Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-16
REV. SAM JONESHERE
THIS GREAT EVANGELIST BREACHES
AT CENTENARY CHURCH.
His First Appearance Before a Virginia
Audienee-His Co-worker, Sam. Small,
Acts as stenographer.

Audienee--His Co-worksr. Sam. Small,
Acts as stenographer.
The famous evangelist, Rev. Sam.
Jones, Of Georgia, who has created
such stir in religious circles during
the last few years, made his first APP
pearance before a Virginia audience at
Centenary church yesterday.
About noon, without any public mo-
tice being given Of bis coming, he walk
ed into this church while the Methodist
General Conference was in session and
quietly took a seat some five or SIX
benches from the front, with the
Georgia delegation. He had been
invited by the Committee on Public
Worship OF the Conference to visit Rich
mond while the body was in session,
and the committee knew on Friday that
MIR. Jones would be here yesterday;
but they kept it secret, fearing that
any public announcement or general
rumor OF his coming would so over
crowd the church that the building
would not hold the people who would
present themselves for admission, and
the members Of the Conference and
their families would thereby be ex-
Guided from the privilege OF hearing
him.
Mr.. Jones kept his seat in the Con-
ference for few minutes. and listened
attentively to the proceedings, and then
went down into the basement where the
Committee on Divine Worship was in
session. He soon returned, however,
and took the seat which he had just
few minutes before occupied. Here he
sat until the hour Of adjournment. Just
at the adjournment Of the Conference
Q:30) Mr.. Evans, Of the Committee on
Public Worship, announced that Mr..
Jones would preach in that room at
$3.50 P. NJ.
AN IMMENSE CROWD.
Many who were at the Conference
remained in the building and ate lunches
which they brought with them, while
those who left spread the news over the
city like wildfre," and the conse-
quence was that by 2! o'clock-an hour
before the time for the services to COM
menct-almost every seat in the house
not reserved for members OF the Con-
ference was occupied. A half-hour
later they were all taken, and members
Of The Conference who came in found
difficulty in obtaining seats. All Of the
vacant space in the aisles and galleries
was occupied, and many we're unable
10 gain admission at all.
HOW THEY LOOK.
Mr. Jones's co.worker, Sam. Small,
came down from Baltimore with him.
and the two took dinner together at
Ford's Hotel as guests of the Confer
cbce.
Mr.. Jones is thirty-seven years old.
is about FIVE feet ten inches high, weighs
about 100 pounds, has black hair and
moustache, dark eyes, singulariy-
shaped head. and large mouth. lie
was dressed in q clerical suit, with plain
standing. collar, gold collar button, and
a light checked cravat. In speech be
is rather drawing, though he uses very
vigorous language.
Mr.. Small is Of sligh;er build and
somewhat like Mr.. Jones, though he
is better looking. He wears spectscles.
GOOD SINGING.
About 8 O'Clock Rev. Ii. II. Parks
struck up the hymn Come, Thou
Fount Of Every Blessing" The con-
gregation Joined in the singing, and the
mingling of so many good voices was
spirited and inspiring.
The congregation continued singing
" Jesus, Lover Of My Soul" " How
Firm a Foundation" and "All Hail
the Power Of Jesus Name"
Children Of the Heavenly King"
was asked for. A brother in the con-
gregation pitched the tune and sang
through the first verse few persons
Just around him struggled to keep up
with the leader, but in vain. As he
came to the close Of the last line Of the
stanza Mr.. Parks arose and said
A" Brother, we don't know your tune"
This produced a laugh throughout the
audience.
MR.. JONES ENTERS.
The hymn was pitched to another
tune and sung through to the second
verse when, at 1923 O'Clock, Mr.. Jones
entered from the rear Of the pulpit, &C.
companied by Samuel W. Small, DR..
Fitzgerald, Rev. W. E. Edwards, pastor
Of Centenary church, and Rev. William
Z. Evans, pastor Of Park-PlAce church.
DR.. Fitzgerald announced the hymn,
Rock of Ages Cleft for Me-" which
was sung without the organ accompa-
ment.
Or. Fitzgerald then led in prayer.
"The hymn Blow Ye the Trump
ct, Blow" was next sung. During
the singing Of the last hymn Mr.. Small
came down from the pulpit and took a
seat at a reporters table inside the
ehanctl, and soon had tablet of paper
before HIM and his pencil busy taking
short hand notes of the discourse.
The sermon.
Mr.. Jones was introduced by DR..
Fitzgerald. and came forward with
small pocket-testament in his hand, and
said:
hope. my brethren. that may have
your prayers during this service. l shall
carry the wearintts aud weakness engen.
deied by two weeks OF hard work. but God
has promised that IN our weakness His
strength shall be made perfect. Invite
your attention 10 these words: Therefore.
II any man be in Christ, he is new crea-
ture. Old things are passed away: behold
all things are become new II any man
be In Christ Jesus he is q new creature.
The question Of this nineteenth century
brethren-the question Of all questlons-'s:
Who is Christ: What Is Christ? Where Is
Christ? ! believe more great minds aud
more great men are engaged on those three
great questions o-day than have ever been
engaged on those questions In any age OF
The world. ] believe l am correct when
say that more lives OF the Lord Jesus Christ
have been written by men since / vas
born into this world than were ever written
before. Men are questioning. probing. ask
ing, and seeking TO know who 70 Christ,
what Is lie, what sre His claims, what is
His work. what are the results OF His
thought of this age or any age tells us
plainly that Jesus Christ Is tue personal
living embodiment OF wisdom, Justice,
truth, love. mercy, aud forgiveness. and ali
the attributes that make the character OF
God lovely.