Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-02
THE sun DO MOVE"
1t Went Down Over Gideon and When 1t
Goes Down Don't It Move?

1t Went Down Over Gideon and When 1t
Goes Down Don't 1t Move?
The audience at the First Baptist
church of Chicago Friday evening was
afforded greater merriment than usually
is insured by circus and big men
agerie thrown in. Brudder Jasper, the
76year-Old negro, with his tall, Iank
figure, bald-head, and earnest implicitly
had come to tell how ''the sun do move"
Rev. DR.. Henson with welI-bred defer
ence, introduced the lecturer, and made
him thoroughly at home. Nevertheless
the billiant Baptist divine appreciated
the real humor CT the evening as well as
anyone.
II want you to understand" said Dr.
Henson IN introducing Rev. Jasper, 81
want you to understand that Brother
per-Brother John Jasper-is not at
all like other lecturers. His business is
religion and nothing else. When he
lectures in churches he wants the exer-
cises conducted as though it were Sunday
and I guess he's about right. commend
this new departure lecturers in churches.
l will read the chapter in the bible which
Brother Jasper wishes me to read"
DR.. Henson said he would read the
chapter, but he did not do it because as
he said there were too many hard names
in it. Brother Jasper went to the pulpit
and read it himself in his rich planta-
ton dialect. 1t commenced: "These
are the generations of Shem; Shem was
100 years old and begat Arphaxed two
years after the food"
DR.. Henson interrupted him as he was
about to begin his lecture to explain that
H. oI +La4
and himself were born and raised ia the
same county in sole VirgiDny." ''In that
county," said DR.. Henson, "they raise per
simmons and men, and raise the men on
the persimmons. We were raised on the
same diet. l am not sure that I shall
agree with Brother JaspeT's astronomy,
but I am sure will agree with his relig-I
ion. will tell you, though, ths I believe
more in Brother ia per's philosophy
than I do in Herbert Spencer's. l am not
sure of Herbert Spencer, and 1 am sure
of Brother Jasper"
The persimmons apparently agreed
very well with the youthful Jasper, for at
nearly four score years of age he Is a
strong, lusty, vehement speaker.
Ladies an gentlemens," he commenced,
"brudders an sisters, Use rather say-be
cause amt wese washed alike in de blood
o de lamb? Buffers and sisters, leave
it to you; shall I go right to the pint, o.
shall go through all de argymentss"
"Do as you please" said DR.. Henson,
who had taken q seat below the pulpit.
"Do just as you please. We can stand it
if you can"
Everybody laughed, and Brother Jas
per said he would cut il short. He did
this by commencing at the food. After
the food Rev. Jasper came TO the story of
Abraham.
'If you'll ies' get out yo' bibles"
Brother Jasper said, ''you will think my
right train O. ideas is in accordance wifi
de gospel. When de dim light O. de stars |
was sot to show de dimness on de earth |
de LaId said unto Abraham, AS de sard |
on de seasho' go shall thy seed be- Little |
knew dat Abraham what wese comm TO. !,
De Lawd he wanted a sacrifice. Den de
oueshun was: Where is de bullock for de |
offerin' or whar is de ranf Abraham