The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-06-20

pr. T. Dewitt Talmage's church. The doctor has frequently since stated that it was the most successful ever held in his church, and the immediate result was I38 accessions to his own membership, besides large number added to neigh boring congregations. In all the states visited his meetings were largely attended and numerous conversions were the re- suit.
 From his manner, Mir. Jones is thor oughly in earnest. He believes every word his utters. Earnestness even in a bad cause will command attention will always rivet an audience.
 MT. Jones has the courage of his con- victions. He is not afraid to attack vice in high places. He speaks like man who believes he is divinely commissioned to war against sin wherever found. Wealth, PcTer, influence, reputation, the customs of society have no terrors for him. He denounces with fervid elo- quence the most popular institutions of the land if he believes those institutions are at war with christianity. He rebukes with stinging words the actions of men that are not in accord with his ideas of christian duty. A moral man without the gr ices of the christian religion is his abomination. These he regards as stum- bling blocks in the path of religion.
 MT, Jones rarely uses argument to con- vince his hearers, but deals largely in il- lustrAtions. He is profound student in human nature. He strikes with the di- rectness and force of an expert, and lays bare the weaknesses, the vices, the sins and follies of every individual member of his audience. He tell truths that every man recognizes without argupen He is intensely concrete, not abstract; objec- tive, not suhj .ctive. He takes men in de: all and not in mass, and paints with such vividness of coloring and pungency of expression the shortcomings of every individual that each one takes 1t to him. self. He breaches to man and woman, not to men and women. His illustra- tions are remarkable for their originality and aptness, and are drawn from the most familiar things Tn life. No one misunderstands Mir. Jones There is no mystery yelled under adroitly chosen lan- guage. He does not seek to dazzle. but to fix the mind intently upon the subject under consideration. He appeals to the inner consciousness of right and wrong, and only condemns after the individual has condemned himself
 His epigrammatic sentences resemble those of Burke. They go straight to the mark like bullet. Whole discourses are sometimes embraced in single line, as when he says: "l despise theology and botany, but love religion and flow CTS" His mind is intensely practical, and his heart beats in unison with the everyday thoughts of the people. He never over-shoots his mark. His precep- tor has been his own experience in con- tact with the living world
 Mir. Jones is always self-poised. He speaks like master. Nothing ever dis turbs his equanimity. He holds an au- dience by his simple magnetism. Though thousands of people gather under his ministrations, there has never been the least disturbance. Every voice is hushed when he ascends the pulpit. All eyes are riveted upon him when he opens his lips, and every ear is turned to catch the words he utters
 He is not a sectarian. He deals with no questions that divide the churches. His religion is confined to the simple be- lief in Jesus Christ and the promises of the bible. He indulges in no doubts as to the authenticity of the scriptures. He accepts them as the mandates of his Father, and goes without question to the perfor marce of what he conceives to be his duty.
 Another secret of his power is that he always says something that is remem- bered and talked about when one goes away. A child can recollect and repeat one of his sermons. They are the very essence oi simplicity. His vocabulary is limited and his sentences often inaccu- rate. He shows none of the training of the scholar, but there is a nervous force and energy in his utterances that sink deep into the breast and brain of every member of his audience. His pathos is diffusive and the strongest minds yield to its influence. His wit and humor are essential factors to his strength. The dogmas of philosophy and the crudities of theology are impaled by his wit, and his humor is so abounding that it crops out often in his most serious appeals. His faith resembles that of Cromwell, for though he believes in prayer, he believes in work also. He prays for bread, but expects to deserve it at the end of the hoe handle.
 The power of the man is shown in tho success with which he has combated prejudices against himself. Thousands of people in the city looked upon his coming as thing of evil. Many of the ministers refused to join in the invitation to hear him. He was ridiculed as coarse, uneducated sensationalist, with no ac- quaintance with cultivated society. And yet the members who rsviled him are seen early in the morning trooping to his tabernacle to catch his words. They gather two or three hours before services begin. Prejudice has been converted into popularity, and admiration has taken the place of scorn.
 Such is Sam Jones as he now appears bold, honest, earnest matchless in his command of an audience; fearing God, but not man; loving religion and law, but despising the affected wisdom of men