The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-02-23
4 GREAT EKHORTEn.

II Witnessed "A very remarkable exhi-
bition of hypnotism, animal magnetism OF
some uncanny power about week
ago." said gentleman from the south
OF Georgia, who In guest of one Of the
hotels. '"The negroes Of our neighbor-
hood are holding a series of 'protracted
meetings out I'm the wods A sort OF In
ner circle. who call themselves every
few nights and have services at a coun-
try church. Their leader is an old
preacher named Hamp Scott, who has
been famous for years as an exhorter.
and IL wouldn't surprise me In the least
II the craze he has started spread all
over the State. / had heard some cur
ious stories OF the proceedings at the
seekers meetings, and the other Sun
day night L drove over TO the church TO
see for myself what was going on. The
little house where they assembled holds
only about 200, and | found IL packed 10
the doors. l managed to get good seat
In front, however, and for an hour or so
thought i had been badly buncoed. The
services, which consisted of short talks
and prayers, seemed 10 be about the
same as those Of any negro congrega-
ton. and | WAS preparing 60 make my
escape when an old cotton-headed dar-
key started camp-meeting hymn. lie
sang in a wailing minor key that went
straight TO the nerves. and before he got
through with the first stanza ] could
feel the tension In the atmosphere. When
he finally ceased Scott himself Jumped
up and began TO intone another hymn
n typical negro composition, with the
refrain:
AN de sinner Is a-burnin' in de pitt
''IIe droned each verse In thrilling
undertone that was almost a whisper.
everybody joining. but when he came
To the climax he suddenly straightened
up and rolled ont the refrain like clap
of thunder. The effect was electrical and
Ia five minutes half the congregation
were on the verge or Mysteries Then
followed the most remarkable part Of
the whole performance. AS the hymn
died down Scott set up a sort OF chant.
As nearly as l could make out he sim
ply repeated the words Obi Lawdl
Oh-h-h. at the same time swaying hts
body back ana forth. bur all the negroes
took IL up and the monotonous reitera-
ton had a strange, mournful cadence
that reminded me somewhat OF the
breaking OF waves at sea. Whether it
was some peculiar quality in the voice
of the leaders or the weird surroundings
or mere culminstive excitement l can't
saw. but the chant soon had everybody
under it's spell, Some OF the darkies fell
back. staring and rigid. like cataleptics.
and others writhed on the hoor. foaming
et the mouth aud tearing ~ their clothes
Still others wept and shouted and all the
while the chant continued, rising and
falling like the wind In the chimney. II
was really an appalling spectacle. ] have
witnessed some wild scenes at negro
camp meetings, but this trsnscendcd any
thing In my experience. ] LEFT while II
was at it's height. and IL was some time
before ] could shake of It's eerie In
iucnce. Scott started the seeker move
mcnt only few weeks ago and there Is
no telling how far sc may 40 before II
runs its course. II bids fair already 10
demoraiize negro labor in our section for
the entire winter. New orleans Times
Democrat.