The Savannah morning news., 1901-05-25
GOT BACK AT REILLY
REV. SAM JONES DIDN'T STOP
SHORT OF THE WORD LIE.
WILL BREAK UP RESERVE
THREATENED TO RETURN TO sA-
VANNAH AND GET IN POLITICS.

Some of the PuIpits i'm Savannah.
Do Religion siore Harm, Than the
Dirtiest Saloon Keepers by Not
Preaching in Accord with the
Bible-Many Pcnitents Went For
ward During the After Service.
Save for the one night when he preach
ed to men only, Rev. Sam Jones has not
had a larger congregation than that
which filled the Tabernacle and stood
about it last night. 1t was an earnest
meeting too, nearly everybody remaining
for the after service and the communion
with God to which they were invited by
the evangelist.
The close of the service was touching
The hardest hearts were impressed "A
heart" said one of the preachers, must
be of iron to withstand the appeal that
there is in that spectacle" Seats imme-
diately in front of the platform had been
cleared for the penitents, who came for
ward in numbers. They hocked about the
evangelist. grasping his hand and recall
ing Biblical pictures of the apostles as the
new people of Christ gathered about them
for the benediction.
From the touch of the hand of the
evangelist, the penitents moved to the
seats-men, women and children intent
upon the consideration of the new life
upon which they were entering and bend
ing themselves to the will and the deter
mination to follow the promptings of that
voice that had spoken within them, de-
manding that they turn from the ways
of the wicked and give themselves, for the
salvation of their immortal souls to God
All were urged to come forward, whether
the youngest child in the great gathering
or the oldest man. People of many sorts
and conditions responded to the invita-
ton, sitting with bowed heads, some
with the tears coursing down their
| cheeks, while, with feelings played upon
by the eloquence and warmth of the
| evangelist, they gave ear both to him
and to the ministers who bent over them
| giving words of comfort and of counsel.
Here was a little boy of ten, with face
seriously set and his thoughts upon things
that were strangers to his childish mind
until that time. There was a young girl,
who, perhaps only the night before had
been enjoying the dance and the pleas
ures that the man who had converted her
abhors Upon another seat was an habi-
tue of the Police Court, a man known to
| the officers of the law as an old offender
one whose custom IL is to get drunk about
as often the thirty-day sentences that
are placed upon him expire. He,
too, had felt the marvellous power that
bends multitudes, and was swaying and
rocking under the emotion that had been
created within him.
There were but few pews, comparative
ly, cleared for the penitents after the
opening service. AS those touched to the
heart filled the pews, the evangelist walk
ed back into the great crowd, grasping still
more hands and causing still more names
to be given to the preachers. who will
seek out the converts and endeavor to
make them identify themselves with some
church.
Rev John d. Jordan, pastor of the
First Baptist Church, prefaced the COL
lection with an appeal for greater gener-
osity. The money question, he said, has
been left in allegiance in connection with
the revival meetings. Mr.. Jones and Mr..
Stuart. he said, came to Savannah for the
salvation of souls, and not for money.
They will pay for their support while
here. but that the preachers do not want
them to do. The preachers themselves,
Dr. Jordan said, Will give all they can
afford to give and have been doing so,
but they would like to see grateful and
spontaneous appreciation of the work that
has been done by the evangelists shown
by libreal contribution. He asked for a
substantial testimonial of the appreciation
by the people of Savannah for what has
been done for their spiritual welfare by
the evangelists and what was done in the
construction of the tabernacle for their
physical comfort.
Mr.. Jones announced that Mr.. Charles
d. Tillman, upon request. would sing
THE Reckoning Hand" but first the min
lister delivered himself in this wise: II
thank God for the evidence that is given
me of the power of these meetings. !
have seen the good that they have ac-
complished. On every side is it made
clear to me that Savannah is being up
lifted and bettered by the power of the
word of God. The ministers meet me in
my room at the hotel and relate in
stances to me to show what has been
done"
Just here Mr.. Jones made a little sally
that ELECTED laughter II used to think, "
he said, that preachers We're angels
But I've got over that They are just
men. I've slept with them and know
what they are Yes, sir, worked with
them, when they had their coats off, and
/ didn't see no wings. | don't know how
1t is with the Pope but l know that
preachers are not infallible. I've got
nothing against any Of these preachers in
Savannah who have not Joined in the
meetings l am like the boy when his
girl told him she'd have him. he said he
didn't have nothin' agin anybody in the
world. The preachers have tried
to keep the people away, but
haven't got anything agin them
They tried to cut down the crowds
and I've had to preach to just a few
faithful people but that's all right. But
III tell you. I've preached to more peo-
Pile in Savannah than the whole bunch Of
those preachers ever have or ever will
They'll pray for the meetings, probably
just like the preacher In California prayed
for them though he wouldn't attend them
himself. because he didn't like slang
1 am for all Savannah and for God"
Tomorrow morning there will be the
usual service here. There won't be any
service tomorrow afternoon but to-mor.
row night there's going to be a tremen-
dous one It's going to be for the colored
folks. l want you all TO know that the
pews Will be for the colored people.
DON'T want a single white person TO SIT
down as long as there is a colored person
standing up. / pray for a glorious meet
ing among the colored folks. I've preach.
ed to ten thousand negroes IN some cities
and the meetings have aroused great in,
terest. The choir will be expected 20 sine
a few hymns, and then we will have 0