Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-11-13
A ROgus BOy Evangelist.

described by the Little Rock tArk,) Ga-et.a.l
There has just been lore profound relig-
ious sensation created by boy down Ia the
Do toms than has resulted from the efforts OF
Spurgeon, the liberal Mr.. Beechar, or the Oft
cartooned Talmage. Several weeks ago o liver
Herring, son OF Squire Herring, conceived the
1dea-of preaching to the colored people. This.
for boy of l6 years Old, would have been a
very creditable idea but for the fraadule1 a.
plan adopted by the young selt-app0inted evaG-
senst. Among the few books possessed uy the
squire there was volume Of sermons by Ipr-
EMO DOW. the celebrated ''oli timer" whose
oratorical pictures OF fire ana sulphurous sufro-
cation mas caused many aud many man to
Wend his way through an excited congregation
10 the mournerS' bench. Oliver found this
DOCK and was Immediately struci, with the ter
rols OF metaphor and horrors OF trope. If
could only commit a lot of these to memory
and preach 70 the colored people, ne said, I'D
soon fring the plantation boys 70 their knees
Hanged IL don't do it, With mischief born
asSidaity. the most successful parent OF Iuve-
nile appECa'toE. ne began work. Possessed OF
Tetent1Ve memory, ne waS soon able 10 repa AZ
sermon after sermon. Securing minstrel rig
and the necessary amount OF backing N aterlaI.
young Oliver announced himself as .heeled for
The evangelical occasion"
Sunday night the COTTONWOOD Grove church
was crowded The preachers had exhausted
their powers OF drawing dark pictures but
still the young male and female sinners t1irte1
with each other. Presently 3 small .'dlrzy''
entered, and advancing 10 the pulpit, whis-
perez something to one OF the preachers. VINO
arose and said that new brother Touid al
dress the congregation. The new brother be
gan. There was an earnest depth In the toae
Of his voice that caused the female sinner Go
stop gfggiing behind ner fan. The pre- tchar
began drawing terrible picture Of the 81 Ter
The devil SJalked abroad In the land. stance
Tilted here and there like butterflies ia the
lower garden OF society. Rapenfa1ce mis-
from the time the new preacher began, all Il
tue sinners We're Oh their knees.
The Christians shouted, and the deac0 IS
walked around through the ha'f-agonizlng,
haif-happy throng, as though they had sud
denly received glorious commission direct
from ecclesiastical headquarters. The young
preacher before closing, announced that he
would preach in the same house on the follow
ing Sunday night. He refused tc go home with
any OF The cOlored brethren, stating that nyS-
ferrous provision would be made for him. az,
however he said, ANY of you feel like giving
few nickelS to aid In the support OF an aged
mother and crippled sister, the donation
viii be most thankfully received" AS If by
one impulse, every right hand OF every man
went down into pocket and came out with
money. The hat was passed around aud when
the contents were handed TO the young
preacher, he thanked the congregation for Such
noble generosity.
On the following Sunday night there was not
standing room il the church. The same wild
excitement was created The preachers word Is
burned their way into the emotional clo!sters
OF the sinners. and lighted lamp there
which. by its glare, showed the moral corrup-
ton OF the past. Another collection was taken
up for the aged mother and crippled sister
Late that night boy sat in his room. "Oyer
$780, he Said removing his wig and preparing
TO wash the burnt cork from his face. .'Ill be
blamed II Amt the boss Old man Dow didn't
know What service he was rendering me
when he arranged that book OF sermons
On the following Sunday evening the young
preacher, thinking that inquiSitive deacons
might arrive early in order to ascertain the d.
rection OF his approach, went to church before
dark. Having sat up very late the night be-
T0re. committing another sermon TO memory
he became very sleepy. Thinking that it would
be good idea to 60 up into the lott and sleep
until church time. he climbed up, lay on the
loosely arranged boards and went TO sleep
The congregation assembled, but the little
preacher did not come. Another brother was
called upon to "hll the pulpit" While the
SUD brother was In the midst Of q learned
discourse, the young preacher awoke. He re
allied that he had "Oversiept himself" He was
contemplating plan of procedure when, IN
fortunately. he turned over on the edge OF the
boards. The boards tilted up, and with crash
the yOuEg preacher fell on the pulpit and then
on the floor among a lot of mourners. The eX-
element was terrific. The deacons yelled
devil" and rushed from the house. The
mOurneTS shrieked and ran away. The young
preacher had lost his minstrel wig, and per-
Spirat1On had taken much of the black from
his face. Recognizing the fraud, an able.
bodied man grasped the young preacher and
unfortunate boy was not long In revealing his
identity. He was taken home by delegation
and demand that he be publicly whipped
made. He was whipped-Whipped unfit he
sWore that he never would go to another col
Ored church.