The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-02
BARBECUE PAvES WAY
To SOULS.
Unique Evangelical Work of
Mr.. R. 0. Alexander, of
Charlotte.
New York Herald.)

Montreal, n. c., Saturday.--The Sal
walton Army people have pressed the
bass drum and the tambourine into the
service of religion, but it remained Tor
r. o. Alexander, of Charlotte, to so uti-
ze the barbecue.
Mr.. Alexander is cotton dealer of
means, who has evangelizatlon as an avo-
cation. He owns a tract OF ground III
BuncOmbe county, near the crest OF the
Black Mountain system, from which he
has cleared the rhododendrons and laurel.
Here for weeks interval each summer
he pitches his tent and holds services akin
to the time honored camp meeting.
In this country it is long walk be-
tween churches and so Mr. Alexander has
a good field. which he cultivates IN his
own way with eminent success. He be-
ieves, evidently, that the way to the av-
erage mans heart is through the stomach,
and accordingly his advent is heralded by
the announcement that meetings will be
inaugurated by a goodly feast of beef and
mutton. Tidings of this kind need no
newspaper to spread them abroad. and
he is a remote mountaineer w-o does
not hear of it in time. The barbecuing
is done on Saturday, and the prepared
meats, in generous quantities, are DIS
pensed after the Sunday mornings SER
vice.
COME FROM EVERYWHERE.
In this land prime roast beef Is
a rare bait and, the people come. Not
only does the adjacent town of Black
Mountain empty itself, but all the val
l. - aorulino ropllo-
tions till the gathering place resembles
the camp meeting of pioneer times. They
come afoot and by saddle, and by diverse
kinds of vehicles, the commonest, perhaps
being the box-bed wagon, furnished with
splint bottomed chairs and half filled with
grass for the juvenile members of the
family to sit in. These, scattered about
the grounds contiguous to the tent, can
be used if the tent is overcrowded or
stuffy, and this charging of the circle
brings the munching horses within the
precincts of the congregation.
The congregation piques the interest of
the visiting stranger. There is a brave
showing of brilliant raiment, from the
variegated calicoes of the poorest wearers
to the more pretentious colored fabrics of
the well-to-do The young men who keep
store at Black Mountain land the general
aspiration seems to run to this business
as the acme of gentility) form a class of
themselves. and are up to date" with
belted pantaloons and starched shirts.
But, for the most part, finery cuts but
small part in the mountain life and sits
pathetically upon those who make a
struggle for it. A specially pathetic figure
Is that of beauty in, her precious Sun
day frock, but awed by the crowd and
too selfconscious to stand or sit with
comfort. There are other incongruities,
too, some of them funny. and a picture
that remains wildly with us is that of
good sized girl child in an immaculate
white dress, which, being short and starch
ed very stiffy stood out like ballet
dancers skirt. while below muslin rags
swathed the little leg, otherwise bare. to
protect them from briars.
HITS THE MOUNTAINEERS' SINS.
BY his munificence Mr.. Alexanders gets
his congregation where he wants it. AS
the tents, the grounds and the dinner are
all his. he is privileged to say what he
wants to-and he smites them hard. His
special crusade Is against whiskey evils
with which the mountaneers are supposed
to be familiar, and his method of applying
Scripture to the same is sometimes more
vigorous than congruous.
At the close of the service saint and
sinner alike are invited to partake of the
bounty prepared for them. serving
committee of the most important people is
named, rough tables are improvised in a
roped space beneath the trees the hamp-
ers are opened loaves of bread are rapidly
sliced up and generous sandwiches are
piled high on the board, while sub
committee. gathered about a big vinegar
barrel, are busy making lemonade, which
one man stirs with a tree limb
Meanwhile the hungry crowds pressing
about the ropes gaze raptly at the ac-
cumulating viands, and when finally the
distribution begins sandwiches are pickles
ginger snaps and lemonade circulate with
amazing rapidity.