Published: August 15, 2008 11:10 am            

Hymns – 'Old Time Religion'

A spiritual was a song, created spontaneously by slaves, before emancipation. These songs were often expressions of their religious faith.

They were originated by enslaved Africans in the United States. Slavery was first introduced to the European Colonies in 1619.

The slaves were brought in for two reasons. One, the Europeans was selling Africans as slaves in the 17th century because it was a great moneymaker for slave traders.

Two of the best-known slave traders were John Newton and his father, John.

Johns father, Captain John Newton, bought and sold slaves until he retired. The young Newton then took over the slave ship.

He was one of the wickedest men on the sea.

During a terrible storm, God spoke to him, and after six years of being under conviction, John accepted the Lord and became a minister.

He gave us one of the most popular hymns ever written, “Amazing Grace.” After his salvation experience, he wanted no part of slave trading.

The second reason for selling slaves and bringing them to America was for economic reasons.

Slaves could be worked, and their master’s only obligation was to give them a place to live and furnish them food to eat.

Some slaves received better treatment than others. In some cases the slaves took the last name of their masters.

Some were allowed to worship, but they could not shout, chant or beat bongos or drums as they would in their native land.

During the period of slavery in the United States, there were systematic efforts to de-Africanize them.

Not only could the slaves not use the rituals of their native tribes in worship, but also they were not allowed to speak their native language.

They were urged to become Christians. In some cases they were allowed in the white churches, but they had to sit in the balcony.

They were not allowed to sit with the white people. As they became settled at different farms and ranches, they would have secret meetings in the woods or barns away from the master’s house to conduct their own private religious services.

In some cases slaves from an adjoining farm would slip over after dark to a brush arbor meeting in the woods with no light except a bonfire or moonlight, and they would worship and sing songs that they created as they went along.

One half of the group would make up a line and sing it to a tune that was made up as they went.

The other half of the group would join in with another line to the same tune, and then they would harmonize on the chorus that they made up together to complete the song.

These songs were called “spirituals.” These songs have been handed down over the years and are probably more popular now than ever before.

Not only did the spirituals ease pain and boredom of the daily task, but above all, spirituals were an expression of spiritual devotion to God and a yearning for freedom from bondage.

There was also a code in almost every spiritual song that gave the slaves information on escaping or gave them escape routes.

This was known as the “Underground Railroad.”

Songs like “Steal Away” or “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” were sung in the fields during the day or in the dark of night at bush arbor meetings and could signal that the coast was clear and the time to escape had come.

The escape route from the south went into Ohio. When a spiritual referred to the Jordan River, it could mean either the Ohio River or the Mississippi River.

If a spiritual referred to wading in the water, it could refer to slaves wading in creeks or rivers to escape bloodhounds that were on their trails.

The “Gospel Train” and “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” could be referring to the Underground Railroad. There were stopping points along the escape route, to receive food and shelter. The slaves would travel by land and also wade in the water to throw the dogs off their trail.

They traveled at night so as not to be seen. There were many people both black and white that would help them escape along the route.

After they were freed from slavery they made it a point to preserve these great spirituals. No one person is credited with writing this hymn.

Charles Davis Tillman, who was born on March 20, 1861 in Tallassee, Ala., was the first to publish it after attending a camp meeting as a singing evangelist in Lexington, S.C., in 1889.

He heard a group of blacks singing it and fell in love with it.

This song was sung in the Academy award winning movie “Sergeant York” in 1941.



Stories Behind the Hymns is taken from “104 Of My Favorite Hymn Stories, Vols. I and II,” written by Warren Shiver of Biscoe. He can be reached by e-mail at wshiver99@embarqmail.com or by snail mail at P.O. Box 775, Biscoe, NC 27209. Visit www.myfavoritehymnstories.com for more information on purchasing the books.

        

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