The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-09
INFANT GOSPELLER DRAWS.
JAM or THE CURIOUS AND THE
FEARFUL AT M. OLITET CHURCH.

W.
Hymns, Answering Questions or Praying.
Lawrence Dennis. the precocious Georgia
negro child. who is being exhibited through
the North by his black mother and white father,
was at the Mount Olivet Baptist Church yes
terday afternoon. The church was full OF all
sorts OF people-neRroes and whites. nervous
young girls and old women OF the Tenderloin.
Outside the church in West Fifty-third street
was a crowd who could not even reach tho
doors OF the church. They all wanted to see the
child who talked religion" For nearly two
hours tho child answered questions about the
Scriptures from any one who would ask them.
occasionally ~interrupting the catechlsm by call
ing for a hymn or "~prayin' for do mourners."
Lorna. ms his Rray-haired father calls him,
was D years old on Christmas Day. He is q
round sed child, nearly as fair as his father.
with fine. blacl; wavy hair and dark eyes. Tho
child looks. acts and talks like q bright girl OF
Ave years. and II Is difficult to believe that It is
a boy who Is talking. He wore a girls white
frock. and his curlS were tied with pink bow
knots.
Standing upon the platform the child looked
like n little Sunday school girl speaking her
Christmas piece" His voice was naturally
sweet and plaintive, but when he was "talkin'
religion " he strutted back and forward across
the platform, waving his chubby hands. his
eyes afre with enthusiasm. and drawled in n
loud, boyish voice. He often became enthu-
siastic and G~leefully romped about the plat
form, crying out about " salvation" the blood
Of the Lamb" and he'll and the devil. occa-
%s!onally. when thinking up an answer TO a
question, he would lean over a chair and rest
his chin on his hands with childish grace.
"Lorna's" mother. a typical Southern me-
gress. is his business manager. She makes
the engagements for his appearances. takes all
the money that comes in. and sells the boys
photographs at 25 cents each. She calls him
Baby"
This child. befo' he were quite . yea old.
told us about Jesus" she said. introducing
him. We didn't tell him. He said he had to go
ovah de void calm TO- sinnahs. Ask him
questions bout religion and he'll ansah dem"
What's salvation2" an old man cried from
back in tho gallery.
"Eh?" asked the child. not catching the ques-
ton;
Lorna" knitted his brow. waved his hands |
and strutted across the stage like a child In
Salvation Salvation! salvationw he
The crowd broke, out laughing. The child
stopped short IN his walk and looked at the
House be still" he commanded in a nervous
How can we be saved ?" shouted the man in
Through Christ crucined." answered the
Why was Christ cruciAed?" asked a negro
on the stage.
Because God wanted him to be-"
Again the crowd laughed. The child few
$, r ,Thj; y, Th Ssii house, he cried. lis going
he sW Sbrasr will Mhtys you ,S &c 2 ~ somebody shouted in
up the child. and then he laughed and ran
across the stage into his mothers arms; He
Sling Nearer. Ny God. to TFI6ee.'",
q campmeeting. the child leading. After
he a III singing the guesttio99ing went on;
, red frock, who was standing near the plat
Through the eye of faith. cried the child
Amen! p spoke up an old colored man.
." Wonderful!' exclaimed a kind-faced. gray
SsIes. "a child OF Ged IF tears from her spec
There was a Young man who wanted to know
he crowd and the back wall. but by standing
m tiptoe and shouting, he made himself heard: ,
lis voice. and the women Of the street. who
we're sitting in the front pews, some OF them .
'!"'Tf s sSsdd s ssihir"7s Saclsims s%' tsa child, STAMPING I
lis foot. is In hell 80 N' 'phk :
Was he ever in heaven ?" shouted the young t
H e was in heaven. but it was too good for t
i'm, They threw him out. They threw him 8
9g: They threw him out BY his taIi"th brew c
i'm into the third armament" ~ :
he ehild's mother and the colored preachers !
nd Gfsssd ,o on ne ne d plattSSrn m waved their arms 1
nnfm "siiSnu some ,9r one one f nesr the 70 be auiet: IN the Y
hrlst was crucitied. y
Christ had to be crucihed to save you hell Il
This made tho crowd laugh more. and the t
1iild $ mother stepped forward angrily;. g
Ply know his 1tettahs yet. Ply II we'd 9 fn eSs'R n9 9
l see a thousand dollahs in dis yeah
2 TSs crN we want anis RayidH oS c50 "wNdas - L
" What are you doing ~ was one OF the ques-
ea %ssi snd save t" SesE 1i 9oTh! Of God le'mo to 4
:. Who told you to 7" +
=" God told me-" 10
" How does God speak to you % NJ
thought for a moment and then, &c
owiv stretching out his hands in an indefinite OF
= He Just comes" Iii
How can we be converted % asked a colored ~
: We must pray to Christ crucihed." the child ce
swered. hnd then; stamping back and forth W
outing He oyercame death, hell. and the 1t
ave: On the third day.,.God and all the DIR
Eeis are happy-the worlds too wicked for ne
Baby, y" called his mother. &c
!" Ohiu 1toDlcu anu ran 10 his mOTneT, She lie
ID something to him and then he ran back co
the front Of the platform. an
are tnoro any Slnners in the house p" hA Ia
ed out. cit
10 one said q word.
all the sinners" ~
! lumber OF men and women stood up. .
lnded. nm
They can't do that. Baby. interrupted tho IN
,ther. INC church was so crowded no one .h 40
iia move from his place. IN
Yes they can" cried the child. knitting his Tea
Nv. Come right up through. up throuob Br
enough Or,
! GU people in de front row come forward II
Ike up one Of the deacons. Tn
wo women, one colored. and q girl came for \
rd. Jr.
kneel dow and pray" commanded lorna Pla
hey kneit down, One OF them did not bow rise
head. The child scratched the woman's tea
nervously, and showed her head down. Us ~;
etched out his finger at one person after an 10
sr near him and asked:
You a sinner"
hey all said they were saved" W
Now pray" he commanded to the thres ing
.plInD UnnnAn ''''' I.