Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1916-04-28
THE BAPTIZINC
AT OLD Pine TOP
Humorous Historical Incident
Among the COlOred Brethren
in Georgia, Told by Taze-
well Man.

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collateral facts recited here, let it be
understood in the beginning, is not
intended to east reflections in any
wise, upon either individuals or in
sututions, religious or otherwise.
The chroniclcr of history and events
particularly of humorous and IL
.aughablc character, is often misun-
dcrstood, and regarded wrongfully ms
Iiippant If not sometimes sacrciigious.
with this "forcword" my story begins
and proceeds by regular stages.
In Virgmia, as in nearly all south
ern states, large majority of the
colorcd people are Baptists, have been
from time immemorial. Just why this
partiality for the Baptist dcnomina-
ton ON the part of the colorcd populn-
ton, this chronicler of history does
not undertake to explain.
Rare indeed is the community, rural
or urban or suburban, in which is not
found Il colorcd Baptist church. The
colorcd people of the South, in both
town and country, are church build
crs, financially poor rs they are. They
get together, perhaps through years
OF sacrificing, amounts aslonishingly
large for church purposes. BY "Ral-
lys," cake walks, basket dinners and
sociables, they gather dimes and
nickels from not unwilling subjects,
to build and support their humble
houses of worship. In II certain dis
trict i'll Georgia there was, and is n
colorcd Baptist church around which
tins little story gathers. The pastor
was elder Damascus Rippctoc. When
The church had been completed and
was ready for dedication the oucs-
tlon of IL name puzzled the brethren.
What shall we name dis church.
now dat we's got it on our hands 2"
was asked on Saturday ut church
meeting. While the pastor, Elder
Rippetoe and his building committee
were i'll solemn and serious confer
cnce, one name after another was
proposed and rejected as unsuitable
or inappropriate until deacon Smith
arose and said, "Brcthcrn, ef YOU
want to name dc church 'cordin' to
the place whar it is, call il Pine
Top, us you see il is right out here
IN dc woods where faint nuthin tall
but pines" The name seemed To IN
ana was adopted, with II single dis
senting voice, and the pastor declared
the vote Unanimous" and SO il wns
known and is known to this day MS
Pine Top Baptist church.
IL was an unprctcntious, frame
building, standing on rocky knoll
just Off the road and surrounded bv
small old field pines. Not far from
inc church was n large stream of WA
ter which emptied into the river
about one mile from town, the county
seat Of the county. In the fall of the
year great revival had been held nj.
Fine Top, III which large number of
men ana women had been pcrsua l.
ed to come out on ode safes side 4"
as the preacher stated it. Elder Da-
mascus Rippe.oe had had the efficient
help during the meeting of Elder Jer-
emiah Waskcy, short, fat, sleek
laced man, as black as ink, but with
n powerful voice and gifted in song.
nc was known as n "travelin' preach
er," who went about the country as
sistln' in de good work." wherever his
services were needed. 1t was often re-
marked that the elder generally held
forth in those communities where tbe
collections were frequent and liberal.
AND they do say that Elder Waskey
mas had successors, among both white
and colored from that day to this.
AT the morning service the pastor an
nounced that the new converts would
be baptized at o'clock in the after
noon. The usual place was at the
mouth of the creek just above the
point where the creek entered the riy-
er' There was back-water and n
clear, deep pool, approached by a
gently sloping, sandy bank. BY 3
O'Clock the bank Of the creek on both
sides was black with people. They
came from town, from the cotton and
tobacco plantations for miles around.
Up in the road were number of
mite people TO witness the solemn
service. The pastor, clothed in n
iong, linen duster for robe, and ell
der Waskey, the dcacons with their
'1Ves and other leading members of
ohe church, herded all the converts
near the stream. Just above the
J"ptizing place, and nearby, foot
log had been placed across the stream
and large grape vine stretched as a
nand rail and support. This foot.
log was a fine place from which to
/ get n frOO1 yipu IF ,bo Iox.: