The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-03-11
REV. SAM JONES.
A Pen Portrait OF the Noted
Southern Revivalist.
a Sketch Of His Career and a Few
Samples of His Sayings

Aho Aso'' ooli . oohOS, las oCiicNcu
wide fame as an evangelist. He was
born in Chambers County, Alabama, Oct.
16, 1S47. Soon after, his parents re-
moved to his future home, Gainesville,
Ga. Mr.. Jones is of eminently religious
parentage. He adopted his fathers pro-
fession of law after receiving an excellent
education. An excess of animal spirits
caused the future preacherto become dis
sipated. He sunk lower and lower. When
he now breaches against intoxicants,
gambling, and other dissipations he
knows what he is talking about.
Mr.. Jones' father, on his dying bed,
made a last appeal to the better manhood
of his son. The finer nature of the man
was touched, and he reformed. He real
lied the horrors of the pit from which he
had escaped, and therefore all the more
besought Others to do right. He was in
tolerant of the vices of society and the
inconsistencies of Christians. His plain
speaking made him many enemies, yet
his evident sincerity gained him high re-
spect.
In October, 1872, Mr.. Jones joined the
North Georgia Conference of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church South. He re-
mained from two to three years on sever
al circuits. Gradually it dawned on him
and his friends that he could do the most
effective work as an evangelist. In 1880
Mr.. Jones was appointed agent of the
orphans home of his conference. He
soon placed it in prosperous condition.
There is a reminder here of over centu-
ry ago, when George Whitefeld went up
and down the land preaching and raising
funds for his orphan home in Georgia.
Mr.. Jones then extended his field.
After many successful meetings in vari-
GUS Southern States, he attracted the at
tention of the Rev. 7. Dewitt Talmage,
who had him conduct a revival at the
Brooklyn Tabernacle. After more work
in the South, Mr.. Jones spent month in
St. Louis recently. He is engaged for
months ahead.
Mr.. Jones is tall and rather good look
ing. He is deliberate in speech, and is
something of an orator. Although he
sometimes indulgcs in slang to drive
home truth, he is master of the speech
of the common people. He is witty, sar-
castle, humorous, pathetic, elegant,
I whenever he wishes TO be. To crown all
he is forever in earnest, always pcrsua-
tive, and never loses the object of his
discourses to save souls.
Mr.. Jones has met with great success.
His meetings produce intense interest
iIe is everywhere indorsed by leading or
th0doy ministers. In the South he ha
been provided with an immense tent
holding thousands. At Nashville ant
other cities it was jammed every day fo
weeks.
About 1879 Mr.. Jones was married t.
Miss Laura McElwain, of Eminence, Ky
Many of Mr.. Jones' sayings are of tn,
kind that stick in the memory, and not
few are clear-cut gems Of counsel. H,
may be reckless of speech, but he in SOM
way manages to make good many cen
ter shots. Here are some of Sans say
ings:
"There is just as much religion il
laughing as in crying"
81 have never heard of man getting
up in meeting anywhere and confessins
that he was selfish OF avaricious"
can obedience that darcs to 60, tina
dares to suffer, and dares to do. That i
what we want"
cred liquor and Christianity won
stay in the same hide at the same time
81 like some folks that have got SOM
laugh in them. There is nothing to b,
done with dcad crowd"
Zone preacher told me he got down OF
his knees one evening and prayed tt
heaven, to God Almighty, to straighter
out Brother Jones and change him in
few things, and that he would be goot
preacher if that could be done. H,
prayed until about sundown, and got of
his knees, and the Lord seemed to say tt
him: well, I heard you praying fo
Jones, and if l was to take all thos,
things away from him he would be nj
more account than you are He said i
liked to scare him to death, and he neve
prayed on that line since. "-&. Loui
Globe Democrat.
Origin Of the Steel Pen.