The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-05-05

Rev. Sam Jones is within tho gates
of Roanoke. The broad, low structure
where he discoursed yesterday afternoon
was fairly filled when the services
begun. Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr.
Atwell, of Lynchburg. A hundred
voices from the platform and three
thousand from the ground joined in
singing, "Know Thou Every Blessing"
Tho effect was dwarfed by imperfect
time. In few days the spirit of Sam
Jones will have entered into tho music
and harmony will come. The very
ground will breath of Sam Jones.
His is an interesting personality.
Spare, but we'll built, slightly above
middle height Dark. distinctly South
crn type, head long and square, nous
tache small and dropping, hair showing
few streaks OF gray above the square
forehead. His ears arc long and angu.
lar. lis face is thin. The lines of
thought across the brow are not deep.
Tie lines of laughter around the mouth
are clear In humor his face lghtcns
and glows; in speech it sets into iron
resolution. No half way purpose there.
His is tho indomitable will, and his soa
is deep.
One could go through the audience
and find dozen men of the Sam Jones
type Of face. You can rake the South
and not find another of the Sam Jones
type of mind. lie is epigrammatic. He
has thought not deeply but plainly, for
to him the truth is simple and right is
right. His words burn in, but his speech
is elaboration itself. To him words are
wagons for thoughts, and he uses The
wag. which carries best.
Ii Roanoke is not churned I'M from
the bottom before Sunday the writer
judges without wisdom From Sam
Jones rostrum tears and laughter have
free play. There is no pattern to meas
ure him. He is himself.
1T is a matter of great personal pleas.
ure for me-" said Mr.. Jones, ito be
with you in the begimnng of this series
OF meetings. know that yoa have
prayed as have prayed that the bless
lDgs OF God may attend every service,
and that you have prayed for the pres
ence and power of the Holy Ghost upon
these meetings.
81 have no confidence in what any
man may do. We have this pleasure in
earthen vessels, that the eXcellency of
the power may be of God and not of
earth. We're you to bring back in life
the twelve disciples or apostles and they
were to stand here and preach ten DAYS
or two weeks without the presence and
power of God, but little would he &C.
cOmpllshed. But If we have the pres
ence and power OF God q great deal will
be accomplished at every service NV
'ct-worker, Brother Stuart, will be on to-
morrow. Brother EMcell is with me
now and Brother Culpeper. one of phe
brightest preachers of this century will
Join us later along in the week, and j
believe that if God SHALL be with rs we
shall have one of the most wonderful
meetings in the history of this couNtry.
~ have not been able to open NV
mouth in public since tho close of our
Augusta meeting. 1t is experimental
largely with me whether shall be able
to DO as much work as want to do in
TINS meeting, but we commit it all to
Goa and trust at every service shall
be more and moro effec tive and able tn
do the work
~ want to say to the usAers there is
a large responsibility upon you, brcth.
rem. 1t is TO you | look for order, for
everything must be done in decencv
and in order. You have a thanlsless.
hard task to perform, but you can help
me and contribute much to the success
of the meetings if you will do your work
well. SEQ that no one walks through
the audience while am talkiag at any
time or while Brother Excel is singing
solo. Try to be prompt; try to be here
ahead OF the congregation and seat them
we'll.
Now, this afternoon we are going to
take these Serds-about the last words
OF one of the grandest men in the worlds
history, for believe in history, sacred
and profane, there is hardly the peer of
st. Paul, or Saul Of Tarsus. believe
him to be the greatest man God ever
made, and take up his last words, and
| want you and l to think about them
this afternoon.
81 have fought a good fight: have
finished my course; l have kept the
faith.
at is not always what is said There
is great deal in who said 1t. A man
with force and charac ter, when he talks.
can always get my attention. A man
who has made success OF life and built
up character can always get nv ear
when he has anything to say. st. Paul,
one OF the most remarkable characters
in history, says something to US this