Pulpits & Rose Petals
of 4
/4
Embed Size (px)
Transcript of Pulpits & Rose Petals
Pulpits & Rose Petals THE LEGACY OF SAM JONES The beautifully
restored Victorian home of Reverend Sam
Jones, once one of the most famous men in America, continues to honor his life and work.
The road to hell may be paved
late 19th century, a southern preacher fond of repeating that famous proverb was riding a wave of American popularity aimed more for the heavens than the devil's playground. In the 1880s, Samuel Porter Jones—a hand-
dox Methodist preacher from small-town
beiovcd evangelist in the United States. The Cartersville, Georgia, resident no
doubt spent many quiet evenings on the wide, curved front porch of his residence, Rose Lawn, in deep spiritual conversa- tion with family, friends, or visiting cler- gy. A hundred years later, this Victorian crown jewel of Cartelsville's historic dis-
mere $4 entrance fee, visitors are treated to an intimate glimpse into the life of an all-but-forgotten Georgia personality.
Give Me that Old Time Religion If there is one word to describe the
legacy of Sam Jones it would have to be
his Father transformed a wayward lifestyle
service and fellowship. His spiritual mes- sages, often preached to crowds number- ing in the thousands, ttansformed lives and families across America forever. And along the way, the renovation plans implemented by Jones and his wife, Laura, ultimately transformed a simple two-story farm cottage into an elegant
Born in Oak Bowery, Alabama, Sam Jones was 10 when his parents moved the family EO Cactetsville. Hailing from a long line of Methodist preachers, he sur- prised family members by becoming a lawyer instead of following in the foot-
steps of his great-grandfcther, grandfa- ther and four uncles. However, by age
had reduced his law practice to shambles.
PH O TO G R A P H Y B Y B O B K E L L E Y
As his circumstances spiraled downward he supported his family by doing odd jobs such as driving freight wagons and srokirig furnaces.
In 1872, Jones' dying father begged his son to change his ways, and he vowed
Within a week of making the promise,
The crown jewel of Cartersville's historical district, Rose Lawn has been restored to its former glory as a grand Victorian home. In tts heyday as the residence of Reverend Sam Jones, the house was always buzzing with guests, visiting travelers who needed a place to rest, and fe51o ministers seeking counsel with Rev. Jones.
the young Jones delivered his first ser- mon, and after only three months was licensed to preach by the Methodist Church.
poo test and most destitute charge in Georgia, the rural Van Wert circuit, a group of five churches spread over Polk, Bartow, Paulding and Floyd Counties. As his reputation grew, eventually he was appointed to the cash-poor Methodist orphanage in Decatur, Georgia. This freed Jones from being tied down to local churches, and he traveled the state to raise money. Thanks to his efforts, the orphanage soon flourished.
Honing a distinctive pteaching style that featuted a homespun, shirtsleeve
ology unlike any other American evan- gelist of the time, Jones soon filled revival tents throughout the South., startling thousands into salvation. His dry wit and humor reportedly had a major influence
day including a shy. humorous cowboy from Oklahoma who never met a man he didn't like: Will Rogers.
Fight the Good Fight In 1885, while leading a crusade in
Nashville, Jones converted a local saloon owner and riverboat captain, Tom Ryman. In those days, many revivals were held under outdoor tents. With
enough to accommodate the overflowing crowds Jones drew.
Ryman, taken with the preacher and grateful for helping him to "see the light," built the Union Gospel Tabernacle in Nashville, specifically as a home for Jones' revivals. Later renamed Ryman Auditorium, the site would later
country music," the birthplace of the Grand Ole Opry.
A series of Nashville revivals pro- pelled Jones onto die national stage, and he was soon leading crusades and pack- ing crowds into rafter-rattling gospel meetings across America. One year, Jones
claimed to have preached 1,000 sermons
Wherever Sam Jones preached, liquor stores often closed, the audiences at bur- lesque theatres plummeted, the number of jail inmates dropped, and public curs- ing was reduced to whispers. His career spanned three decades, and it is said that his written and spoken messages influ- enced millions. Without a doubt, his daily newspaper columns were read by more than a million devoted followers.
Rose Lawn Blossoms
In 1885, Jones purchased Rose Lawn, which was built by Nelson Gilreath in the 1860s. A decade later, Jones began transforming the house in ways that would reflect his rising local and nation- al prominence. Wishing ro enlarge the home without altering its architectural integrity, Jones initiated a monumental effort to raise the entire house and buitd a new ground floor and basement below the original structure.. This unorthodox endeavor was accomplished in the 1890s for just SI 10 (the equivalent of nearly 522,000 today).
project, Rose lawn's first floor featured 12-foot ceilings, 10-foot double doors
and a kitchen. As was common in fine Victorian homes of the day, the ceilings
ornate, gilded-wood moldings. Stained glass fretwork graced many of the house's windows. One particularly elegant fin- ishing touch included lead-lace glass panels embellishing the front entrance and several windows throughout the first floor.
