Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-30
REV. SAM P. JONES
FALLS UNDER THE DlsPLeAsURs or
AsAeTisT PREACHER.
Manners OF the Georgia Evangelist
why He Does Not Like Him.
ATLANTA CONSTITUTIONAL


CHARLOTTE. n. c., October 27.-A big
sensation is just now being created
throughout North Carolina on account of
newspaper article severely criticising
the Rev. sam z. Jones The letter was
written and signed by the Rev. I. II.
Pritchard. ID. d., one OF the most promi-
nent divines in tho State and pastor OF
the First Baptist church of Wilmington.
Rev. MIR. Jones recently closed ten
days series OF revival meetings in VIII
mington. He has held meetings in this
State in two other cities also, Durham
and Charlotte. Before he went TO Will
mington Rev. DIR. Prtchard announced
that he would not cooperate with him IN
the work Of saving souls.
JONES "sHELLs" OUT PRITcHARD.
He opposed the evangelist coming all
along. and during the meetings he posi-
lively refused to take any part and only
attended two services. Mr.. Jones
"shollsd the woods" for him several
times. charging him among other things
that the "D. D." attached 10 the Bap-
fist pastors name meant that he was the
"Devirs Dude" and said the brother
had formed co-partnership with his sa-
tanic majesty by shielding deacons IN
his church who owned houses rented for
bar-rooms. The evangelist could not
run DIR. Pritchard out of his hole during
the Wilmington meetings, but in this
4. y. II ~
q religious journal. Of which the rev.
erend doctor is associate editor, he comes
out wearing his war paint, and here is
what be has TO say OF Rev. Sam L.
Jones:
DIR. PRITCHARD's LETTER.
More than n year ago, when it was
proposed by member OF the Eyangell-
cal Alliance of Wilmington to invite
this celebrated evangelist to hold a
meeting in this city, distinctly de-
clared that could not cooperate with
him. DIR. Hoge said the same, and |
think al least one other member Of the
alliance agreed with US.
In my relations as public journalist,
when Mr.. Jones was afterwards preach
ing in Charlotte. sharply criticised his
pulpit manners. This was before he had
been invited 10 Wilmington, and closed
my article by saying that | hoped he
would never come to Wilmington IN my
day. Let It be remembered that he was
invited here by his Methodist brethren,
and not by the alliance. as was MIR. Pear
con. and indeed. he was called here
against the protest of at least two mem
bers Of the alliance. ! was hence under
no obligation TO cooperate with him or
even hear him but at the request of the
Methodist pastors Of the city | went to
hear him twice. | heard him and have
read the reports of his sermons as given
in the city papers, and according to
promise, will now give my estimate OF
the man and his work.
But before proceeding to discuss the
man and his methods let us get at the
real issue before us. | do not object to
Sam Jones as an evangelist or Metho-
dist evangelist. If he were Baptist
could not cooperate with him. / honor
him for his fierce and fearless denuncia-
ton of sin, and | am in hearty sympathy |
with him as temperancereformer. Forty |
years ago in The Spirit Of the A9e, a
temperance paper of that day, | an
nounced myself when a boy as an un-
compromising prohibitionist. and i have |
never from that day to this sweryed |
hairs breadth from that principle.
Understand me on another point L
do not call in question the piety Of Sam
Jones nor impugn his motives Many
of his doctrines | cannot endorse. For
instance, he tells the people to join the
church before they profess to be con- |
verted, and he seems to me to preach |
salvation by works with stronger |
emphasis than any man / have ever |
known.
BENEFIT HARD CASES.
That he was able to benefit some hard |
cases by his peculiar style whom the |
pastors had not reached i readily ac-
knowledge, though Mr.. Pearson reached
many more than he without his slang |
and vulearity, and for all the good he !
did In Wilmington L for one am pro-
foundly grateful | think 1t ls Just,
however, to consider other agencies III
the meeting besides those Of Mr.. Jones |
personally, which contributed largely |
to its results In the first place, Mr.. Stu
art, an able and spiritually minded minis |
ter, preached several days before Mr.. |
Jones came; then there was brought |
to bear the moral power OF several |
hundred cody men and women who had |
been praying for weeks for Gods bless
ings upon the meetings, and added to |
this we must take into account the |
gracious influence of the singing, under
the leadership Of Messrs. Excel and
Bowden, which was admirable all these
factors must he taken into the account
in estimating the spiritual forces Of the
meeting.
But to the man. Sam Jones is Of
spare figure, medium height, has
rather handsome face, a good forehead,
and very fine eye. His voice is singu-
larly good, and he speaks with much de-
liberation. When lie makes a good hit
he pauses to note its effect, and twirls
his moustache or scratches the back of
his head. He is about forty-two years
old
Beyond all question, he is a man OF
rare ability; his published sermons, as
well as the effects he produces, shows
that 1 should call him q genius GER
tainly no has genius for putting things.
His grammar is sometimes at fault, and
pronunciation not always correct but
he eyinoes very respectable acquaint-
ance with good literature, and his power
of Illustration and skill in using anec-
dotes are equal to those of any man have
ever known. He knows how to think,
too, clearly, vigorously. and with mark
ed originality. lie did not strike me as
especially fluent, but he has O great tact
In choosing his words, and he knows
how to put them into strong, pun
gent, striking sentences. He hits the
mark he aims at every time and
there is no mistsking his mean
ing. He did not impress me as being
intellectually broad and deep: bat
rather acute, vigorous, and versatile. He
is certainly one OF the most remarkable
men have ever seen and well worthy of
the careful study OF all public speakers.
As lecturer he would be superb, and as
boon companion delightful. His per-
l. and fl