The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-01-27
4 VIRGINIA CAMP MEETING.
Description of an OId-Tfme Cere.
mOny Among the Negroes.
New York Evening Post.)

There is no country in the world with
more Of romance than the south.
There, as nowhere else, mysteries and
superstitions are still kept in .notion
by that least understood of Ill the
races-the American negro. He is a
psychological problem in the aggre-
gate, understood by no one, and, per-
haps. least of all by himself. At no
lace al this be better illustrated
than at a genuine southern negro camp
meeting. To be sure, the methods of
worship in most of the larger settle
ments have been greatly changed in
recent years TO conform to the reli-
Sions Of the whites. However, on
plantations in the interior there is less
sophistication. Many of the old darkies
and their progeny still cling to the
old customs of slavery days. 1t is in
such settlements as these-and they
can be found all along the famous
Sewanee River. and also spotted here
n thern all through South Carolina
II Virginia that a study of the primi-
tive negro can be made. While in Vir-
gfnia recently l was enabled to attend
an annua camp meeting held after
old-tine forms, and to witness a cere-
mony which can be classed among the
weirdest OF any to be found elsewhere
in the world. A long drive through the
gorgeously colored forest Gt is impos-
sihlH 70 conceive of any thing more
beautiful than a Virginia forest in the
utumn) brought us finally into the
CAMP. AS sufficient funds had not been
raised to procure a tent in which to
hold the meetings., the congregations,
COMPOSED Of negroes who came from
many miles Oun sat on rudely con-
ST rl1ctp6 hnnchnG in tho oman roiSaI
platform served as a pulpit. and a low
b0nCh Of plank formed the 0Anltplr
rail. From the four sides of the plat
form torchlights of oil fichered and
flared in the faint breeze, casting
shadows and fantastic Zig. is on the
rows Of shining black faces.
OPENING OF THE MEETING.
The meeting opened as all negro
meetings Go, with q line read or
chanted by the preacher and the re-
sponses made by the congregation.
Old mammies with turbans of bright
hue and uncles rugged in the fantastic
garb of the plantation ave the re-
spOnses in a natural melody, no two
voices singing alike, yet all blending
into n harmony difficult to describe.
The voices of the colored people have
peculiar qualities absolutely inimitable
and with their delicate variation and
intonations they are plaintively sweet,
yet wild and strangely fascinating.
The first chant began with the COM
paratively modern hymn:
Oh. come my brethren and sietern. too,
~tresponse) Hallelujah, hat!elujah!
We're gwin to iOin de heavenly crew,
HalIeluJah, hallelujah.
/ turn my eyes up to de sky,
And ask de Lor' for wings to fly,
Hallelujah, hallelujah!
Following this. a long and some
what lO1Id nr1 vaT mi nh CT zp6 nv MANY
gestures coaXed the congregation from
it's apathetic silence. and "Lor' be
praise." "Hallelujah!" and an occa-
sional shout began to ring through
the forest. The meeting was beginning
to warm w. A short sermon filled With
birthstone. yet holding out a comfort
ing thought of gold-paved streets and
golden candles burning for de sim
nah" Then a few DUN women. amid
much shouting and singing, glided
down to the penitent rail. An old dea-
con jumped up and said: Il Tub de
Lor' and I gwin be saved, Gaze 1
learned to pray. In reply to this the
minister began in a chant ending in
song:
Some seek de Lor', but dey dom seek
him right:
Dey pray all day and dey sleep at
Then coming down to the front Of
the pulpit, he shouted impressively;
But dat's no way to do; you must
wrestle wild Satan n wrestle wild sin.
Step ODER hell and come back agin."
After much of the same sort, with
some which were evidently pointed
hints, like
"Oh. sister there, mind how you step
on de cross:
Your foot mightsslip n your soul
get lost"
The shouting commenced in earnest.
That the preacher was a natural min
istrel yet evidently sincere, goes with
out saying. Although many swarmed
to the penitent rail and knelt, with
their eyes urned toward the sky.
some few failed to respond as the
preacher thought they should. AT this
stage of the meeting the minister be-
gan to call out the names of those he
thOught should come and be saved.
Many were won by this scheme, ana
stalked dow to join the others. but
one old fellow sat unmoved. Finally
It was too much for the minister. He
pointed a long lean finger toward the
sinner and half surg.
There's old Bill Thomas, / know hin
well. Hes got to work to keen from
hell. He's got to pray by night ant
day, if he wants to go the narrow
way"
To bring recreant black sheep to tn
{ fold, this verse has been used for many
Ildll NCdIo al vi fIA4i
only. In this instance, however, i
failed its purpose, for the old Bill pre-
} ferred to continue to sit there seren'
; as a Turk. neither shouting nor sing
; ing.
: THE SUPERFICIAL" DANCE.
. After several hours of this, varied
= with handclapping and much shouting
about a dozen around the peniten raj
arose and began what is known in tn
h negro world as the "speerichal dance.
Shutting the bare feet slowly in jerk
ing, hitchy movements, without re
: moving them from the ground, the,
7 began to 20 about in a circle. wit
= head thrown back, eyes looking VI
: and each one singing their own par
tcular hymn. One by one the convert
: We're Joined by the congregation, NOR
than half Of which we soon saw shut
fling along and singing. The dull thuC
thud. of the many bare feet shakin
fba proInH like an arrhUn1kp. ThOS