The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1903-05-28
Plunkotttt,
On May Meetings.
YNHE second Sunday in May is

the "big meeting" Sabbatl
- of the "Hardshells" at OLE
Hardeman church, and l wish tina
all of Georgia could be there.
| aardeman church is among th,
oldest churches in our county ant
being located IN typical 'sHard
she'll" settlement, it has never be-
come tainted with any of the new
tangled ideas snSr departed from
the primitive customs that were sc
Common with our fathers and under
which sociability fourished, a rev.
erence for aga was the rule and 8
dependence on God was the
prop to sustain.
Me and my folks and Brown and
his folks are preparing tor the day.
The second Sunday in May and
the second Sunday in August are
the two Sundays Of every year,
from time immemorial, that these
people have held their big meeting
days, and the occasion never grows
less with those who are raised 10
that faith and who have been so
successful in preventing tie en-
croachments of progress within
their fold. Just as it has been for
years, on this second Sunday peo-
lple will flock there from eysrS d.
reotion, a4esTs7 Sss7 in sssss sssgg.es many in
| wagons, some on horses and some
afoot. They will begin to arrive at
the church full two hours before
meeting time and as they arrive
they will gather in groups, the men
on one side under the trees and the
ladies on the other. and there is
where the great soclability OF the
occasion is rade manifest. Saunt-
er around from group to group and
you will soon know Of everything
that is passing in each settlement.
If any have died you will soon
learn it, and you may learn of all
the characteristics of the departed
one. IF any are sick you will miss
them and soon know what doctor
is attending them, what kid of
medicine is being used, how the
doctor compares with other doctors
and, certain. you will hear of many
remedies that cured others affected
with the same disease. All the
marriages will be made known, and
if there are any new babies you
will learn whether they are girls or
boys and which side of the house
the baby favors. Such as this will
furnish a pleasant pastime until
the preacher arrives and song ls
started by some g the old brothers
and sisters which calls tie congre-
cation inside the church. Thus it
has been for years and so 1t will be
on this second Sabbath, and We are
all anxious for the coming who
have felt the delights and hope that
the same old customs may always
attend the meetings at Harde-
man.
There is nothing strange in all
these customs to old people, for all
old people, whether of town or
country, have seen just such, but
that church should retain them
in such purity within 10 miles of
the greatest city cf the south IS
rather a wonder and may strike
some young and progressive"
folks as not being the best condi-
tions to be desired, but the people
of Hardeman are satisfied with it
all. and if they are pleased who
should object? The very squat
ting around in groups and every
fellow whiting as they do whittle,
has a charm for us, and the song,
perhaps
Call hail the power of Jesus name,
Let angels PROSTATE fall,
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown Him Lord Of Alp
h!ch calls the crow d Inside is
sweeter to me than all the music
of the opera and takes US back
through all the years to feast on
memories that seem so dear down
to the grave.
AS already stated, the second
Sunday is an extra occasion. tits
foot-washlng day with the Hard
shells, and this only occurs twice
in the year. Whoever may attend
one Of these meetings on the idea
of seeing them wash feet will be
disappointed if they expect to find
anything in the ordinance of light
or frivolous nature. It is the
Hardshell's sacramental occasion