The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1919-06-18
COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Gd ted, Owned anu Nansged By
I~be dispatch Printing and Pun. GO.
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= FROM DAN TO =
= BEERSHEBA." =
By V. B. INES


Last Sunday we visited Beersheba.
Ut was the occasion of the annual
-.all-day singing and dinner on the
ground" There on the shady knoll
IN the heart Of the McCrary country
IN eastern Lowndes, the site of his
tOric Beersheba, the people from all
the countryside gathered for the
singing occasion. The good people of
Eie McCrary section were there en-
Inaxse, but from all the four corners
of the county the people came and it
Was truly a county gathering. All
Gome together to enjoy the hospitality
and good fellowship Of the splendid
people of the Beersheba community.
Later on we shall give . bit Of the
interesting history Of Beersheba with
all Of her sacred traditions and his
toxic sentiment. 1t is historic for
tie church is one of the Oldest in this
section Of the country. And its good
name and influence has gone out over
tine Land in noble sons and daughters
who remain true to the teachings and
aspirations of the old place. Many
of them come back each year for the
annual homecoming. We were ac-
esmpanied by former Beershebians
who lived there in the days that have
gone, and they drank in the joys of
the occasion and reveled in the ming
Hing with their friends of by-gone
days. Truly, the adage of the ancient
Beersheba of Palestine. dan to Beer
sfsba" or from one end of the land
20 the other" is as true today as IL
WAS in the days Of old.
AS we approached the grounds the
Nittle church was almost obscured by
n thick flock Of Henry Fords, for it
Is a prosperous community and the
people are gradually discarding the
old family wagon for modern means
of transportation. But the old family
wagons were there and the home
made quilts, and lots Of kids and big
dinner baskets.
The little church, which, by the
way, is a splendid structure, well ar
ranged, ventilated and equipped. It
reflects the progressive spirit Of the
community, and the people there are
Justly proud of it.
II was a typical June day, the warm
rays of the sun sitting throug the
Branches Of the trees. The crowds
were refreshed, however, by a gentle
hreeze from the east and the shade
'of the fine oak trees on the church
yard. A spring at the foot of the
bill sent forth steady stream Of
colo, sparkling, mountain, spring wa
ter which was satisfying to the
THIRSTY. ---..>
Einging was in progress when we
arrived, and the church was filed to
capacity, and there were scores of
people standing outside, mostly can
didates, for a, good crop of candidates
we're on hand All of them, though,
are vigorously opposed to mixing pol
itics and religion. They were there
To regale their spiritual and physical
selves fgood chicken dinners with
standingJ-
With grace and dignity that veteran
singer and the moving spirit in the
lbeautiful custom of all-day singings,
Pink Hsibert, of the Caledonia section,
presided over the occasion. We had
heard a lot of "all-day singings and
dinner on the ground" and somehow
had gotten the idea in our heads that
Il was principally the dinner that at |
Rracted the crowds, and were inclined
10 discredit the singing side Of the
occasion But this impression was
aflssipsted, though not at all to the
sliscredit of the dinner for it was
glorious, as we sat in amazement at