The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1914-05-08

morning the hotel proprietor advised
me to eat heartily. "Why?" said ].
Well" was his reply, I'VE don't let
anything interfere with Gods worship.
We don't serve meals while church is
going on, and today being special,
reckon there won't be no dinner till
about FIVE o'clock" And there wasn't
One day, when returned late In the
afternoon from VOLTA tiny settle
ment still farther back in the noun
tains-I noticed great many mules
and horses tied to the court house
fence On inquiring the reason, l was
told, Yes, there are right smart lot
of folk over at the church, where
they're funeraliZing the McCrays."
Cor obvious reasons ! am not giving
the correct name,) On asking what
funeralizing meant II was explained
to me that when a death occurred in a
family whose home was In the distant
coves far up the mountains, 1t was
impossible to take the body to a church
or even to get minister to be present
at the burial which took place at the
homestead. In this way the custom
has developed of waiting until a num-.
Der of deaths have occurred, and then,
at some convenient time, inviting all
| the ministers In the county to be
present and general memorial SER
vice for the family dead, or funeral
izing"
| missed the afternoon service, but
was prompt in attendance at the even
ing session, which began at half-past
six. The church was packed. Around
L . no lie
on them the men hung their broad
brimmed hats in long rows, Against
the walls some rifles rested tall
strong faced young man began TO
preach. Gradually his voice rose
higher, and became shrill monotone
that, with scarce infection or pause
swept along, perfect torrent of words
AN almost incoherrent stream of
Biblical quotations, interrupted by an
"Oh, yes, ah; oh, yet, a-a-h," as he
caught his breath. The muscles of
his arms and hands were tense, he
teetered up and down, and the pierre
ing voice thrilled on. The people
seemed fascinated by the sound, and
leaned forward, their eyes upon him.
on and on swept that monotonous
voice. A woman began to Sob Sud-
denly he dropped his voice to con-
versational tone, as II he had let go of
the strings that held them, the people
collapsed and settled back in their
seats; in the quiet that followed you
could hear the splitting of tobacco
juice upon the floor all over the church
Then hymn was called for, and an
other. Suddenly a tall young man
| leaped to his feet and cried above the
music, GLORY to God" Come forward
brother, come forward" shouted the
preacher The young man ran leaping
down the aisle, shouting incoherrently
| Turning, he faced the audience. and.
with his hands lifted high above his
face, began shouting unintelligibly in
a high, sing song voice. The singing
went on at the same time. Then out
leaped another With closed eyes, he
kept jumping with singular rhyth
matte motion, crying, GLORY! Gloryl"
girl stepped out and joined him in
what became a sort of dance. A great
wave of emotion swept over the peo-
Pile They crowded to the front, some
shouting, some singing Above the
confusion rose the voice OF the preach
err calling, Come Jesus, Gomez" Pan
demonium lasted fully fifteen minutes
when the chief actors fell backward
on the floor and the preacher announc-
ed that the services would be resum-
ed the next morning at ten and last
throughout the DAY. .