The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1901-08-22
A Negro "PrOtraet In Edgefeld.

EDITOR HERALD Up here in this part
of Edgefeld-twenty miles from the
court house and same distance from
Augusta, in a sparsely settled communi-
ty-the negro have an annual meeting at
q church near where We pitched our tent
and they designate it as ''the protract." 7"
This momentous convention embraces q
whole week, services beginning at sun
rise and ending in the "Wee sma' hours"
giving only short interval for rest and
food. I am told a relay of ministers are
on hand, as we'll as relief congregations,
so that when a new preacher gets up in
the pulpit it is a signal for new congre-
CATION, one going out another coming in.
They term conversion as coming
through" and this coming through pro-
cess is as ludicous as some of the heather
customs. One man remained at the plow
being a wages hand-and in the middle
of the raw he "came through" took to
his heels, leaving mule and plow, yelling
at every step. Others heard him and took
after him joining in the war whoop.
When several dozen men, women and
children with barking dogs had stirred
up the people for quite distance, the
man fell in dead faint. Another "com-
ing through" case was Haley-a big black
woman who had shortly before incurred
the displeasure of one named Hannah,
by charming her (Hannah's) husband
away In the meeting Haley "came
through" and fell in the usual dead faint
when some one yelled "Haley's dead"
Hannah hearing it rushed up on the scene
saving, "whar is she? let me git dar"
Haley was gone through when Hannah
"got dar!"
The following prayer has been report
ed to me by some one who heard it in pass
ing the church: "Oh Lord hab muscy on
Bill; you knows him Lord; big black
niger with red eyes, bin wucking ON rail
road, but done come back now. Oh Lord
hab muscy on Allie; you knows her Lord;
big fat oman with new shoes. Oh Lord
hab muscy on Jim you knows him Lord;
waller niger with black har Oh Lord
-"hold on brudder, let Adam pray
now, he knows the Bible better than you"
And thus the prayer was cut short.
Mr.. Editor, would be the last person
on earth to ridicule religion if | deemed
it religion. have the highest reverence
for every body of people that is formed
into christian sect. Though their views
may seem wrong to me, l have at least
respect for their right to an opinion. And
apropos of this, let me say, that l cannot
understand why people, protesting to be
followers of the meek and lowly Christ,
can become haters of each other. Christ
in the heart brings peace, good will, per
feet love. Satan~who often dresses in
candy traiss=easily mistaken for virtues
9briuss strife and hatred.
i believe in immersion as strong as do
in a heaven, but must despise my neigh
Dor because he believes in sprinkling or
pouring? A thousand times no. The mat
ter is to be settled between himself and
an Interchangeable God. We are spending
precious probation in pouting, wrangling,
backbiting, and wilful neglect of God.
What will the harvest be? Wheat? Tares?
Life is only slender cord; all around
US we see it being snapped, some times
without the slightest warning-the i'm
mortal part of US, which we know must
live forever, will fall into Gods elevator,
will it go down or up? This is an indiyid
ual Question-one we cannot buy or beg
oft must be answered. Let us search
our hearts while yet q pardoning God is
found and decide which direction the ele-
vator will take us NJ. 0. LANIER.