1964 Awake! - Theocratic Collector.com

You are eyeing those church buildings.
Yes, some of them have been there for a
long time, at least a long time in relation
to Jamaica's history. Did you know that
Columbus dedicated this lovely island to
"the Most Holy Trinity"? That was in
1494 and so Jamaica remained a 'Catholic
island until the church was proscribed from
1655 to 1792. In 1662 the Church of England
became the established church with
the support and under the control of the
government. Endowment lasted untU1870.
However, keep in mind that in those early
days, the church confined its activities to
the planters and estate owners, Christianity
was not thought suitable for slaves. It
was not until the end of the eighteenth
century that the teachings of Christendom
reached the slave population, and this
through the efforts of the nonconformist
missionaries. Then "Christian" elements
were superimposed on African beliefs, resulting
in cults similar to the one we are
about to visit.
Today nearly every religion known to
Christendom is represented in Jamaica, as
well as a Hindu samaj, a Jewish synagogue
and a Moslem mosque. Religion of one sort
or another is very much a part of the life
of the people of this island. Atheism, even
skepticism, is almost unknown.
For some time you have been conscious
of the beating of drums. That has been
the signal to the community that a service
is being held tonight. The churches we
have passed would seem to qualify Jamaica
for a place on Christendom's roll caIl, but
what you are about to see is something
less orthodox. We just follow this path
through to the clearing, and here we are.
Notice the bamboo pole with the shelf
over there near the door. The glass of water
and the white flowers you see on it are
the cult leader's means of contacting and
receiving messages from the spirit world.
As usual there are many people here, both
AUGUS'I' !!, 1964
inside and outside the meetinghouse. It is
not a very imposing structure, but that is
not important. Let us look inside. The man
in white, wearing the turban, is the leader
or "shepherd." You notice that behind him
on the raised platform are pictures of Jesus
and some saints, a wooden cross and
some flowers. The altar is not on the platform,
but down in the wide center aisle.
It is simply a table bearing an open Bible
and some flowers. The benches nearest it
are occupied by a group of women, also
wearing white and with their turbans
wound high like the leader's. These are his
assistants.
The service begins. Pra)'el', Bible reading,
testimony giving and sermon, while
emotional and while laboring on the sinfulness
of the world, are not too unusual
except for the repeated interruptions of
the audience. Shouting and groaning to
show their approval, they have entered
right into the service itself. Then as they
sway and clap their hands, the assistants
begin moving about the altar, grunting
rhythmically. Goaded on by the shepherd,
the shuffling gyrations gain momentum
and the grunts gain volume. Eyes take on
a glassy look. Some are closed. GraduallY
a trancelike state replaces the frenzy.
Glance around at the congregation. Drops
of sweat wet every brow. Emotions are
tense. Some succumb and fall to the ground.
The shepherd's voice rises above the grWlts
invoking the spirits to come, the spirit of
Jesus, the spirit of Moses and even the
spirit of the earth, The white-clad group
are overcome. Falling to the ground, they
writhe in agony, and the grunting turns ttl
moans and sobs.
Back outside, the air seems much cooler
in contrast with the heat being generated
inside the meeting place. How can they
keep going at such a pace? Some do it by
smoking ganga, a form of Indian hemp,
before the service begins. Thus fortified.
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