Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-12-04
From the Rich. Christian Advocate, Nov. 14th
Sam Jones's Meeting in Lynehburg.
BY Rev. JOHN E. EDWARDS, D. D.

Sam Jones is unique--tha like of him
not on the face of earth He can say thing
that DO other living man would dare to vi
ter. The curious thing is that after heal
ing him few times no one takes offens
at what he says On the contrary, his fear
lessness in the denunciation of the popula
and prevailing sins aud views of the da
seem to draw even the worst of sinners t
him. Church members who would be OF
Tended with their own pastors if they wer
| to characterize and denounce worldliness il
the Church as he does would fare up auC
speak reproaohfulIy of them. But Sau
Jones can berate and ridieule card playing
thestre-going and round dancing professor
of religion in terms that are fearful anC
shocking, and yet no one seems to take of
fense. They go home, burn up their cards
| and erect the family altar. He excoriater
slack twisted professors of religion, ant
spriukles them with nitric acid, aud yet af
ter the smart .aad huraing subsidies, they
take on a more healtbful type of piety, anc
| wonder that they ever were content to live
| merely nominal Christian lives. Ga thi
| line Sam Jones has wrought marvellous re
sdlts in Lynohburg. Those who hitherto
have bsea DELINQUENT and irregular in reli
gious duties have been aroused and excited
| to activity, and now emulate each other ir
earnest endeavor to reclaim the erripg and
to save the lost. 30 much has been said
and written about Sam Jones that I hesi.
tate to cucumber this letter with aoythiue
further concerning him. This 1 will say,
that his converts turn out better, as a gen.
eral thing, than the multitudes that have
been converted by tho irresponsible evange,
lists that have infested the land during the
last one or two decades. The papers have
overstated the number of converts. | mean
those who profess to have been spiritually
regenerated. a large number of persons
gave the preacher their hands in token of a
purpose to load a new life who were already
members of the Church Scores of the ua-
converted gave their hands in response to
an invitation to all who desire the prayers
of Gods people. They came as professed
seekers of religion, not as converts. The
reporters counted all that came forward
and gave their hands to Brother Jones in
response to his qualified and classified in
vitations. I think it is safe to say that rs
many as four hundred and fifty, probably
four hundred and seventy-flve, persons pro-
fessed to be consciously converted. The
churches ia Lynchburg, of all denomiua-
tions, will receive into membership, includ-
ing reclaimed backsliders, not less than
three hundred and seventy five persons. Of
these, including the Methodist Protsstants,
the Methodist churches in the city will re-.
ceive, all told, at least one hundred and
seveuty. perhaps even a larger number
maybe two hundred. Among the con.
verts there are many of our leading citiz-
ens. There are also many notorious drunk
ards. That there will a falling off is
thing to be expected, but the detection can
not discount the fact that many of this lat
ter class give evidence at present of sound
aud genuine conversion. Some of them
have been members of the Church before,
and have fallen away by intsmperance.
They come in again with the purpose, by
the help of God, to lead sober lives. have
seen much in my long life, but such scenes
of divine power never greeted my eyes ba-
fore as I witnessed iu PAGES warehouse du-
ring Sam Jones's meeting.
Oaly two or three OF the pastors in the
city held themselves aloof from co-opera-
t,on and participation in this great religious
meeting, but not one hesitates to share in
its results. Is this consistent? Is it manly?
The camp-followers are always ready to
share ia the spols. Maybe they will do
better next time. Cesar was a great man!
There is no standard or gauge by which to
measure Sam Jones. He is sui generis. He
is reckless of grammar, and cares but little
for accuracy in pronunciation, and yet at
times he rises to the highest style Of ora
tory. Now and then he gives utterance to
passages of eutraucing beauty, couched in
language as brilliant as ever fell from the
lips or pan Of Macaulay or Burke or Web
ster. He is fertile in illustrations-some-
times coarse, bat always pertinent to his
IIn oft vytrlo n hoo
with laughter, but he never fails 20 rivet
crous sallies Of wit or by his most homely
and humorous illustrations. He is many
sided, in an unqualified use of that term.
One must hear him two or three times in
order to form any correct and adequate CON-
ception of the man. He offends good taste
and shocks fastidious hearers in many
things he says. As DR.. Yates, of North
Carolina, says he often utters "half truths"
Hear him again, and he qualities these one
aided utterances, and rounds off the whole
truth in such way as to commsnd your
assent to the 'half truth" of previous dis
course. He is bold and fearless, not to say
defiant. Strange to say, he wins his hear
ers; and those who at one time curse him,
and say ell manner of evil against him be-
come his greatest admirers and his most
pronounced friends. He is a great man;
great in intellect, great in all the elements
that Constitute true greatness. A man
stullifies himself who speaks of him as a
or rates him less than magni-
ficent, many sided, mastery man in all the
prime elements that constitute true great
1ess. Withal, he is a consecrated Christian
of high type. In social intercourse he is
as gentle and refined as the most cultured
woman. He is full of tenderness and sym.
pathy for the fallen, and liberal in his bone
factions to the poor. But he must bs seen
and heard to be appreciated at his full
value Sam Jones succeeds in getting
money for benevolent and worthy objects
to an extent that is surprising. When the
first collections were taken in the great con-
gregation for incidental expenses, he looked
at the baskets with their meagre show, and
then remarked, with = quizzical look, 81
have heard that LyDchburg is noted for its
rich meD, and sincs seeing these baskets
with their nickels, l have no doubt of it,
and there is no doubt they will hold on to
it," He excoriated avarice and cupidity,
and shaned professed Christians for giving
so little to Gods cause la the world; and
yet before the meeting was over, with but a
fe y words and without any lengthy appeal,
ne raised $4,000 to pay the Young Mems
Christian Association in Lynchburg out of
debt. He raised $4,000 for the Woman's
Training School, in Kansas City, No., rep
resented by Mrs. Bishop Wightman, who
was present, but did not say word. He
got $3.50 for the Orphans home, in Geor-
gia, besides the basket collections of 81. 400
for incidental expenses. In his absence
from the stand more than $4,000 were
spontaneously handed in for Sam Jones.
He pays the expenses of his own assistants
Mr.. Excel, who conducts the singingl
and Rev. Mr.. Calpsper, who assists him in
the conduct of the meetings. The whole
sum raised amounted to about $14, 500! 1t
was just simply wonderful. There was no
begging. The money flowed in like the
spring tide.
have written SO much about Sam Jones
and his great meeting in I4ynchburg that
have no space for anything more in this let
ter. Our preachers in the city are closing
up their years work we'll, and, in the main,
vecy satisfactorily.
The collections will compare favorably
with past years. There are about 300