The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-07-04
"sAM" JONES IN NAsHvsLLR,
INasAville cArss.iaa AdveeA.e.l

be like putting artificial pigments on a wild flower, or sticking Queen Anne or, aament on a grand aud rugged cliE. He is the peoples man-~Sam Jones." He uses their veTnaeulaE, he draws bis illus trations rom their everyday life. His spontsneity, his hubbling wit, hts uuFi. valed felicity of illustration. his courage. bis sympathy-these make him tho peo- ple's man.
 All classes in Nashville crowd to hear him, and all are strangely moved by him. From the cultured and halt cyni. cal skeptc who makes of him . psycho logical study to the soddcn and totteging drunkard who sifs and listens while the hot tears chase each other down his bioascd face, all yield so the spell of his power.
 He calls the people to six-o'eiock>in- ithe-morning service. and they come by the thousand. Luxurious men and dei- icate women who have not seen A suA- rise fc. years, leave their beds as dawn and hurry to "the gospel sens;' work ing men with their dinner-buckets in their hands stop to see and hear thus apostle to the masses.
 At the ten o'clock service the great pavilion cannot contain the cTowd, and at the close of the sermon hundreds ol weeping men and women stand up to confess that they aye sinners
 At night the same scene Is witnessed, and the vast multitude arc convinced and melted. and five hundred sinners rise to their feet and pledge themselves to be- gin the christian life. Then the crowd flock to the open churches near as hand, where pentecostal poser is manifested in the conversion of hundreds of souls. A rev and strange fcrvor in the exhorta- tions, songs, and prayers, attest thN these are the days of the Son of Man tn Nash vile. The whole city Is stirred. Men who had not heard c sermon iu twenty years are attracted to hear Sam Jones. Noted gamblers sit and listen with flo .. ing tears. A drunkard sits weeping by his care-worn and sad faced wife in her faded garments and declares his pur- pose to make a new start in life. Min. isters and members of different denom- nations are fused in the glow of the heavenly fire that has fallen upon the city, and are swept onward in one cur rent of love and joy.
 But we forbeaT. Why attempt to de- scribe the indernbahle A true ac- count Of what is taking place would seem extravagant to all except eye-wit. nesses. To those who have witnessed and participated in these scenes any de. scripdon would seem tame
 All classes Of hearers admit and feel that there is Q marvellous power in Sam Jones' preaching. What is 1t that draws and moves the multitudes2 One element of special power in his preach. ing Is found in the fact that he deals with sin and salvation with extraordi nary boldness and directness. He looks upon sin as hell-deserving. He believes 1t will lead the sinner to hell, and he says %. He hunts hypocrisy from its hiding places and lashes it with the whip of stranded cords of satire, ridicule, and denunciation like his Master. He breaks through the crust of prejudice, fashion, and evil habit, and probes to the quick the guilty consciences of sin- ners tn and out of the church. The power of truth, plainly and feariessly spoken. is his.
 His faith in God is unwavcving, and this is another element of speci al power. He speaks as one having authority. He feels himself to be the accorded mes senger of God. lie dares to believe. He is not afraid to cast himself and his cause upon the promise of his Lord. What misht seem rash to oshers, seems trust in the living God who chooses his of his own appointment.
 1 Another element of his power, and greatest of all, is the supernatural dem- | x~He eAA A.- man who fesss the power ;o which he bears witness. We do not think we are mistaken in this. The dsvout ministers of various denominations who are work ing with him realize that they are CO op- esating with true man of God. Those who see most of him in private as well as in public, are the most Ss.ese.ved in their endorsement of him as ( man. He Is the same out of the pulpit ss in it-a hearty, genial, outspoken. witty, keen. edged man, who does not mince his words, without particle of afiectaiion. We have heard more than one minister of the gospel who heartily indorse his honesty and fidelity as . man.
 These are our general impressions of Sam Jones, after seeisg more of him and his wsrk. We feel no call to petty crit ictSm of him. There VIII Dc enough open enemies and fasfidious friends for that We feel more like thanking God for the work He h as enabled our brother to do, and giving him eur prayers, sym pathy, aDd most earnest co-operation in saving souls.
 When we think how much is involved in the maintenancs of the zeal and con- sistsncy of . man placed as be ;s nov, in the very focus of public observation, and remember the peculiar perils that heses popularity, and the insidious in- Huenees that havs led mors than one gifted evanesliss to begin in the Seirit and end in the aesh, ve pray, God guard thee, o man ol the people intrusted with . special gift fer special work for your Msseex.