The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-22
THE SAVING POWER
REV. SAM JONES STORY OF HIS
CONVERSION.
MANY ASKED FOR PRAYER.
NUMBER OF PENITENTS TNCREAs-
ING AT EVERY MEETING.

From the TabernacIe-The Divine
Power That saves the subject of
the EvanEeIists SermOn-ToId of
His own Conversion and How He
Had Kent the Fnith-Says Ministers
Have Been the sections of Grave
Yards Long Enough, Church Mem
bers Need to Re Awaked-Seats to
BE Reserved for Working Girls.
Germans Ask That No Attention BE
Paid to MILLER.
Twenty-Five hundred people attended
the service at the Tabernacle last night
despite the bad weather. Rev. Sam Jones
preached the third time for the day. and
with unusual success if one might judge
by the number of those that Drofessed
themselves anxious for Christian life.
In his preliminary remarks Mr.. Jones
said that the interest that brought so
many to the meeting despite the unfa-
vorabIe circumstances, was most encour-
aging to those who strove to do good in
the meetings.
Before the meeting closes" he said,
II expect to see the most marvellous re-
suits that this old town has ever wit
messed. The results already have been
very successful" he continued but they
shall appear but as drops of water to
showers before this series of meetings is
over. Every service encourages the faith
of my heart and the belief of my soul
that l will do great work in Savannah.
All my energies are conferred in this work,
and l think and dream of nothing else.
hau I
been those of rainy nights. On such nights
come those that are truly interested,
while the throng that would be drawn by
mere idle curiosity is absent"
The text of the sermon was from Peter,
1874. According as his divine power hath
given US all things that pertain unto life
and goodness, through the knowledge of
him that hath called US TO glory and vir-
tue.
Whereby are given unto us exceeding
great and precious promises; tnat by these
ye might be partakers of the divine ma
ture, having escaped the corruption that
is in the world through lust"
Il want to say TO YOU" said the speak
er, that he that takes hold of the arm
of Almighty God is coupled TO the thing
that will make him a man of the highest
type, Gods ideal. BY simple faith, and
"a trust in God we are put beyond mere
human strength and power and beyond
even Satanic power. We are sustained by
the same power that pitched the worlds
into space, and sitting on a celestial
throne as they whirl. can yet count the
hairs OF your head and allow no sparrow
even to fall until he himself hath signed
its death warrant.
Look at old ocean as 1t rolls and rocks
in its bed; see the cyclones that whirl and
toss houses and trees. This mighty power
is exerted ten thousand times more
strongly in the worlds about us and yet
that same power we take hold of through
Jesus Christ.
The man charged with crime thinks
TO enhance his chance of escape by secur-
ing the ablest counsel; the sick man feels
the safer that he has an experienced ply
sician a man would feel the safer from
his enemies were he protected by a giant.
And these things are all very well in their
way, but they dwindle and sink into insig-
nifcance when the earnest penitent soul
puts Itself under the shadow OF the Al
mighty.
'As we have drifted away from that
power, we have drifted in TO trusting our
own resources, though to-day the world
IS nearly ready to admit that humanity
is but bruised and broken reed. From
the strong faith In God we have drifted
into creeds; We have Theosophy and we
have Christian science and others. What
we want is the man that walks under the
protection of God. He is a giant in
himself. What we need is to quit trust
bng our own power and to take hold on
God.
Il want to say things to you men and
want you to hear me. ! have known
men attempt to practice law and fail
through lack of ability and resources; 1
have known men try to be physicians,
and fail through want of adaptibility;
and so in other walks of life. But l look
you in the face tonight and say that
there Is no reason in heaven or earth or
hell why any man should fail to be
strong. true Christian"
Il was in Wannamaker's store in Phil
edelphia once. and under the escort of
Mr.. Wannamaker himself, was being
shown through the place. He explained
The departments, which are so numerous
and so complete that he offered me
premium If / could ask for anything that
he had not in the store. Now. the Fat her
in Heaven for four thousand years has
ransacked the earth for material which
he has put between the lids of this old
book until to-day IL any that hunger or
thirst can not find meat and drink in this
book. but would ask for something not
here, ] believe that God would give to
them a premium that even angels might
well covet."
II tell you. brother. II you can but get
your eyes open and see the equipment
that God has given whereby you may be-
come an honest, decent. and Christian
man, you viii lock that book in your arms
and go home shouting for JOY"
IF you or ] should miss heaven at last
II won't be Gods fault; IL won't be ,he
worlds fault, and 1t won't be the DEVILS
fault; but It will be our own fault. that
we have chosen the way OF sin and dark
ness. Think of these things, then cav
III quit these weak and whining ways
and accept what will help me to be a
man and an honor 10 my church and my
country?
do you want a brother TO help you?
There is Christ on Calvary. Do you need
a father2 There's such a one as mortal
cannot conceive OF. Poor, weak man, don't
you tremble every time you think of your
future? Rally yourselves tonight: come
TO God. and make yourselves a power for
good in Savannah"
Mr. Jones then told the story of his
own conversion. by the waywardness of
my Hfe." he said. my wife. my father
and my friends had about lost hone that
] would ever change. But one day. the
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