The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-08-10

side of the carriage involuntarily until
it righted itself.
We alighted at safe distance from
the center of attraction and made our
way past hucksters' carts and booths;
the usual environments of camp meet
ing. The afternoon service had COM
menced, and the preacher was in the
midst OF his discourse when we had
edged ourselves in the outskirts of the
crowd which surrounded the improvised
! tent: it's green roof of boughs being
most agreeable relief from the sun-rays
that filtered through the branches Of
the trees overhead The preacher was
stoutly-built, coal-black negro, down
whose glossy face streams of perspira-
ton We're flowing. He was dressed IN
ministerial black and worked himself
into frenzy as he went up ana down
the narrow platform, clapping MS
hands together, or bending double at
times as he pounded on his knees to
emphasize his subject. He had withal
u loud musical voice which he used
most effectively. Commencing a SEN
tence in low monotonous sing-song-
for instance, on low Che would sud
denly break out an octave higher and
melodiously conclude it. / do not know
whether he chose text or not, but II
he did he surely did not refer to the
subject matter. The sermon, as nearly
as ! can remember, ran thus: II had
mudder in heben; she am gone to glo-
ry." (High c. "Hab you'uns got
mudder or a Ill baby OATS gone to glo-
ry?" Responses OF "yas, vas" from the
audience who were seated on rough
benches before him, and a high-pitched
female voice at our right responded
with long-drawn out nasal 'y-a-a-s"
Long sound of az 1--WE une ain all
rich in dis yere worl, some OBJ us is
bon po'. JESUS was POI man hisself
and hadn't no place whar to lay his
haid. Jesus am a mighty good doctah
though. He heal ev'ybody; he make de
sick git well, an he make de lame man
walk, and de bin man for to see. lie
doctah de po' man samee he do de rich.
An you doan' wan any mo- close when
you uns gifts to heben. You puts on
suit Of close and da nebbor gifts Wo'
out. You jes' puts yer OF hat on de
haid, an when you gifts up dar it'll
shine like de MONDAY SUM-" CIigh O. |
1t is impossible to describe the drama
tic effect of his delivery My attention
was attracted to g. woman who took
de powah." Rising suddenly near the i
speaker she waved her hands wildly
above her head, with twistings and
turnings and incoherent utterances.
Then in our immediate vicinity another
woman took de powah" also; and she
began to revolve rapidly with frequent
shiverings and mutterings. Catching a
speculative CLEAN in the corner of her |
nearly closed eyes, ] beat hasty re-
treat. My precaution was not too pre-
mature as it proved; for, without
warning she threw herself upon the
neck of a meek little woman who stood
near, and hung there with suspended
arms. Then after a suitable time she
transferred her avoirdupois to another
woman within a convenient distance.
After time she recovered herself, and
with placid face and beaming smiles
shook hands with those around The
preacher closed his discourse by COM
mencing. with closed lips in monoto-
nously low tone, one of those weird mel
odies so dear to the negro heart in
which the whole congregation Joined;
all with closed lips.
Lawson chapel where the association
met stands on the big road at the edge
of a wood. Although implanted, 1t Is |
in good repair, and it's unbroken Win |
dows and neatly whlte-washed walls
furnish an object lesson to their white
neighbor, THE Olive Branch" three |
miles distant. BY the way, If one in
quires the distance, the unvarylng an |
swer is "about three miles" whether 1T
be ten or twenty,
After the preaching congratulations
were the order of the day, and there
We're hand-shakings and polite inquiries
health. and broad smiles and
rows of cleaning teeth, The clergy
We're easily distinguishable by their
sombre clothing, which reminds one of a
raven, and by the air Of superiority
which envelopes them as with a gar
ment, as well as by the closed book car
ried primly in the left hand. the right
one being in constant use in their i'm
promptu receptions j was approached
by huxom negress who inquired in a
soft, sweet voice: rs you not Mis-
I shook my head negative
ly rather disturbed in mind that in my
sun burned condition / had been mis-
taken for one of the fraternity, but was