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Ninety Days Inside The Empire: A Novel by William Appleman Williams

Communion

Page 48

"Oh, Lord, we are down here trying to do right. Let us stand up for truth. We take this bread and wine together as our thanks to you, O Lord, for thy Love and Grace. We pray that you will help us to know and do the good works that Thou wishes us to walk in."

The ushers, two older whites among them, came forward with their bowls of cubed, fresh-baked bread. As Griff said a prayer, Mitch and Marsh had trouble containing their anticipation. They knew that the uninstructed white visitors would think that this was the time for the collection. And those men did reach for their money. Then, as the ushers began passing the bread down each terrace of pews, they realized their mistake. In this church there was no collection on Communion Sunday. This was when the Lord gave his grace. During the passing of the bread, therefore, those men fumbled their way to the exit, some of them asking childish questions about the location of the rest room.

Perhaps they registered a bit of Thomas's variation on Bach and Mozart, playful but respectful, but they were gone when he began his fugue- like chords that carried him into the melody of Down That Lonesome Road. He played softly, and as each terrace completed communion the people began to hum or sing. Soon it became a full-throated chorus. Thomas began to move it.

 

"Look down, look down, that lonesome road

before you travel on.

Look up, look up, and seek your Maker

before Gabriel blows his horn.

Weary totin' such a load, trudging down

that lonesome road.

Look down, look down, that lonesome road

before you travel on.

Dear God, Dear God, what have I done.

that they should treat me so.

You caused me to walk and talk

like I never did before.

Weary totin' such a load, trudging down

that lonesome road.

Look up, look up, and seek your Maker,

before Gabriel blows his horn."

Griff looked up and smiled and Thomas stopped. The Reverend opened his arms for the last time that Sunday.

"We are here together in the company of faithful people. Oh Lord, stir up in us the will and courage to do these right things. To walk in Thy Way and roll the stone from the cave.

"Amen."

Thomas sang the words of the recessional hymn along with Marsh and the others.

 

"In the morning we shall be free,

I done told you-you shall be free.

I done said it-you shall be free,

When the Good Lord sets you free."

 

But only the choir and The Reverand recessed. Some members of the congregation sat down to pray silently. Others stood talking softly to each other along or over the back of the pews. Marsh was as moved as any of the others, and he did now know how long it was before Thomas said, "Time to get these folks movin'"-and launched into "Didn't He Ramble."

People look up at Thomas, laughed, and began to walk or do a half-time step up toward Griff waiting by the great white doors.