The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1890-02-06

Jimmie Cook, Who IL but Thirteen and Has
Been I'm the Pulpit Two Years.

Jimmie Cook, Who IL but Thirteen and Has
Been I'm the Pulpit Two Years.
Atlanta Constitution.
A child-preacher, thirteen years old and
two years in the pulpit. Last night Berean
Church, ont near the Elsas d. May factory.
was CROWDED to hear the child preacher.
Jimmie Cook, a little fellow whose home Is
at Glenn, Carroll county. 1t was not known
until late yesterday afternoon that the
little fellow w0nld preach, but the word
before he opened his service every seat in
Berean Church was filled. Jimmie Cook is
a s-ure-enough boy-preacher In stature rs
we'll as In years. He weighs but little more
that his head and shoulders were barely
visible when standing behind the pulpit.
He has % bright, intelligent face. is quiet and
self-possessed, and in speaking uses very
good language and gestures. His words
flow freely, and during the whole of his
sermon last night. which lasted about
thirty minutes. until he was exhausted and
out OF breath. he never besitated for Ian
guage to ex press his thoughts.
In the pulpit last night he appeared to
be as much at ease and as thoroughly at
home as a man who had spent the better
portion of his life preaching. His style OF
speaking is natural. and his voice. though
childish. has a fullness which makes his
words effective and interesting. He wore
a flannel shirt. n short jeans jacket and q
pair Of jeans trousers, reaching half way
down the tops of a pair of rough. muddy
boots. His round little face was bright
and clean. and his light, sandy hair neatly
eombed. giving him the appearance of a
typical country lad. fresh from the hands
of q kind and careful mother.
The child preacher announced his text In
n clear voice. the second chapter of He
brews and third verse, How shall we
escape if We neglect so great salvation,
which at first began to be spoken by the
Lord. and was confirmed unto us by them
that heard him. His sermon was q re-
markable effort for q boy of the speakers
through. quoting Scripture fiuently, and
eyincing a wonderful degree of elecution-
airy power. AT times he walked from side
to side of the platform, as his words were
spoken. gesticulatiDg with one hand and
with the othsr toying with a long watch
chain which hung from his vest, perfectly
at ease. aslf conscious of n power over his
hearers. The little fellows countenance
up to his subject. appealing to
sinners to turn from their evil
ways, and accept the salvation of the Cos
pei: He. In a simple yet really beautltul
n touching manner. admOnished parents
to train their children according 10 the
teaching of the Bible. and warned them OF
the consequences of diSobeying the COM
mands of the Lord.
At the conclusion of his sermon the child
preacher pronounced the orthodox benedlc-
ton. and dismissed the congregation. A
small collection had been taken up, and
while this was being turned over to the
little fellow the crowd gathered about
HIM, shaking his hand and thank
ing linn for his wonderful talk.
He gave them all his little hand. and
answered pleasantly and readily all the
questions asked by the admiring crowd.
During bis talk he never once alluded to
himself, but Mr.. j. l.. Nelson, at whose
house, in Edgewood, he stopped last night.
said that he was the sole support OF an in
valid father and sister.
Jimmie was asked how he came to begin
preaching. Il was in the cotton-field one
day." he said, and all at once / was i'm
pressed with the feeling that / ought to go
out and tell the people about God. / put
down my basket and wenthome, and began
preaching. God called me-"
He said he didn't know exactly how he
happened TO come to Atlanta. He has been
preaching around in the country for two
years, and about a month ago preached at
the Fourth Presbyterian Church.