The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-11
JOHN JASPER'S SERMON.
HIS FAMOUS DISCO URSE DELIVERED
AGAIN SUNDAY.
The Church Packed TO Its Utmost With
Those who Had Conc 10 Hear HIS
"Sun do Move" Discourse.

Rev. John Jssyer. the Moses of 42D
colored people comprising the 'con-
gregation Of the Sixth Mount Zion
Baptist church. Sunday preached
| his famous discourse, known as
| The Sun do Move" sermon. 70 an audi
ence only limited by the packing space OF
! the building.
| Since the first time Rev. John Jasper
| preached this sermon, which was then at
| tackled by Rev. Richard Wells. pastor OF
another influential colored church, Tor
preaching a false doctrine. he has never
| failed to secure large congregation,
| whenever il was announced that he would
repeat it.
|. A simple notice in Saturdays paper
was SUFFICIENT 20 attract an overwhelming
| crowd to the Sixth Mount Zion Sunday
morning.
BY 1890 o'clock the steps, the sidewalk,
| and even the streets around the church
were crowded with a throng OF white
| people OF every class and large numbers
Of Rev John Jaspers own congregation,
| anxious to hear this sermon, which has
| given it's author almost worldwide rep
utation. At that hour the church was
| opened and there was wild rush Tor
| seats, the white visitors and the colored
members getting pretty well mixed
] through the church.
BY If o'clock the building was packed
! almost TO a dangerous condition. The
people poured into the front and rear
] doors until the galleries were densely
| hacked. the aisles solidly filled TO the
| doors, the vestibule crowded, and the pull
| pit platform so Oyerrun that II became
! necessary to clear a space for elbow room
| for the long-arm gestures OF the famous
colored divine.
THE CoURTEs1Es.
An attempt was made by the officers OF
| the church to do the courteses OF the
occasion, and Colonel Cutshaw ana lew
| other Or minent citizens, were given
! prominent seats, but the on-rush soon
| nreciuded any opportunity to make dis
! tinction OF persons and 1T became
| general scramble to get into the build
| ing on any terms.
| When one of the officers was asked Why
the lower floor was not reserved Tor the
whites he politely. but philosophlcally'
! replied: "Of course our home people cap
| tured de situashun and filed de seats
! before de nd lers come
The crowd was made up principally Oh
white people attracted By CURIOSITY aIohe'
! and while there was no cal disorder the
! lack Of reverence was very apparent ana
the disapproval Of the behavior was depict
| ed In the faces Of the deacohs' VINO
| hclplessly viewed the scene.
|
serious stuff who could resist the ludicrous
! drsft Of the occasion and utterly mask the
smile. II not the laugh, that was time
and again provoked
| The simple dignity. the unmlstakaOie
! earnestness and supreme faith OF the GA
| colored preacher In his remarkable ser
| mon Is OF such genuine character that
| through all us laugh-inspirng tendency
! il almost reaches a height OF subllmlty'
| and the honesty Of the speaker IN ms
| faith in God and the truth of his WoTd
| commands degree Of respect from even
] he most unsympathetic hearer.
Calico never had more earnest or
! ardent opponent Of his theory IN the
| sixteenth century than IS the Rev. Jonn
! Jasper to-day.
| He cannot be shaken from his position,
and his congregation believe in his WIS
| dom and his faith, and they stand by
| him in his doctrines as one man. one
does not wonder that his congregation.
untutored in the laws Of science, accept
| his theory as undeniable when they nave
| heard this sermon.
As LITERALLY True.
! Rev. John Jasper takes the Bible as
| the literal truth, and draws logical con-
! illusions therefrOm that are unansWerable
| to an ignorant mind.
| II his argument has any effect on the
| educated mind at all, 1t is rather 10 shake
IFS faith in the Bible as the inspired
word OF God rather than 10 upset the
| laws Of philosophy and astronomy.
The preaching Of this remarkable ser
mon BY Rev. John Jasper Sunday was OF
uausual interest, because it had been
a long time since he had before repeated
it, He had always had a Discrimination
to preach just to satisfy the curiosity or
the uTeveTent crowds who assemble TO
hear him, and he was prevailed on to
oh
officers Of his church. with a view Of
securing aid to lift debt on he church
The old preacher has time and again
had offers to 80 on the platform. and had
he been mercenaTy, could no doubt have
made much money as a lecturer Only
orce was he induced to lecture for money,
and that was a short tour when he went
out 10 raise the means TO build the pres
ent church.
This attitude. when he might easily turn
to rich account his accidental notoriety,
gave him a position Of dignity that has
won him a considerable degree Of respect
from the intelligent public.
Even were his opportunities turned 10
account locally, his church need not want
TO- means, as there are thousands IN
Richmond who would pay to hear him in
this famous discourse. The entire want
Of intelligent management was shown
Sunday, when, instead Of making an APP
al to tle congregation 10y SUBSTITUTED
aid. an officer Of the church modestly
expressed the hope that each one present
would give five cents, and consequently
few donations exceeded that sum.
THE AUDIENCE.
Among the audience were a number OF
prominent people, including several
preachers. and large number of ladies.
a large number Of strangers were also
present, and all listened attentively to
the discourse. Even when the preacher
solemnly announced that there was much
of his sermon that did not refer to the
sun. and that il would take an hour and
a half to deliver II. they laughed heartily,
but not one budged from his hard-earned
position.
When Rev. John Jasper-or as his mem
bers reverentially call him-"De Doctor"
arrived. ne entered from the rear door.
and was CARRIED in a long overcOat with
cape. and carried a shiny silk tile on his
arm The title OF u. u. was doubtless
conferred on him by his congregation,
and, perhaps, is a good subject of inquiry
for the Religious Herald. under It's head
Of where did you get it?''
Or" Jasper is eighty-two years old,
and accord ng TO his own testimony, has
been preaching for fifty-Gve years. He
las an almost typical negro face but his
countenance is benign in EXPRESSION, and
he exhibits an air OF native dgity that is
neither ofiicious nor Ostentatous.