Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-06-08
THE TABERNACLE.
REV. SAM JoNes's OPENING SERVICE
TO BEGIN IN IT TO-DAY.
Arrangements for the Meetings-Fuii List
ofthe Choir-fersonai About
the Preacher.

beeu anxious for Rev. sam Jones 10 Nis''
the city and hold revival services, and now
he is coming.
Last winter petition signed by oil tho
Methodist ministers of Richmond ana
Manchester IS we'll ss of some OF othcr
denominations. was sent Mr.. Jones urging
him TO come. He accepted and named
June sth as the day on which his meet
ings would begin. ,..,
4 committee Of Methodist ministers and
laymen were appointed TO make arrange
ments for the event.
THR TAsxgTAcIr-
A tabernacle which by very close ana
accurate estimate Will seat ll,0OO .peopie
hos bcen built for the occasion. 10 ~ To-
cated on the south side of Franklin street
nearly opposite Richmond College. Inc
nlace selected is n few feet below the Level
~ the street. The ground, which Is COW
cred with saw-dust. IS just damp enough
10 make it comfortable during thus warm
weather. The tabernacle Is PLAIN shed
like structure made Of posts placed IN the
ground. The sides are weather-boarded:
There are plenty of windows TO afford hght
and numerous doors (Which, however, are
rather narrow on the Franklin-street SIDE.
The roof is light but sufficient to prevent
any severe leaks in case OF ram. Inc
structure, though intended for temporary
use. is very substantially put together
MIR. G. j. Hunt was the contractor.
THE FIRST SERVICE.
The first service will begin this after
moon AZ q O'Clock Those who wish 10 near
Mr.. Jones should 90 in time 70 get their
seats before he commences taking l0l II
ia very often the case that he has the doors
closed when he is speaking ana tnen no
one is allowed TO enter.
marks with the commotion usually made
Inv persons coming into services while he
Ia addressing the congregation. rome
times he INDUCES in PLAIN talk 10 those
who come to his meetings after preaching
begins. III.
The services always commence with
PRAYER and song devouons, which con-
tipne while the crowd Is being seated, but
when the evangelist commences 10 talk nc
wants perfect quiet.
There are no tickets of admission except
10 ministers Of the Gospel. members OF the
choir. the press and other specially invited
people who will occupy seats on the pat
form, which Is on the south side OF the
tabernacle fronting toward Franklin street.
orHFn SERVICES.
Mr. Homes will also preach this evening.
The service will commence at 1870 o'clock.
During the week there VIII be tour scr
vices each day. The hours Will be an
nounced tonight. The first meeting VIII
be prayer and song service, which VIII
nyobably commence at 10 o'clock and con-
Time for one hour. Mr.. Jones vii preach
at II o'clock. In the afternoon there VIII
be another meeting, at which Rev. Mr.;
Stewart, Mr. JOnes's co-laboror, VIII
preach At the night service Mr.. Jones
will preach again. .
The evangelist will attend only two of
the services, those at which he VIII SPEAK.
PREACHED At CENTENARY.
Mr.. Jones has preached only once in this
city. When the General Conference was
in session IN May. 1885. he came down very
unexpectedly from Baltimore, ana u was
ARRANGED that he should preach at Centc-
nary church. The building was packed on
short notice.
The evangelist has held great meetings
In Iynchburg and DanvIlle, where many
of our people went to hear him.
HIS Description.
Mr.. Jones is forty-one years old. He is
five feet ten inches high, weighs about lou
rounds. has dark hair and monstache.
s!ncularly- shaped head. and very, large
r,outh. He usually dresses IN clerical
fashion. His speech Is rather DRAWING
hut bis language - vigorous.
anecdotes. of which he has seemingly IN
evhau5;'ble supply. and can tell with won
drous effect. IL Is said he never repeats an
Rnecd0te in one city and very seldom tells
one twice.
Ills OWN STYLE.
M. Jones's style Of preaching is entirely
his own. No one has ever accused him OF
Initiating some other person. HIS language
is very plain. There is no mlstaking what
be means and who 1t Is intended Tor. III Is
nla.n street talk. The common SINS are
called by the names which they are more
familiarly known.
Mr.. Jones does not attempt TO be elo-
nuent in the general acceptation OF the
term. He does not follow the usual pulpit
stvle of speaking to people. lie talks 10
them in conversational way. Just rs Ii ne
were arguing a proposition to group OF
fellow-men on street corner.
SECRET or HIS SUCCESS.
That Mr.. Jones's ministry has been
successful one there is no question. Under
his preaching thousands of people have
profeesed conversion. .
Rev. DIR. Garland. the presiding elder OF
this city, is probably better acquainted
with the evangelist than any other minis
Ter of this city, A DtSpdjch reporter asked
him Yesterday how he accounted for MIR.
Jonos,s success. lin the first place" re-
piled DIR. Garland. 81 think IT is due TO his
plain denunciation of sin. He talks about
evils as no other man i ever heard. lie Is
most severe on churcb-members who donot
perform their duty. In the next place"
added DIR. Garland, Mr.. Jones's style I'M;
presses one as man being IN earnest ana
meaning every word he saws, and to these
two causes | attribute his success"
DON'T PREPARE SERMONS.
DIR. Garland saws Mr.. Jones doesn't pro-
psre his sermons as most preachers DO.
Before he goes TO service he chooses his
subject and fixes in his mind the leading
thoughts he wishes to impress upon the
people. But the pointed remarks and
vivid illustrations are impromptu with the
speaker.
Mr.. Jones sometimes speaks for an hour
and half. Such occasions, however, are
seldom. They occur only when the speaker
gets especially engrossed with his subject.
il is when Mr. Jones speaks longest that
the people are most interested. This is
the time he talks with most vlgor.
DR., Garland says recently he heard the
evangelist preach for one hour and half
in Lynchburg. During the whole time not
person moved in the audience. So great
was the attention giten the speaker when
he paused for a second or two O pin could
have been heard had IL fallen upon the
floor.
HF WAS A LAWYER.
Mr.. Jones was reared in Cartersville. Ga,
where hls parents and family now reside,
aud where he claims his citizenship. Mr..
Jones prepared himself for the bar and be-
gan the practice of law. As a young man
Re was noted for his dissipated habits, but
he always had very bright mind, aud
eeemed thoroughly equipped FOR his chosen
profession. He was quite successful with
legal business intrusted TO has care as long
g. he kept sober. His greatest enemy was
drink.
II was seventeen years ago when Mr..
Jones was about twenty-four years OF age
that he was converted. He was an en-
tirely changed man IRON the time he en-
tered the Church and immediately gave up
his profession and entered the ministry.
Mr.. Jones was admitted TO the North
Georgia Conference, TO which he now be-
longs. His first charge was one of the
poorest circuits III his State.
FIgSr oREAT WORK.
Not until about six years ago did Mr..
Jones have more than State reputation
a. revivalst. When he was appointed
aren't of the Orphans Home. an institu.
ton under the care OF the North Georgia
Conference. he took several trips 10 other
states and preached 10 the great delight OF
the people. They were so impressed with