Minstrel Shows Adopted by Popular Churches
Not content with attending real negro minstrel shows, it is said that “society is in possession of a new fad in the form of negro minstrel entertainments.” The queer part about it all is that the “negro minstrels” are white persons with blackened faces. The popular church organizations, such as the Epworth Leagues, Christian Endeavorers, King’s Daughters, etc., have all “fallen in with the prevailing spirit, and are resorting to minstrel shows as a means to replenish their treasuries.” It is further stated, and upon good authority, that “society belles and the most aristocratic young men do not hesitate to blacken their faces and assume the characters of negro performers on the amateur stage,” because it is “the thing” to do so. And the songs that are sung “either appeal to the senses or tend to arouse the sentiment of pathos, through which evil is oftener wrought than is generally known.” Further: “The results of this fad are even now coming to the front. In one city in an adjoining State, six fashionable young ladies, leaders in society, have fallen victims to the blandishments of a negro who was secured to train them in the divine art” of singing “darkey songs.” Thus the popular churches, having discarded tithing, God’s plan for filling the church treasury, and having abandoned the aid of the power of God, the Holy Spirit, are obliged to resort to carnal methods of raising money. “Babylon is fallen, is fallen.” “Come out of her, my people.”