The Washington herald., 1906-10-17
Passing Of the Rev. Sam LONGS.

The death of Rev. Sam P. Jones. the
noted Georgia evangelist, removes from
the scenes of earthly activity a remark
able man. However diverse the various
estimates of his character may be, Il
cannot be successfully disputed that he
Isolated himself from the common herd
and made for himself place among
the men of his day and time that did
not fail TO attract conspicuous attention.
Among those who knew him intimately
and weIl-his neghbors and personal
friends-there was the greatest variety
OF opinion concerning him. The same may
be said TO be true Of those who knew
him only through his pulpit and plat
form utterances. or through the daily
press. He was. in fact, a many-sided
man-one not easy Of comprehension.
That he was often vulgar and uncOuth
in his sermons. is true. He had a way OF
making himself particularly obnoxious UC
many people Of finer sensibilities. When
taken to task for this by some friend.
his favorite retort was, We'll, 1 was
only trying to get down to the level OF
my crowd The remark was made more
as an attempt to be witty than other
wise, for Mr.. Jones, in that attempt.
often sank far beneath the level of his
crowd fact which he must have
known and realized. It was part Of his
stock in trade. however.
Those who knew Sam Jones know full
well that he could when in the mood.
preach the most beautiful and chaste
sermons Many who heard him one
night only 70 leave in disgust heard him
on the morrow only TO praise. No mas
ter magician Of English could bring the
tears quicker than Sam Jones when his
efforts took that direction.
IN the early part Of his career. while
a circuit rider, he was very dIssipated. Il
was no uncommon thing TO see him in the
gutter With a strength worthy OF the
emulation of all men, and with a meek
ness not assumed, he. as he was wont 10
express 1t, quit his meauness" and held
himself aloof from strong drink. The
fight was a hard one-for he was natu-
rally a drunkard-but he never faItered.
Friend nor foe among those who knew
him can be convinced that he fell from
grace in that particular. The published
report that ne appeared upon d certain
lecture platform. about two years aga.
in an unfortunate condition, only 10 be
excused as sickness" is very much
to be doubted. Whatever his faults-and
they were many-at least the man de-
serves fuI! and complete credit for over
coming his arch enemy. II Is well known
that AR Jones lowered for months close
10 the brink Of the grave about two years
ago Indeed, it was against the earnest
advice of his physicians that he did not
retire from active evangelistic work and
settle down at his home in Gainesville,
Ga, for a quiet ending Of his days His
characteristic reply was that ne wanted
10 die with his boots on" The charge
that he made excessively large sums Of
money by his preaching is absurd. He
made little. considering his vast opportu-
mites. and it will doubtless be found when
his estate is settled up that he was by
no means a wealthy man.
Whatever his mistakes, the world is bet
ter for his having lived in it. II his
methods were grotesque and those Of
the ministerial pugilist at times, It re
mains d fact, nevertheless, that he
pounded the grace of Almighty God into
many souls too sOrdtd TO receive it other
wise, and he has now come into that
great reward for which his soul yearned.