Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-03-17
REV. EDWARDS, IMPRESSIONS OFTHE
TWO SANS, THE EvANGELIsTs.

REV. EDWARDS, IMPRESSIONS OF THE
TWO SANS, THE EvANGEL1sTs.
EDITOR TRANscR1pT:-Iha have been ask
ed to say something as to the impressions
received from hearing Sam. Jones, and
his ce-laborer Sam. Small. it having been
my privilege to hear each of them preach
several times on my way home from the
south. I was profoundly impressed with
the men and the manner in which they de-
livered their message. Small is an orator;
Jones Is an enigma.
Small holds his audience spell-bound,
while with mastery elocution and ornate
action, though somewhat unsympathetic
voice. he denounces shams, applauds
uprightEess, or portrays the power of the
Gospel to save men. His familiarity
with the Sacred writer's, and the whole
range of Greek literature and effete phi
losopbY, makes. him a man of letters.
His logical mind deduces startling con-
illusions from familiar passages of scrip
ture. After being told, with terrible
emphasis, that every christian is. to the
blind man on the street, Jesus of Naz-
areth passing by, who could have the
heart to resist the impecunieus aims
asker?
But Sam Jones is the harder to analyze.
Can this man of mirth be sincere, Is
this droll preacher a man Of God?
Will the Gospel, mixed with Southern
slang, convict men Of sin7 Can there be
deep devotion in an audience convulsed
with peals of laughter? To all of which
I am compelled to answer, yes. For, by
their fruits ye shall know them. This
man of slang and wit and sarcasm is pos
sessed of strange power to move men.
Never did Moody, Finney, Whitefeld or
Wesley influence as many men Ia begin
new lives in so short time as Sam
Jones. Measured by results, this south
ern circuit rider is without peer at the
present in leading men to Christ. And
1t is results, not methods, we judge men
by in this age. Some of the learned d.
vines, who criticise the revivalist, might
well sit at his feet and learn the divine
art of saving souls. The cultured, as
we'll as the common people, hear him
gladly. But where lies the secret of the
mans power with menu 1000 heard him
last Sunday evening, and 4, 900 were turn
ed from the door. while the Doctors of
Divinity are greeted with half filed
houses. This is the problem that per-
picked me while the preacher played with
my emotions. can only answer: that
the man, without doubt, is thoroughly
consecrated. You cannot resist the con-
clusion that Sam. Jones is in earnest,
He speaks from the bottom of his heart,
and from the depths OF an experience
that only redeemed drunkard can know.
He believes that the Gospel that saved
him can save every man. Though law
yer and preacher he neither argues nor
breaches, but talks plainly on Gospel
themes in the language of the streets.
He is utterly regardless Of critical eyes.
Twelve reporters, 100 ministers, and
1000 listeners before him, and he is un-
conscious and self-possessed. Often, be
tween his sallies of scorching satire, he
overaows with pathes, and his vast audi
ence is bathed in tears. Many Of his say
ings, which appear harsh in print, when
heard, tempered as they are by his loving
earnestness, sound quite different. But
the leading element of his power lies in
the fearless manner IN which he denoun-
ces sin. jeremiah was not more bold,
nor yet more tender. No class escapes,
but especially terrible are his denunci-
atoms of so-called christians who adopt
the ways of the world. Cards, dancing,
and wine-drinking in christian homes,
are placed on a par with gambling, the
low dance-house and the saloon. I heard
him say: "Were I to denounce the gam
blers and drunkards, you would say,
amen; but you are busy at home making
drunkards and gamblers. Nine-tenths
of the drunkards and gamblers are made
in christian homes. The statistics will
bear me out"
The three sermons which heard Jones
preach, were directed squarely at coun-
terfeit Christianity. Nor is Small less
sparing of the social SINS Of church men,
bers. Both fearlessly denounce, faith
fully warn, and earnestly plead with
church-slnners Ito quit their meanness. "
Both Jones and Small will be present at
the Red Rock Camp-meeting in this state
June 23d next. A. w. EDWARDS.