The New York herald., 1878-03-24
He Explains in Full to the Herald Corrc-
spOndent How the Sun Moves.
PROVING IT BY BIBLE TEXTS
The Old Preacher Defies the Philosophers and
Pities the Jealous Parsons Who
Follow Them.
"JOSHUA AND SOLOMON SAY 1T MOVES"

10 the tlack dray-dri or ana tobacco factory mana
ihere tut a-ab.'Nrbng topic of foonversation--
The great of the Rev. John Jasper on the SUM-
He delivered II last Sunday evening, and the crowd
that gathered at Mount Zion Baptist Church hear
him was the largest ever in Richmond and
would have filed i've churches. John Jasper 10 the
Oldest coored minister in Rcnmond and has the
lsrgeest congregaton--lndeed his church is not
large enough 10 hold It, Last sunday he preached
from the text Exodus, XIV, 3-"The Lord is
y of The Lord his name,"
and be devoted his to contradictng the false
theories OF philosophers, which theories attempt to
provo that the world moves around the sun. Mr..
Jasper conendcd Ia his that the world stands
Stii and that the moves over II. In beginning
his boldly avowed that IL he did prove
BY Bible authority that the sun moves, he would
never preach again. He then cited numerous In.
stances from the Bible TO prove 'that the sun do
move" and began with Joshua's causing the sun to
stand sti following that up with quotations from tho
Psalmst, Malachi, Solomon and Exodus At the close
OF his sermon, he said TO the congregation pres
sent, snow, all you what believe that tho sun do
move, hold up your right hand" and every man,
woman and child in the building elevated hand
thus showing that they convinced by the argu-
and eloquence OF Brother Jasper that the sun
moves.
MOVING EXCITEMENT.
Suce that time the question OF the SUMS move
ments has been uppermost IN the mind OF the COL
ored man. It is talked of at Societies." funerals
baptisms and other popular gai behring's. group OF
hackmcn standing in front OF the ST. James
Hotel To-day as the HERALD correspondent. passed.
They nll looking at the sun, which was then
swinging 10 mid heaven.
One remarked, "Dat's So John Jaspcr's right.
Dat sun binn movn' scnce binn standin' here.,
Another observed, 'John got mighty good book to
back him -
third said "Jaspcr dun put hissclf ginst dc
whole world. Bettor keep sharp look out too. beio'
bo's caught In some trap'
such specimen OF the conversations now bong
carried ON by tho coiorcd people.
THK HOME
The HERALD correspondent visited the coloYed sun
mover to-day, aud found him sitting by the widow
reading his Bioe diligently. Inc room be occupied
In his small parsonage unlike tho generally ac-
cepted pic,ure' oi parsons study. 1t was on the
second noor OF u small frame building. lis furniture
large bed. a small bed and u CRIB some
chBrs, bureau and trunk. The walls were without
Ornament save I'VE imperial sZcd pinto OF Rev.
John Jasper when we're hung around the and
displayed 10 advantage. The Rev. John Jasper met
tbe VISITOR AT the door, and with great modesy and
p,htencss asked hlm 10 take seat. The old
Gorter Is "a man whose hgure and lace would attract
sueution IN crowd. He stands SIX fcct inch; is
D. massive ouid good lace open and iDtcingent
eyes muCn larger than geDcraliy In The
mans crahium; features prom nent forehead high,
but narrow He is real negro, and the dark ginger
bread color oi his lace and the patches OF black
the back part oi his hcad slightly frosted by age,
Cal. 10 mlnd the picture OF GOOD 'Old Unclo Neu,''
Had o on e top of his head
In de place whar de wool ought grow.
Brother Jasper was dressed in very plain suit,
a rumpIed SHIRT, without any collar, wue
bs laicu Kentucky jean pants were tucked ! pair
ol boots wnich were srowa quito yelios for OF
RJ,d spoclables winch were tied pate with
piecc OF wnite twine be vas bending over u large
illustrated lainily Bible. rms was The only book
the room. Brother Jasper boasts that tie has never
rcad any booS but the BIBLE AND that he don't have
any Other Ia his house
TEE JEALOUS PREACHERS
1t was not difficult matter TO start the old preacher
Your correspondent asked him when he had first
gveh SUBJECT of the SUMS movements atten lion
Rev. JONI JAsPER-I DON'T 'sacty know, SIR |
p CACHED u sermon similar to dis one time last
year The reason why preached II again more fully
because some oil my colored frenGs and especially
some jealous coored preachers, allowed that did
Know what was ialkla' bout. 1t was the Jealous
preachers said that All The white people who navo
neard my sermon believe that my IDEAS bssea on
Scripture and II any white people are not satisfied
win that sermon nave not heard them say So Ny
mind Was uliy BASED upon the truth OF that Jerm0n.
