The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1889-11-02
SAN JONES.
[Lyncuburg Daily News.l

that extenuate the fault. If fault 1t be,
that measursbly exculpate the press
from the charge of Indifference to the
subject. The duty is generally recog-
nized of preserving decidedly moral
tone in the utterance of opinions or
sentiments that relate to religious mat
ters. This, however, must be done
without tincture of UNCONVENTIONAL
ism. The editor must steer his course
between Sylla and Charybdis on doe
trinal questions. 1t will be perceived
that the delicacies of the situation viii
always dictate either entire silence or
great caution in referring to strictly
religious matters. just now there is
plausible pretext, if not valid reason,
In Justification of a departure from
prevailing usage. The worlds wonder,
Sam Jones, at the time of the present
writing, is conducting a religious
meeting in this city, under the au-
spicies and conduct of the Young
Mems Christian Association. Crowds
of our citizens, ofall classes and grades
of society, by the thousands are flock
ing 90 these meetings three times a day.
Tho absorbing topic of conversation at
the street corners, in business houses,
aud everywhere relates to Sam Jones
aud his meetings. Our local columns
furnish our readers with an account Of
the sermons and material incidents
connected with the services from day
to day to day. 1t would be difficult
task to furnish mero reader with a
just aud rounded apprehension Of tho
power of Sam Jones as a preacher
He Is unique. lie has no models In
the books, In the pulpit, or on the
hustiugs as a public speaker. His
style is his own. There is nothing
like II IN literature. Nor can any one,
by verbal representation, convey to a
party who has not heard him any adj
equate conception of what he says, and
the impression he makes ON his hearers,
His words may be reproduced, and yet
they do not have the Significance we
attach to them when uttered by this
nondescript, In his public discourses
Sam Jones must bo seen and heard on
the platform. to get the import and sig
nlflcance OF what he says. lie is reck
less at times Of the elegances Of rhetoric
and the collocatlon of his sentences
! Things not tolerated by some in read.
ing his sermons, as reported, are tn,
things, In part at least, that rivet atten
T ton, and produce the most lasting i'm
| preston when heard from his lips. N,
I one, however freo from tho bias 0
popular prejudice, can form any JUS
estimate OF Sam Jones without hearin
him more than once. He Is strictl
sui generis. There Is no one like hin
Ills satire Is keen his humor Is broa
and abundant. lie Is fertile in illui
4 tration. Some times a little coarse,
/ may be to fastidious hearers, but al
ways to the point. lie takes his heal
: crs by surprise In the appositeness {
I his Illustrations. One cannot, by po
n sibility, anticipate him. Witbal, he
Q tender, even in the use Of the surgeon
y knife, when dissecting moral characte
: Passages of pathetic beauty aud tende
ness interlard his most pungcl
0 sermons. lie is o curious compoun
T. the like of which cannot be duplicate
II That he IS intensely in earnest in b
y. preaching no one can doubt. Then, |
~ Is fearless. lie speaks what he beliey
- irrespective of consequences. Worl
u illness In tho church, and prevailiI
- wickedness among men and women
u every department of society. he assai
N with intrepid daring and merciless d
is nunciation. That he excites reser
u mcnt aud invokes criticism is natural
u to be expected. And yet the co
y sciences of his hearers are on bis sic
-, II Is not in our province to spe
y OF his doctrines. These we lea
ID to the learned clergy, but so
~ as his structures on public morals al
" bis caustic flagellations Of worldly o.
inconsistent church members are &C
cerned we do not hesitate to expr,
our unqualified approval and col
r. mendation. Sam Jones Is the mt
nc versatile, practical, common sense m
Of now before the public In this count
ed We very much doubt If the like
/" him Is In the world. He is a regula
is ordained minister In the Method
Is Episcopal Church, South, and an h'
ored member of the North GeorI
he Conference, to which he Is held ami
ng able for his doctrine and good cond'
nd In an annual examination Of charact
ID Year after year he receives an indor
bis ment of his ministerial character, a
al, receives bis appointment as agent
eh the Georgia Orphans Home. lie C
ol. not respond to one in dozen calls
Try has to conduct meeting in differ
nd parts of our widespread country.
in Is O rare treat TO our city to have
w presence amongst us. This much
lr feel warranted III saying after havl
ng given him candid hearing for scvc
wv days In succession.
ire.