The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-08-22

color and tan shoes and stockings. An
ordinary shirt with collar attached and
q bow tie completes his apparel.
The tent, or tabernacle as it is called,
was crowded last night with mixture
of curious people, devout Christians
idlers, toughs, and men, women and
children Of all description Imagine a
medium sized two-pole tent. with no
side walls and with seats to accommo-
date perhaps $50 personss these seats
filled with quiet and intent audience.
several pickering gasoline torches
throwing an uncertain light over all
fringe of faces just underneath the tent
roof, some cetreWOrn and drawn, and
Others expressing anxiety, breaking the
background of the darkness Of the
night and you have a. fairly good pic
fure of the novel scene. early in the
evening. Later the peS-e and quiet Of
the meeting is changed to tumult and
disorder The congregation instead Of
sitting IN attentive silence listening to
the words of the boy wonder, vie with
each other in singing and shaking
hands. The fervor is gradually worked
zip and kept al a fever heat by the Rev.
William NJ Morris, who, seated AT the
organ. sings song after song. in which
the congregation joins. Occasionally he
VIII stop singing long enough to shout
instructions and to calculate halle
lulahl In the meantime the boy
preacher does his best for the CONVEX
sion of souls. Ills efforts We're re
warded last night, for three women
went to the altar and expressed their
intention Of becoming followers of
Christ
The boy preacher is without doubt a
wonder He IS apparently a naturally
bright boy. but has not passed the
fourth grade in the public schools. He
talks with q remarkable facility He
succeeds in drawing a crowd. and what
Is more, keeps the audience interested.
He is not eloquent; stin he uses fair
language, speaks rapidly and earnest
IL and sincerely. and illustrates his
points with "Reminiscences and anect1ote
perhaps as well as many of his elders
.- In opening his meeting last night he
expressed his apologies for appearing
before the congregation. and said he
had never spoken in so large a tent
and intimated a fear that he would be
unable TO make all hear. But the fear
was groundless. He has a clear. strong
voice, and could be heard plainly for
half a block
The boy preacher Is a great friend OF
the negro. He said SO in his sermon
last night He shows he is a reader Of
the public prints and keeps up-to-date
ON current events. In speaking of the
occurrence at Pierce. No. recently
when all the colored population Of the
town were forced to leave, he said.
Those people who are responsible for
that had better look outi The niger Is
as good as you" and then he modified
his statement by adding. 'at least their
soul is.
Cod" ne continued recognizes no
color He shed his blood for the whole
world for all humanity, all races and
when you think you are better than the
Niger and refuse to help him to get on
the road to heaven. then you will lose
the way yourself.
You must not let your pride get in
the way would just as soon talk to
a. niger as to any Of you who are here
tonight You won't go to their church
es- 7 want to tell you that have at
tended their churches and that / have
had better blessings poured out on me
for doing so than for anything else /
ever did
You may think it is funny he adj
ded after awhile. that T. a small boy
talk as I DO. But. it is not me that
talks re tt were alone, ! couldn't