Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-03-19

How the Day Was Observed-The Ivan
reIist's Sermon to Men.

CeilSL = &cEAnbh ~
Yesterday opened clear and eloudless,
and was one Of the brightest days OF
snrinq The churches at the morning
sa-,-icas were filed with deyOut worship
- In the Cathedral and st. Patrick's
and the Protestant Episcopal ehurchts
especiaI services were held in commemO-
ration OF Palm sunday, the beginning nj
Holy Week. when the blessing Of the
pains and distribution Of them among the
CONGREGATION are designed 10 recall the
circumstance Of Christ's entry into Jeru-
salem.
In the afternoon were the services at
the Masonic Temple. The announcement
that the great FeVivaIist and reiorIner'
Rev. Samuel p. Jones, would preach a
sermon 10 the men exclusively attracted
n vast congregation of the sterner sex AZ 1
O'Clock. The large auditorium. which
has a seating capacity OF eight hundred,
vas al an early hour fully occupied,
as also the galleries, while the
aisles and vacant spaces. the nail
way and the door were hlied
with an anxious and expect
amt crowd. eager 10 hear the great
preacher discourse on his message TO the
men Of Savannah. The stage was Occu-
pied bv the clergymen Of the several
Methodist churches in the city, and, not
withstauding the crowd and the prOmis-
cuous character of the gathering, repre-
senting the old, the middle aged and the
young men Of the community, the utmost
order and attention was observed during
the entire services. which were impress
siYe. solemn and serious.
The meeting was opened with the sing
ing Of a popular hymn from the Methodist
collection. which. being familiar. was gen.
orally taken up by the whole eongrega-
ton OF masculine voices, and the hall
fairly reverberated with the melody, re-
minding one Of the camp meeting music
of the Olden times, when everyone entered
with zest into this part of the worship.
Mr.. Jones then read his text, the foun-
datiOn of his discourse. upon the vices
and crimes of the age. and at once arrest
ed the attention Of his audience by the
force and simplicity Of his propositions
and the dignity and power with which he
reached his conclusions, and with the
beauty and adaptation Of his Illustrations.
Occasionally the audience forgot the
solemnity Of the day and occasion and
expressed applause in very demon
stratiye manner.
The sermon was a terrible arraignment
| Of the sins of profanity, Sabbath breaking,
! RIGHTEOUSNESS, gaming, drunkenness, not
only in their gTOsser forms. but as de
/ yelOped by the practice OF what Is
n
E great fundamental truths upon which the
moral government of the universe by the
& Great God were based were clearly marked
I cut and illustrated in the striking manner
( which constitutes one of the chief attrac-
I tive powers Of the preacher, and the
/ con illusions reached We're .consclen-
I tiOusly assented 10 by the large and
attentive audience Of listeners. He
depicted the results of continued
course Of wrong against conscience.
/ against reason, and against eternal
principles OF truth, in fearful
I cOlOTs and with great power. which evil
IDENTIFY told upon his hearers, and which,
Is We have stated, occasionally called
forth applause like that we hear some
+ times in 4 public gathering ON secular
( occasions. 1t was q splendid exhibition
I Of a native eiOqUence, digniied and en-
nobled by n beautiful and truthful Vindi-
cation of the great cause Of truth, religion
and virtue.
At the conclusion of the sermon the
3 preacher asked the congregation 10 kneel
[ in the concluding prayer. and when he
I said Let US pray nearly the entire con-
Z gregatiOn knelt upon their knees while he
offered up a feryent prayer. There can
+ he little doubt that the sermon delivered
J 10 the men Of Savannah has been as seed
{ sOwn in good ground, and will bring forth
good fruit.
preached 70 an immense congregation al
/ Wesley Monumental Church, which.
+ though delivered from 4 different stand
point, was equally instructive and soul
inspiring. He will preach every night
this week al Wesley Monumental Church
az O'Clock. and at Trinity every morning
at % o'clock. when il is probable that he
will leave Savannah for other fields Of
llb0F.