Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-09-12
Breezy Sam Jones.

Rev. Sam Jones was in a merry
mood at Emory Grove Camp, Md,
recently, and the good stories which
he told in the course of his sermon
and the humorous illustrations and
quaint expressions which he used
kept the audience smiling most of
the time.
" know perfectly WE'LL" he said ,
"that some of you object to some
Of the things which 1 say here this
morning. Lord bless you, I am
glad you do. 1t shows that you still
have some life left in you. All the
dynamos in Baltimore can't put life
into corpse. And if you show
that you don't like what I am saw
ing, 1t lets me see that you are still
kicking.
can hear some of the solemn.
faced sisters saying, "You gave us
such a nice, serious sermon, last
night, Mr.. Jones, that 1 expected to
enjoy myself this morning. But
now the way you are talking has
spoiled it ALL" Last nights SER
mon was serious one, but it had
its place and had its effect. This
morning ] want to reach everybody,
and l am going to talk down to the
level OF everybody, so as to reach
the gang in the easiest way. But
defy any of you to say that you
can't find some serious thought,
some vein of philosophy, running
through all my illustrations.
The best way to serve fodder is to
put 1t down on the ground so that
all the animals can get it, both the
little billy goat and the long-necked
glraffe. That's what's the trouble
with most preachers to-day. They
talk over the heads of the crowd
VINO listens to solemn sermon on
Justification by Faith?' Why the
long-fnced sister in the front bench
is thinking all the time of something
that she must do when she gets home
and the pretty girl yonder is dream
ing of don't know what you call
the creature in this vlcinity-he
with his hair separated in the
middle, with toothpick shoes and q
toothpick brain-she's thinking of
him, and not word does she hear
about justification by faith.'"
The method of fighting the devil
by organizing all the forces of Chris
tlanity was the main theme of Mr..
Jones's sermon.
When l was preaching out in
Springfield, ILL.,, not long ago." said
he, "a minister came to me and
asked me if 1 did not think the
world was getting worse instead of
better.
Arn't there more saloons p he
queried.
YOU'RE right 1 replied.
More gambling hells?
'Yes.'
More shameless houses p
'Yes.'
More of the devil everywhere p
YOU'RE right again, my friend,' /
replied. THAT'S because the devil
has got all his people into splendi d
working order. Ifyou strike blow
at one saloon, you hit them all. If
you make war against one gambling
hell, all of them are up in arms. II
you try to get rid Of one shameless
house, they're all fighting you. The
unification of every Christian force
Is absolutely necessary, said to him,
in conclusion, before we can even
get fair whack at the DEVILS le-
gions.'
Every one of you knows what a
splendid thing big steam engine is.
Did you ever think that it was sim
ply one big lot of iron magnificently
organized and put together? Now
you see that lot of scrap iron out
there under one Of those trees. That's
iron and it's heavy, but all that YOU
would have to do to get rid oft would
be to get niger and a wheelbar.
row.
Faith and Good Work ought to
be the motto Of every one who
wants to work for God. You can't
get along without both of them
It's like being in canoe pulling fol
certain place. Let Faith be the
right oar and Good Work the lef,
oar. If you pull on faith alone
you'll spin around and around t,
the right and you never will get tc
the place where you are going. The
same way with Good Work alone
But If you pull straight ahead will
both oars you're sure to make you
way to the City Of God.
The trouble with most Christian
people Is that they are like the mule
which an old darkey was beating t.
make him 60 faster. The old coor
thumped and lashed him, but the
mule never increased his three mil,
an hour gait.
"Why don't he go faster wher
you beat him 2" some one asked.
well, you see,' was the reply
he's got mighty tough hide anC
Q powerful short recollection
And that's what's the matter will