The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-14
Mr.. JONES'S JEREMIAH
VIRGINIA NEGRO WHO CLAIMS THE
GIFT OF PROPHECY.
Preached to the COrinthian COngrega-
ton Yesterday, and Predicted
Dire 4hings.

Indianapolis, and during tins time he mas
been cause of much worriment and I'M
easiness among the superstitious OF his
race He is a dark colored man, about tf-
ty years old. He wears Il mustache and
a beard, neatly trimmed, connecting the
mustaehe with the hair Of his head over
the ears Ke claims that he is not an ed
ucated man, and is rather proud of the
fact. either of which is easily discerned
by coming in contact with him. He is also
superstitous but, of course, he does not
know it, and his sincerity seems to be one
of his chief virtues He is an intolerant
doctrinist, and is ready TO swear than all
who do not believe as he believes are al
ready condemned. There is no compromise
with him, and the very idea of such a
thing is abhorrent.
Last Sunday Elder Jones preached at the
Tabernacle Baptist Church, and some
among his auditors interpreted his remarks
as meaning that the world was coming to
an end yesterday. However, the elder
made arrangements to hold services yester-
day and last night usual, and also pro-
vided for a collection to be taken to raise
funds for his support and to pay his rail-
road fare to Columbus, O., next Thursday.
He says he was misunderstood last Sun
derstood when he predicted the Johnstown
flood, the st. Louis tornado and the South
Carolina earthquake. He declares he did
predict these catastrophes, and produces
newspaper clippings to prove his state
meht
DIRE EVENTS PREDICTED.
He predicted other such things yesterday,
ana if there should be any great disaster
brought about by this working of nature
anywhere in the United States in the next
few years he can safely swear that he pre-
dlcted 1T as truly as he prophesied the
coming of the st. Louis tornado.
Elder Jones preached yesterday morning
at the Corinthiaa Baptist Church, at the
corner of East North and Fulton streets.
The church Is a prosperous little one, pre-
sided over by the Rev j. j. Blackshear,
an educated and refined negro, resembling
Booker T. Washington in appearance. The
congregation was somewhat larger than
usual yesterday morning on account of the
presence of the prophet" A delightful
song service was held while the congrega-
tion was gathering, and it was noticeable
mat those already seated did not turn
about In their seats and interrupt the serv-
ice whenever a newcomer arrived. "A guard
was placed at the front entrance while
prayer was being offered to prevent
thoughtless persons entering the audi
A4iNSl, JULIUS WdS introduced Dy the pas
tor, who said he was from Cumberland
county, Virginia. Mr.. Jones soon showed
that he had neglected his education in the
folk lore and superstitions of his native
State. He declared that he was there to
Drlng a message from God. He then
quoted from the Scriptures: THAT your
men 5nf m tho not shine IN the
tnat this explained the difference between
hlmselt and other men. He spoke with the
wisdom WIS M OF OF God he said, and yet he was
That's what's the matter with the
c Ilua,e.i today, he said, and there were
sympatnetlc groans from the "amen cor
a9r. Nine out of every ten pulpits are
nlied with mans wisdom. l walked 142
miles once TO hear what was proclaimed
would be a great sermon by college pro-
lessor But 1t was a man sermon He was
phnd, and how could he read others? He
SAID; l am a Baptist, but 1 do not believe
Wds Dllnd. am Baptist. ! say when
you leaXe of baptism you leave off some
tnlng; It takes water to wash away sins,
ana I TINS is not essential some will get
INTO heaven with their sins with them
h hey: Then you would have criminals in
I tell YOU we are going to have trouble
III N TINS country. We are going to have
trouble ot Of | say. We haye got to come to it.
ave ministers; and all the rest were
drowned. Only five came forth to grasu
TINS hand We've got to bring the people
together on one God and one baptism. f5lIt
the people won't have the gospel preached
70 them, and when a preacher does preach
~ ~ the ReoRte 20 about scheming to put him
OUT. HOW Will you vote, and how will YOU
vote they say to each. other, and finally
they get preacher who fills the pulpit
with man wisdom, and they are satisfied
would like to see a people that could nut
me out for preaching the gospel. / would
pray 10 God to kill you all and put good
people IN your place, (Groans and many
ferVent 'amens.O If there was stumbling
block In the way of doing Gods work /
would say move the stumbling block out
OF GODS way" Expressions of approval
tlon from all parts of the house
Elder Jones then went into a dissertation
upon baptism. He declared that the Bap-
fist, church was the only real church of
other than a Baptist Church. He said that
Baptist would not drink a drop of liquor
nor dance, nor play cards or dominoes OF
CHECKERS. nor go to an opera house. Con-
tinuing, he said:
WHO BAPTIZED JOHN?
"a question which bothers some of you
is, Who baptized John the Baptist?' That's
none of your business. The question with
you is, Who baptized Jesus Christ Hey?
He that believes and is baptized shall be
saved Amt that enough? Hey?" Again
Elder Jones said II told you in 1892 when
you was campaigning for Cleveland and
Harrison that neither Cleveland nor Har-
rison could do no good; and now you have
another change, Mckinley is in; but the
money is still locked in the vaults. What
we want is old-time religion and if you
don't stand up and defend for your rights
you will never get it. Twenty years ago
they. said: Get the old fogies out of the
pulpit and put in educated men and all
Will be right Well, you did it, You got
the educated men. You got EN-; but where
is your religion? They are not educated in
the wisdom OF the Lord. | warned the
learned men of St. Louis. of Johnstown, OF
Charleston; but they did not believe me
They did not know as l knew, because their
faith stood upon the wisdom of man."
Elder Jones then went on to prove the
existence of God from the Bible, and de-
clared that the man who did not believe
the Bible was fool in his heart" He also
entered into an argument with Ingersoll
and swept all the great agnostic's theories
the Bible that the rich men Of to-day be-
came rich by robbing the poor
Elder Jones then came to the climax OF
his address. He said: And God said there
shall be one prophet, and / am that
prophet. He told me things and l believe
believe Him when He told you your SOU
was at peace that your sins were washed
away. Course you believed Him. So did
when He told me about the st. Louis storm
the awfulest hail and the awfulest light
ming will sweep over this enlightened Ma
ton. He will destroy the churches too
the churches where the whole Bible is not
taken for the foundation"
Elder Jones concluded by inviting every
body to hear him Tuesday night, when he
promised TO tell how he does his prophecy
ing-to make ii so plain that any man can
do it.
The sermon was followed by a collection
for the benefit of Elder Jones and another
beautiful service of song.
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