, 1886-03-14

Mr.. Jones was introduced by tho Rev. Mr..
Co.'S. Before turning TO his sermon the evan
gelist remarked that he thought IA church
should be a jolly sort Of place, where people
could laugh II they pleased. The audience
took him at his word and laughed on every
possible occasion. Now and then there was a
ripple Of applause or a burst Of "Amensf"
III sermon lasted for an hour, n at its
close Sam Jones motioned back Mr.. Cos, who
was stepping forward 10 pronounce the bene-
diction. "Just hold on. thar he said. ~
preach at the skating rink at 3 o'clock. Every
one Of you be there and do your duty. l am
not going 10 do 1t all You tote your skillet
and I'll tote mine-receive the benediction.r
Mr.. Jones began in his opening sermon as
follows; 81 want to say, brethren, in order
that we may get the most good out of these
services, let us be perfectly free and easy. We
are The children of a great and good Father.
This is His house. An these people, these
little children, and these old people are all the
tho Children of the same good Father.
We are His children. Now make your
selves free and easy. We come to the
house of God TO enjoy ourselves. II YOU
would rather laugh than cry, take your
choice; there is as much piety in one as the
other. If you would do neither. tina suits
mo; but above all things let us wear a
pleasant face in the house Of God. Nothing
will beat n dropping, melancholy, sad con
gregation Of people. God tells us He is our
Father and we are His sons and daughters
/ know my relations toward my children rs
n father. II anything gladdens my heart it
is TO see my children cheerful and happy.
and if anything saddens my heart it Is to soe
my children sitting around me dropping,
melancholy, sad and mournful.
Nasss thor. or.a . aI,a. - ~..-r. .
to look sad. If any of you have stolen any
thing, been drunk, robbed widows and or
phans-whcn you come into the house of God
you ought TO put on n very sad countenance.
l would if were you. But IL you nave lived
right, done your duty, carry n smile ON your
face rs broad as heaven, and .let the world
know that you enjoy yourselves as YOU travel
through this world. A great many people
have confounded solemnfty and sadness of
comtenance with piety. That is n mistake. l
have looked at preachers and looked at official
embers Of churches in their sad, detected
presentation OF themselves, and 1 have won
dcred, well, now, is that religion IL IL is,
l don't want it until just about n minute be
fore ! die; | don't want 10 he troubled with IL
here in this world. ! want II, of course |
want it, before l die, but | don't want 1t until
about "A minute before | die. Nc matter how
Ab' - my AA'aAAh a nm hlNul u
minute OF hat sort Of religion would kill me
straight out | don't want that sort. Now
let us be pleasant and free and easy with each
other in the congregation; lot us be chserful
one with another, and il the preacher touches
you anywhere along the line Of my life.
say; ~ viii strnighten that OUT II the
preacher points out 10 me any duty |
nm neglecting, say; II will take it ups If
the preacher shows me in my life a flaw |
viii remedy it. This is an honest spirit in
the house Of God, and an honest soul can AZ
ford to smile and laugh in the house of God.
They say; "Well, the house Of God is a
sacred place. no more sacred than my home.
the house my wife and children live in, that
is dedicated b God like this church or any
other church. | am raising those children
under the eye of the Lord; they are the
Lords children, the house is dedicated to
Him, and we live and talk in the house. and
We don't feel like we are committing any sin
either. This is the house OF God and we arc
the children Of the Lord, and nbove all
things we say that the greatest bounties Of
heaven and earth are contributed TO mako
his children happy,