he men in the two benches on the right, the
womenfolk in the two benches facing each other on the left. Among these,
who had already examined their own conscience to make sure of their
worthiness, had passed an elder with a tumbler of blackberry juice. He
walked close behind the elder who bore the plate of unleavened bread.
The first said to each worthy member, "Remember this represents the
broken body of our Lord who died on this cross for our sins." The second
intoned in a deep voice, "This represents the blood of our Lord who shed
his blood for our sins." All the while old and young throughout the
church house had sung that well-known hymn of the Regular Primitive
Baptists.

When Jesus Christ was here below,
He taught His people what to do;

And if we would His precepts keep,
We must descend to washing feet.

That part of the service being ended, Brother Jonathan exhorted the
flock to make ready for foot-washing.

The men in their benches removed shoes and socks. The women on the other
side of the church, facing each other in their two benches, removed
shoes and stockings. A sister arose, girthed herself with a towel, knelt
at a sister's feet with a tin washpan filled with water from the creek,
and meekly washed the other's feet. Having dried them with an end of the
long towel, she now handed it to the other who performed a like service
for her. This act of humility was repeated by each of the worthy. All
the while there was hymn-singing.

The menfolk who participated removed their coats and hung them beside
their hats on wall pegs.

"It is all Bible," the devout declare. "He laid aside His garments. We
take off our coats."

Brother Jonathan and the other elders are last to wash each other's
feet.

And when the service is ended and the participants have again put on
their shoes, they raise their voices in a hymn they all know well:

I love Thy Kingdom, Lord,
The House of Thine abode,
The church our blessed Redeemer saved
With His own precious blood.

The tin washpans were emptied frequently out the door and refilled from
the bucket on the table, for many were they, both women and men, of the
Regular Primitive Baptist faith who felt worthy to wash feet.

At the invitation everyone arose and those who felt so minded went
forward to take the hand of preacher, elder, m