Richmond planet., 1901-05-04
RRV. DR.. a---1--'i.:;s:s.sss; ;:sss;
STANFORD'S ST.. -.
EULOGT.
GLOWING TRIBUTE TO
THE GREAT DIVINE.
A TRUE MAN OF GOD
He Tells of the Many Good
Qualities of the Rev. John
Jasper.
A TRUE MAN OF GOD
XVIII NO 10

The following il the eulogy deliver
ed by Rev.. r. thomas sIanfoyd, ID. ID.
LII. ~, at Boston, recently in honor Oh
the late Kew. John Jasper of Slxsn
Mt. Zion Baptist Church:
Fellow Citizens OF Boston and viein.
ity, Officers anu Members Of she Nero
bA ptisL IonIere ncs:
it In WIN . SAD heart hat greet YOU
on this occasion, W o meet su pay our
trlpute oI respect to Ghs honorea nem-
ory OF our mucn lAmenLeo and never
1o-be-fog gotten, father III the gospel,
lhe Rev. Sonn Jasper, VINO fsI asleep
in Jesus IN kIenmoLo, Va, March 30,
1901,
sHoRr HISTORY OF REV JASPER,
Rev. Jasper was born in Fluyanns
County, Va. on the Fourth Of July,
1912. his IstheT Was nAmed Phil Jss-
per ana great preacher IN HE time :,
MS mothers name was Tina Jasper and
he was she youngest OF "a cniiaren.
He early showed sigRs or ieadership
ovsn among she little slAve compan-
IONS on sne tErm. his father predict
ed thAs he would be q minister. Mr..
Jasper was hired 81 an early age 10
WOr In tnc lucoOfg III 1hicuhOuQ hBu
willis here he tell into ali kinds of bad
com pany, and secorain TO his own tes
timohy grew TO be = very wicked man.
He haa many startling Visions warn
ino him of ms conoiEon bat he paid
NO ntts ption Co them. hS Was con-
verted in 1889 ara in February, lS40
he was bapuZed. From the time OF
his conversion he Was impressed with
his call 20 preach ana she members of
the ehurcn were SO impre ssed with
hin, that his first sermon was preached
on the day of his baptism.
Rev. Jasper never had the advantage
of sehooline but was taught from an
old New York Spelling book the Rrst
rudiments, He applied himself to she
study of the Bible and In time could
mot only read any part of it but Knew
more than half OF it by heart. He
could repeat almost any chapter in
the Bible without opening the book.
Rev. Jasper posss ssed one off the
most remarkable memories Of which
history gives any account Matters OF
seeming small import could De review
ed after fifty years with the same ease
ss though they happened yesterday.
Rev. J.sper preached ia all parts OF
the state OF Virginia and in the days of
slavery was allowed to 60 and come at
will.
He ministered Co the spiritual wants
of the Confederate soldiers in the hos
pitals at Richmond during the civil
war and as their deaths preached
mccy funerals
He founded the Sixth Mt. Zion Bsp.
tist Church on Browns Island in
stable; from there he renewed TO
a cooper shop and fioally removed TO
the building now used as q green groe-
ery at the corner Of Fourth and Gary
streets. The present location was
found to be for sale and it was bought
from the white congregation who then
owned IL.
He became o national character
through his famous sermon on the In
and he preached that sermon before
some OF the greatest scientists OF the
age and forced them to recognise his
ability.
Rev. jasper was ma, ried Hour times
and is survived by his last wife and
three children OF former marriage.
In the British museum there is .
large diamond Of rare quality and OF
great value ia . essket and open TO
the view of all visitors, but is careful
ly guarded by an attendant.
Al first by way Of an explanation Of
.ts history you are asked 20 view Sne
material of oEe and stone out OF which
it was taken and next you are allow sd
to look at the stone itself. While you
stand admiring its beauty, the guard
gently draws o cover over the casket
leaving Just space enough for you to
see the tire asure - it appears when in
the hhade. "This" says he, "is the
way to test the quality OF the stone
and to see its beauty in all It's fulness.'
The world has long since agreed thht
Rev. John Jasper was true and tried
stone OF rare value.
Many persons Of note from all parts
of the world visited his church in
Richmond and when leaving felt that
they had seen the stone which the
builders had reflected and will not be
surprised when they learn that that
Jasper stone has become the chief cor
ner stone in the temple Of Negro pro.
gress and elevation.
Bot not one had seen that strong
man Of God in the enulgenee Of his
beauty until they beheld him In his
casket.
Looking away from the ore Of his
N gro parensage and the stone OF out
ward bondage into bis cssket, We be-