Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-01
AN INFANT AS PREACHER
Little Tot of Five Years Exhibits Marvel
Gus Knowledge
Familiar With Every Chapter of the
Bible-Says He Is Agent of
Divine Power.

A boy thoroughly inlbued with the teach
| ings of the Bible, just brmful of the Cos
| pei is little Lonnie Lawrence Dennis the
| five-y ear-old preacher. VINO has come to
! Washington. as he says ito speak to the
| people with the Holy Ghost" God is lead
| ing him, he declares. and he will preach His
word during the remainder of his life. which
| has but scarcely begun. The child Is won
| derfully well posted Scriptural subjects
ard is prompt in answering the most diff
| cult of biblical questions propounded.
Without being able to read write a
| word, he is acquainted with every chapter
Of the Bible. and especially with matters
dealing with the life of Christ.
Lonnie Lawrence is in his sixth year hav-
ing been born Christmas day. 1879. His
skin is olive in color. his hair black and
curly. He is a tot in size and dress, but
has the brains of a grown person. His
mother and father are well-known coored
people at Atlanta. Ga, and they are also in
the city. The boy has been before the pub
lie ever since he was three years and eleven
months old. since November - 1897.
Even at that age he answered in his ba hy
dialect all questions asked. Il is not sup
posed 50 much religious knowledge could
be taught the child and retained in his un-
trained mind. Therefore, his ability 10
preach and to explain certain portions of
the Bible is declared to be nothing short of
marvellous.
His Views of New York
The Boy Preacher" as he loves TO be
called, will be in Washington for two or
three weeks, and during his stay viii en-
deavor to save the souls of those who come
within range of his voce-a voice which is
quite powerful If not sonorous at times.
He has just returned from New York
What do you think of that city," he
vas asked by reporter for The Star to-
day.
1T is the wickedest place in the whole
world Lonnie replied without hesitation.
And what of the people,
They are just as wicked as the city,
rs Washington a wicked Place."
washington is not as wicked as New
York 1t is the prettiest city ever saw
preacher of the Gospel
God called me and 1 felt that | must
CO.
Have you ever been to SCHOOL,"
No, sir, and I'm not going God has
taught me all | want to know
50 1t was God who made you preach?'
Course 1t was. Who else could make
me preach anything unless badness, and
that's what the devils people do"
DO you think your being born on Christ's
birthday has anything TO do with your
preachng?"
1T had everything to do with it,
have you ever seen God?"
Yes, with the eyes of faith"
heaven?"
He must be a good. faithful. true and
honest Christian. People what belong TO
the church are not always Christians"
The boy speaks with a slight dialect
HOW about the story of Jonah and the
whale; do you believe that?"
of course | do. If didn't believe that
dead ~
Who was Christ's greatest disciple?"
st. Peter"
But didn't S.. Peter do something
wrong?'
didn't know it,
Who was converted at midday"
Paul He was converted by a flash
which blinded him..
DO you intend preaching always?'
m going to build me a church and
tabernacle when L get grown up"
DO you think you will go to heaven
when you dep
Yes, sir
Belongs to Gods Race
Lonnie Lawrence objects to being called
a negro. Asked to what race he belonged
he replied:
TO Gods race. God said that man should
be called man and woman should be called
woman All are his people"
rs Christ coming on earth again"
Certainly He is"
How and when will He Gomez"
He will come in a spiritual way and no
man knows when his judgment will come
HE VIII bring with him millions of angels
to help Him. And Gabriel will blow his
trumpet twice. The first time it will be low
and the good people will hear and come into
Gods house. The second time he blows il
lie Will be as loud seven claps of thunder
and the bad people will go into the 5evirs
house"
viii the wicked people ever get out of
hell?"
They will burn there @a.il long after
eternity-for millions and millions of years
and the good people can't help them"
ITO what church do ycr belong?'
ITO Gods church
The boy will preach tonight at Israel
Church. LIST and B streets southwest He
answers all questions asked by persons
In the congregation and explains them
Once. while preaching in New York, he vas
asked why Christ was crucifed. He quick
ly replied: ITO save you helians''
Whether inspired or not. the child is a
wonder.