The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1906-11-01
Editor J. 7. Graves on
Rev. Sam Jones.
Distinguished Georgia Editor and
. Orator, John Temple Graves,
Writes of Rev. Sam Jones, Well
Merited Eulogy.

Atlanta Georgian.
1t is difficult to think OF Sam Jones
Dead.
That vital personality, those
strengthening and splendid eyes,
that engaging humOr and that COM
polling personality were the very
pulse and glow of richest, fullest life.
And yet in a moment, in the twink
ling of an eye lis all changed and the
cold clay remains with thespirit gone
out of it forever.
1t is perhaps too early yet to meas
ure and estimate the merits and the
services of Sam Jones.
There are two dominant and ever
present qualities in his equipment
which with the other quality will cas-
lily explain his power. Courage and
nature we're the attributes that
caught and held his little world Of
action. He had them both. He said
whatever he wanted to say anywhere,
at any time, under any circumstances,
with u severe and dauntless courage
that never hesitated and never trem-
bled in expression and in apprehen-
sion. And he said this in a way SO
natural. so free, so unrestrained by
effort, or pretence, SO unchecked by
embarrassment, SO unhampered by
passion, and so touched with un-
spoiled and unembitteredn nature that
the courage in him that startled was
followed by the humanity of humOr
in him that disarmed and won the
feelings as well OF strong men as OF
brilliant women.
OF course il to these qualities Sam
Jones Architect and Maker had not
added a clear head, a quick brain,
bubbling fun, II genial smile, then
the creature would not have been the
winner that he was. But other men
have had humOr and vision who did
not win, and we know that courage
and nature were the browning gifts
that won in him and will aways win.
And Lhe was Il success by every
measurement which marks the out
lines of that wonderful word. Meas
ured by fame, measured by usefulness,
measured by money and measured
by popularity, he will be counted
among the distinct and sustained
successes of his day and generation.
He was the best known evangelist OF
his country and ranked with the two
or three best known evangelistS of
the world. He has perhaps awaken
ed to serious thought, and turned
from serious ''meanIeSS' more men
than any other man who has preach
ed to men i'll these two decades. Some
OF these may have gone back to
apathy,as have the converts of many
another preacher; but it is safe to
say that if all the quickeG spirits of
the hosts who have been touched and
quickened in his thousand meetings
should follow his casket to the grave,
the procession would Outrank the
funeral cortege OF any preacher OF his
age or time. He reached men and
moved classes that have sat like
stones under the appeals of the
worlds greatest Gospel messengers,
and the measurement of his useful
ness can only be taken in the estimate
OF the value OF the souls of men.
The element of money should not
properly be listed in the assets of an
evangelist, but it is to be said to his
credit that his lectures, his books, his
voluntary fees, brought large profits
to Sam Jones through many years,
and that he used his handsome in
come to provide for his numerous
family and to help the thousand
charities that he carried near his
heart.
No man who reads or hears will
question the phenomenal popularity
which Sam Jones maintained from
his early evangelin North Georgia to
the last crusade waged in Oklahoma
The common people heard him glad
ly and the great and prosperous were
alike his friends. He never spoke to
less than crowded halls and applaud
ing audiences. He was the greatest
drawing card OF chautauquas and ly-
ceums, as he was the magnet ofevery
platform conference of his time.
Everywhere multitudes fiocked to
hear him and fingered to applaud
him. 1t was the browning evidence
OF his popularity and power that in
his own home town, and in his own
capital city, after a hundred speeches,
he could still pack tabernacles and
opera houses above every other ora
tor of his generation.
Here, then, upon the measurements
of usefulness, of fame, of prosperity
and of popularity, we write down the
manwho ofyesterday was Sam Jones
as filling the standards OF a man sue.
cessful and potential beyond the
ordinary limits of successful men.
There are other lines upon which,a1
other times wemay study and discus:
his life.
The danger which goes with the
sorrow of death is that other anC
weaker men, taking courage in hi.
absence, may try to initiate thu
methods and manners which wer,
made for him alone.
Tone up the liver, move the bowels cleanse