Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-10-19
REV. SAM PORTER JONES.
Sketch Of Remarkable Character Of
World Wide Reputation.

REV. SAM PORTER JONES.
Sketch Of Remarkable Character Of
World Wide Reputation.
The Rev. Samuel P. Jones, or Sam
Jones'" as he was generally called. was
famous evangelist. In his youth
however he was dissipated in his hab-
it's. and in the many years since his re-
formation has had many relapses. Only
two years ago, when he appeared be-
fore an audience at Portland, Me-, he
was not In condition to speak, and had
to leave the platform on plea Of Ill
ness.
Mr.. Jones was a native Of Alabama
where he was born October 16, 1S47
but had lived nearly all his life in Geor-
gia. His father was lawyer, success
full In his profession, Of good social po-
sition, and esteemed by his friends as
consistent Christian. The son adopt
ed his fathers profession, but, unlike
him, was dissipated in his habits. The
evangelist'in his public addresses spoke
of this part Of his life with entire can
dor, and confessed his worthlessness to
his family and society. .Intemperate
and addicted to gambling, he seemed
to be on the point Of ruin, when ne
was brought to serious thought by his
fathers death. The story runs that
overcome by his fathers appeals, the
prodigal boy fell down at the deathbed
saying: "RH quit, I'll quit; God be mer-
ciful to mel"
This change In both the inward and
outward shaping Of his conduct occur
red In or about 1871. Sensible Of the
dangers which he had so narrowly es-
capped, he began to warn others. So
great was his revulsion from his old
life that his pictures Of 1t were drawn
with terrible power. He became
noted at once for the severity with
which he spoke of the common vices
of society, and censured the inconsist-
encies of Christians. Often he gave
great offense, irritated and angered his
hearers. but his persistence and sim
cerity uniformly secured him the VIC
tory over passion and prejudice.
He was sent as raw beginner to
learn the art Of preaching on a hard
circuit and by this is meant q num-
ber of congregations mostly composed
Of the poor, and with slender pros
pect for liberal support Of the preach
er. This was In 1872, the year when
he entered the North Carolina confer
ence of the: Southern Metnodist church
It very SOON became apparent that Sam
Jones had the power Of arresting and
holding the attention of his hearers
He had perfectly at command the
homely dialect Of the common folk;
though always serious, yet when q
slang phrase suited his purpose 1t never
came amiss.
The fame of Sam Jones as an ex-
horter soon spread beyond the confines
of Georgia, and about 1880 he began
tour of the south, and afterward Of the
northern cities. Everywhere he met
with success, and he always drew large
crowds wherever he was announced to
speak.
Mr.. Jones' first great success as an
evangelist was made in Cincinnati
where he preached early In the year
of 1886. shortly after his career as
minister began. He spoke in the music
hall in that city. which has seating
capacity OF about $4,000. and at every
meeting 1t was filled. His next success
was at Nashville, Tenn. He preached
there for over a month, and many oi
the stores and business houses were
closed during the time he preached
1t was this meeting that Capt. Thomas
Ryman, an old river boat captain and
owner Cf q number Of river steamers
was converted. He closed all OF the
barrooms on his boats, and on the walls
of the rooms had posted scripture mot
toes. Capt. Ryman afterward became
one of the most prominent men con-
uected with religious affairs in his city
Jones was an author Of note, some
of his works being Sermons and Say
ings." Music Hall Sermons" "Qui'
Your Meanness," "St. Louis Series,'
Sam Jones Own Book" Thunder
bolts" eac.
Some of his sayings, though not es'
recially novel, have the merit Of COM
pactness, and are worth quoting:
What Is culture worth II 1t Is but
the whitewash of a rascal?"
II cannot bribe Gods grand jury
nor defy the court that tries me at the
last day"
"One sin is enough to cut the SOU
adrift from God"
You don't believe what you don''
see, Did YOU ever see your backbone?
Some men believe they have a back
bone, when it Is nothing but cotton
string run up their back"
1T Is a principle in the economy oi
God that Just what you feed other peo-
ple on, the devil makes you feed on
and out Of the same spoon"
In one Of his sermons Sam Jones
said: 81 believe there are three distinct
powers. 1 believe in the divine power
I've seen 1t in the twinkle Of the stars:
| in the ebbing and flow Of the tide; In
the rush of the river: in the blossoning
of the rosebush; in the reformation OF
life. and I've seen it in a thousand
ways.
Il also believe in a satanic power
in q devil, and a bad devil at that.
believe in a devil as much as believe
| in a God. And 1 believe the devil Is
right here among us. The man that
would deny this Is deaf and dumb and
blind and brainless. He's here by a big
majority.
"Then I believe there Is such thing
as human power. I believe that when
the divine power is coupled to the hui
man power man is omnipotent for good
When the human power is coupled with
the satanic power man Is almost om-
nipotent for evil"-Charleston Post. :,
fI "It seems his uncle fell out OF
hotel window in Europe"
Gracious! any bones broken?"
mot one."
MOP"