The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-01-07
NEGRO SOCIETIES.
THE SOUTHERN coLoRs0 MANS LOVE
OF PoMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE.

wonderfully Named Organization
to Provide For Members Sick Bene'
ata and Funeral Expenses - How
They Flourish In Charleston.
The southern negro's love Of pomT
and circumstance is nowhere exempli
fed more forcibly than in the manner
in which he multlplies his charitable
organizations. Inordlnately 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 q
semlreliglous trend, the dues emitting
members to sick benefits and funeral
expenses. There is usually an elabo-
rate regalla and an intricate ritual
Not a few negroes Of a southern city,
such as Charleston, belong to no less
| than a score of these orders, the names
of which are oftentlmes curlously aud
wonderfully made. What, for instance,
would the ordinary patron Of secret Or
ganlzatlons think Of possessing mem
bership In the Sons and Daughters
of the Seven Golden Candlestlcks In
Charity or in the Sons and Daughters
of | VIII Arise?
The sons and daughters idea Is work
ed to the limit Of endurance. There Is
scarcely well known name In Biblical
| history that Is not tackled on TO 1t.
There are In Charleston alone no less
than seventy-hve 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 Is considered,
the arrears list is a brief one indeed.
or course the charges are small usual
ly about % cents n month, but when 1t
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,
and yet It is so deep disgrace to be
expelled that Instances Of the kind are
very rare TO hold membership in a
number OF societies Is regarded az
badge Of honor.
Meetings are held monthly IN private
residences, in public halls or, more fire.
quently still, In churches. These gath
erlngs begin at the fashionable hour
OF 10 p. m. and continue not infre-
quently throughout the night Re.
freshments are to be had for small
consideration, and as these are for the
most part Of liquid nature the sons |
and daughters are prone to be con-
spicuous by their absence from their |
several places Of employment next |
morning. Often the police have 10 in
terfere 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
grlms, the Sons and Daughters Of the
Twelve Disciples, the Sons and Daugh-
tcrs of the Bearer OF the Cross, the
Sons ana Daughters Of the Evening
Star, the Sons and Daughters of the
Seventh Star, the Sons aud Daughters
Of the Celestial Travellers, the Sons
and Daughters Of the Good Samaritan, |
the Sons and Daughters Of the East, |
the Sons ana Daughters Of Lazarus. |
the Sons and Daughters OF Christian |
Love, ana there might be added 10 |
fNWnHRARa Of 90
devotion Of the negroes 10 these or.
gonizations ana their loyalty to their
fellow members are absolute
The funeral Of "A 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
cietles for the possession Of a corpse,
for the negro's love Of a funeral Is not
second even 10 his love OF melons. The
ceremonies usually begin the night be-
fore the actual interment Is 10 take
place. There are sermons, prayers and
personal experiences interspiced with
Wild bursts OF lncoherent melody,
which arOuses religious fervor 10 fever
height Men and women faint I'm the
course OF the exercises, many others
.all into frances aud talk OF visions OF
heir dead friends enthroned IN glory.
The ceremonies eliminate In a form.
II procession. II is forming for an
lour before the residence Of the late
son or daughter. Negroes
rom the uttermost parts Of the city
gather In the streets, The occasion Is a
estiVe one. They run aud shout and
aper The members Of the organlza.
ions 10 which the dead person belong.
ii stand In solemn order, clad In elab.
rate uniforms and bearing the ban.
'ers and other insignia OF their re.
pectlye orders, and when the cortege
lhally moves, vending It's way at
lines through miles OF the clty's
treets, II is followed by mad rush
4 men, women and children. who
lock the thoroughfares, and traffic for
be time being has 70 be suspended.
he hope OF such a funeral is the I'm.
plaIion OF many a negros whole life.
ie slaves aud deprIyes himself OF
clual necessities for years 10 meet
he demands OF the collectors Of the n
ocletes In order that he may 20 10 \
Is last resting place in the midst OF -,
lch strangely weird pageanty.-
harleston Letter in New York Trlb. y
ne. /