The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-04-08
SAN JONES' SEINE,
In which He Caught Silver "Minnows"
for the Orphan Children
in Decatur.

AS B COLLECTOR, h6V. Sam zones is Qe8u
and shoulders above any other preacher
in Georgia.
He takes up a collection for the
orphans home in Decatur, wherever he
breaches, and very few people were ever
known to leave the church even if they
knew a collection was coming, for that
is generally the best part of the sermon
and is equal to a irst-class show.
l was present at the First Methodist
Church recently when Mr.. Jones took up
a collection
He never once intimated money, but
preached straight ahead for about three
quarters of an hour, and then without
any warning he said:
"NoW I want to ask every person IN
the house who is not a lady or & gentle
man to keep right still until we get
through with a little matter of bu-lness,
for I want to raise some money here this
morning for those poor little orphans
down wonder in Decatur.
"I know the ladies and gentlemen
will keep still, but it's the others that l
want to ask to do the same thing"
Not a soul moved, although several
close-fsted men were seen to fdget ner-
vously in their seats.
Mr.. Robert Hemphill, who was sitting
close up to the pull it, was smiling at the
shrewd manner in which the preacher
held his congregation.
Mr. Jones gave him the dry grins by
turning toward him and saying: Brother
Bob, you look mighty happy this morn
ing, and l am going to ask you to get a
piece of paper and pencil and take down
the names Of all who are willing to give
anything. I forgot to say that 1 want
you to put down twenty-five dollars for
yourself first"
There was a suppressed litter ripping
over the congregation as MI. Hemphill,
very redin the face, fumbled in his pocket
or pencil and paper.
Brother Osborn, you and Brother De-
Loach and some of the other stewards 60
through the congregation and see what
you can catch"
The gentlemen indicated arose and pro-
ceeded down the aisle and then turning
to Mr.. Hemphill Mr.. Jones, with an in
terrogation point in each eye, said:
brother Bob, you put down that
twenty-five for yourself ?"
Mr.. Hemphill indicated that he had by
a nod of his head.
"That's right" exclaimed Mr.. Jones,
" when I'm bossing a job I always like
to see things 60 right"
Mr.. Jones stood for a moment looking
at the two brethren walking slowly down
the aisle and then called ut:
"Some of you other stewards get up
and help with this work and then we can
all get home, because you needn't think
you are going to get out of here until I
get some money. If you do you are
badly mistaken"
No one responded to the request at
which Mr.. Jones turned to DR.. Morrison,
the pastor, and said:
Brother Morrison, your stewards are
all out of town to-day, amt they ?"
DR.. Morrison raised up in a hesitating
manner, cast his eye over the vast con-
gregation and said:
"There's such a tremendous crowd
here to-day that l can't tell whether or
not there are any stewards PRESENT"
MI. Jones rubbed his hands together
and chuckied to himself as he always does
when a bright idea strikes him, and said {:
"You make me think Of the stock
drover who got his feet burned. There
was a whole crowd of stockmen at a
hotel M night. 1t was very cold and
they all sat with feet close to the fire.
The next morning one of them was limp
ing around the house, and a fellow says
to him, whats the matter with you p
Burnt my feet at the fire last night
was his reply. "Why didn't you pull
EN- out?' asked the fellow.
"'To tell you the truth, replied the
stockman, there were so many feet
round the fire I didn't know they were
my feet that were burned until this morn
ing"
brother Palmer, you come of that
overcoat and go down the middle aisle, u
exclaimed MI. Jones a moment later,
pointing at Judge Howard Palmer, "and
Brother Rice" he cried, pointing in an
other direction at Mr.. Frank P. Rice,
"you get up and give twenty-five dollars
like a little man and then go down that
side aisle over there"
There was a general laugh as the two
gentlemen indicated arose and proceeded
to the work assigned to them.
Judge Palmer was soon calling out the
subscriptions at a lively rate, while the
others were not calling quite Sc often but
nevertheless they were getting a good
many cash subscriptions.
Brother Osborn, how are you getting
along?" called out the facetious preacher
as Col. W. A. Osborn neared the pulpit
"Tm doing first rate, sir" replied the
Colonel while a blush crept over his face
and head, for he knew something else
was coming.
"That's right, keep up that lick you've
got, my brother. If they don't bite peart
enough just change your bait"
"Cash two dollars" called out Judge
Palmer.
"Look here, brother, don't you be
jerking out every little minnow in the
creek that nibbles at that big hook OF
yours; we're going to seine directly"
After a short time MI. Jones said:
"Now Wen seine the congregation"
He reached under one of the pulpit
chairs and pulled out a collection basket
A portion of the regular collection was
in the basket.
Mr. Tomas ubOoLy = the small cbopro