The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-26

A NEWsPAPER MANS ExPERHENCE.
TAe Serious Way in vhich HumorIst Took
sana Jones's sermon.
Atlanta Constitution.
After ..All hail the power OF Jesus name
was sung, Rev. Sam Jones introduced Mr.. Sam
W. Small, of Atlanta. who delivered short ad-
4ress on bis recent conversion. Said Mr.. Small:
my Friends Although have often attended
ehurch, and often joined in singing that grand
hymn, have never been able to feel it. and sing
with the enthusiasm of my whole soul, until
within this past week. / shall not apologize to
yoa for the novelty of my appearing before you
this afternoon. Last Sunday came to this city
and to this tabernacle as a curiosity seeker,
note-taker, and a general looker-Un at this vast
and remarkable scene / came with all my
worldly pride, and all my worldly ambitions and
oil my worldly passions and appetites in full tide
upon me. / brought with me a nice Task of
good whisky to cheer me during the intervals,
and two things happened to me- l had on
o good, new, nice-leoking, comfortable shirt,
and had that bottle of whisky / felt fine and
thought looked elegant. could not have felt
much better, and the only way did feel better
was IN being invited and taking dinner with
Brother Jones. But when l left here in the
afternoon and went back to take the train !
found somebody had gone into my room at the
hotel and drunk up my whisky, and also found
that my shirt did not fl me as comfortably as
before, because Brother Jones had filled it with
science was fired until it seemed to be burning.
Within me was raging the flames Of awak-
ened conscience. ] struggle with it for forty
eight hours manfuly, / believe, any
votagy Of Satan ever did. I not only strug
gled with it and tried to put down that raging
fire within and without. but / even
went back to the places where ! had
usually found surcease from my worldly troubles
went to the bar-rooms and drank of the fiery
fluid, but that only raised hell the more within
nd wit and oh hour I tal
you, IN the face of the lashings of my con-
science and the feelings which were awakened
within me, | still tried and endeavored to drown
them out and 60 on my way as before. But it was
impossible. Standing there on Tuesday in the
presence of my weeping wife and trembling
children, God seemed to lift my soul out of me,
end show me what black, dismal, diseased and
despicable thing it was. Absolutely, before my
lutte horror to the upper chamber of my house,
and on my Bonded knees, and with my face in
my hands / continued the struggle. Still
could not leaye still something seemed
h ssg & to n back Som, w be sssm al
right This is nothing but a spasm. the rehec-
tons Of that wave of religious enthusiasm you
got into the other day. Wait a little while, and
it win be all right. and when the whisky dies
ont you will be yourself again, and the same
jolly good fellow that you were before
Il lay there, as it were In a stupor, awaiting
the time to come when / could get up and reas-
sert my manhood, and go out on the street and
mpgle with nv fellow-man I found it would
not come, and after four hours of fearful mortal
agony / had to go back to the only refuge that
hnd there is for the n-tossed soul, and that is
10 come and lay itself at the foot Of tho cross
and say Here Lord, give myself away; it is
all have to give
Nothing but sin have to give
s.And found that the other line was absolutely
"Nothing but love shall receive
II received it, thank God, in perfect flood
tide. Oh, it just lifted upon my feet. /
went down stairs into the presence of my weep
ing wife, her eyes still dripping with tears. She
saw something was the matter and she stood in
amazement when folded that patient, loving,
faithful form to my bosom and told her the
truth. would to God you could have seen her.
/ wish that you could have seen the transforma-
tion in that household. So glad was l. so per-
fectly satisfied was /, so certain was that there
was not lingering scintilla of doubt in my mind
and not thought of denial in my heart that
determined on the instant to do what the Scrip
lures here say every redeemed sinner should do
for the honor and glory of his Saviour: Go into
the highways and byways and tell all men, of
every condition and creed, of my changed con-
dition, and testify to the loving kindness
Of my Jesus. And as fast as could
go l went to 81 printing Office and
had it announced, and got me some barrels
the first time lever made good use of barrels in
public streets, and made that announcement.
which would not recall for this world if it was
o solid hammered globe of doubly refined gold!
would not drag it with me into hell! AS long
as God will help me in answer to the prayers of
these good people and my own feeble supplica-
lions, / intend to follow in the footsteps of the
meek and lowly Jesus who has redeemed me
with his bloodl Another thing. / then and
there resolved that would be of some service
to the Master that had been SO good
10 His unworthy servant YOu NAV talk
IS you please about sudden conversion Men
have sneered at it in Atlanta where l am known
so well and for so much wickednessA No won
der. can't feel that they ought to be blamed.
certainly will not get angry with them, because
it was wonderful to me- know that God can
do anything that His divine will shall order It
was a sudden conversion, when by the will of
God. when on the instant of the terrible earth
quake's awakening Lisbon crumbled into the
opening earth and disappeared in the awful
abyss that yawned under the proud city. Itwas
sudden conversion when few years ago in
Connecticut great reservoir broke its barriers
down, sent its wild waters suddenly thun-
dering down busy and happy valley
and swept thousands of unprepared souls
away from earth forever. 1t Is a sudden CONVEX
sion when out of the clear heaven the light
nings red bolt descends and riyes the giant oak
from top to roots. If Gods will can do those
wonders why cannot the love of God descend as
quickly and degenerate my sin bound soula Oh,
know it has done it. and if / were hurled, as by
giant catapuit to-day, out of this tent and
landed among whole continent of men as
strong and powerful in infdelity as Ingersol
might stay there until the eleventh hour of
eternity, and they could not convince me that
mine is not saved soul today. And feeling
that way intend to testify to it in the boldest
tones can command whenever and wherever
God wills that shall do So"
Some Newport Real Estate