Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-22

CARTERSVILLE. Sept 15.-An i'm
mense audience heard Rev. Sam p. Jones
preach at the tabernacle Sunday morn
ing. Before beginning his sermon, Mr..
Jones said:
4 have been silent for four days, now.
unable to stand on my feet and preach
the Gospel TO you. / have in silence sas
aside and stood aside and heard these
other men preach the Gospel Of the Son
OF God. and sometimes unable even 10
come 70 the tabernacle. They would come
back and report Of the sermons preached
by the faithful men Of God, these earnest
Gospel songs which have winged their
way 20 the hearts OF so many, and am
so glad 10 day, whatever may be your
impressions or your thoughts, am so glao
this bright Sunday morning that God mas
given me physical power and strength 10
stand before you and preach the Gospel OF
the Son Of God one more time. 1 have
heard preachers say: i look forward 10
the time when I withdraw from the active
ministry and take the ease OF old age
but brethren. I want 10 say TO you today,
the saddest hour that may ever come TO
my life will be the hour when / realize
profoundly and truly that no more can
stand up and preach the unsearchable
riches OF Christ Jesus. my Lord.
Happy with ny latest breath,
1 may but gasp His name;
Preach Him to all and cry in death,
Behold! Behold; the Lamb.
q esteem IL a God-given privilege that
I may stand before you today and preach
the Gospel Of the Son Of God. My eyes
may look upon this picture for the last
time in this world know not-but II II Is
the last time, when you shah gather I'M
der this consecrated roof in the years to
come remember that there is silent voice
that once talked to you in love, that once
talked to you in reverence. a silent voice
that had rather be here preaching the
Gospel Of Jesus Christ than to be In
heaven. there with the angels Of God en-
loving all that heaven can give to the re-
deemed soul Pray for me today that God
may give me unusual power in getting
hold upon the hearts of the people and
leading them toward a better and hap
pier life, and now let's hear the Word of
the Lord. Everybody give attention"
Mr.. JOnes's text was Acts, 10Th chapter,
18th TO 18th verses, inclusive: ''Whereupon
as went to Damascus with authority ano
midday o King, / saw in the way light
from heaven, above the brightness of the
sun, shining round about me and them
which journeyed with me. And when we
were fallen TO the earth, heard a voice
speaking unto me and saying in the He
brew tongue. Saul, Saul. why persecutest
thou me? II is hard for thee to kick
against the pricks.' And 1 said, Who art
thou. Lord?' And he said. I am Jesus
whom thou persecutest. But rise, and
stand upon thy feet, for have appeared
unto thee for this purpose; TO make thee
a minister and a witness both of these
things which thou hast seen. and of the
people and from the Gentiles unto whom I
now send thee TO open their eyes. and 10
turn them from darkness TO light and from
the power of Satan unto God, that they
may receive forgiveness OF sins, and in
heritance among them which are sancti-
fied oy faith that is in me-"
Mr.. Jones's sermon, in part. was as fol-
lows:
And now, brethren, we have before us
today the experience of st. Paul given to
US clearly, succinctly. Not only his relig-
ious experience, but his experience which
brought him unto the ministry of the Son
Of God. ST. Paul at the time he refers
10 in this text. was on his way TO Damas-
with warrants that he might arrest both
men and women and cast them into pris-
on all who professed to know and love
the name Of Jesus Christ and he tells
US that on that mission. on a mission in
which he was perfectly honest, on a mis-
sion I'm which he threw all the enthusiasm
Of his great soul. and on this mission
there shOne from above him a light great
er than the bright light Of the sun, and ne
with all the company with him, fell pros
trate to the earth, and voice cried from
above and said: Saul. SAUL why perse-
cutest thou me? IL is hard for thee to