The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1899-02-25

inspired prophet or mental prodigy Is dis
puted question. But be this decided as 1t
may, the colored boy Of years has created
considerable interest in New York theolog-
ical circles. He is the boy evangelist who
has gone to New York to save what he calls
the new sodom." The boy is anxious to
interest John D. Rockefeller and hopes to
pursuade the multimillionaire to provide the
money to send him to Africa. He wants to
spend the rest of his life. after he has con-
verted New York, to saving the heather Of
his ancestral continent.
The child is preaching every other day at
African churches in New York and vicinity.
He has a keen, eager face, lit with large,
black eyes. He has the attitudes, the ser1-
BUSINESS and the sonorous voice. of man,
and his face has the gravity of a mans too.
His parents say he Is inspired. Preachers,
negro and white, agree with them. Physi-
clans say he has an abnormally developed
brain, with a bias for religion. Ministers
say he is taught of God, and that he Is
divinely appointed as a leader Of his people.
They predict long life Of usefulness for
him. Physicians say he is likely to die of
brain fever at an early age.
The throngs who, prompted by curiosity
or religious feryor, visit Lonnie Lawrence
Dennis at his poor lodgings, 1884 West Thir-
ty-seventh street, cannot solve the mystery.
r.G The Parents' History.
:: His father, Green Dennis, is an octoroon
q quiet man Of feeble frame and about so:
years of age. His mother is stout vigor-
Gus negress, talkative, self-assertive and
much younger than her husband They.
lived in Atlanta, Ca, until year ago, when
they set out with the baby evangelist on
his oul-stirring tour. - j. s.,eps Il -
The mother has Indian blood in her veins.
Her mother was half-breed. The father
3,oc of thn ok,o hi
than Of his black ancestors. Three races
white, negro and Indian-make up the origin
OF the child .SaVants assert that the product
of two or more races Is of q much higher
grade Of intelligence than the child who is
either all white, all negro or all Indian. Some
accept this theory as the solution Of the
mystery Of Lonnie Lawrence Dennis the
child preacher.
Mr.. Hepburn's Opinion.
Rev. George G. Hepburn, the venerable
clergyman, who is the guide, counselor and
friend of most Of the Episcopal clergy Of the
city, visited the boy preacher and interviewed
him. He asked him such questions as are
put to 14-year-old candidates for confrma-
ton. His decision is that the child's theology
is sound, and that he has been taught Of
Cod
THE child appears to be in an entirely
normal state as far as intelligence and the
physical being Is concerned" says Mr. Hep
burn. "Sptritually considered he is a phe-
nomenon. I am impressed particularly by
the unwaverlng firmness Of his religious
convictions. His theology is sound. 1t is so
phenomenal that child of his tender years
should have such knowledge that I cannot
but believe he is inspired, and that he Is
taught Of God. It struck me as I listened
to the child that his replies were like those
Of Joan Of Arc, and that he like her, was an
agent of a higher power. The child may be
d1vinely appointed for some special mission
probably as a spiritual leader of his race
A stenographic report Of the interview be-
tween the aged clergyman and the child
demonstrates at least that the latter has ar
abnormally active mind Here are some OF
the questions and answers: -, -.. x g.,
l. .t PrecociOus Answers. -.
What do you know about God?"
II know what he wants me to do ,,1./s
"What is that?" .4&#T -. p, ~
Preach the gospel" .'...' -
what Is the gospel?'
Goods message Of salvation to man from
SIM, - ! X =
What is sin p -. - H. 4 .s-.. ~
Stealing and drinking and gambling and
prize fighting and bearing false witness and
adultery and not going to church-they are
all the works Of the devil and sin. This
sodom and Gomorrah of New York is full Of
these SINS" -. .-s - -
Farther along the answers show something
OF childish mind, yet are far beyond what
could be expected in one so young For in.
stance in reply to the question whether he
played with little children, he says:
Il do not like to play with little children
They are wicked and spiteful and mischiev.
ous." ~ 49,. -
Then these follow: ~ t'..E=~>:
But didn't Christ say, Suffer little chill.
dren to come unto me?' - -. 49,
He never played with EN- = -: :.
~aow do you know that?",
8eoauss. there Is only one record oil