The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1901-11-06
NEGRO SOCIETIES.
THE SOUTHERN COLoREp MANS LOVE
OF PoMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE.
Wonderfully Named Organizations
10 Provide For Members Sick Dcne-
flts and Funeral Expenses How
They Flourish In Charleston.

They Flourish In Charleston.
The southern negroes love of pomp
and circumstance is nowhere eXempli-
fled more foreihly than in the manner
ia which he multiplies his charitable
organizations. Unfortunately fond OF
company, he has few societies founded
with the sole view of promoting social
enjoyment. For the most part, what.
ever foundations he makes have II
semlrellgious trend, the dues emitting
| members to sick benefits and funeral
expenses. There is usually an elabo-
rate regala and an intricate ritual.
Not few negroes of a southern city,
such as Charleston, belong to no less
than n score of these orders, the names
| Of which are oftentimes curiously and
wonderfully made. What, for instance
would the ordinary patron of secret or
ganizNtlons think of possessing mem
bership In the Sons and Daughters
Of the Seven Golden Gandlestieks In
Charity or in the Sons and Daughters
of l WIN Arise?
The sons and daughters Idea IL work
ed TO the limit of endurance. There Is
scarcely Il we'll known name In Biblical
history TINT Is not tackled on to It,
There are IN Charleston alone no less
than seventy five of these societies
with charters from the state OF South
Carolina, and how many there are that
have no legal status no man may say
with confidence.
Dues are paid weekly. and, strange
as II may seem when the great poverty
of the negro of the south IL considered,
the arrears list il n brief one indeed.
or course the charges are small usual
ly about . cents Il month, but when 1t
Is remembered that many individuals
belong To SIX or eight or even more
orders It IL little short of marvellous
how the funds necessary to meet the
demands OF the collectors are found,
and yet II IS so deep IA disgrace to be
expelled that instances of the kind are
very rare, TO hold membership In II
number Of societies IL regarded M II
badge of honor.
Meetings are held monthly in private
residences. In public halls or more fire.
quently still. In churches. These gath
erings begin ut the fashionable hour
of 10 p. M. md continue not infre-
quently throughout the night. Re
freshmeuts are to he had for small
consideration, and ms these are for the
most part of Il liquid nature the sons
and daughters are prone TO be con
splcuous by their absence from their
several places of employment next
morning. OFTEN the police have to In
terfere TO restore that harmony In
which brothers and sisters should ever
dwell together.
Among the societies In Charleston
are the Sons aud Daughters of the PHI
grims. the Sons and Daughters Of the
Twelve Disciples, the Sons and Daugh-
tiers of the Bearer Of the Cross, the
Sons and Daughters of the Evening
Star, the Sons and Daughters of the
Seventh Star. the Sons and Daughters
of the Celestial Travellers. the Sons
and Daughters of the Good Samaritan,
the Sons and Daughters Of the East,
the Sons and Daughters of Lazarus.
the Sons and Daughters of Christian
Love, and there might be added to
these fully twoscore of others. The
devotion of the negroes TO these or
ganizatIonS and their loyalty to their
fellow members are absolute.
The funeral of n colorcd man or
woman who holds membership In n
half dozen of these orders Is II specta-
Gle worth witnessing. Occasionally
bitter fcuds arise between rival So
cletIes for the possession Of a corpse,
for the negro's love of a funeral IL not
second even to his love of melons Tho
ceremonies usually begin the night be-
fore the actual intefmcnt Is 10 take
place. There are sermons, prayers and
personal experiences interspiccd with
Wild bursts of inc0herent melody,
which arouses religious feryor to fever
height Men and women faint In the
course OF the exercises, many others
fall into frances and talk of visions OF
their dead friends cntlironed In glory.
The ceremonies eliminate In II form
nj procession. 1t Is forming for nm
hour before the residence Of the late
lamented son or daughter. Negroes
from the ulterfnost parts OF the city
gather In the streets. The occasion Is II
festive one. They run and shout and
caper. The members of the organiZa-
lions to which the dead person belong.
ed stand In solemn order. clad in elab-
crate uniforms and bearing the ban
ners and other insignia OF their re
spectiye orders, and when the cortege
finally moves, vending It's way at
times through miles Of the citys
streets, II Is followed by mad rush
Of men, women ana children, who
block the tboroughfares, and traffic for
the time being has to be suspended.
The hope Of such a funeral Is the In
spiration Of many negro's whole life.
He slaves and deprIyes himself Of
actual necessities for years to meet
the demands OF the collectors OF the
societies In order that he may go to
bis last resting place In the midst Of
such strangely weird pageantry.--
Charleston Letter in New York Trib-
une.
II Reached Him.