West Virginia daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1894-1902, 1902-05-21
PREACaEs IN HIS SLEEP.
Remarkable statements About a south
Carolina Negro.

OSEOhAm0
A somewhat remarkable story
came from Saluda county short
time ago about negro who
preached In his sleep. The mans
name was Major Perry. The story
was brought out of Saluda by an
evangelical preacher, who was then
on his way out OF the State. An
effort was made to get confirmation
of this unusual case, and finally 1t
was ascertained that DR.. D. M.
Crosson, of Leesville, knew Major
Perry. DR.. Crcsson was written
to for information. He was In at
tendance upon the sessions of the
South Carolina medical convention,
but as soon as he returned sent the
following reply to the State. 1t is
a very interesting story of a re-
markable case.
Dear Sir: Reply to your request
that I write what I know about
Major Perry, the sleeping negro
preacher" will say that I have
known the Rev. Major Perry for a
long time and have been his family
physician for eight years. He Is
really scientific wonder. He has
been preaching every night. except
occasionally on Friday nights for
about IS years. When he retires
at night and soes to sleep he will
read out his text-tell exactly
where 1t can be found, verse and.
chapter, gives 1t verbatim-and will
then begin bis sermon. He con-
fines himself closely to his text and
always breaches good sermon.
This Is done while he Is In this
trance, and he can't be walked up
until he has finished his sermon.
Nearly every time he breaches he
has CONFUSION and his wife has to
rub him and work with him, as 1t
looks as If te would die.
He stops speaking while laboring
under this nervous writhing, bat
will begin his discourse just where
he left IF when the attack wears off
and will 60 on and finish his SER
mon. He seems to be somewhat
excited when he finishes his ser
mon and wakes up and Is uucon-
scious of anything that has trans
pired. The strange part of 1t Is
that he can neither read nor write,
so you see he could not prepare his
discusses beforehand.
This Is no fake, as he has been
watched often when alone and he
always breaches. I have together
with number of other physicians,
tried to wake him up when In one
of his trahces and while preaching,
and 1t can't be done.
A man can easily expend some of
his knowledge of mental philoso
ply In the study of this case. This
IS not hypnotism, but 1t savors of
Davine Inspiration. While In this
trance or deep sleep he Is uncon-
scious of anything else transporting
around him and his active mind Is
totally unconscious as to what has
transpired. but 1t Is active and he
does his pre- aching while In this un-
cious state, bat why his subcon-
scious mind, active upon sermon.
izing" alone Is q deep mystery.
Rev. Major Perry" as he Is
called, Is q mulatto Of medium size
and about so years old, and has a
wife and Is the father of about IS
children. His children are all In
dustrious and he Is about the aver
age of his race for industry. He Is
quiet and has the respect of the
whole community for integrity and
hon T.
He says he don't know anything
about his preaching and can't ex,
plain anything about II when
awake. He says: II felt called to
preach when young, but I resisted
the inclination or call. If what
people tell me Is true about my
preaching, 1t must be of Divine
power that preach, because I re.
sisted the cali to the Masters
works. columbia State.
No Loss OF fine,