Newspapers, Campmeetin', LaSalle Parish, La. Submitted by Jack Willis Date: 11 Oct 2004 Source:Grass Roots and Cockleburrs Date: 3 Sep 2003 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Campmeetin' A century ago or even half a century ago, the term "camp meeting" would almost always trigger visions of poke bonnets, black hats, horse drawn wagons piled high with homemade quilts, well-thumbed Bibles and funeral home fans. It was part-revival, part-family reunion, part-homecoming, and it's been a part of Central Louisiana culture, as well as all across the Deep South for decades. Many camp meetings had to take place in July or August in what was known in farming circles as "laid-by time", which was usually after the main crops, principally corn, dosed with a generous helping of nitrate of soda on the side of the plant, had received one more plowing out of the middles. This operation, plus a good "making" rain, would insure good success for fall harvest. Camp meetings usually fell sometime between canning, preserving, and hay cutting time, and just before cotton picking, corn pulling and syrup-making time. The gentlemen in attendance had on their starched collars and frock coats, while the ladies had starched and ironed their cool gingham dresses. During the nighttime meetings, the men soon shed coats because of the oppressive heat and humidity that prevailed in the tent, brush arbor or open-sided tabernacle. Many families camped out underneath their wagons or erected tarpaulins, with some even bringing wood fired cook stoves. It was their countrified method of commemorating the Feast of First Fruits, an Israelite holiday, on which a tenth of their crops or flocks was brought into the Temple in Jerusalem. Just after supper, and along about dusk dark, the sound of musical instruments being tuned up reverberated throughout the camp. There was never a shortage of musicians at these meetings, because anyone who had access to a Roebuck catalog had saved their nickels and dimes, had ordered a flat-topped guitar for $12.95, and were ready for revival. They'd spent many cold winter nights learning basic chords, getting proficient at playing their new instruments, knowing all the while that camp meeting was their time to audition before their musical peers to ascertain if they were proficient enough to sit in with the rest of the revival musicians. When the first notes from the podium sounded in unison, this was a clarion call for all the stragglers, who had been languishing outside, to rush for their seats. The reverential sounds of musical instruments of every description soon filled the air with the blended tones of fiddles, mandolins, banjos, dobros, six and twelve string guitars, and if the Scots-Irish congregation closed their eyes they could almost detect the haunting sound of bagpipes. An Elder spokesman would call the meeting to order with announcements concerning the "protracting" meeting; starting times, when meals would be served, etc. There'd be anywhere from an hour to two hours of singing, clapping, dancing in the spirit, testimonies, (some quite lengthy). Ending times were never mentioned, because they knew they'd be through when the Holy Spirit got through. After everyone got lathered and soaking wet in working a little of their "edge" off in anointed praise and worship, they'd sit down if they could; then the evangelist of the hour would take center stage and everyone knew they were in for a good "skinning" whether they felt the need for one or not. After a two to three hour sermon consisting mostly of hellfire and brimstone, altar call would commence, and in some Pentecostal denominations, this could go on for hours. There were always a large number gathered around the altar with some on their knees, some standing that were "seeking and with the help of the elders and much prayer they would usually receive what they came after. Many camp meetings lasted till one or two o'clock in the morning with the children having long ago sought their bedrolls and fast asleep, oblivious to the din and commotion created by the happy worshippers. Early every morning, the campers enjoyed the beginning of the day with a hearty breakfast, consisting of country sugar-cured ham, bacon, eggs, grits, biscuits and homemade jams or jellies. The rest of the typical camping day was spent socializing, with old acquaintances being renewed; maladies and cures, illnesses and healings, afflictions and deliverances were testified to with much emotional demonstrations. Camp meetings were always held near a creek, as a water supply for the campers and their livestock, and to be utilized for the baptisms of new converts. The evening meal was the time for all the younger ladies to show off their cooking skills they had practiced all year. All this was done with one purpose in mind, to entice a young beau or swain to their family's table for the evening meal featuring good ol' Southern cooking at it's culinary best. The menu featured such delights as green butter beans, black-eye and crowder peas, speckled butter beans, squash, bell peppers, tomatoes as big as softballs, string beans, potato salad, fried and boiled okra, fried chicken, roast beef, smothered steak, fried pork chops, meat loaf, with rice or mashed potatoes all arrayed on the long tables for the tasting. Desserts were all made from scratch such as mountainous fresh coconut cakes, fresh apple cakes, lemon, chocolate and coconut pies and everyone's favorite, banana pudding. Hugh platters were passed around the crowded tables, emptied, heaped up again, but there seemed to never be enough buttermilk and cornbread to go around. Cold milk squeezed from milch cows brought along for the duration of the meeting was deposited, and later retrieved from the icy confines of Mill Creek as the beverage of choice with the sumptuous meals. A tale was told of an old preacher who was a seasonal regular at the meetings and apparently didn't feel that gluttony was a sin, because his eating capacity was legendary. His formal dining apparatus consisted of a dishpan, a sharp knife, and a tablespoon, and a bath towel for a bib. Since he was the oldest minister in attendance he insisted on the honor of blessing the food, which was always short and sweet, so he could get to the business at hand. He always started first and finished last, with his sides rounded from helpings too numerous to count. He would finally set the dishpan down as a signal that he had reached his limit, and someone in the crowd of on lookers which had been observing his prodigious feats of food consumption, would holler a last word of encouragement by saying, "Go ahead and eat your dinner, Brother!" Finally in reply, the minister would emit a loud belch and declaring in a thunderous voice, "No thank you, I believe I've had a plentiful sufficiency". Everyone present agreed that this would go down as the biggest understatement of this year's camp meeting. The 21st Century edition of camp meetings have evolved into air-conditioned auditoriums for the worship services, and campers now stay in air-conditioned dormitories. Cafeteria-style meals are available for everyone and timetables are maintained with PA announcements. It matters not when the Camp Meetings were held, whether in the 1900s or the 2000s, God always showed up, and that's what's important! GR&C (9-03-03) JMW