Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-03-30
REV. JOHN JASPER.
Interview with Him on the Report Of
IIis Dpnfh.

Interview with Him on the Report Of
His Death.
There was n rumOr ahoat yesterday that
Rev John Jasper was dead, and q Dispatch
reporter called ut his house. No. 11l2 st.
James street. TO inquire into the truth Of
il. Hefound no Grape upon the door, and
upon being ushered into the study or par
Tor found him surrounded by several 50
ble brethren who were committing with
the alleged corpse.
ALIVE AND HEAETY.
doctor. hear you are reported TO be
dead" said the reporter.
A. this Rev. John made an impatient
pes nre and sarcastlcally remarked: do
dead man has risen from his bed and been
VII n.y.
lie then said with Indignation that the
runor emanated from his enemies, who
SOUGHT this method Of revenge, as they
found themselves unable to shatter his
sclenths theories.
.... RECENT SERMONS.
az had little cold" said he, last week,
but il was nothing serious, and last sun
day I appeared in my pulpit and preached
two sermons.
"In the morning my text was from tho
second chapter and third verse of gere-
miah, and in the aiteTnOonI preached from
the thirty-seyenth verse Of the twenty
third chapter Of Matthew, commencing,
"Oh, Jerusalem Jerusalem, thou that
stonest the prophets" &c.
DO MOVE.
Speaking Of his famous Sun "
sermon, Brother Jasper said that Yesterday
was the twelfth anniversary Of lts orlglni
and that since that time he had preached
it at least two hundred and seyenty-hy,e9
times. but he added that hereafter he VIII
not deliver it so frequently. His eongre-
cation object 10 its constant repetitioh, as
they have to yield up their house OF w0r-
ship almost entirely 70 white visitors, VINO
always crowd the church when he de-
liYers this discourse.
MS OPINION.
He was asked BY the reporter If no ever
found himself lacking in words or at 9 loss
t. express himself in the pulpit. and re-
piled with great oiiciousuess that Ian
cuare was always at his command.
" None but he who Is anOinted can un-
derstaud." he said. MANY men read and
tall about what the Volume says but
that's q different thing from being anolnt-
ed Why, | could keep half dozen tongues
going at once if bad them"
There Wa no apparent doubt ABOUT his
ability to keep one going.
IHILosoPHIc.
Speaking Of his ability "a philosopher
and lecturer, he said that he was always IN
a position TO command an excellent salary
II he desired to accept any of the many Of
fers made him by parties who desire to
carry him abroad upon lecturing tours.
HIS SALARY.
At present he receives a salary of 1920
per month from his church, though re-
/ I .,rC no made IN have him
accept more. As he expresses 1t, he does
not want TO "gouge" mis- people wnlle
they are in such straitened circumstances,
and he invariably rejects these oilers.
Row IT CAME ABOUT.
Ha was asked how he came TO preach the
sermon on the sun for the first time. ana
SAID that he was asked oy several Leln PEE
OF is choir TO enllghten them upon thls
point. as it had long been disputed queS-
ton with them. 49,,
/ 4 the time OF its delivery several white
pecDle were present, and through them It's
fame is doubtless due, lie SAID but even
among the colored people it created SEN
sation and great objections were raised 10
it.
FAME.
. "Dr." Jasper gave many amusing anec-
dot OF tho attention he had attracted
when on his lecturcs. and seemed con-
WINGED that no had opened pathway, IN
the world of science which would bear MS
name to the stars.
Philosophers and scientists" he said.
shave come from great distances to near
me. One gentleman told me that he came
$4,000 miles TO listen u my sermon, anu as
scientists say the diameter OF the earth Is
25O00 miles | guess be must have come
pretty near round the earth-certainiy
further than the Queen of Sbeba came 70
listen TO the wisdom Of solomon. ~
On one occasion when occurring IN WASH
ington gentleman asked him how man
could stand on the ground and caIcaI,i.a.t,e
the height of tree or mountain. WIN
his ready speech and profundity OF WIS
dom he replied: Amt no man on 'rou
earth can DO it unless he climbs up tue
tree With two-foOt rule"
BOOKS on THE SUBJECT.
While in Philadelphia, he said the sound;
ne oiEnis doctrines deeply Impress.
itself upon a learned gentleman OF tIae
city, who afterwards wrote him stYeial let-
tiers and sent him books upon various
abstruse subjects.
In looking over these volumes he came
upon the statements OF various puiOso-
piers regarding the distance OF me sun
from the earth. Dwelling upon tne n nf
/ Consistency" IA favOrlte WOfu OF blel y; -;
these statements, he said: "CepPeI1ll.c.i
| (Corernicus), Mr.. Isaac Newton, hepierL,
and those philosophers say that the eaI.n
is 1881 200 miles, or about that distai ~ !.
Then L ind that another man sAys !. ~
O00O0,0 900. Now don't you soc they d9h
know what they are talking about! HOW
can they tell how far it ISL And each one
says it Is different distance"
THE cANNoN-pALL-
And they say that q cannon-ball when
moves one mile in four seconds wouiu $40 80
three hundred and fifty years TO reaca t W.
sun. Now. the only way can see for i ser :
TO tell how far the sun is would De lot ~
man to get on that cannon-ball. ana 70 ho
so he would first have to be sure ina. ny y
was gwen to live 702 years, for IL wVS az,
take HIM aal years to get there anu '''