The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-25
DEFENDED JONES
REV. DR. JOHN ID. JORDAN ON THE
EVANGELIST.
WHY JONES is FEARED.
OBJECTIONS TO HIS COMING ARE
FROM THE WICKED.

DIR. Jordan Explained why He Had
Joined in the Invitation to the
Evangelist to Visit Savannah-His
Talk Was Such to AIIny Preju-
dice-Rev. Sam Jones, the Pastor
Said, Is a Power for GOOd-EAis Es-
pOusaI of the Cause of Right and
His Success in Fighting for 1t
Have Made Him So Unacceptable to
Those Who Are at Fault.
The work of Rev. Sam Jones and his
prospective visit to Savannah were dis
cussed by Rev. Dr. John d. Jordan at
the First Baptist Church yesterday morn
ing.
Il have united with other pastors
of this city, said DR.. Jordan, ''in
an invitation to the Rev. Sam
p. Jones to come to our city and hold
special meetings for ten days in May. l
did this as an individual citizen. and not
as your pastor. None of you is in any
way bound for endorsement or co-opera-
ton in these meetings. All who will CO.
operate are cordially invited to do so.
Personal liberty is free to all to cooper
ate or not, as each one may elect for
himself.
II expect Mr.. Jones to say many things
that 1 would not say if l could and many
other things that 1 could not say II
would feel sure that whatever he may
say good will be intended,~ and I pro-
pose to get good out of ii. ! am satisfied
that he fears God and doves humanity,
and on this we are thoroughly agreed.
This is a platform on which we all ought
to stand and a creed which we all ought
to accept.
II am sure that many will hail his
coming with delight, while others will
scorn the very thought He is one Of
the abiest advocates of temperance on the
continent. Naturally the power of intem-
perance will be opposed to his coming,
and will spare no effort to hinder his
work. He fights gambling with an ability
and eloquence seldom equaled. OF course
the gambling element viii be opposed TO
him. He is a champion of the Christian
Sabbath, and Its proper observance, hence
the Sabbath decorators will be opposed
to him. He believes in purity in politics
and the dignity of the ballot, so those
who corrupt and debase politics will not
ind him congenial companion He ad-
vocates purity and honor in all the walks
of life, and for this reason many VIII
condemn him. He is a terror to evil and
eviidoers, hence the powers of evil will
be arrayed against him. He is jealous FOR
the salvation of the souls of his fellow
men, and for this course will have many
adyersaries On all these accounts l de-
sire to take my stand with him.
''As to questions of method. detail and
taste many of us may not agree with
him. but this is a mater of minor inn
portance about which the great funda-
mentals ought not to be sacrificed. A
broad-minded people will tolerate much
that they do not indulge in. OF all peo-
pie, Baptists can least afford to be in
tolerant. Intolerance is a work of mar
rowness.
Some people will oppose Mr.. Jones on
the grounds of doctrine. / am sure that
he and 1 are far apart on many doctrines.
He is a loyal Methodist and 1 am just
as loyal a Baptist. / hope we are loyal
Christians first. If that be So we have
common ground enough on which to
stand and labor for the salvation of the
world After salvation comes the ques-
tion of church Let us keep Christ be-
fore the church as its head and power
and salvation before ordinance.
"Our daily papers are thoughtful and
conservative about printing scandals and
indecent things offensive to the moral
sense, but even they give us glimpses
into politics. gambling, Sabbath desecra-
ton. immortality, dishonesty and robbery
that present a deplorable state of affairs.
Prize fight after prize fight has taken
place in our city during the last few
years, and no protest has been made. If
the good people of Savannah do not pro-
test against these things, surely the very
streets must cry out in their own de-
tense.
II do not believe in religious fanaticism
or sensationalism, but we have had wick
ed sensations till they have grown monot-
onous, and a religious sensation would
be somewhat refreshing and not so mo-
notonous. at least.
81 appreciate the fact that ! have the
honor to be pastor of the largest con-
gregation in the city, as to numbers,
and a people second to none in quality.
I also recognize that with this honor
comes a great responsibility. My prayer
is for knowledge. wisdom and courage to
discharge this obligation.
THAT I may do my work right and
well, 1 ask for your prayers, counsels
and cooperation. Whatever may come or
go in the Jones' meetings let us ask this
question: Who is on the Lords side?
Let us find where we stand and If we
are not close to the Lord. let us seek to
get there at once. Indifference on the
part of Christians is harder on the
preachers, churches and cause of Christ
than the opposition of the world"