LXXXII.
AN ANTE-BELLUM NEGRO PREACHER.
Once upon a time I heard Bishop Fitzgerald of the M. E. Church, South, tell the following story.
I give it in his own words:
“The ante-bellum negro preachers were the product of the times, and differed from the mass of their race only in the fact that they were shrewder and more eloquent. Among them were many men of piety and good sense and burning zeal. In others there was a combination of cunning, superstition, excitability and volubility almost indescribable.
“Saint Paul was a Much Better Man Dan I is, an’ Dey Whupped Him Mos’ Ev’ywhar He Went.”
“To the former class belonged a noted negro preacher of Culpepper County, Va., an old man of blameless life and venerable appearance, who so entirely commanded the confidence of the white people, and whose influence with the people of his own race was so wholesome, that no one thought of enforcing against him a statute then existing which required that in any gathering where six or more negroes were assembled a white man should be present. Despite this statute Uncle Jack came and went as he pleased, trusted by the whites and venerated by the blacks.
“At one of his meetings a party of mischievous young white men planned to have a little fun at the old man’s expense. Waiting near the door of the rustic chapel until the services were concluded the company approached the old preacher and its spokesman said:
“‘Old man, we are officers of the law and are patrolling this beat. You have violated the law, and we are going to whip you for it. Come along with us.’
“They led the way to the thicket near at hand. Uncle Jack followed in silence.
“‘Have you nothing to say, old man?’ asked the spokesman.
“‘Nothin’, Marstah,’ said Uncle Jack.
“‘Perhaps you don’t think that we really intend to whip you,’ said the young man, ‘but we will. Have you nothing to say to that?’
“‘No, sah,’ said Uncle Jack; ‘I has nothin’ to say. De fac’ is, Marstah, I has oftened wondar’d that I has nevah been whupped befo’. Saint Paul was a much bettah man dan I is, an’ dey whupped him ’mos’ ev’ywhar he went. I has preached much longah dan he did, an’ I has nevah got a whuppin’ in my life. It seems to me dat I ought to have at leas’ a few licks!’
“The young scapegraces looked at each other in confusion, and it is needless to say that Uncle Jack was not whipped.”