Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-07-03

SAM JONES.

THOUSANDS FLOCK TO HEAR
HIM.
TORS FROM ROANOKE, RICHMOND,
LYNCIIBURG AND WEST vIRGINIA-ALL
THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES HEARD
FROM-THE MAN AND HIS sTYLE-A
SKETCH OF ONE OF HIS SERMONS-A
SERVICE FOR CoLoRED PEOPLE THIS
ON SUNDAY NIGHT.
&C., SC, &C.
Except on great circus day, the streets
of Stanton never exhibited such u scene
as they did on Sunday morning last. From
the adjoining counties people had come in
the night before, and by 8 O'Clock were going
to the G. & o. depot in such numbers that
there steady tramp could be heard afar OIL.
At the depot, the train, which was to
run between the city and the Bodley
wagon works mile below,was waiting and
was instantly filled us often as it returned
from it's trip. Promptly at 1886 the vesti-
bule train arrived and Rev. Sam 2. Jones,
and MI III. o. Excel, his chorister,
were received by Rev. J. L. Williams and
MI. J. w. Bodley, and taken to the Viz
ginia Hotel, where Mr.. Jones is the guest
Of the last named gentleman. This arrival
dissipated the fears of the people who
wanted MI. Jones to come, and the hopes OF
those who didn It want him to come, both
of which had been aroused by incorrect re
ports that the train Wouldn t be here until
after | O'Clock.
AT THE BODLEY WAGON WORKS
Standing on the choir platform in this
| immense building, nearly as long as four
squares OH Stannton's Nam street, the
scene was one never witnessed here before
| and not likely to be witnessed again unless
Sam Jones should repeat his visit. In the
seats there were already about four thous
and people, and through the open windows
could still be seen long professions CT people
vending their way from the stopping place
of the train, and long strings Of vehicles
| driving in over the roads. No such audience
| had ever been seen in Staunton before. II
included every class and every religion
Jews and Gentiles, whites and blacks, far
mers, merchants, professional men, and ;
great body Of labor1ng men. Everybody
was seated easily in the immense building
and what is more, comfortably, for not
withstanding the heat of the day the venti
lation was perfect and the place kept cool
, THE OPENING SERVICE.
Mr.. Jones had been at the building Ion.
before the opening hour and with Nh. Bod
ley had gone over it; had looked
at the enquiry room that Mr.. Bodley hat
built, and looked into all the arrangements
The hymns of the day had been circulated
on little printed slips before the service
commenced. A few moments before l.
O'Clock the Sam Jones choir, numbering
some hundred ladies and gentlemen, mount
and organ placed there. At II O'Clock MI
] Jones and Mr.. Excel, his chorister, came OF
the pulpit platform. Mr.. Jones is q slen
der, wiry man, about feet in height ant
WEIGHING about one hundred and thirty
He has long, brown mustache, and hi
hair is cut short. His features are straigh
and well chiseled and his eye may lie an
} color the spectator chooses to fancy, but o
one point all will agree that it is that OF a
absolutely fearless and earnest man. Hi
,..z, .x,,.,e, ,,,l,,lIu 1,no1erina1 aoDciStinU r
a pepper nd-salt suit, the coat being a sac
| held together by the top button. Of hi
style no pencil and type can convey PHI
ituye: it must be witnessed. 1t is evidentl
his own and it is hardly likely that aft
he dies it will reappear in any one else. VI
term will convey some idea OF it, and that
to say that, as ontra-distinguished from Il
usual pulpit style it-eXcept in the tender a
peals he makes-is strictly conversations
1t is full of surprises to his hearers al
the eravest mind will be upset in I'll
twinkling of an eye and forced I'M
laughter by some unexpected al
. humorous side of asubject. In son
of his work he is the genius of me
; a,hysics and by a sudden phrase will NAL
r the most delicate shade OF argument ii
3, most lasting on the canvass. in the brie
est sentence he manages to convey the mo-
Isubtle meaning to the dullest mind. Pc
: hs.ps after all that is one of the great S
! erets Of his hold on the populace. VIII
most men effect in q pamphlet Sam Jon
e does in an electric flash, and his flash ligl
impressions are burned in. His voice is
wonderful help to his method. Thoua
Y nsed in the conversational style it seems
o,ve effect to the whole range OF hums
emoti ons by an infection that is hardl
noticea BILE.
= Mr.. Jones' opening prayer was We
brief and was followed by the song &c
what will IT profit me brothers ~ by M
Excel. who has q baritone voice Will'
easily filled the building, and is both POI
erful and sweet.
- Nh. Jones took for his text St. Pau
words 81 have fought good fight. ~
THE QUESTION OF ORDER.
MI. Jones made some pointed remar
upon the necessity OF perfect order.
don't care whose sons and daughters
are, OF whose moolleIs and fathers you a
l. but nobody here must disturb this meetl
he Anybody who does is vagabond OF
vagabondess. Nobody else but them Wol
H. disturb q meeting. II you do, l VIII
m something to you and your friends arou
a. Won that will burn it into your memory
that YOU will never forget the day that y
S, actel the dog at a meeting. l don't knt
how some of you regard this meeting. ool
7 of YOU may look upon it as q sort OF hypl
drome or circus Well, | don't know hi
Won may look at it, but ii you make a
disturbance here III just tell you you
find that you have got tangled up in
X. worst circus you ever got mixed up