New-York tribune., 1901-08-27
BOY EVANGELIST SPEAKS
FIFTEEN THOUSAND PERSONS GATHER
AT OCEAN GROVE TO HEAR
JACK" COOKE

Ocean Grove Aug. rs (SpeciaD.-"Jack'' Cooke.
the hfteen-year-old evangelist from England.
preached again tonight to audience which
hlled the auditorium. He will preach every even
ing this week The hundreds of Methodist minis
ters who attending the camp meeting are
divided in their opinion The advisabity of al
lowing the lad to speak every night but as Jack
and his brother, ]. Hayden Cooke. came here on
the invitation of Bishop James n. FizGerald. presi
dent of the Camp Meeting Association. those who
crtticise the management do so quietly. for they
realize that the bishop would not have brought the
young Englishmen to Ocean Grove unless he be-
Heved they sincere agents for good.
Bishop FitzGerald discovered the talented boy
in st. Louis last winter He had been preaching in
this country for about years, principally in the
West. and through his efforts hundreds have pro-
fessed conversion and Joined the church.
Jack Cooke, whose full name is Claude Hay
bury Cooke, born in Manchester. England.
fifteen years ago His father. dead, was for
years local preacher of the Methodist Church
and hymn writer of note. Jack Joined the
church when very young. and at once developed
a fondness for the Scriptures. At the age of
eleven. accompanied by his brother. ]. Hayden
Cooke. who is three years his senior, he preached
to the workngmen of Manchester and was sue
cessful in his mission. He continued to preacn
in England for two years. when he came 10 Amer
lea with his brother and they have conducted
successful revival meetings in st. Louis. Kansas
City. Chicago and other Western cities In St
Louis Jack preached for sixty consecutive nights
last winter. II was here that Bishop FftzGerald
heard him and invited him to come to Ocean Grove
On Sunday evening Jack preached to hfteen
thousand people. His brother had charge OF the
service. Before the sermon he asked If there was
any IN the congregation who desired to nave
the boy preacher interpret verses of Scripture Sew
eraI ministers handed up Biblical passages. and
Jack explained the meaning OF the Bible verses
submitted. Then came the sermon. jack clad
in knickerbockers and a black roundabout. over
which he wore a Lord Byron collar, stepped TO the
front of the platform. His curly head was trine
higher than the pulpit. but he manifested no ner-
vousness he looked into the sea of faces before
him. On the platform more than one hundred
ministers. The elder of the boy evangelists an
nounced that Jack would preach from a text
submitted by the audience. Two ministers handed
up two different passages OF Scripture and two
more came from laymen. The choice OF the texts
left to vote Of the audience. What Must
l Do 10 Be Saved?' received the most votes.
The little evangelist at once began his DISCOURSE
and for more than half an hour held the close at
tenton of the multitude with his eloqUence and the
knowledge of the Bible he manifested He spoke
rapidly. with Lancanshre dialect. and quoted apt
passages from the Bible TO illustrate the text.
After the service Bishop FitzGerald said to a
Tribune correspondent: II don't remember TO have
heard with much Scripture in it." An
altar meeting followed the sermon. which was an
appeal to the unconverted and when Hayden Cooke
and Ather svangelists invited penitents TO come
forward to the altar a number responded.
To-day Jack was the absorbing topic OF con-
versation. and even those who look with disfavor
upon the innovation introduced by Bishop Fitz-
Gerald free 10 admit that the little English
man is wonder in expounding the Scriptures.
There who say that Jack is inspired,
but his brother says Jacks power comes solely
in answer to prayer. and. incidentally. 10 the fact
that the boy spends hours daily studying the
Bible and theological works.
Unusual interest was manifested to-day in the
camp meeting. The early morning means OF grace
meetings were well ATTENDED as We're the young
the later service Mrs j. A. Fitch the Philadelphia
singer caused many people TO shout and weep as
she sang. Il Trust in My Heart You'll BE There. y"
The Rev. DR. Thomas OHanlon, president Of
Pennington Seminary, and a member Of the Camp
Meeting Association, preached the sermon this
morning from the text. Let him know that he
which converteth the sinner from the error OF his
way shall a soul from death and hide null
titude OF sins" Dr. O'Hanlon has preached the
morning sermon following Camp Meeting Sunday
for the last thirty years. This afternoon the Rev.
Dr Joseph II. Smith. of Redlands. Cal. preached a
dcctrinal sermon in the Auditorium. and the usual
side meetings were held. The camp meeting will
continue daily until next Tuesday.