Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1911-04-21

IlOonAS AAS6ASSc oAA
the islands and on the coast of South
Carolina hold to their old.time Gus
toms. Some Of their practices and
superstitions were brought over from
Africa. Many of them believe In
Root doctors" or "Hoodoo doctors"
On last Sunday l met one of these
old "Hoodoo' doctors on the public
road with his satchel filled with a
liberal supply of roots and herbs.
These physicians" claim they can
cure all diseases, give you good luck,
tell one his future, tell who are your
enemies, tell how long you will live;
they keep off witches; they can
punish your enemies or bless your
friends for you; they can tell how
many deaths you are going to have in
your family; they can give you GER
tain root or rabbit foot to carry in
your pocket to give good luck"
Many of these people believe in
| ghosts or spirits" -. -. -. .....
superstitious Practices.
Hearing of the superstitious prac-
tees of some in the graveyards, I
| went to a cemetery to Investigate.
When persons are buried one can see
many pieces of glass, bottles, china.
ware and other earthen vessels on
the top of the graves. On one OBJ
served several spoons, out of which
the sick person took medicine. Here
| were the glasses, the pitcher, cup,
| and on some Of the graves I found
medicine and was informed that
this was the medicine left in the bot
tie after the death of the person.
On Sunday morning went to con-
| siderable trouble to find some Of the
pastors on the island succeeded in
| finding some, Of whom the most prom
inent were Revs.,J. Brown and Wash
ington. These preachers could not
give me any reason for placing these
articles on the graves, and they
claimed that it was impossible to get
any reason out of those who practice
this superstition. One old woman,
about seventy-five years old, told me
that she came into this world and
found the people doing that" but
she did not know for what reason.
The people do many things without
| giving a reason for SO doing. There
T is one thing remarkable about colored
people everywhere, they seldom 60
| to a graveyard, unless they go to
bury come one. No individual goes
there alone, unless he goes to seek
religion.
Religious Worship on the leland.
There Is as much dignity, decorum
and quietness in colored congrega-
ton in the cities of Charleston.
Georgetown and Beaufort as one will
find in the average white assembly.
One would be surprised to see con-
! gregation of colored people on the
Islands assembled for worship in their
temples. They make no demonstra-
tons while preaching is going on;
trey make no noise; they do not even
shout in the churches. as negroes do
in the upper part of the state. Yo-
will not bear groan nor sigh, for
| they are not moved by "fiery elo-
ouence" or stormy preaching. Before
the service begins they are as quiet
AS Quakers. There Is little or no
whispering in the congregation.
One old preacher said to me, "dat
you cud preach till you bust. you
wudent git groan."
Where They Do Shout.
The colored people have on each
plantation on St. Helena's island a
''p7aise house." Here they meet for
prayer and praise every Tuesday.
Thursday and Saturday nights. This
custom has been kept up on the is
lands and plantations for nearly 200
years. II one desires to see shouting
Gene with me to one IF these praise
houses" There are about thirty Of
these places for "praise" on ST..
He'ena's island. Learning that there
was praise meeting" going on last
Saturday night ana wrsEing to see
Row these people worship, Prof. J. 3.
Blanton and left our bedroom after
IL o'clock and went off to the meet
ing Many earnest prayers were made
IIOll lV y. ILL., W a. H., lhICIopClSSu
with old spiritual or plantation mel
od1es that made ne feel that I was
at the very gates of Heaven. Here
were many old-time women with the
old-time "bandana" handkerchiefs
(still used in Africa) and gray-headed
men. There was nothing strange in
this mode of worship; but strange
things happened later on.
One of tie leaders of the meeting
Eoticed that the writer was in the
audience, and he demanded that
zine in and do sumting to show
wedder I was for de debble or God"
He requested Of me speech or a
song or prayer. After making
three or four demands, I decided to
give them a little talk. After my
speech, and the benediction was an
nounced, then shouting" began and
lasted till five o'clock Sunday morn
ing.
Sinner, You Better Get Ready.
shall here relate what happened.
The benches were moved from the
building or put in the loft The old
people sat on line of benches, close
to the wall or up in corner; many
of them lit their pipes and began to
smoke. Some went to a nearby house
~~~~u~>-~~>~~~~~~~
How to Refine a Coat.
Many women, otherwise clever with
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out one.half Of tho Jacket lining for a