The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1901-11-06
NEGRO SOCIETIES.
THE SOUTHERN coLoRED MANS LOVE
or POmP AND CIRCUMSTANCE.


hts and Funeral Expenses - How
They Flourish In Charleston.
The southern ncgros love OF pomp
and circumstance is nowhere exempli-
fed more forcibly than in the manner
in which he multiplies his charitable
organizations. lnurdnately fond OF
company. he has few societies founded
will, the sole view Of promoting social
enjoyment For the most part. what.
ever foundations be makes have
semircligiouS trend the dues emitting
members 10 sick bcueEts and funeral
expenses. There Is usually an clabo-
rate rcgalin and an Intricate ritual.
Not q few negroes Of southern city
suclf as Charleston belong TO no less
than a score Of these orders, the names
of which are oftentimes curiously and
wonderfully made. what. for instance.
would the ordinary patron of secret or
ganizations think of possessing mem
| borship in the Sons and Daughters
Of the Seven Golden Candlcsticks In
Charity or in the Sons and Daughters
Of VIII Arise?
The sons aud daughters idea Is work
ed to the limit of endurance There is
scarcely wei! known name in Biblical
history that Is not tucked on to 1t.
There are in charleston alone no less
than seventy five Of these societies
with charters from the state Of South
Carolina, and how many thcre are that
have no legal status TO man may say
with confidence
Dues are paid weekly. and. strange
as it may seem when the great poverty
of the negro Of the south is considered.
the arrears list is brief one indeed.
or course the charges are small. usual
~ about - cents month. but when II
Is remembered that many individuals
belong TO six or eight or even more
orders IT is little short OF marvellous
how the funds necessary to meet the
demands Of the collectors are found.
ana yet it is so deep a disgrace to be
expelled that Instances OF the kind are
very rare. 10 hold membership I'm
number Of societies is regarded as
badge Of honor.
Meetings are held monthly in private
residences. i'm public halls or, more fire.
quCutly Still. in churches. These gath
eriugs begin at the fashionable hour
OF 10 D. m. and continue not infre-
quontly throughout the night Re-
freshmcnts are to he had Tor a small
consideration, and as these are Tor the
most part of liquid nature the SONS
aud daughters are prone to be con-
spicuous hy their absence from their
several places of employment next
morning. Often the police have to in
terfcre 10 restore that harmony I'm
which brothers and sisters should ever
dwell together.
Among the societies in Charleston
are the Sons and Daughters Of the Pill
grims. TIE Sons and Daughters Cf the
Twelve Disciples. the Sons and Dlugh-
tCls Of the Bearer Of the Cross. the
Sons ana 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 he 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 colored man or
woman who holds membership in a
half dozen of these orders is a specta-
Gle worth witnessing Occasionally
bitter feuds arise between rival So
10. g.. 81
FOR the negro's love of funeral is not
second even TO his love of melons. The
ceremonies usually begin the night be-
fore the actual interment is TO take
place. There are sermons. prayers and
personal experiences interspiced with
wild bursts of incoherent melody.
which arouses religious fervor 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 enthroned in glory.
The ceremonies eliminate in a form
, al procession. 1t Is forming for an
hour before the, residence of the late
lamented son - daughter Negroes
from the uttermost parts of the city
gather in the streets. The occasion is
festive a~e. They run and shout and
capcr. The members OF the organlza-
tions TO which the dead person belong
cd stand in solemn order. clad iu elah-
crate uniforms and bearing the ban.
ners and other insignia of their re-
spec.lve orders, and when the coriege
finally moves. vending its way at
times through miles of the cty's
p streets. 1t is followed by mad rush
of men. women and children. who
! block the thoroughfares, and traffic for
the time being has TO be suspended.
The hope of such a funeral Is the iu'
splratlon OF many noiTo's whole life.
lie slaves and deprives himself Of
actual necessities for years TO meet
the demands of the collectors of the
societies in order that he may go to