Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-06-05
A CHILD PREACHER.
Jimmie Coax. 10 Years Old. breaches 70
an AtlantA Congregation.

an Atlantis Congregation.
A child preacher, 10 years old and two
years IN the pulpit. Berean church. out
near the Elsas & May factory, ascrowd-
ed to hear the child preacher, Jimmie
Cook, little fellow whose home is at
Cicm, Carroll county. 1t was not known
until late in the afternoon that the little
fellow would preach, but the word spread
quickly in the neighborhood. and before
i.c opened his service every seat in Be
rcan church was filled. Jimmie Cook is
sure enough boy preacher i'll stature as
wei as in years. He weighs but little
more than half hundred pounds. and is
50 small that his head and shoulders
were barely visible when standing be-
hiad the pulpit. He has bright, intelli-
gent face. is quiet and self possessed, and
il speaking uses very good language and
Z, stures. His words fow freely, and
,lrring the whole Of his sermon, which
Ia ted about thirty minutes, until he was
r.:lausted and out Of breath, he never
haitated for language to express his
thoughts.
IN the puh pit he appeared to be as
mach at ease and as thoroughly ut home
- man who had speut the better por-
;.,h of his life preaching. Ills style Of
spnaking is natural, and his voice, though
c. Ilish, has fullness which makes his
,rds effective and interesting. lie wore
Il flannel shirt, q short jeans jacket, and
IL air of jeans trousers, reaching half
v, Y down the tops of pair of rough,
idly boots. His round little face was
bright and clean, and his light, sandy
k..;r neatly combed, giving him the ap-
.lrance of typical country lad, fresh
i,,m the hands of kind and careful
Il, ,tiler.
The, child preacher announced his text
i, clear voice, the second chapter OF
..brews and third verse: "How shall
", escape if we neglect SO great saliva.
i:.n, which at first began to be spoken
rs the Lord, and was confirmed unto us
them that heard him." His sermon
WIS q remarkable effort for a boy Of the
.caker's age. He stuck to his text al
/. way through, quoting Scripture flu
sly, and evincing wonderful degree
Of elocutionary power At times ht
talked from side to sf.e Of the platform
II; his words were spoken, gesticulatins
" th one hand and with the other toy
ir; with long watch chain which huns
from his vest, perfectly at ease, as i
conscious of power over his hearers
Tie little fellows countenance fairly
;;;owed as lie became warmed up to hi
subject, appealing to sinners to turn
from their evil ways and accept the sal
vation Of the Gospel. He, in simpl'
yet really beautiful and touching man
ner, admonished parents to train thei
| children according to the teaching O
the Bible, and warned them of the con
sequences of disobeying the command
of the Lord.
At the conclusion of his sermon tn
child preacher pronounced the orthodo,
| benediction and dismissed the congrega
ton. A small collection had been take1
up, and while this was being turned owe
to the little fellow the crowd gathers
about him, shaking his hand and thank
ing him for his wonderful talk. He CAV
them all his little hand, and answere
pleasantly and rapidly all the question
asked by the admiring crowd. Durin
his talk he never once alluded to himself
but Mr.. j. L. Nelson, at whose house i
Edgewood he stopped, said that he wa
the sole support of an invalid father an
sister.
Jimmie was asked how he came to be
gin preaching. II was in the cottonfel
one day." he said, land all at once ] wa
impressed with the feeling that l ough
to go out and tell the people about Goo
| put down my basket and went HON
and began preaching God called me. y
4 He said he didn't know exactly how h
! happened to come to Atlanta. He he
! been preaching around in the countr
for two years.-Atlanta Constitution.