PRECOCITY IN THE PULPIT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2036, 22 April 1890, Page 3

PRECOCITY IN THE PULPIT.

"Thirteen Tears old and Weighs about Fifty Pounds—He says he was Called to Save dinners." This is a headline in a recent issue of the Morning Journal (New York) which prints a despatch from Atalanta (Georgia) Btating that the Juvenile preacher, Jimmie Cook, had appeared in the pulpit there. The church was crowded. People had come for miles. Every seat was taken, and standing room was at a premium. Jimmie Cook is sure j enough a boy preacher in stature as well as in years. He is so small that his head and shoulders were barely visible when standing behind the pulpit. He wore a flannel shirt, a short jean jacket and a pair of jean trousers reaching halfway down the tops of rough muddy beots. His round little face was bright and clean and his i light sandy hair neatly combed, giving him an appearance of a typical country lad fresh from the hands of a kind and careful mother, The child preacher announced his text in a clear fine voice—the second chapter of Hebrews and third verse: " How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation, which at first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him." His sermon was a remarkable effort for a boy of the speaker's age. He stuck to his text all the way through quoting Scripture fluently and evincing a wonderful degree of elocutionary power. At times he walked from side to side of the platform as his words were spoken, gesticulating with one hand and>ith the other toying with along watch chain which hung from his vest, perfectly at ease, as if conscious of a power over his hearers. During his talk he never once alluded to himself, but Mr J. L. Nelson, at whose house in Edge wood he stopped said that he was the sole support of an invalid father and sister. Jimmie was asked how he began preaching. " I was in the cotton field one day," he said, " and all at once I was impressed with the feeling that 1 ought to go out | and tell the people about Q-od, I put I down my basket and went home and

began preaching. God called me." He has been preaching around in the country for two years, and about a month ago preached at the Fourth Presbyterian Church, He is leally a wonder. He says he will preach anywhere and at any time, and takes" texts and subjects from all parts of the Bible,