Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-18
FROM A Gypsy CAMP
To the PositioniOf a Preacher Of the
Gaspel
PEN Sketch OF Reviva1ist Smith, Who
IL COnductinr Services at the
Metropolitan NJ. e. Church.

1t may be curiosity that draws the first
crowds to hear Rev Rodney Smith, better
known as "Gipsy"rSmith, the English evan
gelist who Is now: conducting fortnights
series OF meetings. at the Metropolitan
NJ E. Church: but once there, his auditors
are held by stronger motive, for he is
one OF the most attractive rsvivalists who
ever visited Washington. He is Of medium
height and stoutly built. There is little
about his general appearance to suggest
his early life, spent among the Romany
camps OF England. His face, however,
tells another story. 1t is strong and i'm
pressive. His dark complexion bespeaks a
suggestion of the gypsy blood. His hair is
black as night, and his mustache and small
imperial are Of the same hue. There is de-
termination written in every line, and yet
his eyes are wonderfully kind and persuad-
ing.
This is Gypsy Smith, as he loves to be
called. Last night he revealed his power
as an eXhorter before about five hundred
people, who filled the Sunday school room
of the church
When he sings the full power and sweet
ness Of his voice is made manifest. He
possesses one of the clearest and most mu-
steal of baritones.
He was born a gypsy, ard until he was
parents, about England, camping here and
there, following the quaint, almost mystic
rious life of the Romantics, a creature of
passionate moods and uncertain ways of
life. One day he CHANGED to step inside of
church, and his intelligence was arrested.
He realized that there was something else
IN life than the mere freedom from re-
straint that marks the career Of the gip-
sizes, and his nature became awakened. So
interested was he that he procured Bible,
and then, with slow and painful steps, he
learned to read.
eat seventeen years of age" he said last
night, with every evidence Of pride in his
voice, Il stepped from gypsy tent into a
pulpit. Some night before 1 leave here 1
will tell you how it all came about
There is a total lack of evidence of the
uncouth training of this man In his early
years. Occasionally there is broad vowel
sound that marks him plainly for an Eng
lishman. He possesses in a rare degree
the power of oratory.
Last night his text was taken from the
gospel Of ST. Mark, and the phrase he
chose was Repent, and then believe" Re-
pentaEce, he asserted must precede be-
lief. Repentance was most sadly misun-
derstood. 1t was seldom genuine. 1t must
be accompanied by acts, the remuneration
of the evils of life, however dear they may
be. He scored the lip-serving Christians
who repent by asserting mere conviction
OF SIN and who then go back into the old
ways of .wrong-doing. They are call back
siiders. but that is unjust to them, for
they never were "front-sliders." They had
never truly repented.
:, You may say that you cannot quite I'M
ieEe," he said. you are afraid that you
have doubts. Tear up those doubts by the
roots and you will find evil habit at
every root
He spoke pityingly of the men around
CHRIST, who. when He was asSailed for His
doctrines, apologized for their leader by
saying He is beside Himself" In other
words. they indicted His intellect. They
wanted folks to understand that, in the
modern phrase, He had wheels in His
head" That was good form of mental
aoefratlon. That was a most wholesome
1crm OF insanity. Would that there was
more religious insanity Of that kind in the
world toGayr'
Excusing himself for speaking critically
CT the An erican church, he declared that
from his point of view as an Englshman,
the great danger on this side of the wa
Ter was that there was too much religion
OF the head. The church, he said was get
ting to be too we'll versed 1t was getting
TOO easy to get into the churches. Every
one might join, and there was not enough
sincere deep-seated repentance
AT the conclusion of his discourse he per-
suadcd a score or more of people to go
forward for prayer, and when the services
were over number had protested con-
version.