NINE-YEAR-OLD PASTOR

Evening Star, Issue 23377, 21 September 1939, Page 9

NINE-YEAR-OLD PASTOR

HAS PERFORMED WEDDINGS A chubby little figure in a black and white satin suit stood on tip-toe in the Vancouver ‘ Daily Province ’ editorial rooms recently, pointed a prophetic forefinger to the ceiling and exclaimed in a shrill juvenile voice: “ California is just a man-made country. I have come to Canada to preach, because I believe Canada is the work of God.” It was incredible but true. The words came from a nine-year-old who is known to American churchgoers as Rev. Charles E. Jaynes, jun., the youngest ordained minister in the world. He came to Vancouver from a meeting in the Foursquare Gospel Church of Portland,, where he addressed congregations.

“ CALLED ” AT THREE YEARS. Rev. Master Jaynes has what American doctors call the “ camera mind.” He can memorise whole chapters of scripture, preach 30-minute sermons without notes, and will tell you. without faltering for a word, how he first received the “ call ” at three years of age. “I am a preacher because the Lord intended me to preach,” asserted the juvenile. “ The Lord inspires me when I preach.” Besides occupying pulpits in 128 of the largest American cities—l2 in the past six months—the boy has actually married several couples since he was ordained by the International Ministerial Association in 1937. IGNORANT OF LAW. “ Would I perform the marriage ceremony in Canada? Now that’s a difficult question,” said the boy with a portentous frown. “ You sec, I don’t exactly know how your laws work up “ But show mo anybody who wants to marry in the United States and I’ll marry ’em right away.” Rev. Charles Jaynes, sen., who accompanies his son on preaching tours, mentioned that they had refused three Hollywood contracts since Charles, jun., started preaching. ‘‘Our work is with the Lord,” he said.