Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-14
AN EXCITING REVIVAL
GREAT SPIRITUAL PERTURBATION
AMONG TRE NsGRoRs
usursers at the Altar by Hundreds Inter
views with Parson jasper and
Other Pastors

Richmond. and no rsnting politician or ne
gro probscmist should attempt TO solve the
yexed Questions OF the dsy without bret GO
sng through Jackson Ward. The poverty,
squalor, and reeking ignorance one reads OF
IN northero Republican organs OF agitation
cannot be found bere. Instead, at every
turn ns.sees evidences Of thrift aud educa-
con. -
Yesterday the weather was bslmy, and
Yearuiug OF tho progress OF great spiritual
revival among the colored race, Dispstch
reporter went out to learn from the various
shepherds OF the flOeks the extent OF the re-
ligieus awakening.
THE vBESrzER PASTOR.
Rev. r. Wells, pastor 81 Ebenezer Bap-
tast church, was first visited. rms well
kpava divine lives on Duval street JUST op-
nestle John Jaspef's church. Wei's Sky
Two years old, and started in life ss Dutler
with the family OF John herr' re was
Afterwards a "band" and subsequently
sul,-ovtrseer in Kerr's factory. After the
exses,at,on Of Richmond he took charge OF
the Manchester Baptist church, and after
sDcces<fN ministry OF five years was caied
20 Fbeeezer, where he has now over l,0OV
nexn hers. Tue reporter asked Wells how this
revival started, and be replied that about
tve weeks ago 1t begsn by sixteen persons
coming I'D In hls church Tor prayer without
invitation. Fridsv night hfty-one came up
the next night l6l; Tuesday night 90.
AT the last meeting this week over 100 came
up for prayer.
THE LARGEST.
aThIs IA the largest revival have ever
tnovn. All the churches In the city are
now holding meetings every nixh' anu tue
-,.,,t.r of eoayarsiOns great
.What II the inclination OF the colored
peopleY IL the race impreying!"
"Oh. YES; the coiered people are I'M
nroy,ng wonderfully in every way-spir1t-
rsliy. financially, morally. Even those who
have been dereIiet in their duty are REFORM
ing. There is q great deal OF TAX IN the
country about the rsce problem, out De.
Heve the Lord will bring the people OUT a.!
right. thiak It would be better 10 leave IL
a the Almighty. Both races are here To-
sether. and the race problem can be best
settled II the races are kind 10 one another.
The colored people don't want any social
equality. All they want Is for me whlte
race TO be- friendly 10 them and pro,ect them
before the law"
WHAT THEY WANT.
allow do you mesn?"
uWe want 10 be treated In the same way
that white msu Is treated. Don't send me
40 the peuttentiAry for crime and let
white nan who commits the same crime 90
free.
oNoy. during the war-I say this to show
YOU that the colored people are friendly 10
Use white people-when you all were away
off Wonder frhtine. we STAYED " nome WIN
your wives aud children and protected them,
and to.dsy the cclored women take care OF
your children more than they do OF their
own. ANYTHING that the coiored people 90
for the white, they do It cbeerfully."
RELIGIOUS REQUIREMENTS.
"whst do YOU require OF those who wish
to join yepr church,"
..Weu we SIX them concerning their feel.
tngs and desires, and II they talk Ike they
are gong TO do better, II they believe and re-
ueut. we baptize ZEN and extend them the
hand offellowship."
M0pFRS AMUsEMsNTs.
Elbow do you stand on the questions OF
saucipx. card playing, DC ?"
"Ob, Tm an enemy OF all those things"
Tbestre-gctng, too!"
"Oh, yes"
"Dfuking, too?"
"Oh. Lord, yes; yes, sir believe that
n there were no bar-rooms In the city we
would get along without any trouble"
HOW THEY TURN THEM OUT.
"Do YOU ever turn any OF your meunpeIs
out when they don't do rightl"
"Yes, stree. When they do any OF the
things mentioned we turn them out-that
a.. we withdraw the hand OF fellowship.
Sometimes when young folks 20 to balls we
oply sdmouish them for the first offence"
"Haye YOU ever been married 7"
ayes, Pm married. My vile Is living
Row"
.sAny ehldreni"
ono; no children"
JACKSON WARD.
"where do the best class OF negroes
liver"
"Here in jackson Ward-and Jackson
Ward. Won know, extends sll the way across
The northern part OF the city-you people,
j reckon, get very wrong ldea OF Tue
coiored race by the police reports published
fu the papers. There are some loose people
on Seventeenth street and in some other
nar,s OF the city, who fight steal, and do all
sorts OF things thst bring our people into
discredit, but 4 large majority are peaceable
and orderly"
WHAT BECAME OP THE CHILDREN.
"Yes.v ne said. as the reporter started to
20, "this revival is bigger than any have
ever seen. About elayen years ago we had
one out IL didn't last ~ long as this.
reckon one Of the leading causes OF this
changed feeling s a sermon preached
short time ago. i took this text: III the
righteous scarcely be saved. where shall The
ungodly appear!'"
81 stated TO the congregation In my talk
that the Uuited states Government is about
hundred years old and about 40. 100000 people
live here, and comparing this with the ante
deluyisu account OF the Old World, when
children were born rs fast as they are now,
we me forced to come 10 the conclusion that
millions OF children were destroyed by the
flood. The Bible tells us that only Noah's
family was saved, and so all the children who
lived then must have been drowned. This
kermon was received with silence, and i
think 1t bad a sautarv effect"
GREAT EXCITEMENT.
Parson Wells Is rather an intelligent
negro. and is seli-educated. The police say
thst the greatest excitement they ever saw
sta revival prevailed at Ebenezer church
FRIDAY night. The people who could not gel
into the building were blocked along tue
sidewalks for several squares. and one ex'
borted smother until mourners bowed 10
The street. and some protested to be cons
verted.
JOHN JASPER.
John Jasper, the author OF the noted
"sun-do-mOye" sermon, was next seen.
TIE old man talked with quite seif-eon'
peious air and as II the visitor bad disturbed
h,s labors or weditatioos. All questions
asked bin were answered, but briefly. III
didn't know. hs said, the extent oil the re-
yiyal. lie old not go out "nights, cause az
was Citing DID," sDd be wanted TO allow tn'
youne meu ITO exercise their spiritua
rins.n jasper thought the revival clever
years AGO wss much larger than the presen
one. ON that occasion be said be baptized
Sol people without comiog out the pool.
THE RACE PRoB'gN.
Parsou Jasper thought the race problen
would sdtuss ssself.
al allow the providence OF God win worl
IA eat In His own way. IL things are wronl
He'll FIX them, aud II they are disposed e
resist Him Hen show them His strength II
His own time"
The parsou SAID be believed The eolorel
race is improving, but there IS so muol
dsne1pg and card playing and mirths, &c.