Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-04-09
! cano PREACHER



h~,. c..k. Is Ye.n oad. PrsssAS -
.. Atlanta CeasresstieA.
A child preacher, IS years old and two
wears in the pulpit. Bsrean church. ous
near the Elsas & May factory. wascrowd-
ed to hear the child preacher, Jimmie
Cook, q little fellow whose home IS AZ
Glenn, Carroll county. II was not known
until late in the afternoon that the little
fellow would preach, but the word sUfead
quickly in the peight,orhood, and before
ne opened his rervice every seat In be
rean church was filed. Jimmie Cook 10
4 sure enough boy preacher in stature as
veil as in years. He weighs but little
more than half hundred pounds. and 10
% small that his head and shoulders
were barely visible when standing De-
hind the pulpit. He has a bright, intelii-
gent face, is quiet and self possessed, and
IN speaking uses very good language and
gestures. His words flow freely, and
.iuriny the whole of his sermon, hich
lasted about thirty minutes, until he was
exhausted and out Of breath, he never
hesitated for language to express his
thoughts
In the pulpit he appeared TO be a.
much at ease and as thoroughly at home
as a man who had spent the better por-
ton Of his life preaching. His style OF
speaking is natural. and his voice, though
childish, h.. q fullness which makes his
words effective and interesting. He wore
q flannel shirt, short jeans jacket, and
a pair OF jeans trousers, reaching half
way down the tops of pair OF rough,
muddy boots. His round little face was
bright and clean, and his light, sandy
hair neatly combed, giving him the ap
pearance of typical country lad, fresh
from the hands of kind and careful
mother.
The child preacher announced his text
in a clear voice, the second chapter CT
Hebrews and third verse: "How shall
we escape if we neglect SO great saliva
ton, which at first began to be spoken
bv the Lord, and was confirmed unto US
by them that heard him." His sermon
was a remarkable effort for boy Of the
sneakers age. He stuck to his text ali
the way through, quoting Scripture flu
emily. and evincing wonderful degree
Of evolutionary power. AT times he
walked from side to side of the platform,
Us his words were spoken, gesticulatinS
with one hand and with the other toy
| ing with a long watch chain which hung
from his vest perfectly at ease, as il
conscious Of power over his hearers.
| The little fellows countenance fairly
| glowed Us he became warmed up to his
subject, appealing TO sinners to turn
from their evil ways and accept the sal
walton of the Gospel. He, in simple
yet really beautiful and touching man
ner, admonished parents to train their
children according to the teaching of
sequences of disobeying the commands
| of the Lord.
| At the conclusion Of his sermon the
| child preacher pronounced the orthodox
| benediction and dismissed the conSreGa
| ton. A small collection had been taken
up, and while this was being turned ovel
to the little fellow the crowd gathered
about him. shaking his hand and thank
ing him for his wonderful talk. He gave
them all his little hand, and answered
pleasantly and rapidly all the questions
asked by the admirins crowd. Durin4
his talk he never once alluded to himself
but Mr.. ]. l.. Nelson, at whose house il
Edgewood he stopped, said that he wa
the sole support of an invalid father ant
sister.
Jimmie was asked how he came TO be
gin preaching. Il was in the cottontielc
one day he said, and all at once wa
impressed with the feeling that ough
to 20 out and tell the people about God
l put down my basket and went hom'
and began preaching. God called me, ="
He said he didn't know exactly how liz
happened to come to Atlanta. He ha
been preaching around in the countr!
for two years.-Atlanta Constitution.