Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-03-18
aflistellaneuns &eadiug.
SCORCHING THE SINNERS.
SAM JONES GIVES HIS HEARERS SOME OF
HIS ROUGHEST TALK.


Sam Jones' black eyes snapped as he
looked into the eXpectant faces of his
hearers. He said:
One of the principal characteristics of a
Chicago audience, so far as have observed
them, is to grab their hats and break out of
church before the benediction is pronounced.
I take it that the men who do it are just on
the verge of jimjams, and have stood it just
as long as they can without drink. take
it that the women who 60 out in time to
skip the benediction have bearish old hus-
bands at home whom they are afraid to
leave alone longer than 9:l0 o'clock. Now,
all of you who cannot do without a drink
until after the benediction, and all who
have bearish husbands at home whom you
are afraid of, 60 out now. If you are gentle
men and ladies you will stay. Now, then,
I move that it is the sense of this meeting
tonight that we all stay until the benedic-
ton is pronounced. [Seconded by DIR. Lor-
inner AS many as are in favor say yea;
opposed nay. Not one opposes the motion.
1t is unanimous, and we will all stay. Now
be decent and behave yourselves.
The sermon was announced to be on
Christian rejoicing and the efficacy of con-
stant prayer. Mr.. Jones said he was tired,
and he could not be hired to preach three
times per day if he did not believe it to be
his duty. Christian rejoicing he defined as
satisfied with the past, contented with the
present and hopeful of the future" Upon
this subject Mr.. Jones said:
Heaven is just beyond, where man
does his best. A man does not do his best
when he promises God to be Christian and
does not pray. He lies to God. You lie to
God when you pray. Now keep still in
your seats, you church members. Pm not
going to ask all who have prayed to God to
stand up. There are too many sinners here,
and don't want them to see you. You are
the people who will try to sneak into heav-
en-. You are the people who pay your debts
to keep your reputation up. Shame on you.
You play cards with your children and have
them turn out refined, educated gamblers
on the town, when they grow up. l mean
it. Gamblers are raised in so-called Chris
tian homes. They are fine fellows, educated
and accomplished. You are the people who
paralyZe the church. 1t is through such
agencies that the tide of wordliness is creep
ing over Christian homes. You lay down
your piety when you 60 into society with
it's card rooms, billiards and theaters.
When you find theater tickets in Sam Jones'
house they will have come in over his dead
body. What is society? 1t is dirty,
sneaking, mean, low thing. I'd rather my
daughter should get rattlesnake bitten than
society bitten. But you say, "Jones, you
are saying hard things and you'll have to
apologiZe." Will I? Look here! If lsay
anything to hurt the feelings of man who
prays with his family night and morning,
who paws his honest debts, and has but one
wife, I'll apologize. To the uncircumclsed
Phlistines-never Fathers and mothers
who teach their children to drink and to
play cards, will live to be sorry forit There
are sons in Chicago who are killing their
mothers by inches. They would DO that
mother kindness to 60 home and blow her
brains out. Maybe if I'd turn in and abuse
drunkards and gamblers more of you people
would shout amen! You'd all holler clay
ON Macduf'' for you think you belong to
the "bum- -tum" and ought to be spared.
There is the Christian who says he can't
pray in public. He is big man, with
whiskers six inches long and the loudest
shouter on the board Of trade. Yet he's too
timid to pray in public or lead his family
in PRAYER. He says he is too timid. He
lies. He don't dare to pray before his FAM
ily, and before his fellowman because he
don't live right before them. Here's how
it works: One morning got up cross and
said ill-natured thngsto my wife. blamed
it on the dyspepsia, like you all do when
you say mean things. My wife handed ne
the Bible. I'd have given fifty dollars to
have had some man lead in prayer, but l.
got down and shelled corn. If was unfor-
tunate enough to be the wife of a man who
would not pray with his family I'd put
him in the cradle and suckle him at my
breast Then I'd hire a man to pray with
me- Every man stand up who prays with
his family. They will all get up, don't be
afraid they won't. Forty in 5000! Now
YOU parents who belong to the church and
do not lead in prayer are the people we are
after. We can convert your son, but you'd
make slack, twisted Christian out OF him
in three months. The church is full OF
them. You say why don't Jones institute
an inquiry room? Because we want you
people who will not go into an inquiry
} room and admit that though church men,
bers YOU are rusty old sinners. We want
you, and We'll pound you until we get
} your seats on your hides. l am after
J church members who don't pray.
,. EXECUTIONS IN OLD FRANCE.-When
executions were tolerably frequent and the
bodies were left suspended in chains TIL
they fell to pieces a small range OF gallows
did not suffice. NJ. Violet lie Due, in his
"Dictionary of French Architectural de-
votes an article to the Fourches patibulalres,
and gives several engravings of Montfacon
restored The place of the gallows formed
q uuandrangular platform about A feet
) square. This platform was raised about SIX
feet above the level of the soil, and was
built over vault to contain the bones as
they fell from the gallows. Sometimes in
addition to this vault it contained chapel.
On three sides of the platform were piers
rising to the height of 80 feet, united by
beams of solid oak at the top and in two
heights below, so as to form three ranges or
stories of gallows. Of these stone piers
there were six on each side. One side OF
the quadrangle was left free for the stairs
and for the block for executions with the
sword. Thus on the Montafaucon Fourches
As men could hang gsimultaneously-or rath-
er 90, as each opening was made to accom-
modate two persons. In the middle OF the
area was a stone with an iron ring in it,