Evening star., 1914-05-03

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had to sleep in fence corners and cover my
self with leaves. | was not permitted to go
to church nor to have book. My only
reading was bits of newspaper which picked
up on the roadside, and hid in my bosom;
for had no pockets. A white boy, now a
prominent lawyer in Maryland, showed me
such words as dog, man. boy. At night,
when the people were asleep, would lie fiat
to prevent being seen by anyone who might
chance to be about, and by the light of pine
knots that had gathered during the day
would mark with fire Goals all the words
| could make out on my treasured bits of
newspaper | continued in this way until
learned to read.
"When | was only nine or ten years old |
was required to do almost as much work as
man. had to patch my own rough cloth
ing and wash my one tow shirt in tub of
cold water and ashes, and then stand in the
sun until it dried. And was no stranger
to kicks and blows.
"The only day schooling | ever had was
when, at the age Of eighteen, | spent two
months and seventeen DAYS in a country
school in Maryland | walked seven miles
to attend this school; but soon had to return
to work Still, my ambition knew no
bounds l would pillow all day in the field,
studying my book as | worked, and then
walk and run fourteen miles at night to
spend precious half-hour with my teacher.
while was hod carrier in Philadelphia
l attended night school for three years, and
in this way was able to pass my examination
for the ministry Since then | have taken
a correspondence course from the Boston
Theological School, studied Greek and
Hebrew under private teachers, have gone
through the theological curriculum of Drew,
and have taken Christological course at
the University of Chicago. have also studied
biology, botany, and elocution under private
teachers. have gone through the books of
most schools; but have not gone through
the schools. Bennett College gave me the
degree of doctor of divinity three years ago:
but l am still a humble student, endeavor-
ing to improve myself every day
RACK of DR.. Tindley. on the fathers side,
was Scottish ancestor, once one of the
most eloquent lawyers in Maryland. The
negro blood Zulu. His maternal grandfather
was giant of prodigious strength, nearly
seven feet tall, and weighing two hundred
and seventy pounds, famous for his physical
exploits in Maryland. He was a quaint kind
Of character, a sort of natural philosopher
whose counsel was sometimes sought, even
in slave days, by white and black alike.
Like his grandfather, DR.. Tindley is full
of quaint wisdom. When he took his ex-
animation for the ministry he was sexton of
his present church. A bumptious young
colored man, college graduate, who was
also to take the examination, contenptu-
ously inquired of Tindley:
"How do you expect to pass this eXamina-
ton? | and the other candidates hold di-
plomas in our hands. What do you hold?'
@Nothing but broom, replied Tindley,
who had just left off sweeping
Tindley passed second among large num-
Der of candidates, all of whom were school
men but him.
He has been pastor of his present church
little over twelve years, during which time
seventy-five thousand dollars worth of
property has been bought, and he has in
creased his membership from three hundred
to three thousand, until he breaches every
Sunday to Standing room only" crowds
He is an eloquent and touching pull pit orator
Frequently numbers of white people go to
hear him. A prominent white Philadelphian
recently said Of him, ~The man is an inspira-
ton! His very soul sings
Out of such life of pathos and sunshine,
of struggle and achievement, have come
such cheering and comforting songs as "I'll
Overcome Some Day. We'll Understand
1t Better By and BY go Wash in That
Beautiful Stream" "What Are They Doing
in Heaven Today" and his own particular
favorite, Il Have Found at Last Savior >: