A Baptist Response to Sam Jones
By T.T. Eaton, 1899

      While there are things in the utterances and methods of the Rev. Sam Jones which we do not approve, there are other things which we do approve most heartily and thank God for. We have told him that we thought the chief harm he did was that by his very success he led to the existence of a multitude of little Sam Joneses over the country, who would imitate his defects and omit his excellences.

      There are however, about Mr. Jones a directness, an earnestness and a fearlessness, worthy of all praise. He does not mince language in dealing with sin. The result is that God uses him to send real conviction to the hearts of some sinners and to lead them to genuine repentance. At the same time, it must be admitted that some of his utterances and methods mislead some and drive away some who, humanly speaking, might have been won. When Sir Walter Scott was a young man, he was deeply impressed on the subject of evangelical religion, and under this impression he went to hear a Wesleyan preacher, who was rather after the Sam Jones order. This preacher so disgusted the young man as to turn him away from evangelical religion entirely. Just think what a power for truth was lost when Sir Walter Scott was turned away from evangelical religion. No doubt that preacher did good to many, but he did incalculable harm in the case of Sir Walter. No doubt there are other similar cases, of which we never hear.

      But we should rejoice none the less in the good that such preachers do. In the case of Sam Jones' striking instance of good done are not lacking. It is refreshing in these days to read of such instances of repentance as that of Mr. Frank L. Pendleton, of Chattanooga who professed faith in Sam Sones' recent meeting there. He was formerly a telegraph operator at Bristol, where his home was burned and where he collected the insurance money. He now confesses that he set fire to his house in order to get the insurance money, and he has paid back all the money to the company. One is reminded of Zacchaeus. It would be well for those dainty preachers who are horrified at “Sam Jones' preaching" to point to similar cases of conversion under their ministry. Let them cite instances where men under their preaching have been led to disgorge ill-gotten gains and then they will be better fitted to pull the motes out of Sam Jones' eyes.

================================ From the Western Recorder newspaper, March 2, 1899, page 8. Written by the editor T.T. Eaton. Provided by Ben Stratton. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.