The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-16
The Evangelist Denounces Newspaper Arti-
Gle About Himself as ''the Meanest Lie
Ever Published About Man or Devil"
He Denies that He Makes Any Stipu-
lated Charges for His Preaching.
The Evangelst's Exhortation to Sinners at the
Meeting Last Night and It's Effect-A
DrunkardS Public Promise to Reform.
THE DAY MEETINGS.

| NAfs zones MAKES some comments on an AE-
ticle Published in the Journal.
The audience of Mr. Jones's morning meeting
yesterday comprised about eight hundred per-
| sons, many business men being among the num-
| ber present. The services were opened with the
customary devotional exercises. The prayer
was offered by Rev. Mr.. Rowls. "Ill Invite
Thee" "All Hail the Power of Jesus's Name"
and Scatter Seeds of Kindness were the hymns
sung Mr. Mcconnell urged, in asking for
contributions, that it was incumbent on
those present to give literally, as the rain had
kept more than half of those from the meeting
who had intended to come. Mr.. Jones an
| nounced that the services this morning would be
| held at Meridian street Church, as it would af
ford relief to his voice to speak there day,
| instead of twice at.the hall. Preliminary to his
sermon, he said: 'The heavy rain Slis morning,
just preceding this meeting, has shut off many
of the fairer sex, but there are a good many more
men here to-day than there were yesterday morn
ing. There is a quorum here now for all practic-
al purposes and let Cs go into this service
prayerfully, so that we may get some good out of
it. Generally speaking, you get what you come
for I have known a lady to walk into big
store where million dollars worth of goods
was displayed on the counters and shelves, buy
a simple paper of pins ard walk out. She got
what she went after So it may be here. I've
known people TO come to meeting, catch up
some insignificant thing and 60 home without
getting any of the great riches of Gods store
house. Let US not be satisfied to stop this side
Of that point where we are filled with all the full
ness of God"
In beginning his sermon Mr.. Jones invited at
tenton to the expressions Of David in the
Psalms:
''The righteous shall be like palm tree and the
wicked like bay tree
He said: ut is wonderful how much of truth
there is in these utterances, although the Ian
guage is hgurative. David preached in figures;
Christ in parallels Now, let us see what palm
tree is like. and whether we are likeit The old
Eastern people boastad that the palrzSree was
good for 376 different things Every part of it,
the trunk, the sap, branches, leaves, bark and
even roots good for something, there wasn't
particle of it that was wasted-it was good all
over, from bottom to top Thus ID IS with the
righteous; they are good all over, and good all
through and good for at least $40 things. Now,
brother, you take out your pencil and paper and
figure out how many things you are good for.
That brother out there starts and stammers,
and gets stuck; he can't tell what he is good
for and that sister over there don't get
mp at all; she sees at the start that she's
left You may be good for 376 things, but
are they all good thingsl That's the question,
and it makes a heap Of difference. The lady
says: I am good at prayer meeting yes, but
she is good at the theater, too Another says she
is good to visit the sick but she plays cards. too,
and thinks she is the best ard-player In this
settlement That one is good for Sunday school;
but she Is good for dancing, too Many of you
are good for dozen or two things, but when it
comes down to piety for God, Why you amt
there Sometimes brother in the church says
he is overworking himself for Christ, but broth
er, look heah, when you can count up 376 things
that you are good for, why you just stop, and
say that's enough, am living up to the palm tree
and that's enough. There are nos shelves III
Gods vineyard for people to climb upon and
rest
II said once in meeting that man who did not
do his whole duty to God, and did not pray in
his family and in public, had no more religion
than horse, and the next morning fellow
came to me and said Jones' you are mistaken
about that. don't pray in my family, but am
just as good Christian as you are."
81 knowed he was lying but | thought
would argue it with him. and so / said: Religion
is loyalty to God, Amt itT
''He saic Yes
".The test of loyalty to God is loyalty to duty,
isn't itr
sAgain he said Yes
''Then said: If you don't do your duty you
can't be loyal to God, can your
''He scratched his head and said well, de-
clare, never thought of it in that<Tay.'
"Wel he went home that night and said to
his wife: Bring out the Bible and we will have
services. That little tallow faced preacher, this
morning. learned me that didn't have more
religion than horse 1 have heard men say
that when they joined the church they were go
ing to do their whole duty-whatever the Lord
wanted them to do. Now that's right.
"When Henry Ward Beecher wanted horse
to ride in dress parade, he asked the man, Is
he gentleP
''.Yes,' was the answer, he will work any
where, and amt afraid of anything on the earth.
"Beecher said: i wish he was member of
my church We need some members like that
and expect some OF you preachers, here in In
dianapolis would like to have some church mem
bers who would work any place, andswasn't
afraid of anything. / hear people say about
some preachers, We'll, like him, but / don't
like his ways Why, bless your soul, brother,
we are all made up of bundle OF ways, othing
else. The best man l over knew in church was
one who came to me one morning and said
Jones, want to join your church. If have
got any religion, don't know it, but want to
serve God and do my duty. / have served sin
long enough. and l am wiling to do anything
That was the man was looking for. The
next day l called on him to pray in
church, and he said: i reckon I'll make
poor one' But he prayed the best he
could. Next called on him to be superintendent
of the Sunday school, which had generally run
down. and again he said, i reckon III mako a
poor one but I'll try and he did try and built
up the school from attendance of about
twenty to more than two hundred / tried him
next as class leader, and he was the best class
leader eYer saw, and then asked Linn to be