Photographs from “Carolina Country Reflections.” See page 33. A revival usually lasted one week. An invited preacher from another church, perhaps some distance away, would lead the main part of the service amid stepped-up preaching, praying and singing. Rafters in the country churches would reverberate from loud, fervent messages delivered from the pulpit and exuberant, high-volume singing. Rural folks who worked daily in the fields had strong lungs. Having another crop in its final stages was reason enough to sing without inhibition. By the end of the week, the visiting minister would rejoice if new members were added to the church rolls. He had accomplished one of his missions, to save the souls of backsliders while adding a few members to the church roll. Another goal was to rejuvenate the spiritual soul of the members, ridding them of committed sins, and the hot August nights naturally helped them sweat it out. Teenagers watched very carefully to see if any of their peers walked down front to let the preacher know they were ready to join the church. I never knew how others felt about this very personal experience, but was relieved when finding the courage to do it. If the Holy Spirit yanked me to the front, I never felt it. I went under my own power, wobbly legs and all. An anticipated part of revival meetings was dinner on the grounds, held after the conclusion of the Sunday morning sermon. Before it was served, the congregation walked to the cemetery a few hundred feet away for prayer 30 JUNE 2007 Carolina Country
and a few brief comments. We stood solemnly looking across the tombstones as we sang two hymns, “Shall We Gather at the River” and “When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder.”
Dinner on the Grounds Dinner on the grounds was a sumptuous meal prepared by the ladies of the congregation and brought to the church in cloth-covered baskets. Food was held there until the morning service was over then carried to tables set up outdoors under the thickest shade available in the churchyard. Everyone in the church knew a feast awaited them, and at times churchgoers—especially the young folks—were certain that the preacher spoke too long on purpose that day in a futile attempt to rid us of the sin of temptation. Dishes were set out on long tables temporarily fashioned from boards and sawhorses or “bucks” as we called them. An enticing aroma met the diner who approached the table with an empty plate. What a sight to behold dishes of fried chicken, cured ham and barbecue; plates of deviled eggs and sliced tomatoes; bowls of potato salad, cabbage slaw, sourdough biscuits, corn bread, chicken pies, sauerkraut, pickles, and vegetables of all kinds; and desserts, including banana pudding, and cakes and pies of all descriptions. If there was ever a mouth-watering experience, this had to be it. The tables literally creaked under the weight of the food. On one table sat large tubs with sweet lemonade and
water cooled by blocks of ice, if available, readied by the men. Aluminum dippers hung next to the tubs for filling paper cups and drinking glasses. If a local supply of watermelons was available, they were heaped and ready for slicing. At last, after what seemed a much longer blessing than usual by the resident preacher, it was time to eat. Adults went to the tables, first men, then women. Children went last. Plates were heaped with a selection of the delectable choices available, which usually meant a quick search of the tables so nothing appetizing was missed. The big eaters went for second helpings, followed by one or two helpings of dessert. If the stomach still had space, a slice of watermelon sometimes brought this eating ritual to a close. Flies could be a constant nuisance, hovering too close and lighting on the food. Men would often break branches from nearby bushes to shoo them away momentarily, but it was an exercise in futility. All edible left-over food was returned to food baskets and carried home for supper.
Homecoming One additional church event, homecoming, also called for dinner on the grounds. As the name implies, homecoming was a special day when former members of the church who had left the community were encouraged to return in order to renew old bonds and rekindle old memories. This tradition would often be given a second meaning