Evening journal., 1905-08-07
RAGMEN HELD
ALL-DAY SERVICE
Parson of the Craft Gathered
Them for Special Wor-
ship
SHOUTED TILL LAMPS FELL

Putting the same vigor into their
singing as they do in crying their bus
mess about the streets. the colored rag
men OF Wilmington had religious SER
vices last night in charge of the Rev.
Frank Robinson, ragman on weekdays
and parson on Sundays. In one
story corrugated iron structure, that
looked as if il might have been built
of metal gathered by the rag-pickers.
they assembled 10 worship. The sun
had heated the iron, and the little edi-
fee, about 80 feet long and 20 feet
wide, at Code and Heald streets, was
not the coolest place or the most COM
Portable in the city when the ragmen
and their friends congregated last
night
Rev. Robinson had announced that
all-day services for the ragmen would
be held. but they did not manifest
their appreciation of the special meet
ing until evening. When some white
men interested in the proceedings
sought the mission yesterday after
noon the Rev. Robinson was the only
occupant. On the door penciled with
red ink. was a pasteboard card. with
the inscription Willing Workers-
Christs Temple" Within there were
but three chairs, but the pews were
formed Of pine boards resting upon
soap boxes. In one corner was a small
organ.
KNEW THEY WOULD BE THERE.
Rev. Robinson apologized for the
appearance Of the mission. Il just
started it, said he. I'm a ragman
myself through the week, and preach
on Sundays 1 came from Baltimore,
and had much success with my meet
ings there. We hope to fit this place
up ana have services for the ragmen
every Sunday. The ragmen did not
turn out this morning or afternoon,
for they are tired and do not feel like
fixing up in the daytime but / ex-
pect them tonight"
His expectations were fulfilled. FOR
the little room was packed with col
ored men and women. How many Of
them were rag-buyers and pickers is
not know. but many familiar faces
that are seen on the streets were in
the congregation. A score or more Of
white men. attracted by the novelty
Of the service fringed the worshippers
and fingered outside. Some Of the
pine seatings held so many worship
pers that the boards threatened TO
break every minute.
Rev. Robinson was the main being
IN the services. He had a choir of coll
ored men and women the men being
selected from the rag g-buyers, and they
sang old fashioned hymns in their
droning and shouting way. Rev. Rob-
inson is an interesting looking negro
about 40 years old. He has every ap-
pearance OF a colored minister. His
Roman collar and waistcoat add to his
dignity. and he wears a large pin, imi-
tation of a diamond, on his coat front
He says he at one time had profitable
rag business in Baltimore.
A BIBLICAL RAG PICKER.
Parson Robinson, In opening thI
service. said the calling OF the ragmai
was one of the most honorable o.
humanity. for IL embodied not only III,
lesson of economy, but the lesson O;
health. He referred TO the thirty
leighth chapter of jeremiah and said
that the first rag picker was Ebed-
Mech. who rescued jeremiah from the
dungeon. Parson Robinson read the
cha PIE, beginning with the eleventh
versua
$50 Ebed- Mech took the men With
him and went into the house Of the
King. under the treasury, and took
thence old cast olouts and rotten rags
and let them down by cords into the
dungeon of jeremiah"
He pictured how Jeremiah, after be.
ling rescued, became an adviser of IN,
Lord. BY the time Parson Robinson
finished reading the fervent colores
folks were shouting and the minister
called upon the "elect" to give Chris
ltian testimonies. Several men ans
women responded, and then the meet
ling lapsed into a rousing singing ser
lvice.
SHOUTED THE LAMPS DOWN.
Men and women jumped up an,
down to express their feelings, and IN
Vibration was so great that the globe
lfell from three lamps and were shat
tered on the floor. One favorite hymn
was, "You Don't Know How God Is,
the words being adapted to any hymn
that occurs to the shouting leader
lone of the principal shouters was al
Told crab vender, whose shrill song
iwere familiar TO Wilmingtonians. ant
when he started an old hymn to tn
tune of "Any Rags" all Joined in witt
lfervor The words ot the chorus wen
something like this:
Come, ye sinners. come shout an'
pray;
Come. ye sinners. come shout an,
pray.
II you don't do as the Lord do say
You'll have TO meet your Maker oi
Judgment Day.
The services ended with all the col
lored folks grasping the hands Of eacl
other. and then Parson Robinson pro
lnounced the benediction.