Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1886-09-30
A Bogus Colored Revival. 81
Brother Fitzgerald Refuses to De
liver His Fish Sermon for Less
Than S5...

An illeged colored revival meeting
has been in progress in Pine Grove, near
Gloucester, for the past week. The
grove, which is called Pine Grove be-
cause there are two spruce trees scatter
ed through the forest of naples, is
favorite resort of the very toughest ele-
mcnt that frequents Gloucester. There
are several beer booths in the grove
that dispense more spirituous enthusi-
asm that the preachers do spiritual. A
morning paper contained the following
announcement yesterday
A MOST ENTHUSIASTIC COLORED Camp
N meeting Is now being held in Pine Grove,
Gloucester, n. j. Brother Fitzgerald. OF Vir
ginia, will preach his celebrated Fish Sermon
and sing his celebrated Fish Hymn, on SUN
DAY AFTERNOON All are cordially invited.
At two o'clock the score of wooden
benches that face the rough, wooden
pulpit were empty. The pulpit, which
showed the scars of many lombard
ment, was also empty. Forty or fifty
rough young men and about half as
many young women OF the same social
complexion were drinking beer at the
booths, but there was not a single col
ored person in sight. Shortly after
that hour Rev. Isaac Emory, colored
preacher, who was missionary on Rod
man street, appeared, and when asked
if there would be services in the after
noon, pointed to little house through
the trees, and said: 'Yo' go ask Broth
er Fitzgerald Brother Fitzgerald had
just lit his clay pipe, and was busy
wrapping up his sermon in newspa-
per.
NO, sah,' he said, in reply to queS-
tionl' dar won't be no saryices so far as
| am consarned. l don't give my fish
sermon to nobody nor no color for less
den So. / come from good stock, l do,
and my celebrated fish sermon am a
deep sermon and she don't go to nobody
for less'n SIS.
Brother Fitzgerald was told that
there was great curiosity to hear his
celebrated sermon, but he was obdurate
in holding out for the tariff price of S5.
He consented to give the text, however.
1t is from the thirteenth chapter of st.
Matthew: For the kingdom of heaYen
is like unto a net cast into the sea and
gathers all kind
Il take everyone of these fishes and
analize 'em,' said Brother Fitzgerald.
At this moment Brother Emory rushed
into the house, followed by the echo of
faint cheer from the benches in the
grove.
Brother Fitzgerald, you come out
hyar and preach to dose sInners,' he
shouted.
No, sah.' said Brother Fitzgerald,
decidedly, you don't git that fish SER
mon widout the So
Brother Fitzgerald. what kind a way
IS dat to treat me p said Brother Emo
ry, appealingly, especially after me
carrying the hod all week.
'Yo' don't git that fish sermon for
less'n $5. Pm goin' home
He was urged to give a verse of his
celebrated Fish Hymn 'and finally con-
sented to chant the following verse
Lets go a-flshin' Gshn' for souls.
Yo' know fish and SO do |,
That's the way Christians do,
FiShin' for souls;
He spoke to Peter in the sea,
Fishin for souls;
Come leave yo' nets and follow me,
FShin' for souls;
PontiuS Plate bound In Jail,
FiShin for souls;
They prayed for him in spite OF hell,
FiShin for souls
Dayid's weeping was but dull
FiShin' for souls;
He broke GOliah'S brazen skull,
Fishn' for souls"
Then Brother Fitzgerald relit his
pipe, tucked his precious sermon and
hymn under his arm and started for
home through the woods, while Broth
er Emory returned to the grove and
tried to talk to the toodlums, but was
laughed at and pelted with watermelon
rind. Brother Fitzgerald, instead OF
going home, made detour and came
up behind Brother Emory. He was
greeted with cheers. L am told, he
said, that there are some reporters on
the ground. 1 also see some gentlemen
and ladies, but he added ,lmpressively,
pointing to a crowd of hoodlums, there
air those that air not. Po' Brother
Morgan, an aged divine. am lying at
home sorely wounded with watermil-
lion rinds. I ain'5 here fo' no such
purpose, and besides yo' Can't haye my
fish sermon for less'n So. No color nor
no denomination can't have this SER
mon for less money. Besides, where is
| Brother Frank Turner? Also at home
suffering with watermillion rinds. L
hain't a-goin to preach that fish sermon
but will try yo'with little discourse,
| and if any of them pesky people cut up
any shines I'll lcaYe. First, I'll give
yo' regular old plantation song.' In
a loud voice he chanted:
"Says de nanny 70 de boy, Yo' am goin' to
die. Amen!
Den up looked de boy at an angry God.
Den looked down to a gaping hell. Amen!
At this point hoodlum yelled
Brother, get your hair cut =
Brother Fitzgerald looked around
and then he started for home through
the woods. followed by cries of Amen