The Savannah morning news., 1901-05-19
BACK AT ALDERMEN
REV. SAM JONES SAYS THEY'LL IL
CENSE ANYTHING.
FOR DEVlLTRY UNLIMITED
HE PRoNoUNCEs SAVANNAH THE
PLACE ABOVE ALL OTHERS

Take the PledGe-ROasts the City
Clubs They Are Hog-waIIOws,
Says the Preacher-savannah Gets
Its Share of Hard Talk.
Rev. Sam P Jones talked last night to a
crowd that flied while it did not over
flow, the tabernacle in the park extension.
He jumped on the City Council, repeated
his criticisms Of the Eiks, likened the
city clubs that maintain bars to hog
wallows and rounded it all off with
good long, hard roast of Savannah in
general.
And every time ne had the crowd with
him. Every time he turned loose hot shot
about individuals, organizations or the
city generally. the congregation turned
itself loose and applauded He talked
plain, blunt talk and there was no diff
Guilty in understanding what he said and
what he meant. And the crowd. when he
had brought his remarks to a close, arose
and gave silent Endorsement, at his re-
quest, to what he had said. Opinions of
the man may differ, as indeed they do;
here in Savannah they run the gamut
that lies between the crown of the Mes
siah and the cap and bells Of the mounte-
bank On one subject there can be no d.
verse opinions among those who have at
tended a gathering at which he has
spoken; that he holds his audiences in
the hollow of his hand and controls it at
will, there can be no shadow of doubt.
Things had not progressed far last
night, before Mr.. Jones delivered himself
of some of his characteristic utterances.
He was telling the congregation about
the services for to-day.
in this Tabernacle tomorrow night"
he said. II am going to speak to men
only. I want to talk to men. too-we
don't want any trundle-bed trash around
here"
Then he continued: II think this is one
of the largest Saturday night audiences
I have ever addressed. I want to make
st the best. Usually we don't conduct
Saturday night services in the towns in
which We happen to be. but I wanted to
hold one in Savannah. Tonight the devil
is abroad and the old red noses are load
ing up for tomorrow
my friends, things have been told me
to-day that have made me feel good. God
is in this city, and, if you viii watch and
pray with US. 1 believe the next forty
eight hours will see things happeningl in
Savannah that will shake the old town
from center to circumference. mean
what I say.
You come out TO these services and
help us. Don't waste your time aguing
with those who don't come and don't want
TO come. Don't waste any time defending
me; don't need any defense. ! you find
anybody who has got something to say
about me, why just give him two nlckels.
one to pay his way going and the other
returning. and send him 90 me at the De
Soto. I'll greet him cordially and l won't
hurt him, either.
Don't you be worried about what peo-
pie say about me. Why, bless you. be-
cause Savannah don't like me, is no re-
Election on Sam Jones It's just proof
that you are too mean to like a good fell
low.
Let 'em talk. About Monday 1 hope to
have the aldermen of the city interview
ed. but I'd just as soon interview TN oys-
ter. I'm here now. They talk little be-
fore come and after go they may have
few brief remarks to make, but they
are not going to say anything now. They
know I'm a great hand for pedigrees and
I'll tell you, Bud, there amt many of
your aldermen who want their pedigrees
looked into. I'm not talking about their
ancestry now; for all i know they may
come from some of the best people who
ever walked the earth. What I'm after is
their moral pedigree. I'm talking about
their daddy, the devil, and his gang"
You know" said Mr.. Jones' leaning
over towards his hearers and speaking
in a confidential undertone, with a grim
ly sarcastic smile. curling his lip, some
NJ
like that TO my face. I'd knock him
down Well, what's that you are look
ing up at me with? Amt l talking to
that and amt that your face" said the
speaker as If struck by sudden inspir-
alton, do you wear your nose on the
back of your head?
Il keep on repeating it. All want any
man who desires to discuss things with
me to do IS to give me his name. That's
all-let him give me his name"
All this was preliminary to the sermon.
The text was: What must / do to be
saved? And they said. believe in me Lord
Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved and
thy house"
Religion is intensely a personal mat
ter" said Mr. Jones' ut is not Ques-
ton for the state. or the city, or the ward
of the city or the family, but for every
individual man and woman. 1t is a ques-
ton for me, and Il IS a question what /
shall do. Not what 1 read, or think. or
am told, but what / do makes religion
and the difference between the best man
in Savannah and the worst is the differ
ence between what they do Religion, in
tts last and best analysis, is something to
love and something to hope for.
ITS truth I'm telling you, brother It's
what you do on this earth that is goug
10 count when you come to answer up
yonder. That old doctrine about If I'm
10 be saved, 1 shall. and If | amt, l
amt won't do. That old Hardshell talk
has played out; you can't make any man
that's got sense enough TO be reasone 4
with believe word of it, don't know
anybody Of whom the devil has got pos
session more completely than an uncon-
verted Hardshell.
1T reminds me OF the preacher who
was conducting a revival IN a Hardshell
community, who asked an old sinner IN
the neighhorhood to come over and hear
him preach. The old fellow leaned over
towards the preacher and said. Brother.
I've been listening TO hear the stil. small
voice for sixty years. and haven't heard
81 yet Well the preacher answered,
~ ia been listening to hear a thing for
sixty years. I'd either move up closer or
pick my ears That's what you want
10 do, Bub."
Mr. Jones said there was too r,ttr !,