Thunderbolts . Comprising most earnest reasonings, delightful narratives, poetic and pathetic incidents, caustic and unmerciful flagellation of sin, together with irresistible appeals to the higher sensibilities of man to quit his meanness and do right.

Front matter

SAM P. JONES.

THUNDERBOLTS.

COMPRISING

II

■t.nUrit when thoy will adhere at strictly to the^lermon on the Mount and the Ten Commandments as they have ever done to their time cards and schedules.

They were pleased with the hearty reception given them, and Atlan- II always welcome euah • body of men in their midst.

'HE

The Christian Endeavor, interdenominational, the; Epworth League, specifically Methodist, and the Young People'* Union, of the Baptist church, on quite a large body of Chi orkers in the church. 1 ther a change of achedul aneformation of methods, old people of the church have been largely stewards, deacons, in, class leaders, and leaden 11 efforts looking to the mainince of the church and the conat of Ehe world. But 'things have changed about. The young people to-day are leading the procession. The Christian Endeavor, interdenominational as it ighty organuajioo and plished much. It was organiznd Fob. 2, 1881, in Williisionarles, and the pastor who has a nr.ii . U«i. I- (. ■ ■ 1 M. League In his church has a live, organized force at his command that he can inanhall at any hour of the day and charge upon the breastworks of the devil, or take care of any part of the work which Christ ha* called on to do.

The Young People's Union of the Baptist church is Baptist ID every sense, just as (he Epworth Leaeue is Methodist in every sense, and Is accomplishing Tor the Baptist church in a measure what the Epworth League Is doing for the Methodist church.

We know not bow large these bodies of young Christian workers are u rftil district, atate and in aliniii call.

tori ohurr

, Main

Rev. Dr. Clark. It has been ph. nomenal in its growth and wor!

lions in its membership. Ita ai nual conventions ate the most mammoth known in the history of this couolry or the history of thechurch. Forty to fifty the sand at Cleveland in their 1; international convention. In iork nevor entertained such i the Cl.r ift-fi

I hope Inn day i mg there in 1 This organization of young pie is the mother, so to speak, of them all. Some of the chili seem tn be a little estranged from the mother, but it ia not the G: daughter in hiatoty who thought sho knew more and coulddomort than her mother, and could do 1 in a better way. Bu', old motbe seems to ho kind and geotle ;hu good to the children, and love them in apite of the fact that tbi children misunderstand her.

If I understand the woik an» methods of the Christian Eudeav or, and the pledges that ila mem hership takes, each member ii pledged 10 loyalty and fidelity tn bis own church and to its local interests. A eocietyof Christian Eadcavor organized by any pastor of any church, is as much und*r the pastor's control, «nd ia aa much a working force in his r;burch, as it could be by any oth-

The great object of the Epworth League organization is the point of unity. When a pastor's working force of young peoplo shall step outof the realm of their effort within legitimate lines of his ohurch work, then they can shake hands, at tho interdenomi- .. h. nm spirit of the Christian Endeavor unites with, them all other youn^ people of the name bb they wcrk in the interest of good govflrnnrVnt, enforcement ol law, and for whatever it for Ue public (£00 J. In other woi Is, tie Chnstihn Emleavor proposes tt unite thfe world on any proposition winch buk» to the bettermont of mankind it the conquest ol the world without disturbing the denominational autonomy.

Bat old split-foot Will not have it so. The devil knows he has got to emigrate whenever the Christian world unites.

The Epworth League ol the Mettinilisc church is liaising large union its or inuney fori Ihe 1 iirious musratn piiali forwilrll 'he ivmli ol (ivM-imivli, They tare caring IitHic buk, mljiind th.. ,lMi|. ii.iq paying the aabay of mined, and then they swarm like beet and seem to multiply like the loouita of Egypt, coming from all quarters, cities, country places, mountains and plains. In the course of ft few years we will have e mighty army of trained workers in the vieor of life to do the Master's work. 1 regard this as a hopeful ?ign ot the times V/acan gracefully retire the old. people who have borne tho burdens and heat of the day, and we can take up their work and carry it on with renewed life and active vigor from dav to day. S. P. J.

I began the meeting at. Owi boro May 19, and closed May For tho first time in the sii v< of our association Bro. Stuart not 011 hand at the opening vice. He was detained till Ti day on account or illness. Bro.

Excell did not get to the meeting on account of the sickness of hia wife. Bra, Stuart and myself were royally entertained nt the elegant home of K. P, McJohnston, the leading wholesale grocci the U>wn. In a lifetime of travel one rarely meets the equal of tiie inmates of this home. Bro. Mc- Johnston is a brave, broad, clean, noble, generous man, with a helping hand and open purse for every good work ; and Owonshoro bos no more genuine, hospitable, zeal-

hosteaa. With our delightful borne and the visits, daily to th( homca of other royal church fam ilies of the town, our visit to Ow vnsborowns ft great social blessing Owensboro is nne of tiie biggest little towns in the country. Situ ated on the bank of the Ohio riv er, with good railroad facilitiei md n a fine < mercial point, full of push and) terpriso. It is a boautiful a prusperoua town, surrounded b very fino section of country, is, unfortunately, a strong wh key town, which has detracted from its general prosperity. The distillers are the nabobs of town. The'.r suburban res: do 1 are pointed out to tho visitor the most magnificent resideti of the town. Every brick in th

sione is laid in the blood of the best women and children of

country. They build tbetr

es and fortunes by tearing

n the homes and fortunes of others. They are the devil's fattening hogs.

me of the best temperance people in the world live at Owensboro, and during our meetings Uro. Stuart and I poured the shot nd shell into the liquor traffic ntil the sentiment against the amniible traffic rose to a very lorm, and the preachers and good people put (he liquor men

otice that n <vnr had been started, the bl.icL Hug bad been

d, mid tkoy meiiiii victory or

h.

c nnd uniformly tne urn dav croivdt we have pre.acheJ 19 J,ur., ing the year, and the building, with a sealing capacity of seven thousand, was not sufficient to

hold the crowd* that packed tha doors and windows at night. Tha doors were barred and policemen and ushers placed as guards to keep the crowd from crowding Into the ureal building to suffocation.

The children's service held bj Bro. Stuart was a scene tb-t moved everybody — two thousand children together with their pareoti bowed with them was a touching We ate giving more and ittentiou to children. After all, if the children are saved tbe destiny of our couolry is settled.

AH tbe pastor^ were heart and B0Q.1 in the meeting, working, praying, exhorting. Often after the sermon while the anxious were coming forward. Dr.Kelley, of the First Methodist Church, or Dr. : Hale, of the Firsi Baptiit, or Dr.

Maloy, of tbe Presbyterian.would step to the front of the platform and deliver a red-hot exhortation oppealing to their friends and neighbors to surrender lo Ood.

We have never bad rtroocer cooperation by more etTef I've men.

Dr. Kelley is one of tbe ifto'trg men of our church, and hh peo pie are in great grief that this ends hia fourth year with them.

Men are scarce who can lake bis place. Ho has a head and a heart and a character, and better than all a mission to save souls and not lake care of a stove pipe bat, a walking cane and a ministerial reputation.

Tho Baptist Church has few stronger 'men than Dr. Fred Hale.

And Dr. Maloy, of the Presbyte. rinr Church, continues io great favor after eiebtwn years ae pastor of the same church. Brother S. X.Hall, the presiding elder, was ou band to back up every onword movement, as were the' oth-' er efficient pastors: Danley, of the Cumberland, Terrel, of tha Obristian, Barrow, of the Baptist, and tbe pastor of the German Lutheran Church. The laat night of tbe service we raised *22,000 to put up a magnificent buildiog for the Y.M. 0. A. This large amount was raised amid great enthuaieam — the feeliog, as a number of pastors eipregBed It, that they need for their young men— something to counteract tho influence of the saloon, tha club, and the gambling hell. At the last moment of the servioe Dr. Kelley arose, and, with great emotion, brought out a storm of applause as he sftid ; . "Brethren, this has been the greatest week pf my whole life; il has been tha greatest week in the history of Owensboro ; it has been the greatst week in the history of Daveiss ouuty, and I believe il will ef. ectour history for all years to

Hundreds of people gathrred l the depot to see us off, and sang s a great congregation aa the rain moved off: •' Tis the old ime religion."

We were royally treatod In evj ry way. M.iv Ood richly blest the goi d people of Owensboro.

S. P. J.

It has reached the point tbeie latter days, that we cannot > make menliou of litllemen without Dr.

Poney laking the whole thing to himself. He is nut the only little

an in tbe chnroh by a jugfull. • S. P. J.

After the Holy Spirit descend- 011 the S^i lor, tlio first teroptain the devil offered had in it ir.griiliciilinii, and the second hud in il .,-lf.paiade before the public. I I 0111 Holiness bretb- >t the devil get them ilntion mid self-pa.

- it oiico, brethren, I. ■ .■ =1 of your time plibon

■ ill I..

i. p. i.

EDITOR'S PREFACE.

THIS volume contains the best product of the fertile brain of that marvel of pulpit oratory, Sam P Jones. We have endeavored to include nothing which has appeared in any preceding volume by this author. From a vast mass of hitherto Unpublished material, sufficient to fill a number of books the size of this one, we have sought to select the strongest, brightest, and most forceful products of Mr. Jones's pen and tongue for these pages. This is the book of Mr. Jones's life, and its perusal will develop to the mind of the reader the fairest and most satisfactory impression of the heart and mind of this versatile and gifted man of God.

The illustrations in this volume have been selected with care, and add greatly to its value as well as its attractiveness. The large folded picture of the interior of the Union Gospel Tabernacle was taken during Mr. Jones's last revival in Nashville, in 1895, at a meeting for women only- It is a very fine picture of an auditorium filled with some five thousand women.

The introduction by Bishop Joseph S. Key, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, is a characteristically strong, discriminating, and just delineation of the character and mission of the author by one from the same State, and who has knowTn him from early life most familiarly.

It is needless to speak of the mechanical execution of this book. The reader will need no assurance from us that the wrorkmanship will be of the verv best when it is known that the Publishing

Q Til UNDER H OL 1 <b.

House of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, at Xashville, Tenn., does the printing, plate making-, and binding1 of the book.

The volume is sent forth in the devout hope and with the pra}rer that it may bring cheer and gladness and strength to many a weary pilgrim of the cross, tone up moral conviction along the line of domestic, social, and civic responsibilities, and in manifold ways make for righteousness with its thousands of readers.

Contents

Page.

Editor's Preface. 5

Contents . 7