Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-06-01
GEoRGIA's BOY PREACHER.
An Insant!e Prodigy Whose Sermons
Show GREAT Seriptural Knowledge.


the boy preacher of Carroll county,
preached sermon at Rice's opera
house in Newman last night to a large
audience He WAS on a visit with his
sister and a few citizens, learning OF
his presence, sought him out and
asked him to preach for them. After
persuasion the prodigy consented and
the opera house was secured as a
suitable place. ByS o'clock the build
ing was packed with ladies and gen
tlemep of all ages, including preach
ers, lawyers, doctors and business
men. The boy is about IL years of
age, raised on a small farm in the
backwoods of Carroll county, without
any school education and consequent
~ illiterate, yet he took for his text
the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew,
the parable of the ten virgins, and
proceeded in modest way to ex-
pound the meaning of the parable.
On reaching the stage where small
table had been placed in front of the
footlights, ne knelt at the table in
silent meditation, after which the
audience sang at his request some
familiar song. He had on a jeans
suit of clothes, a checked shirt and
rough Drogan shoes. His face is sal
low and rather intelligent, and when
animated with the influence of his
discourse, lit up with pair Of hazel
eyes, makes his features a picture
which increases is beauty the longer
one gazes at it.
Although unaccustomed to crowds
and the scenery of the stage, he man.
ifested no uneasiness whatever, and
was wholly free from embarrassment.
During his sermon he made copious
quotations from the New Testament
and applied them appropriately to his
text. He seemed under heavy mental
strain all the while, and frequently
changed his position on the stage, at
times leaning on the table, resting
his face on his hands. Then again
he would walk rapidly across to the
end of the platform, holding to the
drop curtain and talking rapidly.
Finally he said:
Il am out of BREATH" and motion.
ing to those nearest the footlights. said:
"Sing something while rest.
He then made short prayer, ap.
pealing iR a pathetic way for those
whose sins had not been forgiven
and spoke feelingly of his own con
version. At the close of his wonder
full address DIR. c. d. Smith proposed
q collection to be taken up for him
This morning he was the talk Of the
town, and several gentlemen speak o.
raising money to give him a gooC
education. MIR. Walker rendered hin
a suit of clothes, which was accepted
and he has thrown aside his suit o
jeans. DIR. Smith told Jimmie h,
would board him twelve months, anC
send him to school free of charge
but the little fellow said he would
have to see his father before he coule
accept his generous offer. At the ag
of four years he said that his healtI
was very bad, and the doctors advise,
his parents TO teach him to chew to
bacco, which habit he has cultivate,
until his system seems thoronghl,
impregnated with the weed. He say
that in the fall of 1877 his mother
now dead, taught him how to read tn
scriptures, and that last spring b
was converted. While picking cottoI
last fall, he said, something told hin
to go and preach the gospel, and it 8
impressed him that he could no longe
resist the influence.
He was interviewed by large nun
Der of gentlemen this morning, an,
his answers to all their questions wer
startling for. their accuracy and wis
dom. His knowledge of the scripture
seems wonderful and would do credi
to the best informed ministers Of th
day.