Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1885-05-28
L EVANGELIST.

Inc 0eY. Odm zones. WHO has
been known in the South for some
time as IA successful evangelist, has
been creating a genuine sensation in
several Southern cities during the
last few months. His success in
starting revivals of religion, has
from all accounts, been phenomenal.
As many as 5000 people of all
grades in society have frequently
gathered to hear him, and every one
has literally hung on the burning
words Of Sam Jones, as he is famil-
iarIy known throughout the South
The secret of the man's success
appears to be, first Of all, in his in
tense earnestness. He is deeply
penetrated with the reality Of the
Gospel which he breaches. He feels
i~rresistibly impelled to preach by a
divine command. His style is homes
ly. direct and simple. Arguments
he eschews. but he is rich in illus
trations, and his sermons are filled
with epigrams and quick flashes of
biting wit. Sometimes his hearers
laugh at a bizarre bit Of humor, and
sometimes they weep at a stirring
appeal to their emotions. He IS not
a mar OF much education, aud for
this reason is looked upon with sus-
picion at first by the regular clergy,
but he soon carries all prejudices be.
fore him, In the words Of the
Nashville American:
"Such is Sam Jones, bold, honest,
earliest ; matchless in his command
Of an audience, fearing God but not
man ; loving religion and law, but
despising, the affected wisdom OF
men and the conyentionalities OF
fashionable society /; rough but NJ ag.
unanimous; aggressive, but unsel6sh:
deyout, but not Pharisaical "a bub-
bling fount fresh from the bosom
Of the earth; Natures own withou,
the artificial gloss of a high cultiva>
tion-a sort Of moral diamond in
the rough"
His epigrammatic utterances
sometimes rather COARSE, but always
strong and striking-are so com.
pact that they can be carried away
entire by the simplest understand
ing, and in that fact lies much Of
his power. A few examples of hi
style may be given :
"Some preachers" he said recent.
ly, ARE so elegant that they always
refer to hell as the burnt district.
This sort Of dignity is the starch oil
a shroud." Another time he said
Pull up your doubts by the roots
and you'll find a seed at the bottom
aud that seed is SIM" Once h,
reused the sluggish by saying
MANY good Christians sleep 81
sound hal the devil can come u
and saw off their heads with a dull
case knife before they wake q
can get along better" he said il
Nashville the other day, with mos
anything in this world than will
people who talk too much. A Ii
is always on the down grade, bu
truth you have to hitch oil
engine too Speaking Of troubl,
he said /: "The best woman in thi
townsis the woman who has wade
through Trouble that an angel
heart could not have endured. Whe
tod wants to strike us with afiic
tions let US not run but stand an
take EN-" A few days ago he stan
tied a large congregation with thi
u%tterance ; "A woman that marie
a man with whisky on his breath i
the biggest fool in the world excer
the one who stirs his toddy for hil
after she marries him. IL yo
don't like that sort of talk you ca
rack out of here Again he ey
claimed "Opinions ruin the worlt
That old Colonel, the old cuss, vii
say, it's my opinion so and So"
dozen young men who hear hir
will 60 off and say it's my opinio
so and So They get their opinion
from the old Colonel, and he get
his from hell. say to them, shu
up, you old blab-mouthed fools.
"What's culture WORTH" he aske
again, "if it's nothing but white
wash on a rascal I" "Pd rather b
in heaven learning my A Sea thai
in hell studying Greek. My Goo
keep my boy pure and honest an
let him die a fool" Talk abou
an honest man starving to death,
he broke out the other day /; ''the
won't starve. God will feed an hon
est man il he has to put the angel
OIL half rations."
sam Jones is evidently a man O
strong originality iand deep sinceri
ty; and in his bold fight against til
sins Of humanity he deserves tn
sympathy of all who desire I'll
un,1l - 10 oo,1o Lotla.