The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1931-06-11
Modern Evangelists
Use SaxOphOnes
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Continued from Page 0ne.)
"Sister Caroline Sexton" Despite
the name there is little doubt that
Mother Becton, estranged wife Of the
Elder G. Wilson Becton, is the real
subject of the writer's story. He says:
Years ago the Rev. Mrs. Caroline
Sexton was cheered as a queen
among the singers in the theaters."
So she was until that mighty day
when Jesus washed her sins away
and sent her as a sweet gospel
Christmas gift to the people" Her
conversion was something more than
a simple act of repentance; it was
the dedication of a life to campaign
ing against sin and Satan.
Happy day when God led her from
the stage to the pulpit. There she
promptly bloomed into "the pleasing
wonder of the age in spiritual rap
ture and fervor."
In the early days of her holiness
the Rev. Mrs. Sexton tired of the
colorless life of a Christian. She
longed for the fanfare of the circuit
even though she had sworn away
from it. Then a brand new idea oc-
Cured to her. If the devil used
floating buttocks, grooming saxo-
phones and red-hot rhythms to entice
sinners to hell, could not God en-
ploy these instruments in the up
building of his kingdom? The vision
was father to the act. She succeeded
in recruiting a saxophonist from the
L.. II
party including eontralto vocalist,
a pianist and a violinist. These like
wise dedicated their lives and tai
ents to God.
Just Make EN- Talk
Something more than a year ago
the conjugal relations of the Sex
tons were aired through the press,
much to the moral injury of Mrs.
Sexton. After the first stencil of
scandal had faded away there fol-
lowed suddenly a deluge of explana-
tons and confessions in which the
Rev. M. Sexton, evangelist, was
made to appear as the culprit.
Then all was quiet for a while
until during a tussle with sin and
Satan down in Richmond, Va, Mrs.
Sexton almost came to blows with
the local pastor in whose sanctuary
she was performing.
Once more the headlines screamed
to the edification of Gods instru-
ment and to the modification of her
adversary. Immediately twice as
many sinners as before became con-
cerned about the eternal life and the
tussle was renewed with bowling
success to the glory. of God. Gust
get the people talking; that's all that
is necessary. 1t may be good talk
or it may be bad. So long as it's talk
it's all right"
Holy Rhythm
Describing a scene at one of her
campaigns, the writer says:
Her musicians played slowly and
softly "Abide With Me-" She drop
ped her earnest face from heaven
and, clapping her hands joyfully,
cried "Holy, holy" On this cue the
orchestra switched powerfully into
the strains of "Holy, Holy, Holy"
All stood. Some sang. Others list
ened, amazed, astounded. The pian-
list and violinist were doing their
stuff. The saxophone obligato was
perfectly captivating. Human voices.
Melody and rhythm Holy jazz!
Caroline knew their feelings.
Many times before she had seen it
happen. She called out: 81 want all
Christians to shake hands as you
sing. All who love your Jesus, just
shake in good fellowship with
Christ" Get together. Church of
God. Christian unity. Tremble, sin
ner, tremble. Sing, everybody! God
in three persons. Blessed Trinity"
The service was under way.
Struts Her Stuff
Caroline, reassuming command,
advanced stiffly to front center and,
calling her callous voice and strong
arm into action, rushed straight into
the fray. Again the music was SIM
ply irresistible, seductive. Sacred
jazz. The crowd patted their feet,
jerked their shoulders and sang.
Caroline was in her glory. Doubt
less she recalled former stage riots
which almost equaled this. She
pranced, pricked her ears, then strut
ted and swayed back and forth ON
the rostrum, now with her hands
a-kimbo, now with her right arm
swinging, keeping time. Her pink
scarf and white cape dipped and
bobbed spontaneously up and down
with her every movement.
Occasionally her voice, Grass and
hard like blues singer, rose way
above the music. "Ilum the last
verse;" she ordered and the congre-
cation meekly subsidized. And as they
hummed she was satisfied. "Bless
your name. Amt that sweet" she
cooed.