Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-11-20
SAM JONES AND HIS BROTHER
History OF Two Notable and Popular
Preec! ers OF Georgia. One Method
list, the Other Baptist.

history OF Two Notable and Popular
Preaci ers of Georgia, One Method
list, the Other Baptist.
There arc two preachers in Gainesville,
Ga, who are brothers. They bear the name
of Jones and are widely known. one is
Sam Jones. the Methodist evangelist and
lecturer, and the other is Joe J. Jones, the
BAPTIST evangelist. Both of these men
have tasted the dregs of dissipation.
The Jones family came from Chambers
county. Ala, the father of the boys being
Cart. John J. Jones. Major W. +. Slator
was teaching school over there. and was
attracted by the brightness of Sam, then
a youngster of seven. Even at that early
age he was gifted with CAB and loved
TO stand up and speak before large audi
encos Major Slator wrote for Sam a
speech that he delighted TO say, and II
always brought down the house. Sam
was always full of life and mischief. and
even in his hoyhood despiscd a dull time
After his father moved to Gainesville
Sam secured possession OF an old mule
and wagon. The animal bore the name
| Of Dave. and Sam, who has always been
attracted by things pertaining to the rail-
roads, trained him to 60 on and stop and
blow like a locomotive. One long blow
meant stop: two short blows so on. and
three back up. Old Dave was trained
to perfection, and sometimes. with a wa
/
speeding through the town. old Dave on a
| dead run. Suddenly "Hoo-oo-o" would
| sound out, ard throwing himself on his
| h1unches the mule would stop stock still.
and the boys would tumble headoEg out
| Of the wagon.
| When he was IS years Sam went off
to school. and on his return had contract
ed the fatal habit Of drink. There could
| re no half way doins with such man rs
sam Jones, and he went to his very limit.
and came near Wreckng his body, mind,
and soul. lie went from depth to depth,
trampins the hearts of his loved ones
beneath his feet, They grieved over him
and did everything in their power to get
| him to give up drink but to no avail.
There came a day when the aged father
sckencd and came down to his death bed.
He sent for his maynard son, and with
| his failing breath begged him to reform.
For Gods sake" said he. "qult drinking
and he n man"
Falling on his knees by the bed, the
miserable young man promised his father
that he would give up whisky, and he did
sober nm.
On Sunday the father died. Tho next
week Dr, William II. FELTON,, the preach
"r-consres sman, the modern edition Of
| Patrick Henry, started an old fashioned
country meeting in a little wooden build
| ing known as Fcltons chapel. since the
doctor built it, and there preached the
gospel. A part OF the building is still
standing. 1t is four miles from Carriers
Vile, and Is occupied as a residence.
sam and his brother Joe went to the
meeting Or FELTON, preached from the
text, Is there no balm in Gilead, nc
physician there"
| When mourners were called to the altar
Sam was the first to respond, and knco!-
ing there in that little country meeting
house he gave his heart to God and hc.
| = n Il- T@.alt
him and said;
There's going to be a preacher of thu
Gospel The young man was imprcssrC
with the thought, and the next week bt
preached his hrst sermon He has bee,
AT it ever since, and his name is know
IN every state in the Union.
During the time that Sam was dissipat
ing Joe was a sober man. with a vii,
and several children. But a year aftc
Sans conversion he began to drink. jus
to show that he was not hidebound. o
course, and that he was man enough t,
quit whenever he wanted to.
1t was the same old sad story. He wen
from bad to worse in spite OF the plead
Ing of his loved ones. He lost much o
his self-respect, and would often appci
In town in state of intoAication. on
DAY friend f. A. Clayton, who is still
in Cartersvile. and who is better known
as Dick Clayton met him on the street
Joe" said he, Il am your friend, hi
] am ashamed of you, You are 40 low
down you are no longer respectable.
II was a random shot, but it struck tn
mark II ranked in the heart of the mis-
I, cradle man, lie went home and durin,
the next day, which was Sunday. he tre'
t. wash 1t out in whisky, but it would no
wash out.
Joe then lived about a mile and hal
north OF Cartersville, on the Western an
Atlantic railroad. Some time Sunda
night his whisky gave out. His monr
was also gone, and he was in misery
Before daylight he found a gold breast
pin belonging to his wife, and with tina
in his pocket he hurried to town.
When the saloon opened he was there
and he succeeded in trading of hi
breastpn for two quarts of whisky. BE
fore leaving town he emptied one of ther
down his throat. He started home jus
/, as the lay was dawnng. His brain Wa
IN wild tuInult and he staggered alon
, the track The early train for Atlant
, came in sight. He saw the cleaning cy
and heard the Humorous roar. in his de
lirium he fancied he was III hell but h
stumbled along to meet the oncomn
! monster. Suddenly he felt an awfl
shock. and then above his head thor
Was the noise of a hurricane; dust was i
his eyes. and then all was still, He cam
like the prodieal to himself. He realize
that he had fallen into stock gap, an
thus his life had been saved.
lie fell upon his knees and prayed I
God. Tie reached into his pocket. pulle
out the bottle and smashed it upon tn
iron rail. There in the kindling light c
the new day he wrestled In prayer unit
an answer came, and then with swec
peace within his heart he arose and WEI
n back home. His wife met him at the dool
y and putting his arms about her he sa't
q Wife, I'm sober I'll never drink an
: more"
"Oh. I know it. husband" she crieC
. "for I've been up all night praying tina
y God would save you"
IL was afterward learned that Sam, VIII
was In New York preaching, had spent tn
= night praying for Joe.
, Soon after that he entered the Mcthc
3 dist ministry, and there remained f.
about four or five years, and then afte