Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1878-04-11
Does it Movep
Galileo's Theory Disputed BY
Richmond Negro Preacher.

'uasion, John Jaspr, known as
he "sun mover" as the modern
"Ptolemy, 'excep. he proves every
thing from the Bible, delivered
another sermon this afternoon on
the solar system. lie is firm in
the belief that the sun revolvesI
around the earth, and that the
earth stands still, and he has a.
bout Two thousand coIored
followers who have been CON
WINGED by his Arguments. His
are attracting a great
deal of attention. Il was expect
ed that Jasper would hold forth
in the open air to day, as many
white citizens had urged him to Go
SO. but he said he was afraid that
bis opponents nightstonehlm. lie
was assured by the police Of pro
lection, but he said, mo, an ar
my of po''cemen could not stop
them mad niger rs il they took a
notion to throw at me-. So he
preached in his church, which
seats 1000
The services were announced TO
began at three o'clock, but as ear
ly rs one the crowd of people
white and black, poured IN.
There was a perfect Juror OF ex-
element. A squad of twenty pc
lice, under the command OF a cap
tain and two sergeants, were pres
ent, and had their hands full. At
three O'clock the sanctuary was
packed, and the streets for squares
were blocked with all sorts, who
wanted TO hear more of the
Ptolemaic system. Among those
seated near the pulpit were Pro-
lessor B. Puryea and the entire
faculty of the Richmond College;
Judge Joseph Christian, of the
Court of Appeals; Colonel George
Wythe Munford, Ex-Secretary of
the Commonwealth; Colonel T. J
Reilly and DR.. Mshony, of the
Catholic Church; George D. Wise,
Commonwealth Attorney, and
about 600 Of R chmond'S fairest
bellies.
Jasper preached about an hour; in
his sermon lie said that what was
the matter with the Church was
that people were running too
much after the so called scientists
lie said if be didn't prove from
the Bible, his theory of the sun
and earth he would agree never t.
get into the pulpit again. He used
such expressions from Scripture
as "the rising and setting OF the
sum-" "the sun riseth and hasten.
eth to the place wherever she go
eth" and Joshua commanding the
sun to stand still, "What would
be the use, be says, Gin telling
thing to stand unless it was in
motiol?' During the past week
there has been a rich controversy
going on in the papers between
Jasper aud the other negro preach
ers here. All but Jasper adhere
to the Copernican system. They
said that Jasper ought to let the
sun alone. aud preach Christ and
him crucified.
lie retorted by say ing that he
would preach whatever he pleased
from the Bible, and stigmatized
them as oil "nigyer hypoerites.'
Jasper challenged every divine in
Richmond to debate the solar
question with him, but they all
declined.
In the crowd outside to-day
there were some rough fisticuffs
between Ptolematic and Copper
nican niggers. One Jasperise
punished severely member Of
Wells Church who contradicted
Jasper's argument, by pulling all
the wool out of his head. Sarah
johnson, colored, who was wound
ed Sunday before last in the crowd
at Jasper's church died yesterday
Theodore Harris, Clerk of the
Lincoln County Circuit Court, has
reported to the Comptroller thai
in ii criminal cases tried in thai
court, the costs only amounted to
S469.S4. A conviction resulted
in every case. j. ] Williams was
the Judge before whom they were
tried, while Assistant District At
torney j. D. Tillman actedas pros
ecnting attorney. The crimes OF
which the felons were convicted
were larceny aud attempt to com