Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-10-30
Biographical Sketch of Rev. Sam

BlOgrapntcal Sketcn or Rev. Sam Jones.
The following biographical sketch of the
evangelist is taken from the Raleigh, NC,
Christian Adrocdte.
'Rev. Samuel P. Jones was born in
Chambers county, Alabama, Oct. 16, 1847,
and will soon be 42 years of age. He WAS
reared at Gainesville, Ca, where he sill
has his home. His ancestors were good,
pious people. Fonr of his uncles were min.
listers of the Gospel. His mother, to whom
he often, alludes, calling her my precious
MOTHER died when young Sam was only
eight years of age.
"His father, Capt. John j. Jones, was a
lawyer of note in Georgia, and was distin-
guished for his intelligence and piety. He
educated Sam for the practice of law, bui
like great many other young men, Sam
greatly disappointed his father. He indulg-
ed in dissipation until he became drunk
ard, aud seemed to be reckless and without
hope of reformation.
'His poor old father was greatly bafflod
and mortified; and, almost broken hearted,
he laid down to die. While on his death
bed he made last effort to get Sam to re-
form. As the old man approached his dy
ing hour his faith was grandly triumphant
over death-his dying chamber was full of
expressions of christian triumph.
''This greatly impressed his son, and
just before he died Sam, overcome with
grief and repentance, fell down by his faith
er's dying bed and cried: I'll quit; I'll quit!
God be merciful to me sinner. The death
of the father saved the son-from that hour
his whole life was changed.
He was at once called to preach, and in
October, 1872. in Atlanta, was received on
trial into the North Georgia Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, South
His wife bitterly opposed his preaching and
told him she would leave him forever if he
became preacher. The night before he
was to start to conference, it is said, she
theirs the next morning if he left for con-
ference.
He was firm in his purpose. That night
his wife was taken very sick with some-
thing like collie, and became SO seriously i'll
that she thought she was going to die
She promised the Lord if he would relieve
This settled the matter.
s'His first charge was Van Vert circuit,
where he was very popular, and remained
three years. In 1876 he went to De Soto
circuit and remained two years. Here his
wonderful power as a revivalist began to
develop. Iu 1878 he went to Newborn cir
cult. There began, by this time, to be a
great demand for his services as an evan
gelist.
"His next appointment was Monticello
circuit. 10 1880 he was appointed agent
for the North Georgia Conference Orphan
Home, and not only relieved the Home OF
financial embarrassment, and saved from
ruin, but raised sufficient money to erect
new buildings and greatly enlarge his
works. This threw him into a large field
and began his great work as an evangelist.
''Since that time he has been in the evan.
gelistic field and has had wonderful meet
ings ID Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tex
as, Tennessee, South Carolina, Brooklyn,
New York, Baltimore, Cincinnati, aud ma
ny other places. His success has been
wonderful, and there is great demand for
him every where.
"As preacher he has his peculiarities.
He says great many things that sound
rough and harsh, but he has a wonderful
influence and is truly ''master of assem-
blies." When you hear him your preju-
dices formed against him give way, and in
the face of the great work be aceomplishes
his utter disregard Of oratory aud refined
speech is forgiven and forgotten. The
Lord never made but one Sam Jones, and
one is enough for an age. His imitators
ara failures ~