The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-31
REV John JASPER.

i. is a sad coincidence that the de-
struction of The Jefferson Hotel and
the death of the Rev. John Jasper
should have fallen upon the same day
John Jasper was a Richmond lnsutu-
ton. as surely SO as was Major GIN
ter's fine hotel. He was a natlonal
character and he and his philosophy
We're known from one end Of the land
TO the other Some people have the
impression that John Jasper was IA
nous simply because he flew into the
face of The scientists and declared
that the sun moved. In one sense
that is true, but it is also true that his
fame WAS due in L great measure to 4
strong personality, to I deep earnest
conviction. 10 Il devout Christian
character Some preachers might have
made this assertion about the sun 5
motion without having attracted any
special attention. The people would
have laughed over it and the incident
would have passed by as Il summer
breeze. But John Jasper made an i'm
preston upon his generation because
he was sincere and deeply in earnest
in all that he said. No man could talk
with him III private or listen to him
from the pulpit without being thor
oughly convinced of that fact. His
implicit trust in the Bible and every
thing i'll it was beautiful and impress
siye. He had no other lamp by which
his feet We're guided. He had no other
science. no other philosophy. He took
the Bible in lis literal significance; lie
accepted it as the inspired word of
God; he believed it with all his heart
and soul and mind: he believed nothing
that was in conflict with the teachings
Of the Bible scientists and philosophers
and theologians to the contrary not
wilhstandin-.
They tried TO make it appear said
he IN the last talk we had with him on
The subject that John Jasper was I
fool and :, liar when he said that the
sun moved. l paid no attention TO it
at first because l did not believe that
The So-calIeu scientists We're il earnest.
| did not think that there was any man
in the world fool enough TO believe
body had seen him move. But when
l found that these so-called scientists
We're III earnest l took down my old
Bible and proved that they, and not
joan Jasper. were the fools and the
liars" And there WIS no more doubt
Ii;
was of his existence.
John Jasper had the faith that rc-
moved mountains. lie knew the literal
Bible rs well, perhaps. as any man in
This country. He did not understand
il as we'll as Bible scholars did. He
did not understand it from the scicn-
.1iiic point Of view, but he knew its
teachings and understood its spirit and
he believed in ii. He accepted it as the
true Word OF God, and he preached it
with JUNCTION and with power.
John Jasper became famous nv acct
dent, but he WAS 4 most interesting
man apart from his solar theory. He
was 4 man of deep convictions. y man
With Il purpose in life. a man who ear
nes1ly desired TO save souls in Heaven
lie followed his divine calling with
| 1althfulness, with a determination as
| far as he could to make the WAYS of
| ms God known unto God, his say
ing health among all nations. And the
Lord poured upon his servant, Jasper.
1.-The continual dew Of his blessing,
a ------=----------
THE LONELINESS OF THE PASSION.
Selected for The Times,