The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-05-06
Chr Nerall and Mtwf
"SLBEPINt" PREACHER
OF SALUDA COUNTY.
EEMARKABLE SToRS OF MAJOR pEh.
RY, a COLORED MAN.
He Goes Into Trance Night:y-Gives Out
Text Verbatum, Although He Cannot
Read, and Preackes-Impossible to
Arouse Him.
THE State, 29th.

A somewhat remarkable story
came from Saluda county short
ago about a negro who preached in
his sleep. The mans name was
Major Perry. The story was brought
out of Ssluda by an evangelical
preacher who was then on his way
out of the State. An effort was
made to get confirmation of this un-
usual case and finally it was ascer-
tanned that DR.. D. M. Crosson of
Lees7ille knew Major Perry. DR..
Crosson was written to for informa-
tion. He was in attendance upon
the sessions of the South Carolina
medical convention, but as soon as
he returned, sent the following reply
to the news editor of The State. 1t
is very interesting story of re-
markable case:
Dear Sir: Replying to your re
quest that ] write what I know about
Major Perry, the sleeping negro
preacher will say that I have known
Rev. Major Perry for a long time
and have been his family physician
for eight years. He is really a scien-
ti6c wonder. He has been preach
ing every night, except occasionally
on Friday nights, for about 10 years.
When he retires at night and goes
to sleep, he will read out his text
tell exactly where it can be found,
verse and chapter, give it verba-
tim-and will then begin his ser
mon. He confines himself closely
to his text and always breaches a
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 a convulsion and
his wife has to rub him and work
with him, as it looks as if he would
die.
He stops speaking while laboring
under this nervous writhing, but
will begin his discourse just where he
left off when the attack wears of
and will go on and finish his ser.
mon and wakes up and is unconscious
of anything that has transpired
The strange part of it is that he
can neither read nor write, so you
see he could not prepare his dis
courses beforehand.
This is no fake, as he has beer
watched often when alone and he
always breaches. I have, together
with a number of other physicians
tried to wake him up while in one oi
his frances and while preaching
and it can't be done.
He, scientifically speaking, is {
wonder. Now to 60 into some logi
cal conclusions as to the. cause o1
this and why he can't be aroused
while in his frances, is deep sub
ject which presents from q scientific
standpoint, as from mental anc
logical conclusion, some interesting
phenomena. A man can easily ex
pend some of his knowledge of men
tai philosophy in the study of thi:
case. This is not hypnotism, but il
savors of Divine inspiration. While
in this trance or deep sleep he is un
conscious of anything else trans
piring around him and his active
mind is totally unconscious as tc
what has transpired, but it is active
and he does his preaching while II
this subconscious state, but why this
cubconscious mind, active upon 'ser
monizing" alone, is deep mystery
"Rev. Major Perry" as he IL
called, is a mulatto of medium size
and about so years old; has wife
and is the father of about 10 chill
dren. His children are all indus
trious and he is about the average
of his race for industry. He is quiet
and has the respect of his whole
community for integrity and honor
He says he does not know any,
thing about his preaching and can't
explain anything about 1t when
awake. He says: II felt called to
preach when young, but | resisted
the inclination or call. If what peo-
pie tell me is true about my preach