St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1956-09-21
Prophet Jones
In Philadelphia;
Citizens Protest

thought that Detroits Prophet
Jones might have lost prestige a.
mong his following in the wake
OF a recent court scandal was
quickly dispelled last week by a
series Of action-packed midnight
till-dawn revivals the cult leader
is conducting here.
The revivials are being held in
connection with the 18th Interna-
tional General Assembly Of Uni
versal Triumph, the Dominion of
God, over which the flamboyant
Prophet presides. Held each night
from midnight until five a. m, the
REVEALS are said to be loud
enough TO rouse neighbors as far
as a mile away. SO noisy in fact
that irate neighbors who vow they
have not slept in two weeks be-
cause of the noisy revival meet
ings have lodged complaints with
city officials, but without any
success.
The show" gets under way
shortly after midnight each night
when His Holiness" as Prophet
Jones is known to his followers,
makes his grand entrance. II is
marked by nightlong shouting,
clapping. stamping and blaring
of brass band, which distraught
neighbors say creates a din that
can be heard blocks away.
One observer compared Prophet
Jones choir with rock and roll
band" Mrs. Dorothy Pitts, local
beautician. said she believes the
Prophet uses a piano, drums,
guitar and coronet." Mrs, Pitts
said that she and her sister had
complained TO City Hall, but Of
ficials there have told them there
was nothing they could do to stop
the midnight services.
Another resident, Pete Gilbert,
said that each night hordes of
Prophet Jones followers set off a
racket that rouses the entire
neighborhood. He commented:
That man Jones' works his
people up to a frenzy and they
shout and shrek all night long"
Meanwhile. other bleary-eyed
neighbors complained that tn e y
have not been able to sleep since
the convention got under way
more than seven days ago. one
housewife, who asked her identity
TO be concealed, said that her
three children have gotten sick
because OF lack Of sleep as the
result OF the Prophets spirited
sessions. She said: II believe that
revival and spiritual meetings
should be conducted in the day -
not in the wee hours OF the morn
ing"
But despite their protests, Phil
adelphians may have TO learn TO
co-exist with the cult leader and
his followers. The convention,
slated for two weeks, will end this
week. but Prophet Jones is re
ported to have said that he might
set up permanent headquarters
here
The be-specatcled, flashy-dress-
ing evangelist came here after be-
ing freed from a moral charge in a
case which made the nations
headlines. Following the trial
there were mutteungs that the
Prophet had fallen upon evil
times" and that he might be los
ing in popularity, But last weeks
show OF strength gave little indi-
cation OF the latter, The revivals
proved that prophet Jones Is still
capable OF swaying his audiences
There was even some belief that
he might be on the way back &c
a once lofty financial position. Al
though he sold his fabulous
French castle mansion to another
cultist, Daddy Grace. for a re
ported $4,000, Prophet Jones is
reported 10 have other expensive
Philadelphia belongings, Among
there are said to be his maroon
and beige. bullet-proof Cadillac
car equipped with telephone, q
piano with a built-in bed and
$751;. 600 worth Of perfume.
| MANY a girl marries a night ow