The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-11
sAM JoNES'S WORK.
A Striking Tribute from a Hebrew Jour
nalist.

a progressive Hebrew journalist, and
proprietor of the Chattanooga Times,
pays him the following earnest tribute
in the columns of his paper:
1 am not disposed to engage in po-
lemical controversy to question the
truth or falsity of Mr.. Jones's doctrines,
or to endorse any or all of Mr.. Jones's
views. My own faith is shorn Of doc
trinal limitations-an abiding belief in
all wise, all lnerciful, omnipotent, in
divisible God-and is broad enough to
respect the tenets of all my fellowmen
for I subscribe most heartily to the
words,
"For forms of faith let graceless zealots
fight,
His can't be wrong whose life is in the
right"
The unique character and peculiar
methods of this revivalist have become
a subject Of comment all over this
broad land and the very divergent
views respecting him, which have been
given publicity at Chattanooga, were
expressed wherever he has conducted
services.
I have attended his services fire.
quently and have been an attentive
listener. My own religious views be-
ing totally different from his doctrinai
teachings and dogmas, enabled me to
dispassionately analyze his utterances
and to critically study their effects. l
was never swayed by his passionate
appeals, nor have I been terrified by
his lurid pictures ol impending eternal
punishment, nor do I endorse his
opinions of dancing, the kirmess and
society, yet I have been touched by his
pathos, stirred by his eloquence and
fascinated by his marvellous magne-
tism.
What of his work He never breaches
anything but morality. His sermons
are simply the ten commandments.
His exhortations are most eloquent
against moral vices and social sins.
How can any one consistentlytsay that
man possessed of his eloquence and
his magnetism, who always urges
moral uprightness and rectitude, can
do aught but good? I saw him sway
an audience of 5000 men by his re-
markable powers. I saw men who
came to scof remain to pray. 1 saw
him on the pulpit in his shirt sleeves
pouring forth stream Of eloquence
which gushed from bis lips like from
one inspired. enthrall a multitude o.
men until thousands were in tears
every fiber of their being wrought tt
tense emotion, and every utterance he
made, every argument be used, was ar
earnest plea for morality, Temperance
and charity. And when he ceased
saw hardened criminal, one whom
had seen with ball and chain, pass W
the aisle, tears streaming from hi
eyes, his whole nature softened as i
had never been before; I saw him grasl
the hand of the evangelist and heart
him say between his sobs: GAS Coz
is my judge I will lead better life,"
saw a sporting man, one who make
his livelihood at the gaming table, VIII
never before, perhaps, had a seriou
reflection, wipe his eyes as be took tn
evangelist's hands and promise to !eat
an honest life. I saw confirmed
drunkards step forward-and promis
to quit these habits. saw 1000 men
three-fourths of whom had, perhaps
never before given a thought to an.
moral precept, one-half Of whom Wer
STEPPED in vice, crowd around tn
evangelist with fearful eyes and sol
emnly pledge their word to reform
Dare any one say that this is OF n
avail? By his works judge him
What if his methods are not in accorc
anc with common usage, his result
condone every fault in language. On
need not commend his flippant replle
to his critics, and, it must be confesse
that his treatment of a recent revie'
upon his methods-which was dlgn
fed, courteous and conservative-ws
not creditable to Mr.. Jones. Still th
pertains to his personality, and COT
not affect the result Of his labors.
I What if large proportion of b
converts relapse into their former mar
ner of life? Some will prove faithful
and in all a seed has teen plante
wheretofore there was sterile sol
Everyone on inquiry can learn OF tn
good work he is doing, of the reform
he has accomplished, of the broke
8 spirits be has revived, of the wea
natures he has strengthened, OF the ra
, of sunshine be has cast into heretofol
, darkened lives, of his charity, his earl
2 estness and of his sincerity.
, 1 have little patience with his d.
tractors; they rail at his mode of e!
S preston had they better not tur
their batteries on frail human natur
e because they know the multitude
attracted and is moved by him?
t anyone is at fault 1t is the people, NJ
: Sam Jones. He perceives the methc
e that must be pursued, and with ma
t velous aptitude he employs it, and b
hold the fruits of his labor He leav
the community better, more elevate
and purer, and every seed he sows IS
D seed of morality, Of temperance,
chastity and Of charity, and not one
evil drops from his hand.
Good Sense!