Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 March 1885 — Rival Col red Exhorters. [ARTICLE]

Rival Col red Exhorters.

Every plantation and neighborhood has one or more “exhorter,’ ‘class leader,’ or ‘licentiate,’ who is regarded by his set as a leader in everything—more especially in politics and religion. An instance which aptly illustrates the spirit oi jealousy that often exists between the class of pulpit ora tors just referred to was related to the writer a few days ago by a prominent citizen of Lee county. He had occasion to visit a plantation some miles from his own, and who was accompanied by a colored divine who was in his employ. During the day his pious companion met another preacher of the same complexion, and when the two sable elects met face to face our informant overheard the following dialogue between them: ‘Good mornin, Brudder Sims.’ ‘Mawnin’, sir; dat’s Brudder Slappey, I believe; how do you do dis mawnin’?’ ‘Jes’ tolerable—how’s you?’ ‘l’m so’s to be about, thanks de Lawd.’

‘You gwine to stay ’bout here to-night, Brudder Sims?’ if : ‘ Well’ I dunno; I’se jes’ passin’ ’bout wid Mt. , an’ I dunno wherer we’ll get outen de settlement ’fo’ night or no.’ ‘ Well, 1 jes dar’s you to stay on dis plantashun an’ meet me down at de chu’ch to-night— Tse done heerd ’bout yo’ braggin’ as how you could beat me er preachin’, an’ now l jes’ wants to git you down to de chu’ch wunst, an’ I’ll show you wherer you can beat me a preachirJ or not’

‘Yes, I can beat you, too, an’ fur as dat’s concerned I’d like to stay an’ lay it on to you tonight. I’se been heerin’ ’bout braggin’ too, an’ I’d jes’ like to get de < hance to show you wher’er I can preach or not. ‘ vV ell, den, jes’ stay over if you dar—stay over, dat’s all I want you to do!’ ‘Sartin I will if I can, an’ if I can’t t’se gwine to meet you Providence permittin’, de very naixt chance I gits; an’when I does giter hold of you I’ll show you dat I wasn’t called o’ de Lawd for nuth’n’.’ -Atlanta Constitution.