The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1903-05-28

fore the rite of washing feet begins
but if it does not, then when feet
washing does begin the veriest fool
will discover that it is not at all
funny.
The ladies gather on one side
and the men on the other when
sacrament begins. A cloth is taken
from the table and the bread and
wine partaken Of just about as in
other churches, and with which I
hope there are none so heathenish
as to not be familiar. Then feet.
washing begins, and it is just as
impressive as the taking Of bread
and wine. The men wash each
Others feet, the ladies wash the
ladies'. A man pulls off his coat,
rolls up his sleeve, puts a towel
round his waist, and them humbly
kneelipg he washes the brothers.
foot that sits next to him. In turn
this passes till all are washed, and
the whole is so serious as to put the
scofer to shame and to draw nearer
to God the most thoughtless youth
of the land.
No stranger is allowed to depart
from the Hardeman settlement t
without their dinner. Brown an
ticipates this with the greatest
pleasure, and at dinner is another
sociable' hour. The truth is that
all the day Is feast of sociability.
The people grow up in socialibili.
~ Babes are carried to the
cslE3sEsysgegy meeting, they grow
up together and suse Z, e-'n
other, and they love the ola
and the trees around and the r1ngs
where they saunter to quench their
thirst or to court and be with each
other. All these things pertain at
the old church of Hardeman and
We rejoice that the day is at hand
that calls US there once more. There
we will meet old friends, hear If
those who have passed away, learn
of the sick and the newborn. Not
the least of the pleasures We antic- !
ipate is to see the babes in their |
mothers arms. They are a pro-
life people thereabout, and the |
only person 1 expect to see happier
than the young mother with a babe
is the one with two babes. A pret-
ty babe in its mothers arms at an
old-fashioned church is the sweet
est thing this side of heaven, a re-
buke to ''fashion'' ard a promise
for the future that can never be
expected from children raised up |
almost strangers to mothers, away |
from the church and partaklpg of
such things as the servant upon
which it leans may choose to ins
still.
The socialability of such occa-
sions Is a help to religion, an in
spirat,on to neighborly affection,
and charms the hearthstone of the
humblest cabin to surpass all the
elegancies of the modern mansion.
If such settlements as Hardeman
are behind on culture, they are
ahead on reverency, ahead on de-
pendence in God, ahead On that
freside socialabi!ity that lent charms
to home and love between kindred.
They may not have the charming
books to read that thrills with
stories SO pleasing to the taste Of
the cultures, but this gives them
time at night around the hearth.
stone to entertain each other, to
know each other better, and to
store up in their hearts love 80
sweet that it remains q happy mem
ory wherever they may 60 or what.
ever they may do. They may never
be fascinated by travel nor feel the
thrills Of fashionable dissipation,
but this only makes them like the
more the meetings at the old
church and soothes the spirit of
discomfort to better relish Of
their country picnics and winter
parties. At last, when s'fashion"
has went all the gates purchasable
by wealth or demanded by the
"bloods," there is nothing IN it
sweeter nor better than the Gus.
toms Of the good people around
old Hardeman.
When I contemplate the great
churches soon to be erected in the
city and think of these customs I
have written, can but conclude