of Amen,
amen" We're heard and new interest was
awakened in every countenance.
Then the minister's voice would sink al
most to inaudibility and no sound could
be heard save the whir of the passing
electric cars. All this time the entire
congregation had been standing, but the
people seemed not TO tire of the eloquence
of the pulpit orator. Babies in the arms
of their mothers sometimes started to
cry at the strangeness of the scene. but
were quickly quieted and the parents
turned again eagerly toward the pulpit
Finally, when the meeting was well I'M
der way, the dark clouds that had been
promise of a shower and the meeting broke
up. The meetings will continue next two
Sundays.