St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-21
ADVANTAGEOUS PROBLEM.

EDITOR GLOBE: 1t is because know you
are orthodox in religion as well as in politics
that I ask you to explain why it is that cler
ical boor like SAM JONES can succeed so much
better as an evangelist than more cultured
ministers of the gospel. INQUIRER.
Winona, Dec. Is.
Our correspondent has given us hard
nut to crack. Doubtless the same question
has propounded itself to the mind of more
than one person as they have witnessed
the wonderful success which has at
tended the Georgia reviyalist. Unques-
tionably curiosity and love of nov
city have something to do with gather
ing the immense crowds who listen to
his preaching. They are attracted by the
quaintness of his style. Any departure
from common customs is attractive to hui
man nature, and more particularly with ref
erence to matters of serious description.
Americans love the fantastic and sensa-
tional. We are reverent people to GER
tain extent, but we are continually hungry
for new methods of discussion and illustra-
ton to relieve the monotony of inquiry
concerning the solemn aspect of life. whether
it relates to the present or to the life to come.
Therefore, whatever tends to present
religious truths and interests in
an exceptional way is sure to re-
ceive a, certain amount of popular
notice and sympathy. We thus can under
stand why it is crowds of people flock to
hear a sensational preacher. Mr.. JONES
style is peculiarly novel and he would at
tract crowd anywhere. But when it
comes to discussion of the causes why SO
many people-and a large proportion OF
them people of culture and education-are
brought under conviction by his rough style
of presenting gospel truths, we have to go
deeper. His sermons are crude, even to
the point of occasional coarseness, yet they
always find a lodging place in the hearts
of his audience. If he does ram
BILE and displays certain degree
of audacity approaching insolence he always
manages to tell his message in such simple
way as to be easily comprehended. People
like to listen to sermons which go directly
to the mark. This feeling is not confined
to the unlettered, but it is shared by those
who are competent to pass judgment on any
sort of argument, however profound and
difficult. There is prevalent impression
among the educated classes as well as
among the uneultured that a plain gospel,
the correct thing. When SAM JONES ONES
along talking in familiar language and urg-
ing everyday facts with energy people
prefer to listen to him than to sit beneath
the preaching of some hair-splitting pulpit
lecturer who devoteS all his time to far
fetched philosophizing. AS some one has
said, there is great difference between
raising subject above a mans head and
thrusting it directly in his face. This, we
take it, is one of SAM JONES' winning
qualities as an evangelist. While he may
be trife rough in his manner, he possesses
the art of familiar and forcible speaking.
Another point which helps to solve
the problem of SAM JONES sue
cess is the freedom and ease
and good fellowship which prevail
at his meetings. Everybody is made to
feel at home. There is an absence of style
and nobody made to feel unwelcome
There is no classification according to bank
account or wearing apparel. There is no
atmosphere of cold formality and studied
reserve to chill the stranger. It is not the
conspicuous pew-holder who receives the
most courtesy and respect. There is so
much inherent democracy in the American
people, such an antipathy to social distinc-
tons and determinations, that they prefer
to attend meeting where the conditions of
affability and cordiality exist and there is
an air of kindness and friendship
than to attend divine services in the usual
places and under the circumstances that are
commonly encountered. In this sense SAM
JONES methods are reproach to the reg
ular religious agencies of the country. He
is tearing down the distractions in the way
of promoting religious growth and progress.
He is teaching the churches the duty of self
correction. 1t cannot be denied that in too
many instances the churches of to-day in
volve too much pretense and display to
make religion attractive or popular. This
truth could not be made more patent than
by the fact that ''a clerical boor'' like SAM
JONES, as our correspondent denominates
him. can have the tents in which his serv-
ices are held thronged at every meeting,
while the pews of the large and fashion
able churches are oftentimes empty.