National Republican., 1878-04-30
THE sun DO MOVE"
So Says the Rev. John Jasper,
Who Meets Modern Astronomy with Ancient
scripture-The Lecture at Linnoin Hall
Last EveninG-An Example Of Inn
plicit Faith In the bible.


About two hundred people assembled in Lincoln
Hall last evening, to hear Rev. John Jasper, the
colored preacher Of Richmond, Va, lecture upon
The Rotation OF the sun" The entertainment
was unique. and greatly enjoyed by the audience,
although very few Of his hearers gave indications
ofhnying heen converted to the reverend lecturer
views. Rev. John Jasper Is a genuine colored
preacher. Of the type that makes colored camp
meetings and revivals so interesting to per.
sons used to the formal eloqucuce and
measured prayers Of white churches-one of
those preachers who have an eloquence and force
peculiar to themsclycs lie Is rather tall in stature
with an angular figure, and was dressed last even.
ing In clerical black. 4 short, crisp woody beard
covers his black face, aud the wool at the top Of his
head has been worn OF with frequent rubbing, so
that his forehead seems to extend to the back Of
nus skull HIS discourse was full Of quaint expires
Sons, aud he narrated scene, from the bible III the
Ncrnacular common among the negrocs Of the
south, afoTding rare entertainment to those of his
listening to
PLANTATION ELooUENCE.
At times he fell into the sing song. intonating
style OF delivery SO Often heard at negro revival
mGetingS, and Peculiarly noticeable among the
congregation, all the heads aud feet would De wag.
ging and bobh!ng in time with the voice Of the
speaker.
Ills argument was based entirely on scrlpturnl
quotations 20 prove that the sun do move" He
began with reference 10 Joshua who com.
mandcd tho sun to stand still. and then gave other
passages from the Bible. in which reference
Is made 10 the rlSiDge and setting
OF the sun. He wanted to know IT, wheE anything
rose II did not move How could the sun rise and 20
down without moving. They could see 1t with
thcir own eyes rising In the east, and then passing
over the trees and houses and setting In the west
Yet there ars people who say that the sun don't
move. Alter each quotation which he considered
cincher he added And yet they say the sun
don move with an air expressing both pity and
contempt for the uubeleVers. What man is
thar, he asked. that lives On Gods earth who Can
lake microscope. or any other scope. and say
THE sun DON'T MOVE?
Whar is he? whar Is the man who can spy from
this locality and tell how far the sun Is from the
earth? lie may do IT, but then | have my con.
Nictions and he hns his. Ninety.ive millions
Of miles from the earth he exclaimed; who, in
look through and look gjODpODD miles 2" He nd.
vised his hearcrs frst 10 catch hold Of ,OOOOO
miles before taking about gj.OOpUD. His whole
discourse was full Oi interesting and dprOpDs little
anecdotes and Illustrations. lie exhiLi;ed a hard
headed and earnest faith IA the literal text OF the
Bible and said that they could call him q false.
hood or anything they choose, hut they couldn't
dispute the Bible. When the audience were diy-
pcring one gentleman. rising from his seat asked
Inc lecturer now the sun got back from the West to
the East aud he answered hm In the words Of Sol.
mon, that II "hastcnS back 10 the place OF rising"
Another gentleman asked Il the height bf tree
gould not be measured In any other way except
by climbing TO the top and using a tapc.iine and
the lecturer replied that 1t could not lie measured
meut,