WASHING NEGROES' FEET IN CHURCH.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3166, 5 April 1871, Page 3

WASHING NEGROES' FEET IN CHURCH.

A correspondent of the " New York Sun," writing from Tumbling Shoals, Lawrence Counfy, South Carolina, on May 27, says : — Within a short distance of this place there is a congregation of the faithful known as New Prospect. It is made up of the colored Christians of the vicinity, who have organised, as their preacher (an educated negro) says, " as a spiritual force militant to resist the devil and all his works in this portion of South Carolina, where sin has always abounded." The New Prospee tors are a downright honest and good people, and so upright in their conduct that they exercise great influence for miles around, not only upon the negro population, but among the whites also. A few weeks ago this community became i greatly excited upuii the spiritual rite or commandment of feet washing. Their beloved pastor has issued an edict that the members of the society should be all ready on the second following Sunday to carry out the precept of their divine Master, and wash one another's iect. An energetic minority of the congregation vehemently opposed such a proceeding, but the majority went with the pastor. The minority pushed their views with such force and pertinacity that the whole community soon became inflamed, and divided off into foot-dashers, and anti-foot washers. The foot washers were led by the pastor, and the an ti- foot washers were headed by a white brother with large feel and long heels. The discussion finally became so fierce that it was agreed that the two parties should meet last Saturday, and have it out in public, and settle whether the foot-wash-ing should or should not come off the next day. At the appointed time a large concourse assembled in the meetinghouse. The white anti-foot washer led off by saying that there was no author ity in the Bible for any such rite as foot-washing. In reply to this, the pastor turned to the 13th chapter of John and read the first 17 verses, wherein is described the memorable scene of the Saviour washing his desciples' feet, and in which the Lord says—" If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye ought also to wash one another's feet ; for I have given you an example that ye should do as L have done to you." This was a crusher on the white brother. It stunned him, and coused all his followers at once to come over to the side of the foot-washers. The entire community went in for footwashing, and even the white brother himself put in a request for a basin and towel. The people then dispersed full of zeal for the rite which was to be solemnized the next day. Sunday morning broke with gorgeous beauty. The sun shone brilliantly. The woods, green almost to darkness, were filled with myriads of singing birds. The fields and roadsides were gay aud beautiful in their vernal attire of many-hued flowers. A cool and perfume laden breeze exhilarated the senses and tempered the rays of the sun. The people, old and young and middle-aged, were out in raiment which vied with the flowers in colours, and exchanged greetings in tones as jocund as the songs of the birds. They were early on the spot where the cei'emonies were to come off. First there was a baptism; then a sermon and attending exercise; then a bountiful lunoh, accompanied with a considerable orthodox flirtation and love making; after which the communion or Lord's Supper was administered, and then came the foot-washing. The pastor, worthy pioneer as he is, led the van in | this onslaught on Satan. Throwing off his coat, he girded himself with a towel, took a pan of water, and washed a brother's feet in a style so dramatic and impresive as to excite a feeling of awe in the beholders. The brethren and sisters then paired off with a towel and basin of water to each pair, and went at the pediluvian rite with vehemence and animation. Ludicrous as the scene appeared to me, I was impressed with the evident religious fervor that pervaded it. I was also impressed with the fact that the negroes had feet of unexampled magnitude. Even those of the women were expanded in breadth, length and thickness to a large degree. It is doubtful if anything in the shape of shoes less than tens would answer for their Sunday wear. The exercises were enlivened by the singing of spiritstirring hymns, which were rolled out with the affluence of melodic richness. As soon as the foot-washing i was completed every pair arose seized hold of each other's hands, and began a violent dance, keeping time with a barbaric melody. Almost instantly the scene became indiscribably wild and exciting. The dancers whirled and shouted like robust saints on a jolly bender. They then suddenly changed their motious, and went into a series of perpendicular saltations, very much resembling the goings up and comings down of a sash saw driven by a full head of steam. The enthusiasm grew wilder

and more intense. Suddenly, the perspiring pastor shouted " Hallelujah !" The brethren at once broke into a thundering chorus of amens and hallelujahs ; the sisters screamed demoniacally ; the dancers whirled in mad careers among the benches and through the cleared spaces and aisles ; one of the women fell down in an ecstacy of glory, and was borne into the air by a stalwart brother, shouting and smacking her hands. The uproar grew deafening, and could be heard for miles. Shouts, shrieks, amens, hallelujahs, and strains of song were all blended into one hurricane of sound. The scene at its culmination was utterly indescribable. No one who saw can ever forget it, or shake off the impression it made. Its subsidence was as sudden as its rise. All at once the shouting and singing and dancing or whirling stopped, and silence reigned. Then the people began to disperse ; and I dispersed with the rest, feeling that I had witnessed a big thing. I have described it for you as well as I can. If I hear of its going to come off again, I will send you word in time, so you can send one of your interviewers down here, and interview the religious hurricane, for that's the only correct name I know for it.