The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-10-27
NEGRO
CHILD
PREACHER
Tacoma Has a Phe>
nOmenal Nine Year
Old Evangelist
The Ledger Gives Graphic
Account of His Appear
ance Methods and
Magnetic Power

Standing room would not accommo
date the crowd which assembled al
the Allen African Methodist church al
South Fourteenth and G streets last
night to listen to Lonnie Lawrence
Dennis, the boy evangelist Ordi
narily the church would seat $50 peo.
pie, but last night chairs were placed
closer together and the aisles crowded
to the pulpit. Flfty-hve per cent of
those assembled were white.
It has been stated that young Den
mis- has crude method of addressing
the assemblages before which he ap.
pears and his statements are ram.
bling and illogical. His address last
night would refute such a statement.
when his words were carefully scru.
tinized.
In opening his address he saitl that
while he was enjoying good health, he
could not speak as he desired unless
there was more air in the room. As
crisp as the word of command to a
company of soldiers, he ordered the
trustees &c lower the windows and
permit the atmosphere to purify.
His sermon (Which his address
really was) was based upon the par.
able Of Lazarus and the rich man.
His reading Of that particular portion
of the scripture was given in a voice
clear and distinct and with correct ac.
cent. Any OF his hearers who might
nave been blind would not have de.
tected that he was but boy years
OF age.
Analytically he took up the subject,
and with the exception of advancing
certain disputable theories, carried his
argument to a successful conclusion.
Particular stress was laid upon the
Bible statement that Il was easier
for a camel to pass through the eye
of a needle than for a rich man to
enter the kingdom Of heaven. and as
the words issued from his lips the
electric light burning over his head
flashed forth the sparkle from a dia
mond ring upon his finger. Every
gesture was natural. The language
from his lips was spontaneous. No
studied effects were apparent and the
influence over his audience was mag.
netic.
In facial appearance the child shows
nothing of his racial ancestry. Born
OF colored parents in the city OF AT.
lanta, Ca, he Is almost white. His
mothers care has kept the babyhood
curls intact, and therein Is the only
casual clue as TO his progenitors.
Black as hair may be are his curls
and the blackness is made more pro.
bounced by the judicious adjustment
Of white baby ribbons" All Of these
peculiar effects tend to fascinate the
people. His person. small in stature.
was robed in a flowing garment OF
white, which gave him The appearance
lf a girl.
His description OF he'll was of the
IRE and birthstone order. lie preached
he doctrine OF damnation with a sci.
ish appeal to the Almighty as the
'nly escape. That escape he stated.
MAS in the power Of every one
present yet at the same time. the
Ire OF everlasting torment was be
lind them and gaining upon their
ouls as the end approached. Mount.
ng a chair in order to be in plain
light OF his hearers. he called upon
very one who was not professed
20 come forward. That ap
zeal was mesmeric. Man, woman
md child responded 10 the outstrctch.
d hands and in a few seconds the
'latform was a solid mass OF kueel
ng humanity.
Grasping the hand OF each one as
hey came forward the boy called up
N every Christian 70 pray. Moan
lg and weaping followed until il
vas impossible 20 hear the speakers
dice.
The soft notes OF the organ and the
Tended voices OF the assemblage In
ong passed wave OF peace over the
udienee and the boy raised his voice
d benedictlon
Tonight and tomorrow services will
e held in the same church unless ar.
angements can be made for a larger
uditorium, Columbia hall. at Ninth
-reet and Tacoma avenue has been
ecured for services on sunday al ?
ma p, m