Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-17
LIBRARY IN HIS HEAD
aAspeR TAKES HIS sTossHousE OF
kNoWlEp WITH HIM FISHING.
a. extensive sremory--p hiicsnphcrs Con-
tradicsed by the isibse--fiow lie Was
Edncated--ilas Macy Boots.

han doctor. but al tho same sime Tho views
that are entertained by him ana the pms
losophers certainly come in conflict with
the Bible
These words were addressed by Rev
John Jasper TO DssPArcu reporter who
called al his "stady" yesterday morning
10 hear what the colored celebrity bad to
sav N reply 20 card published in Sum-
dsvss iespe OF ,his paper. in which II was
CHARGED that he makes a budoon OF HIM.
self Ia the delivery Of his famous sermon
ON the rotation az the sun.
The reporter read the communication 10
Brother Jaspor aud emphasized particu-
iarly those poTtions which were the most
severe upon him. but the old man SGT I'M
moved and did not open his lips until the
reading was finished.
COP ouonr TO Know.
He then uttered tho words quoted. and
added. "If God Himself says thst the san
moves then no one else should contraoict
n. He certainly ought to know more
about II than tho philosophers; for lie
f. the proprietor OF this world, whlic thelr
ideas are based on reasoning. and when
Won refer TO the Bible they have not one
shadow Of proof 20 bold no their theories.
The philosophers insg talk as much rs
they want, but they never caTrieI ihe
away with their erroneous ideas. 1hey
must convince me that Cfod's IN error. anu
of course, if that IS so His Word - IN CT
ror What spoak IN public Is ~ eccoru5i
ance with the teachings Of the Bloie. ana
/ have no notions Of my own 70 present
Nv teachings are Gods words; re gre,
ferring 10 the writer Of the article referred
tor is not only jealous OF my NAME ou'
Gods name. ..
"H he proclaims that make fool OF
myself 20 lecture publicly ana instruct
people that way he shows himself not IN
feIligent and clear headed by not agreeing
with the teachings OF the bloie'
PHILOSOPHERS DOM AGREE.
"They all profess TO be philosophers"
continued Brother Jasper, ana yet none
of them agree" The sable phl,osopneI
then rented the theories Of several famous
scientists TO his own satisfaction ana
showed the newspaper man the following
notes which he had written with blue INK
upon scrap OF paper: ooo - oo
IN. B.-Mr. Copernicus @)0 wears ago
frst set the thing on foot and give us
primary fact-the distance OF the sun nom
the Earth is 1891 200 miles.
Mr.. Kepler fought another tact: tne
distance of the sun from the earth Is r.
876, 400 miles.
"Mr. Riccola fought another fact: the
distance of the sun from the earth IS 81
$50. 600 miles,
distance of the Sun from the earth IS IS
600 600 of miles But he fought another fact
the distance of the sun from the earth Is
81 OOO. 900 of miles He said 1t did not mat
Ter which was it
THEIR FIGURES VARY.
"Mr. BENJAMIN Martin in i7@ fought
another of these fac,s--the distance OF the
sun from the earth is between 81 or S2.OOO.-
900 Of miles from the earth.
Thirty wears later the children was
tonight another of the distance OF the sun
was o. 726, 900 miles. and 80 years ago we
was all well floged IL. We did not remem-
Der the distance of tho sun from tho earth
5000 600 of miles, and the distance Kept
on growing until IL is said the distance OF
tha sun from the earth IS lW.OJO.OOO OF
miles. ! don't know how these gentlemen
will reconcile their estimates on the suns
rotation. BY Rev. JoHN JASPER of
Richmond, Va"
GOOD JUDGES SATISFIED.
While the reporter was reading his notes,
which at times were almost declpherable,
the eminent theolOgian continued to discuss
his theories and the manner m winch the
world moved on its "axeis," as he ex-
pressed it.
Continuing he added The best north
ern, southern, and foreign judges that
have heard my views are satisfied with
the teachings give and say they are IN &C
cordance with the authorities"
WILL PROBABLY DELIVER HIS SERMON AGAIN.
When asked IL he would ever deliver
"The Sun DO Move sermon again, be said
that he did not know, but that he had
recently been approached by committee
OF white gentlemen who wanted him 70
lecture at the Mozart Hall. This he would
probably do, rs he knew many who were
ANXIOUS 10 hear him.
The Reverend Jasper went on a lee
turing tour several years ago, but his ex-
periences on this occasion have made HIM
somewhat chary, for when he returned TO
this city he expected TO have realized q
good deal of money from his discusses /
Such was not the case, however, and those
who travelled with him did not give hlm
cent. He Is disposed 10 look very kindly
on humanity, however, and had nothing to
say against any one.
1.-THE 18th OF this month it will be thir-
teen years since / became known 10
the public by my discussions on tins sub
iect,n continued tho Philosopher, land !
have been preaching fifty-two years. 1
commenced in 1870 or the second sabbath
dn February. ] was born IN 1872 and lived
the first years of my life in Fluvanna and
afterwards moved 10 Williamsburg. Later
j came 10 Richmond"
PLAYED CARDS WHEN YOUTH
Jasper admitted that when boy he bad
been rite wild. runnin' around enloyln'
hIsself aud playin' cards But IN 1889 no
commenced PRAYING and in 1910 Joined the
Church. aud few months afterwards COM
meneed preaching. His description Of
Richmond in by-gone days were certainly
realistic. ii not strictly accurate, and with
broad wave of bis lengthy hand be would
describe different regions which were
then utterly devoid of houses.
"PBosEoUTED THE STUDY OF sPELLISG.
When asked how he got his education he
paid be prosecuted the study OF the New
York spelling-book" with another colored /
man at night, and thus obtained basis !
for the profound theories which he has |
since promulgated. After becoming. con- !
yerted he commenced 10 learn to read, but /
never had the advantages of an instructor, /
and acquired all the education he has by 1
his own energies :" II is the GIFT OF IN /
spiratlon.n said he, land is no more /
trouble for me 20 teach doctrines than for 4
you to talk. As for preaching from manu- !
script, never preached from one IN my /
life would forget my discourse was on /
the bible. was endowed with q miracu- |
1ous power like Saul of Tarsus. ! asked I
God FOR the qualifications 10 glonfy Him, !
for. like Solomon, didn't feel competent. |
but He have given it TO me-"
In the time OF slavery and since slavery /
has passed away have preached with as
good white preachers as have ever heard, I
and If they thought my views were very
Improper they have never said II.
LIBRARY IN ius KEAD.
"These philosophers sit down and do all 4
the writing and studying all the week, 4
while am of fishing, but stand up and 4
preach more. have library with me In
nv head and my mind is laid of in sections. 4
Ny memory Is very extensive though | 4
can't remember as good now as / used 10. 4
II is altogether different with q man who is
divinely inspired and one who throws
himself upon his manuscript ideas"
The venerable philosopher concluded by
saying that some people might get away
with him by manuscript and howery Ian
guage, but he could beat them preaching
and had the Scriptures TO substantiate his
theory.
THE DIyEE's PRIVATE LrYR.
While DIR. Jasper is so well known to the
public few have had the pleasure OF seeing
him at his best-that is 10 say. In private
life.
The reporter who visited him yesterday
ct his doEsicile. No. 1ii2 ST. james street,
L. I'LL a Il g.. Il