Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-15
A SIN-SLAYER.
A Typical Negro Campmeeting
Visited and Described.
It Is Now Being Conducted in Fort
Worth by the Renowned Sin
Killer, Rev. j. L. Griffin.
Half O Dozen wenches in Fi;-Aesmerlsm
and Hypuotism-"Is You GwIne Meet
Ne There7"-A Dusky Exhorter'

sin-Knler Griffin is laboriug in Fort
Worth these days and nights.
To those who have witnessed the
operations OF this swarthy evangelist,
the simple announcement that be lS
laborlng in Fort Worth is sufficient.
For the benefit of those who have so
far failed 10 see him, GAZETTE re-
porter was detailed to 'take in the
gospel tent and describe what transpired
there. The reporter visited the tent,
but he fears his pencil is too cheap to DO
justice to what he saw.
He was little doubtful about how TO
find the tabernacle, so he ventured 10
INQUIRE the way of a colOred man OF MS
acquaintance. He said:
I'Do Won know q colored preacher in
town named Grifin?''
s'You bet you | does, boss
''Where does he hold forth?'
lover beyond the Fort Worth and
Denver shops in teut.
''In q tent? Why does he not use
regular church buiiding!'
"Dev won't low him. -
"won't allow him? Who won I? -
ode other preachers.
"'Why not?''
'tOh, kase he too much fer 'em, 1
'specks He takes in too much money
fer the rest of 'em.
'ttireat hund 10 rake in the collection,
eh?''
.'You bet you he is They don't any
money get into Sin killer Griffin e tent
what he doan scoop in.
With the indefinite pointer that the
tabernacle was cover beyond the Denver
shops the reporter started TO look il up.
II was at that time when the shades OF
night are closing in with ever increreas-
ing rapiGity, and by the time the Denver
shops were passed it had become
quite dark. Still the scribe
trudged on-ou through quite
large settlement of thrifty colored
people who through industry have built
themselves homes more or less comfort
able, but where smell prevails that re-
sembles nothing so much as busted
sewer. On through this community he
passed till gradually the cabins become
more scattered; and the wanderer at last
found himself on the edge of high bluff
where stood the gospel tent, open to the
breezes from the south, and hence free
from the suggestion OF busted sewers.
The tent Is quite large, ana 10 filled
with benches made of unplGned boards
CAPABLE of seating about 500 people IL
well crowded and supposing tho people
not TO be too fleshy. At one end of the
auditorium stands table covered WITH
towel on which are laid q hymn book,
volume of the Texas law reports bound in
calf. and Bible as big as the Spring
Palace register Behind the table and
on the ground rests q plank which
serves as a rostrum 70: the preacher.
When THE GAZETTE man reached this
spot 1t was quite dark, vet none OF the
congregation had arrived on the scene.
The only animate object visible was the
sin-killer himself He was engaged III
lighting up the gasoline torch which be-
ing attached 10 the center pole of the
tent serves as the only ilIuminator OF the
entire auditorium.
The u-KiIler, whose proper appella-
ton is Rev. J l.. Griffin, is an appar-
emily we'll fed and sleek specimen of his
race. lie has commanding stature,
having some six foot and more of per-
psndicular measurement with circumfeT-
euce i'll good proportion. His complex
ion is of the darkest hue. He is quite
Young yet, apparently, and sports
n moustache and Napoleon calculated to
capture the heart of the TOckiest
sister in the congregation. Dressed in
faultless ministerial garb is he. A silk
tile decorates his Uranium, and long
black coaG falls TO his knees over pair
of black pantaloons. A Kohinoor of
purest ray serene Elistens from gold
watch chain of formidable proportions,
aud n pair of No. IL cowhide shoes
adorns his pedal eXtremities.
Such man is Sin Killer Griffin; and
rs ne emerged from the tent the re-
porter accosted. Stating his mission on
the premises, the scribe inquired If he
10 Griffin
Eyes, sab; that Hm my name.
Sometimes called the Sin Killer E,
eh?''
eyes, sab, - and the slaughterer of
iniquity smiled family and glanced sus-
piciouslv at his quesuoner.
''How did you come by that name ,
Sin-Killer?'' was asked.
''Well, sab, it was down in LweeZY-
ana [ was down at Shreveport, where
was born. OATS where my father
live. ole man Jenkins live few miles
down the river, an he ask me TO "a
down an preach some for him. 1t was
on an Sislaud about seven miles from
Shreveport. l went down, an we had a
mighty revival an outpouring of the
sperrit. Jes' hundreds of niggers came
there aud was baptised In de river. A
man there he call me the "sin slaugh-
onto 1t. After that I came back &c
Shreveport an held a revival there, an
the Shreveport payers taken to call me
de sin-killer. Use abeen called dat
ever sense.
''You have preached in q good many
different places, haven't you?H asked
the reporter.
Eyes, sab; Ise preached putty well al
over this kentry.
"What church do you belong to?''
Else Independent Baptist"
The reporter was not familiar witt
that denomination and expressed him.
self so to the Sim Killer.
"De Independent Baptist is church
made myself he explained.
"How is it that you left the regular
church,"
"well i was up al benson de pastor o
q regular congregashum. Part of de PEG.
pie taken prejudice agin me and nailed
up de door oh de church. Then l qui
'em. But am still pastor OBJ de con-
gregashum.
at seems to me, - said the reporter
al have heard it said that there was {
woman mixed I'D in your trouble q