The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-21
UNCLE TlEMAS Has Built a
Religion Around a Bill of Fare

credible. which enables him to read his
morning lessons with automatic precision
without faltering or break.
To one not acquainted with his lack of
letters he appears to read from the book as
he stands In his pulpit before an open Bible
When preparing for his Sunday sermon II
IS his custom to retire into darkened room
and after n ceremonial of devotion to lay
himself fiat on his back, place the Bible
on his chest, and wait for spiritual COM
munication through contact. Whatever
words present themselves to his memory
at this time form the subject OF his next
preachment. which is generally verbose and
prolix, though occasionally his eloquence
grows fiery and impressive, or mounts to
the heights that mark the primitive races
in their great struggle after poetical utter
ance as when he says, speaking OF God
Indifference to the prayers of impenitent
sinners. You think when you pray to him
he gwine hyar you prars? 1 tell you. my
fren's and brethren, he wrop his face in
veil of clouds and the sound of your voice
keeps silence befo' him," or when he de-
scribes the New Jerusalem. 1T air Beulah
Land, yellow wild eternal sunshine. smiling
wild flowers and fowin' wild milk and
honey. whar foxes Is everlastin' happy! De
blessed purity shinin in de face Of de saints
mex great white light in de Happy Land
and de sweetness OF DER souls air like
DER prar-inconse risin night and day befo'
de Throne of Grace!''
In spite of his real nobility of purpose and
character Uncle Temas has not vet reached
the masses of his people. He has fought as
gallant a fight as Mahomet before he re-
sorted to fire and the sword. with as poor
| success as that prophet in his early efforts.
Temas's tenets are too straitlaced. and SIM
plicity of life does not commend itself TO
the people among nations who most worship
the 'pomps and vanities of this wicked
world"
However one of his festivals, the Pass
over. is always largely attended by the coll
ored community. These Passovers are cele-
brated three times a year, and entertain
ment of the most generous and epicurean
quality is offered the pilgrims who present
themselves. The feast continues two days,
from Friday breakfast until Saturday sup
per, during which period any one Is well
come to partake of the good things Aunt
| Myra has prepared for ''the tables Three
hundred is the average number of guests
entertained at Uncle Temas's expense dur
| ing these celebrations, to which they come
! regardless OF difference in religious views OF
! lack of other passport to Temas's hospi.
| tally.
The bill of fare is a survival of the old
mans education in slaveholding days. ar
overflow Of lavish prodigality and extrava-
| gance, including soup, fowl. ham. all vege
| tables in season, barbecued lamb repre-
senting the Paschal lamb and the temple
service OF the Hebrews. all kinds of breads
| ice cream, cake, coffee, tea, milk and Soup
| pernong wine of his own manufacture Aun
| AIyra's Passover cake" which she invented
| especially for the feast, Is a bonnie bouche o.
silver cake with blanched almonds citror
and fposting. The memory Of it fingers ye