The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1890-05-22
IMPRESSIONS OF sam JONES.
REV. A, G. MCMANAWAY. OF CHAR
LOTTE, TALKS ABOUT THE
GREAT PREACHER.
He Applies the Test to His Character
and Sincerity, and Finds that He
Measures up Higher than His Ex-
pectatiOns.

measures up HlSHcl tHdh 1liS HA
pectatiOns.
While some people denounce Sam
Jones, others applaud. DR.. Pritchard,
one of the best and ablest Baptists in
the State, writes severe article criti-
i cising and condemning the evangelist
while Rev. A. G.. McManaway, of
! Charlotte, a member of the same de-
nomination, a man of marked intelli
gence and ability, strong thinker and
logical reasoner, says Mr.. Jones is
man of piety and great work in his
own special and peculiar way. Sunday
after the Sam Jones meeting closed in
Charlotte, Mr.. McManaway preached
sermon on the character, fidelity,
methods and work of the evangelist,
which is reported in the Chronicle as
follows:
As the Baptist church is being dec
grated in the interior, the Baptist ser
vioess.Sunday morning were held in the
Y. NJ. G. A. building. The follow
is Mr.. McManaway's sermon: Text:
1st Thes. v:21-"Prove all things;
hold fast that which is good"
After giving an exposition of the
text, Mr.. McManaway stated that he
desired to apply its teachings to the
recent meetings. He called attention:
1. 10 the preachers unselfsh fl
deity. His acquaintance with Mr..
Jones's published sayings had led him
to expect triaing with sacred things
and loose ideas about duty, SO he de-
termined beforehand to test the earn
estness of the evangelist by his attitude
towards (a) culture, (b) Presbyterian
ism Co politics. He decided that a
elf-seeklng spirit would prompt a
stranger who knew something of Char
lotte to seek popularity by conciliating
people of culture and of Presbyterian
views, and to seek large pecuniary
compensation by conciliating the
members of its dominant political
party. But to his qualification and ad-
miration, Mr.. Jones had pursued the
usual tenor of his way and gone out
of his course time and again to antag.
onize these influences. There was no
earthly prospect of any gain to Mr..
ZONES from these attacks on culture,
Presbyterianism, and Democracy, and
there was serious reason to expect loss
in popularity and money. These at
tacks had convinced Mr.. McManaway
that Mr.. Jones was an earnest Christian
worker who was determined to do
what he thought to be his duty at every
cost to himself. We might criticise his
Judgment and condemn some of his
plans, but we should admire and imi-
tate the spirit of man who is willing
to be called a fool for Christ's sake,
and who is willing to risk the ridicule
and scorn of the world if he may be
but instrumental in winning men to a
better life. Believing, as he did, in
the purity of Mr.. Jones's motives, Mr..
> Manaway had been willing to over
look all that was unusual in his preach
ing ,and to attribute his mistakes to the
head and not 10 the heart.
: II. The soundness and importance
of Mr.. Jones' teachings. Among these
he mentioned CD practical religion.
This age, like the one that preceded
John the Baptist, is remarkable for its
: orthodox beliefs and its loose living
, John the Baptist undertook to correc,
, the fault of his age by plain speaking
and denunciation. Doubtless, he did
not smile as he warned the brood o1
, vipers' who came to hear him. Mr.
S Jones is trying to correct the same
fault by plain speaking and rIdicule
He can use sarcasm and irony more
eHectually than he can denunciation
but his purpose seems to be identical
!. with that of the Baptist. SO he deals
chiefly with practical religion.
(2) The home life In this age o.
: indlvidualism in religion, we need
Y some one to remind us of the fact that
4 we are in some important senses I" oul
r brothers keepers" aGd that this is es
= pecially true of those who belong tc
i: our households. Let us heed the earn
est appeals made to US for piety in the
home life.
: CD The social life The whims, ,follie:
e and vices of modern fashionable societ,
+ were never treated more CaustiCally by
/ any other messenger OF God. None
e could hear his comparisons between the
X so-called society life and its real social
/, life required by our religion, without
S having their natures stirred to aspira
: tons after a better state of things.
/ (4) The church life. The claims o
: the church on our time, energies
: pocket-books, talents, influence ane
example were urged with great force
He clearly brought out the disgrace
, which attaches to US in allowing ou
e churches to be hampered by debt ane
crippled for lack of funds while we cal
/ find means to invest in every other de
: sirable direction. What a shame tt
S US that we contribute only ten or flf
y teen dollars a year per capita to th'
support of the Lords Kingdom while
we are using our means SO lavishly fo
S other things Let US heed this warn
Z ing.
S III. The dangers to which his worl
h exposes us.
3 (1) To that of thinking that We
4 have done so much in the way of re
'ligious service for the last ten day