never nae any doubts IN my mind about the sun
moving hat TACT was SO tlrmiy fixed IN my mind
that did not hnk 1t would neeu auy argument Be
cause everybody has IA notion that The is not
moving rs not any evidence 10 my minu that don't
lie Is NOT AN ASTRONOMER NOR PHILOSOPHER.
CogREsPoSDENT-D'a you ever stuuy astronomy
btolhs' JAsPER-Nd, sirj never did. ,hink that
God's Word 10 sufficient guide Tor the human ian,iy
1 very dtstlnRu 5h yd reauef, Uut have
aOe tO leel my Nay through the BDlc Whenever
aGY,ning comes IN the way OF the Bible ieel ~ my
duty 10 oppose respect all that mny Oe said oy
Philosophers uniil they undertakes 10 correct what
God Las SAID Whenever tney makes any conmenta-
res on the Bioe respects those commentaries ana
am satisfied WIN ,hcm long they don't contra
Dict tue writepWord
CoEResPoNDENT-Aow do yoa account for what ihc
s,tOnouIeTs Say ABOUT the suh2 Incy say the cartn
turns around once Jay.
Brother JAsrER-- Taint in the Bible, though You
hnd II ! tue BlUc.
CoRkgsPoNDENT--W hat are your authorities that
The sun mOvesY
BIBLICAL AUTHORITIES FOR SUN MOVING
Brother JAsPLR (quUtne the BiUle without looking
iu u)--Maiaenl. l., ll-''For ron the risng The
unto the gong down OF the same Thy
snail he great among the OentIles." The psalmist
says cxli, 3, Erom the risns oil The uuiil ,h
gong down ol the same the LORDS name Is to be
lrased.n Don't this moan that the movesf You
know King solomon Was wise maL. lie says Ia
Ecclcsast.s l., Tine sun also arisoh aud tho sun
Roein ao@ II ana hastene'h 10 his place wucrc he
srose." Now, how could the san rise ana hss,e TO
tue pace where she rose II 'sne uId MOI move 7
hcu ISAIAH says u The ,hiry eighth chapter eigutn
verse Behoid will bring again the shHuow OF the
uegrees when ID gone down in the sun dial oi Ahaz
ten degrees backward SO the sun returned len lie.
groes, ny when degrees 1t was gono down" rheu |
Joshua, X, IL, Is, 14:-"rncn spoke Joshua TO the
LORD day the LORD delivered up the Amo.
rites oelore the c ,dren OF Israel ana he said IN the
sight oil Israel Sun, stand thou sil upon Gibeon,
ihou, Noon, In The valley OF Aalon ana tue sun
stoea still anu The moon stayed untii tho people
had avenged themselves upon their enemies Is
tnis written the Book oil Jasherf SO
the stood still IN TITO midst o heaven anc
hasted not TO 30 down about whole day."
Psalms, i., 1.-The mighty Coz, even the Lord,
hatu spoken aud called the earth from the rising OF
the unto the goiug down thereof." Judges, XIV,
1S-.'And the men OF tue city said unto HIM the
seventh dHy, before the went down. wnat Is |
.weeler .nan honey, &C." These extracts Rev John :.
Jasper Delivered without any hesitancy anu without
once referring 10 the booK. He he could cite
others II necessary.
CoKREsPoSDEST--Dun'ty you think u would be i'm
possible lor Tue earth 10 stand stIY
Brother JASPER believe tnat the earth stands as
arranged by God. The world and the aud the
moon act by command OF Goa. l believe tnat the
world stands 'sacy as God arranged Tor Vt to stand
believe that the sun moves ana the moon moves
and The stars just rs GOD mas arranged them
COKKgsPoSDgST--We understand that the earth Is
Found. That II Is star nkc other stars aud That II
revolves AROUND the sun.
Brother JAsPEg--Bui tic dou't soy 80 IN the Bible.
IL God nad arranged or Us 10 Understand tbat tno
earth moves he would nave put IL III couiu COM
prehend IT, can believe That the earth turns around
Al The prove IL BY the Bible Ihat rs my