The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1889-11-16
REV. SAM JONES AT vIcKsBURG.
One Thousand Persons Hear Him
the Presbyterian Church
Home-Thrusts From
the Pulpit.
Ivicksburg Herald


staying .at home those of Vicksburg
did last night, for 1t had rained all day
and at night furious gale began and
though OF short continuance lasted long
enough to entitle any one to call the
night a stormy one. Nevertheless the
reputation of Rev. Sam Jones' eio+9l
quence filled the Presbyterian church,
which will easily hold / 100 persons,
as full as was comfortable, and if more
had come they would have found
standing room only.
The singing was splendid, as might
be expected with such a strong choir,
especially when led by Mr.. Excel.
whose voice is extremely sweet and
powerful also.
Mr.. Jones (who will perhaps pardon
the liberty taken by the press in intro
ducing him to those Vicksburgers who
have never beard him, as a man of
medium height, with dark hair and
eyes, pleasant features, and very
agreeable tone of voice), took his text
from that beautiful passage of 81. Paul's
epistle to Timothy, SCI have fought a
good fight, have finished my course,
have kept the faith" prefaclng it by
a few preliminary remarks which
| were delivered with the ease and flu
| ency of a practicsd orator, but with an
earnestness and degree of feeling pecu-
liarly his OVID. There Is no denying
the charm and grace Of his manner,
nor that ne possesses in q high degree
that personal magnetism which at
once attracts and enchains attention.
Addressing the congregation he said
circumstances had been against US to-
day, but he had always found that
meetings in bad weather were the best
ones. At sunset the tent was up and
at present it was down, but 1t would
soon be up again. He thon announced
lservices at the Presbyterian church at
1880 q. m. and 2:30 p. m. to-day, with
an evening service also at the same
place, in case the tent was not ready.
He had heard Vicksburg spoken Of as
a hard town, but this, if true, was no
obstacle to success. In blasting soft
rock, the charge of powder, when ig-
nited, was liable to blow out and eff.
, feet nothing, but when the stone was
r hard, if you bored a hole in 1t, put in
your powder, and touched it off, tons
of rock would be broken up.
Rsverting to bis text, he spoke OF
, ST. Paul as the graudest man that ever
/ lived. History did not show his peer.
, He was any honest man. His stumb-
ling block was the divinity OF
Christ. When God set him right on
. that he kept on straightforward.
: HThe trouble with a great many OF
r you little fellows ia that you never
. were honest day in your lives
"God had only to set an honest man
right and he will stay 500
st. Paul, he said, fought like a hero,
, died like conqueror and was crowned
, like a prince.
"One of the greatest difficulties in
Vicksburg is that you have NO sides
You are all pretty much agreed (; there
is no issue between heaven end hell
, You want line drawn here between
the church and the world.''
He promised he would hew to Che
line. eff you are not on the line you
need not move. If you are on the
line am cutting st the line aud no
3 you.''
"Thou shalt not steal, but get al
you can and keep all you get. Thor
shall not break the Sabbath, but yot
may bend it double.''
Such were some of the pointed SEN
j fences with which the sermon aboun
ded.
l The opening meeting was as success
full as any speaker could ask and wa
undoubtedly the beginning of grea
interest in the speaker and his work
SuuiIov law Convention