Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-03-10
REV. SAM JONES.
A Pen Portrait Of the Noted
Southern Revivalist.
A Sketch of His Career and Few
Samples of His Sayings

The Rev. Sam P. Jones, has achieved
wide fame as an evangelist. He was
born in Chambers County, Alabama, Oct
IS, 1S47. Soon after, his parents re-
moved to his future home, Cartcrsville,
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 preachcrto become dis
sipated. He sunk lower and lower. When
he now breaches against intoxicants,
gambling, and other dissipatlons he
knows what he is talking about,
Mr.. Jones' father, on his dying bed,
made last appeal to the better manhood
of his son. The finer nature of tho 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. llo was in
tolerant of the vices of society and tho
inconsistencies of Christians His plain
speaking made him many enemies, yet
his evident sincerity gained him high re-
spcct.
In October 1872, Mr., Jones joined tho
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 ccntu'
ry ago, when George Whitetield went uT
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
tcntion of the Rev. T. Dewitt Talmagc
who had him conduct a revival at th'
Brooklyn Tabernacle. After more wori
in the South, Mr.. Jones spent month il
St. Louis recently. He is engaged 70
months ahead.
Mr.. Jones is tail and rather good-look
ing. He is deliberate in speech, and
something of an orator. Although h
sometimes indulgcs in slang to drlv
home a truth, he is master of the spcec
of the common people. lie is witty, saT
castle, humorous, pathetic, elegant
whenever he wishes to be. To crown al
he is forever in earnest, always pcrsua
tive, and never loses tho object OF hi
discourscs to save souls.
Mr.. Jones has met with great success
Ills meetings produce intense intcrcs
JIc is everywhere indorsed by leading o.
thodoX ministers. In the South he hi
been provided with an immense ten
holding thousands. At Nashville an
other cities it was jammed every day fC
weeks.
About 1872 Mr.. Jones was married
Miss Laura McElwan, of Eminence, X.
Many of Mr.. jones' sayings are of Il
{ kind that stick in the memory, and not
= few are clcar-cut gems of counsel. l.
nav be reckless of speech, but he in son
l. way manages to make good many cc
q ter shots. Here are some OF Sans So
4 ings:
n "Thcrc is Just as much religion
;. laughing as in crying
: 81 have never heard of man gcttll
v up in meeting anywhere and confessir
h that he was selfish or avaricious.'
% "An obedience that darcs to go, til
, darcs to suffer, and darcs to do. That
10 what we want"
!. "Rcd liquor and Christianity wor
# stay in the same hide at the same time
| 81 like somo folks that have got sor
!, laugh in them. There is nothing to
4 done with dead crowd"
"Ono preacher told me he got down
his knees one evening and prayed
heaven, to God Almighty, to straight
- out Brother Jones and change him in
o. few things, and that he would be go'
:. preacher if that could be done.
Ia prayed until about sundown, and got
r his knees, and the Lord seemed to say
u him: well, l heard you praying
of Jones, and if l was to take all the
ID things away from him he would be
= more account than you are He said
.n liked to scare him to death, and he neN
of prayed on that line since. "-S. Lot
= Globe Democrat.
, -------==-=
n,;ut,, Of thn Staal pan