Samuel Porter Jones
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Samuel Porter Jones (October 16, 1847 - October 15, 1906) was one of the most celebrated revivalists of his day, at the close of the 19th century. Famous for his wry wit and masterful story-telling, he is credited as a principal influence on Will Rogers.
Jones is particularly connected with the history of The Union Gospel Tabernacle, later named Ryman Auditorium. Riverboat captain, Thomas Green Ryman, was converted after hearing Jones on May 10, 1885 at a meeting which he and friends attended with the intention of heckling the preacher. According to the legend, Ryman decided on that day to build a tabernacle in which to hold revival meetings in Nashville, Tennessee (the building was home to the Grand Ole Opry for many years), and he soon approached Jones with the idea.
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[edit] Early life
Sam Jones was born in Oak Bowery, Alabama, but in 1855 after his mother's death, the family moved to Cartersville, Georgia, where Jones lived for most of his life. Although several people in his family were Methodist ministers, Jones decided to become a lawyer. He was admitted to the Georgia bar in 1868, and began a short career as a lawyer. Soon after that he married Laura McElwain.
Sam Jones did not stay a lawyer for long, he begin drinking heavily and destroyed his career. By 1872 this promising young lawyer was stoking furnaces and driving freight wagons for a living. In 1872 Jones promised his father, who was on his deathbed, that he would quit drinking. As he struggled to quit drinking, Jones also underwent a religious experience that convinced him to enter the ministry.
[edit] Evangelistic career
Jones was accepted by the North Georgia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and began his ministry with the Van Wert circuit, a group of five churches spread over four counties. Before long his talent for preaching had him doing revivals in large cities before thousands of attendees. He was asked to speak not only for religious organizations but for the likes of state legislatures and President Theodore Roosevelt.[1]
Sam Jones was known for preaching hard against sin and hypocrisy. He preached once at a Church dedication in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and in the middle of the service he stopped his message and asked the congregation how much they paid the Pastor. They were unwilling to tell him, but when the appallingly low sum was finally revealed, the congregation was so embarrassed that the next day he was given a substantial raise.[2]
On his way home from a campaign in Oklahoma City, he died on a train in Perry, Arkansas. It is estimated that over 30,000 people came to view him as he lay in state in the rotunda of the Capital in Atlanta.
[edit] Quotes
"I always did despise theology and botany, but I do love religion and flowers."
"The curse of this age is that we have put gold above God, chattels above character, and mammon above manhood. We have inverted God's order of things"
"The tune of America is pitched to the dollar"
[edit] Web references
Quit Your Meanness by David B. Parker (From The Georgia Historical Quarterly, vol. LXXVII, No. 4, Winter 1993, pp 711-727, ©1993 The Georgia Historical Society) — As referenced: 03:06, 3 August 2005 (UTC)
[edit] Notes
- ^ Samuel Jones grave from findagrave.com
- ^ Bio from blessedquietness.com
