The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-02
DANIEL HOGAN, cor a sssf Basss.s.



Editor Morning News The people for
the last two weeks have been treated to
the unusual talk or preaching of the
Rev. Sam p. Jones. He certainly created
no little comment among those who read
OF or heard him preach or talk, for he
did both His preaching was original
unique, attractive and taking in It's way.
The congregations which went to hear
him declared by their presence that they
wanted to bear something new, original
and out Of the old common ruts of min
isterial talk or preaching.
Your writer went to hear him to see
what there was about him which created
such a desire to hear him. Certainly his
slang, abuse, and hard words were not
elevating; but with some 1t had an Ell
feet. 1t was not SO much in what Mr.
Jones said asFin the way of saying 1t,
for words are things and mean much
when directed at any man or thing. TO
change "ink'' for Words as Byron
writes
"a word
Falling like dew. produces that which
Makes thousands, perhaps millions
think
There is a certain magnetic or hypnotic
influence WHICH BotS Oub llOAh MI SSh~S
in the expression of his eyes, the play
of his lips and the ease and naturalness
of his manner which takes and capti-
Yates. The people take to one who is
natural, feels at ease, and is bound by
no set rules or custom. Those VINO
know anything about the psychical force
in man, feel that Mr.. Jones has thrown
himself out of himself into them and ar
rested their attention. 1t is done through
the eye, lips and manner, and Mr.. Jones
is fully aware Of his peculiar power. Att
tractive preachers and orators have it In
great degree. Walter T. Colquitt had 1t
! in wonderful degree, so of Beecher'
Talmage and many others.
The way of saying a thing, or telling
a story may so impress as never TO De
forgotten To know how to talk is the
great seret to impress. Mr.. Jones IS SUI
generis in that line and to be like him,
one must doe perfectly natural and at
ease. The earnestness of Mr.. Jones goes
a long way to impress those VINO near
him. It is not put on, but natural, and
nature is ever attractive.
owhat'er he did was done with so much
ease,
In him alone twas natural to please"
The lesson we learn from Mr.. Jones Is
to be natural in the pulpit to be free and
easy. 70 be conversational, illustrative,
to tell an anecdote that has point
in 1t, as we're the taking and instructive
parab.es Of Jesus when the multitude
gladly heard him. The people are hungry
and thirsty for something new, and hehce'
no empty pews or benches. No doubt St.
Paul was very natural man from wnat
he said, and did not attempt to be wise
or argumentative when he was asked TO
discuss philosophy with his religion. His
A&.x4~ 1.n1 nh
was above all philosophy. Paid Paul sine
worldly wisdom knew not God, IL plsesed
God by the foolishness of preaching to
save them that believe"
Mr.. Jones is not deficient in self-relsaiIce
self-assertion, self-confidence, has also
good large stock of egotism on hand
Your little preachers and"Dullet headed"
fellows who dissent from him, are but
pismire ants in his opinion. A great ego
tist is to be admired in his way, for he
makes a show and diversion for others
We have seen many such in our political
life; real genious is one thing, but noisy
show of self-importance altogether anoth-
er thing.
The tabernacle idea to reach the people
is the idea, and II should be a regular in
stitution In the future. Then the ques-
ton wiM not be asked, why don't the
people, the mass of the people, go to
church, Mr.. Jones solved that question:
Get the right kind of building, and the
right kind Of men to MI II, and the peo-
pie will 60 and by all means have the
right kind Of preaching TO draw.
AS an illustration a number of years ago
a New York minister in going off on his
summer vacation, took the story of the
Prodgal Son as his text. his last. He then
went among the mountains of Vermont
On Sunday he went to country church,
and the minister took the same text. The
country parson. threw life, feeling, pathos,
emotion and love into II. The New York
minister was as much affected as any
In the congregation. When he came out,
he said to himself, there is a great power
IN knowing how to tell a story and TO IL
lustrate great truth He felt himself
a small man by the country parson. Let
a minister feel all over himself and make
his hearers feel with him. Mr.. Jones II
kind OF pointer TO some, barring his Pc
culiar eccentricities and Sam Jonesisms
which IL fully illustrated in his sermons
Ministers are not In the pulpit 10 Tick"
or to be clicked" but 20 persuade men
with kind and inviting words. n. M. o.