The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-23
CAMP MEETING OPENS
COLoRED PEOPLE PRAY AND SING
AT RAYMOND AND UNI
VERSITY AVENUES
MRS. LENA MASON breaches

Says 1t Is Not Stylish to Go to
Meeting Saturday Nights, but
Thought She Would See If the
People Would Turn Out-sports a
Brilliant Diamond and Talks
With Fund of Natural EIoauence.
Dress de Lawd, Use gwine straight to
glory" shouted a young colored woman
last evening as she rose from her seat
In the tent at University and Raymond
avenue, where the colored peoples first
annual camp meeting is being held. Ap-
parently in a frenzy of religious enthu-
siasm she kept repeating the words, rails
ing her voice almost to a Shrek There
was responsive chorus of Dress de
Lawds," and deed you is, sistah," and
the women sitting near the "shouter''
pulled her back to a sitting position. 1t
was only an incident of the service.
The meeting, which is being conducted
under the auspices of the A M. p
church of Minneapolis, is held under a
canvas large enough for a two-ringed cir
Gus, and still last evening the seating
capacity was taxed to the utmost. About
zoo white persons, attracted by motives
of curiosity, helped to make up the con-
gregat1on, and sang and shouted with a
fervor that almost equaled the enthusi-
asm of the colored portion.
WHATS. THE NEWS?"
Upon the platform were seated Rev.
Mrs Lena Mason, the colored evangelist
from Hannibal, Mo-, and Rev. J. VIII
King, pastor Of the A M. E. church he
sides several members of his choir Rev
King opened the meeting by reading the
hymn, Palms of Victory" out of q. tat
tered hymn book, by the pickering light
OF the gasoline lamps that hung sus-
pended from the tent poles. Then he
sang What Is the News?'' with the con-
gregat1on joining in the refrain.
.'Ah hab got good things toh tell
Jesus doeth all things well
ne Irlumphs over death and hell
What's the news?"
when all sings it sound better" said
the pastor. There shall be showers of
blessings bye and bye Among wicked
men and tempting devils we are on our
way to a better world"
"
Mason as she stepped from the rear of the
platform and assumed charge of the serv-
ice. Mrs. Mason is little dusky woman
with short hair and dressed in a broad
cloth suit of clerical cut with expansive
shlrtfront in the center of which sparkled
a large diamond. She read the nineteenth
pslam and called for someone to lead in
prayer. A cOlored brother sitting near
the front responded with a long and fer
chorus of 'amens' from the congrega-
ton.
Its not stylish to go to church on Sat
urday night" said Mrs Mason by way of
introduction. Il just thought I'd have
meeting to see if you 'uns would turn out
A man has as much right to serve God
Saturday as we'll as Monday, bless the
Lawd.
PREACH THE WHOLE THING.
I'm going to preach tonight from the
thirty-seventh chapter of Ezekiel because
a man asked me and 1 see him down
there. He did not say what verse he
wanted, but I'm going to preach the
whole thing and then he is sure to get
the verse he wants My text though will
be the third verse And he said unto
me. "son of man can these bones live"
and 1 answered, "oh son of God, thou
knoWeSt' "
1T was God that asked that question.
We ali know what bones are. Other peo-
pie once lived in Minneapolis and St.
Paul. Other people have lived right here
before you and me and have gone to that
place from where no man returns; that
is to stay. Some of you can't make me
out nohow. Lots of you are skeered of
me, but l won hurt you. Spirits can
come back SIS sure as you are setting I'M
der this canvas. Some have the gift of
healing. some have the spirit of prophecy
and some people can see spirits. Some
people are born to see spirits and l might
have been one of that kind. l don't say
1 am, but L might have been.
Il can tell if you say anything about
me. I know you. read you, and when
you come to me 1 see that little devil
sticking out. I'm a very peculiar old
woman. Been married seventeen years,
long enough to have been married twice,
and my husband says he don't know me
yet. The other day l was sitting talking
to Brother King here and it struck me ali
Of a sudden that George was doing some
thing. just sat down and wrote him
letter, and today l got an answer saying
he wouldn't do it any more When L
get home he'll go on tiptoes. 1 can keep
up with him all right.
God gave some people one talent, some
two talents and some five talents, that
they used and increased. The lord may
have given me several talents. Ezekiel
was a man that seen many things. He
had many visions. Once the Lord said to
Ezekiel: I am going to use you as a sign
for the people. There's going to be a big
war after little and 1 want you to take
yc ar mantle (the mantle was something
like long waterproof cape and make
q hole in the wall of your house. Then