The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-18
NOT WORTH HALF A MILLION.
Sam Jones Pays His Respects to the
Newspaper Mnn who Said SO.

| sam Jones Pays His Respects TO the
Newspaper Man who Said So.
i Since the arrival of Rev. Sam Jones in
Savannah; in fact, long before he came
he was the subject of much curios-
ity and speculation, but neither his per-
sonality original though it be, nor his
methods, peculiar unto themselves, ex-
cited any more interest than was dis
played in the subject of his reputed
wealth, which has been variously esti-
mated from $4,000 to 100000.
Mr.. Jones and his three daugh-
tiers are at the De Soto. where
MIR. Jones has been since he ar
rived in the city. A Morning News re-
ported asked him yesterday whether he
considered great wealth and true Chris
tianity compatible.
"On that question" said Mr.. Jones. II
agree with Andrew Carnegie hold that
the man who dies rich is dlsgraced here.
and damned hereafter. I could have been
worth 100000 if l had wanted to be, but
I've been mixed up enough with rich
folks to know that wealth doesn't bring
happiness or content"
In a recent letter by w. E. Curtis III
the Chicago Record Herald, it was stated
that Mr.. Jones wealth is rated at $500.
Co., invested in plantations and stocks,
bonds and other securities, that he
has recently erected for himself a hand
some residence costing with it's furniture,
between $4,000 and $4,000, and that he
makes not less than 81 900 a week from his
evangelstic labors.
This statement relative to the evan
gelist's wealth was preceded by another
that Mr.. Jones had compared Savannah
to Sodom and Gomorrah, and had declar-
ed that the Almighty had appointed him
to conduct crusade against it, and re-
move it farther than half a mile from
hell, the distance that he estimates now
separates the two places. At the same
time Mr.. Curtis said Savannah has
always been regarded as one of the most
moral communities in the country. No
city in the world of the same size is so
free from vice and crime and so given
to religious and charitable work"
Another statement that Jones was
invited here by the Ministerial
Association, but that since the
churches have divided, the Presbyterians,
Lutherans. Episcopalians and one of the
Baptist Churches having withdrawn; that
although some of the most prominent
members of that church are denouncing
him as mountebank," has caused some
talk.
Il say that W. z. Curtis is the most
monumental liar that this century has
produced" was Mr.. Jones' comment on
the newspaper man. after he had read
his letter, IF this is a sample
of his exhumations. 1 don't see thing
h.af i1
They may not be his lies. but, il not.
then he has been wallowing around with
the liars of Savannah"
Mr. Jones took up the statements seria-
tenn. "Lie No. J." he said, lis that 1
compared Savannah to Sodom and Gomor-
rah
Lie No. . is that no city in the world
of the same size is so free from vice
and crime.
Lie No 3 is in reference to the minis
ters' association, for he lied like two dogs
when he said that any minister or church
had withdrawn its cooperation.
I'm tie the blue ribbon on him for his
lie about the cost of my house at Car
tersville. He says it cost between $4,000
and $4,000 In his first guess he missed
the real cost $4,000; and in his second
attempt $50 600 He missed my wealth,
when he put it at $4,000, about $3.50, 900
or S4S5, COO
II understand" continued Mr. Jones,
that the average newspaper correspond
ent tells one lie a day. but didn't know
it was necessary to tell one hundred. One
good thing about the newspapers, though,
is that nobody is ignorant enough to be-
lieve everything they say unless it's some
ignorant alderman of Savannah"
In discussing the present series of
meetings Mr.. Jones said that they
began well, that they have deepened and
broadened in influence and promise more
results than have any similar meetings
that he has conducted in ten years.
The meetings here. he said will be the
last that he will conduct this summer
When they are closed he will begin his
lecture tour, which will embrace some
forty-fve Chautauqua engagements To
this lecture work. he says, he now de-
votes half of his time. as his i'll health
makes it impossible to carry on as much
evangelistic work as he used. to DO.
II am going to preach to men only
Sunday night" said Mr.. Jones. Come
out, If you want to see blood and hair
and the ground tore up right"
Thursday nights sermon being quite
the warmest that Mr.. Jones has delivered
i'm Savannah, some of the ministers inter-
ested in the meetings were asked yestcr-
day If they had any criticism to make
of the utterances of the night before. Rev
w A Nisbet of the Second Presbyterian
Church, said. 81 have neither excuse nor
apology to make for Rev. Mr.. Jones. and
I am quite satisfied with the results Of
the meetings"
Rev Bascom Anthony of Trinity
Church said. II am quite satisfied: /
knew what to expect and am right in line
with him. Last nights talk was warm,
but expect something warmer before he
gets through"
Rev. Ed. F. Cook of Wesley Monument
al Church said: IT stand where I've al
ways stood; I'm glad he came"