The Washington herald., 1906-10-16
often Fen from Grnee.

I
news of his death was received.
often Fell from Grace.
Rev Samuel p. Jones, or sam Jones, %
as he is generally called. was a famous
/ American evangelist. and accomplished
much good. In his youth. however. nc
was dissipated in his habits. and In the
many years since his reformation has had
1 many relapses. Only two years ago when
be appeared before an audience at Port
land. Ne. he was not in condition TO
speak, and had TO leave the platform on
plea Of illness.
Mr. Jones WAS native If Alabama.
where DE was born October IG. 1876. bul
had lived nearly all his life in Georgia.
His father was lawyer. successful In his
profession. Of good social position, and
esteemed by his friends as "a consistent
Christian. The son adopted his father
profession, but, unlike him. was dissipatcd
ia his habits. The evangelist IN his public
addresses spoke of this part Of his life
with entire candoT and confessed his
worthlessness 10 his family and society.
Incorporate and addicted 20 gambling. he
seemed 10 himself to DC on the point OF
ruin. when he was brought to serious
thought by his fathers death. The story
runs that. overcome by his fathers ap-
peals, the prodigal boy fell down at the
doathbed. saying: I'm quit, I'll quit God
be mCrciful TO me-
becomes Platform Speaker.
This change In both the inward and out
ward shaping OF his conduct occurred in
or about 1871 Sensible Of the dangers
which he had so narrowly escaped. he be-
gan TO warn others So great was his
revulsion from his old life that his pic
lures OF It were drawn with terrible pow
er. He became noted at once for the Sc
verify with which he spoke Of the common
vices Of society, and censured the incon-
sistencies Of christians. Often he gave
great offense, irritated and angered his
hearers. bat his persistence and sincerity
uniformly secured him the victory over
passion and prejudice
He was sent as a raw beginner. 10 learn
the art of preaching on a hard circuit.
and by this Is meant a number OF con
gregations mostly composed Of the poor.
and with a slender prospect tor q liberal
support Of the preacher This was In ISL
the year when he entered the North Caro-
lima Conference, of the Southern Method
Isl Church Il very soon became appar-
cnt that Sam Jones bad the power II
arrestiug and holding the attention of his
hearers He had perfectly at command
the homely dialect Of the common folk:
though always serious. yet when a slang
phrase suited his purpose ii never came
amiss-
BY the time eight years were pas. SJm
Jones became we'll known as q powerful
ax-qfs rvlifcf grtI his errr.irev vra~o -,r,,rl,4
for in every part Of the State. lis con-
ference, therefore. gave him a general
commission as the agent OF its Orphans
Home. The home was ia distress for waut
Of money; it was his business 10 ueet tic
people wherever they would open the ~
for his coming and to take collections for
its relief. ON these terms all GeOrgtl was
ready TO receive him The home was soon
relieved. made more commodlous and put
Gpor career of prosperity.
Tours North and south.
The fame Of sam Jones as an eXhorter
soon spread beyond the confines %
Georgia. and he began a tour Of the
South. and afterward Of the Northern
cities. Everywhere he met with success
and be always drew large crowds wher-
ever he was announced to speak
OF sumo years re anu Sdls4 SlQatl.
another Georgia evangelist. formerly
newspaper man. travelled together. hold
ing evaugelistio meetings and lecturing.
AfT. Jones was tail. though under six
feet. spare. but well proport!oaed. IL
speech he was deliberate. never seeming
70 be IN haste to express his thought. but
rather holding il well'in hand for effec-
tive delivery, When his audience was
shakCa with laughter he waited till the
laugh was over. and then struck home
Like all masters OF human feeling. he
made sudden transitions from hUmor 10
pathos.
Some Of his sayings. though rot es-
pecialiy novel, have the merit of COM
pactness. and are worth quoting What
is culture worth. 10 Il is but the white
wash OF d rascal?' 4 cannot bride Gods
grand jury, nor defy the court that tries
me at the last day" One sin is enough
TO cut the soIl adrift from God" You
don't believe what you don't see; did you
ever see your backbone?" Some men
believe they have a backbone. when il
IS nothing but cotton string run up
their back" 1T IS a principle in the
economy of God that just what you feed
other people on. the devil makes YOU feed
on, aud out Of the same SPOON.