Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-24
DECLINES TO BE SEEN
PROPHET cRowDY wITHDRAws
FROM PUBLIC VIEW.
Observes Saturday as Sabbath, but
Will Lead Parade Of Saints
Today.

Perhaps the most unique parade that has
ever passed over the broad and concerted
thoroughfares of Washington is scheduled
to take place today. The participants will
be members of the Church of God and the
Saints OF Christ" peculiar sect of colored
people, which was described in The Star
several days ago. The worldly head of
the church is Prophet" William 8. Crowdy.
a portly colored man. who has established
his headquarters at lib u street north
west.
When a reporter of The Star called at
the above address last night he found an
assemblage of colored folks in front of
the premises. some OF whom were peering
into the front room through the sides of
the drawn curtains.
"He's In there" remarked a young wo-
man.
"who?" eagerly asked another.
Why, the prophet, and he's got his robes
The reporter stepped up to the door and
asked il he might have talk with
Prophet" Crowdy.
He can't be seen this evening" replied
a well-dressed young colored man. ''as he
is in retirement. You know this is the
Sabbath day and our services are over"
This is the Sabbath day" said the news
man, ''but II Is the Jewish Sabbath"
Exactly" came the reply, land we are
Jews-the original black Jews-and we keep
holy the seventh day. Our home is in
Jerusalem, not in Africa, as is popularity
supposed.
Evangelist Crowdy.
The young colored man announced himself
as Evangelist Joseph Crowdy." and said he
hailed from Philadelphia. He gave several
verses and chapters In the Bible which,
he said. confirmed the contention Of the
leaders of the sect that they are the orig
inal 'black Hebrews"
Why" he added, est. Peter was q
black man. He had thick lips and a
fat nose. Other saints were the same. We
were driven from Jerusalem to Africa and
from there were brought to this country in
Snips and sold as slaves. We, the black
Hebrews have been prosecuted from the
very earliest times, the last time by being
sold into slavery. 1 am going to preach
tomorrow night in the True Reformers'
HAN. and l will fully explain all about
this matter"
The paraders are scheduled to leave the
true Reformers' Hall, 18th and U streets
northwest. with their prophet at the head
of the line. at 1 o'clock this afternoon.
The line of march will be south on 14th
street to Pennsylvania avenue. thence east
to 18th street, north to U street and west
on U street to the starting place, where
the marchers will be disbanded
We will not have any brass band" said
Evangelist Crowdy, but will have Instead
JANUS VI singers WHO Will give songs along
the route"
The evangelist also said that the mem
DerS or the sect use the Jewish calendar
and the present month to them is "Eiul''
instead of September. He added that the
visiting members all came to Washington
Friday. as they would not dare to travel
on Saturday. their Sabbath. He estimated
that there were about two hundred of the
members here from other cities. including
Philadelphia, Baltimore and New Haven,
Conn.
The PROPHETS Proclamation
In the proclamation calling for the pres
ent general assembly at Washington
Prophet" William s. Crowdy, through
saint Emma Neal and Saint Anna Mer-
Ger. prescribes that the parading saints,
prophets. singers. evangelists and others
shall wear white dresses and lavender rib
bons-white Saline skirts being preferable,
like the waists that were worn at the
vised that they must also wear white
suits, white straw hats and patent leather
shoes. The proclamation adds:
"SuperintendentS of the brothers of the
different tabernacles are requested to wear
black Prince Albert suits, white vests, pat
ent leather shoes and white ties. The
elders will wear bunch of white violets
on their coats and the evangelists will
wear a white rose with white streamers,
all to be of narrow ribbon.
These queer religionists will hold services
today at True Reformers Hall as follows:
General services at IL am, chlldren's ex-
ercises at pm. and preaching at pm
by Evangelist Joseph Crowdy.
Views of Member.
local member of this peculiar sect,
which is to have gathering and parade
here. declared yesterday that all the
saints and prophets" of the organization
ARE drawn by some unknown power to