The Savannah morning news., 1901-05-13
JONES MEETINGS ON
EVANGELIST STUART STARTED
THEM IN THE PARK.
Mr.. JONES COMES TO-DAY.
CROWDS OF PEOPLE HEARD THE
Il TALKS BY MIR. STUART.

ice-aIethods Were Departure
From Those to which savannah
Has Been Northumberland
Landed Mr.. Jones and Had Word
for the COochee-COOchee Dance
and "Cussing" az lie Has Heard II
in Savannah.
Staid Savannah was treated to a new
experience last night. Conservatism in
religion has been a mark of the city for
years but the even tenor of its way was
interrupted by Rex. George r. Stuart,
who preached the first OF the sermons
that are to be delivered during the course
of their meetings by himself and Rev
Sam Jones. who will arrive this morning
from Waycross. Services will be held at
the Tabernacle in the Park Extension
this afternoon at 4:9O o'clock and again
tonight. Both evangelists will preach,
one at one service and the other at the
other. The arrangement will be made
between them to-day
The Tabernacle was crowded last night,
and all about the structure, lined up on
the outside, were people gathered to hear
the evangelist Before o'clock the con-
steady influx for half an hour or more.
OF the many assembled, the fair sex fur
nished the greater number, showing, ap-
parently, that stories of what might be
said had not the power to keep the ladies
away
Music was distinct feature of the ser
vice, and will be throughout the meetings.
Mr.. J. w Ramsay is musical conductor
for Mr.. Stuart, while Mr.. Charles d.
Tillman of Atlanta will fill that post for
Mr.. Jones. On the platform behind the
preacher the choir was stationed, each
member wearing a badge. The first taste
OF anything else than the suave polite
and weli-modulated ministerial utterances
TO which they have been accustomed fell
to the members of the congregation wnen
Mr.. Ramsay was eXhorting those who
had choir badges to present themselves
for seats on the stage People caught
their breath he addressed them, telling
them that they need not expect to wait
and use their badges when the taberna-
Gle might be crowded, crawling up to the
platform for places when they could not
get them elsewhere
After the talk to which they listened
from Mr.. Stuart, however, the words of
Mr.. Ramsay seemed as but the soft
NuISpeTlngS OF a mother S love
On the Speakers Platform.
Among those on the speakers platform
were Rev. w. A. Nisbet of the Second
Presbyterian Church. president of the
Ministers Association; Rev. Bascom An
thony of Trinity Church, Rev. Ed f.
Cook of Wesley Monumental Rev. o. f.
Cook of Grace Church. Rev. w p. Nc
Corkle of the First Presbyterian, Rev.
J. A. Smith of Epworth Methodist
Church. Rev. Dr. Quillian of Madison
Rev 7. r. mccarthy of Cedartown, and
Rev. J. L. Gerdine of Tennille.
Rev. Mr. Anthony opened the meeting
after several songs had been sung by the
choir, led by Mr.. Ramsey. He first an
nounced that a collection would be taken
up AT each meeting He said that he was
glad to see that so many daughters and
mothers had shown by their presence
that they were not afraid Of being cor
rupted. and promised the congregation
that. If a circus was to be seem it would
be a cleaner one than the last seen in
the Park Extension. Rev. Mr. McCarty
prayed for the success of the meetings
and invoked the power of God for the
crushing out of every saloon in Savan-
nah.
Then Mr.. Stuart began his talk. While
the preacher yet sits in his chair. one is
impressed by his personality. And the
suppression is favorable Kindness and
henevolence are reflected from every fea-
ture. Accumulated by a nose that he him
self makes the subject of an occasional
jest, his face at once attracts attention
A strong suspicion that the man has a
world Of humor about him enters the
mind even before he begins to speak and
but little time is then required to make
the suspicion certainty. There is power
too. in what he says. aud pathos as we'll
Only two or three times did Mr.. Stuart
seek to play upon the softer feelings, but
each time he was successful and his pic.
ture Of the graduation exercises. when a
boy did homage to his mother. made
many handkerchief steal to feminine
eyes.
His Talk on Jones.
Mr. Stuart preached a sermon, but pre-
faced it with an announcement about the
meeting and Sam Jones, which, perhaps
interested the congregation no less than
did the sermon itself. With a determina-
tion TO be understood from the start ne
jumped in medias res. saying that there
was policeman present. and that he
would act promptly when needed. IL
shall watch for disturbances" the preach.
er said. when / see one. ! shall direct
the attention of the policeman 10 the
disturber, and he will grasp him by the
nape OF the neck and put him out OF the
building. None but the low and nl-bred
would disturb a divine service, anyway.
This Is plain, but true. Besides, you
don't have TO come. Stay away il you
do not propose TO behave.
Some funny things have been said and
written about Sam Jones and our pros
pectiVe meetings in Savannah. 1t would
make dog laugh to get them together
and have them served out. Sam Jones
needs no defense, and don't any of you
go away from here and say that / am
defending him. / have been twelve years
with Jones, preaching with him. slept
with him. eaten with him, travelled with
him and divided money with him. Don't
tell me / don't know him / write him
down as one Of the cleanest, purest men
in the land"
Just here there was a novelty in Sa-
vannah religious services Hands were
clapped, and this style of applause was
frequent during the meeting. II under
stand" continued Mr.. Stuart, that right
on this eorund they had q coochee-coo-
chez dance not long ago. laughter. Is
that 500" (Turning TO the ministers be-
hind him). Mr.. Anthony replied that the
ministers had not seen IT, but that II was
so. Some of the women in this town
saw t. though" said Mr.. Stuart.
Too Much Cussin'.
81 have heard more GUESSING to-day than
4 have In turc1vn mani his " sfNo"