The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-10-13
THE BOY PREACHER.
John Wesley Shields, Formerly of Ander'
son, S. c., Aged 8 Years.
Atlanta Journal.

49,
eight year old pupil at Fair street
school, who has developed wonderful
oratorical powers.
They call him the young Sam
Jones" around St. Paul's Methodist
; Church, on Hunter street, where he
preached Saturday afternoon and yes
terday, TO large and attentive congre-
cations.
Johnnie is an intelligent looking
little black-eyed boy, and has all the
air and dignity Of bearing of grown
up man. He is still in the second
grade ut school, but is very fond OF
Bible study and has learned his favor
ite chapter, John .14th, almost by
heart
He has slight impediment in his
speech, natural in one SO young, but
when he gets under way his delivery
is splendid and he is a very interest
ing talker.
eff rhere ever was a born preacher
in the world he is one" said his
mother, who lives near the corner of
Moore street on Hunter, his father be-
ing "a barber in the Kimba|l house
block. "He has been preaching for a
year and half and anybody listening
at him might think that he had been
taught what he knows, but this is not
30.
sssHe says that whatever he utters
God tells him to say, and he never re-
peats the same sermon, but talks in a
different way every time and his de-
: livery is as free as that Of trained
minister.
ssWe came from Virginia about
year and half ago. Ny husband is
Rev. j. W. Shields, alocal preacher
{ connected with St. Paul's Church, and
eight months ago John Wesley be.
came a member Of the Church. This
summer we went up to Anderson, S
c., on a visit, and while there he
preached twice in the Wesleyan
Church.
Saturday afternoon he preached al
the children's meeting at st. Pauls
and again Sunday afternoon. He
preached in nearly every grade of the
school and seems to be born orator
and preacher.
Rev. Mr.. Diamond, pastor Of St
Pauls, has been conducting 2 chill
drenss meeting on Saturday and Sun
day afternoons, and on Saturday
afternoon he called on John Wesley
Shields, The little fellow responded
and preached very strong sermon Of
fifteen minutes length, from the text
'sBe Sure Your Sin Will Find Yor
Ont"
she told the children said Mr.
Dimond, in speaking of the sermon
ssthat they might SOW their wildoa
and do evil deeds while they were
young, but that they might rest assur
ed that their sins would frd then
y out.
He cited the cases Of Tom Delk
Arthur Haney and young Spinks
See, said he, what a.drink of free
whiskey cost stiArthur Raney. It cost
him his life. Be sure your sin will
find you out. It found those boys out
and they were made to suffer. It will
find you out likewise if you continue
in your sinful course
s'His sermon was surprise to al
who heard him. Sunday afternoon
called on him again, and at first he
told me that he had promised to preach
for the holiness people up town, but
he changed his mind, and atthe chill
dren's meeting he appeared with his
Bible in hand.
"I called him inside the chanceI
and he opened his Bible and read q
lesson, announcing his text, Behold
I stand at the door and knock. Il
any man will open unto me | will
enter in and sup with him and lie
shall sup with me-.
"The sermon that followed was q
mastery effort for one SO young, and
would have done credit to a grown-ur
preacher. He is wonderful little
sellow and is natural orator and as
ferssnt in his delivery as if he had
been treined for the ministry.
,'AbouN a year and a half ago he
was in our in&nt class, and he seemed
to develop the idea of preaching from
talks that he had with my wife. tie
first began preaching to the children
in his mothers yard, and from that
he began preaching atschoal, and now
he is developing into regula r Metho,
dist preacher."