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Page 6
* * * * *
A WATCH-NIGHT MEETING.
The very interesting sketch given below shows that the "old-time
religion" in the South has not passed away, for this scene took place in
one of the large cities and where schools have been sustained for years.
The picture of the honored and worthy old preacher stands out
conspicuously in the midst of this confused worship.
After the New Year's entertainment in our own church, we thought it
would be interesting to some of the new teachers on our force to attend
a watch-meeting at one of the churches near, so we started for a large
barn-like structure bearing the imposing name of ----. We found the
building filled to its utmost, and instead of slipping into some seats
in the rear unnoticed, as we had hoped, we found ourselves forced to the
front bench where the stewards held posts of honor, which were
immediately vacated for the "teachers." Many of these men then went
behind the railing and stood in solemn state around the pastor as he
exhorted the people in most earnest words to get their records clean
before the opening of the new year.
I wish I could picture him to you as he stood before us that night, his
hair just turning gray, indicating in one of this race extreme old age;
a real "Uncle Tom" in appearance, and in character, I think; his history
taking in much of slavery and of life as Presiding Elder. Many times has
he stood on guard between Northern teachers and Ku Klux Klans. He told
us that night that the grace of God in a man's heart would make him
shine all over; he had seen it make a man who had not combed his hair
for a year, grease his boots and his hair too, and then what a shining!
And so on through his talk were the most earnest exhortations with his
striking illustrations.
One of the members there once in praising a sister to me spoke of her
having the ability to "groan so beautifully," and that night it seemed a
special gift bestowed upon all. All through the pastor's exhortation the
audience were keeping up a sort of rhythmic accompaniment with both body
and intonations. Their responses during the prayers certainly have the
virtue of fervency, if not of intelligence. At some times so great was
the noise it was almost impossible to distinguish any leader whatever.
One old "Father in Israel" seemed to be specially delegated to encourage
the praying ones by calling out above all the din, "Come on, son, come
on," right in the midst of the prayer. One woman near us "got the power"
and went off into spasms. Then the pastor gave the invitation for all
"mourning ones" to come to the altar, and about sixty answered the call.
Then the groans and ejaculations became more intense, until at least
three whom we could see were in religious spasms or frenzies. I know not
how many others had the "power," that is, were able to scream above all
the groaning at certain intervals.
At midnight a hush fell upon all, and the pastor's prayer told us a new
year had begun. Then all started up an old-time plantation song, the
only words being "A Happy New Year" in all its changes, and we found we
were expected to shake hands with everyone, and not any ordinary shaking
hands was it, but the tighter our hands were clasped, the better did it
show the individual's religious zeal. Before this, it had seemed as
though some of our teachers would get struck by the mourning ones as
they threw their arms around in their frenzy, but when the hand-shaking
began and each one danced up to us, keeping time with the music and
shook our hands in time, until the measure changed and they passed on to
the next, we realized that we had, indeed, been taken right in. Thus the
meeting closed, and many left--two, rigid in their spasms, lying on the
benches.
But we found that the more devoted ones were to stay longer still, and
as one of the sisters came up and asked me to stay and see them get real
happy shouting, we did so. And now commenced a religious dance,
perfectly indescribable, and as long as I have been in the South it was
perfectly new to me. The leader started down one of the aisles chanting
a weird plantation song, and every joint in his body moving in time with
the measure; the sisters took it up and followed two by two until there
was a complete circle all around the church, all dancing in time with
the music. We were told that they would keep that up until morning.
It is rarely that we attend anything of this kind, but I think we had
enough of the old-time religion to last us through 1890 at least. We
have a number of scholars from this church, and it makes my heart sad
when I think how hard it will be for them to put what they are taught in
school with the example of their parents in this church. We have had
many inquiring ones in school lately, and it is difficult for them to
see how simple is the entrance to the narrow way contrasted with all the
excitement in their church religion.
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