In a recent interview, Jane Drew, director at Rose Lawn Museum, described the feature: "Lead-lace glass is created by heating the glass panel to a certain temperature and then taking turkey feathers, dabbing them in water and using the feathers to apply water to the heated glass creating a shadowing effect." She notes that Rose Lawn's lead- lace panels have been called the finest
Rose Lawn sits on 3.5 acres near downtown Cartersville, Its huge curved porch provided a. cooling respite on riot summer days for visi- tors hoping to spend time with the Jones fam- ily. Just off the porch was the entrance to the
knocking at all hours to be married,
example of this disappearing form of
When Jones finished his remodeling project, Rose Lawn had transformed from a simple two-story dwelling inro a dignified 18-room mansion that was an architectural wonder of its day.
Located near downtown Cartersville on nearly four manicured acres, Rose Lawn boasted a one-room schoolhouse, carriage house, brick smokehouse, arbor and, true to its name, more than 200 rose planrs scattered across the property. Jones hired a governess to instruct his children and surtounding neighborhood children in the schoolhouse. Later, after his chil-
became his office. At one end of the curved front porch,
a doorway led to the Preacher's Room. Here, at all hours of die day and night, Jones welcomed visirors wishing [o he married or seeking counseling or a place to sleep. Upstairs, a round porch oft one
Rose Lawn's lead lace glass windows are said to be the finest example of this art form in existence. Class was heated to a certain temperature, then turkey feathers, dabbed in water, applied water to the heated glass to create a shadowing effect.
r.iv( slo•eping quai i for the J children on hot summer nights.
It was claimed that nobody really knew Sam Jones until they had met him in his own household. There, he was sur- rounded by a wife and six children who loved him with a passionate devotion.
That atmosphere of ''family" and unpre-
Beyond the Pulpit By the end of the 19th century, Jones
had achieved national fame as a lecturer and public speaker who often lashed out against "moral issues" of the day, includ- ing corrupt clergy, crooked politicians,
halls. Speaking not only for religious organizations but to state legislatures and civic organizations, he often shared the stage with dignitaries like President Theodore Roosevelt, who once praised
Jones by noting, "Sam, you have been doing as a private citizen what I have
tried to do as a public servant." Although Jones was never a sickly
person, his rigorous schedule may have taken a toll on his health. While return-
Oklahoma City in 1906, he died of heart
failure a day short of his 59th birthday.
and more than 30,000 came to pay respects as his body lay in state ia the
Atlanta. Thousands lined the railroad tracks berween Atlanta and Cartersvilie as his remains were brought home to be laid to rest.
Respected in both the black and white
of mourners paid their respects as they viewed Jones' bier in Rose Lawn's par- lor—the blacks filing in from the back of the house and the whites entering at the
front door, in keeping with the accepted social and racial customs of the day.
Once, when asked why he
didn't attack the Catholics,
through with the Methodists,
candidate for President of the United
States, memorialized Jones: "He had a great mind, directed by a great heart; an eloquent tongue enlisted on the side of humanity; a marvelous energy employed for the improvement of society."
At the time of his death, Jones was
one of the largest landowners in Barrow
County. The most generously-paid min- ister of his time he had earned approxi-
mately $750,000 during a 30-year career, a far cry from the S65 he had earned his first year on the Van Wert circuit. Yet he
those in need. It is believed that he spent approximately three-quarters of his for- tune building churches, YMCA facilities and sending young men and women to
teaching colleges. He also funded the building of the Sam Jones Female College
in Cartcrsville, later known as Cartersvilie High School.
Jones remains were buried in Cartcrsville's Oak Hill Cemetery, sharing a large burial plot with his hcloved wife
built for use by his children as well as other
were grown, Jones converted the facility into his personal office.
obelisk marks the site and is engraved,
appropriately, with a passage from the Book of Daniel: "Those that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars
Rose Lawn Today Since relatively few visitors to Rose
Lawn today are familiar with Sam Jones and his long-ago brush with national celebrity, the docents of Rose Lawn share his story with visitors on the comfortable potch or in the coiy front parlor.
After the lasi private owner died in 1968, Rose Lawn lay vacant and became a favorite of vagrants and vandals, who decimated its interior. Cartersville citi-
zens and local officials took the first step
the National Register of Historic Places.
Then, Barrow County purchased the house in 1978 and initiated a full-blown restoration project.
"We tried to bring Rose Lawn as close to its former glory as possible," Museum
Director Drew recalls. "Families donated furniture from that time period and we looked to old photos and records to recreate exact details. We even took swatches of the original curtains and made newer versions using the same pat- tern. Jones family members, who hold
"Two of our most prized pieces on display here are a couple of beautiful
36
LEFT: The massive carriage house on the grounds at Rose Lawn had stalls for eight horses. Today it is closed for structural repairs. RIGHT: Guests were often served refreshments in the Rose Lawn parlor, a daizling example of Victorian elegance.
porcelain vases of the old Paris design that were donated by U.S. President Grover Cleveland's family," Drew adds.
Arranged in educational displays throughout the house are many of Sam and Laura Jones's personal belongings
toys, Bibles, jewelry and other items. Numerous photos are on display that show highlights from Sam Jones' long, successful career. Throughout the neatly maintained grounds and gardens, more
grjti.'d Rose Lawn have been restored. Welcoming about 7,000 visitors
annually, Rose Lawn hosts tours, wed- dings, festivals, birthday parties, family reunions and tea parties. "We get a lot of senior groups too," Drew says, "plus church groups and well-known evangel-
a strong spiritual heritage and the largest National Day of Prayer assembly in Georgia is held in Cartersville each year."
Shakespeare cautioned that we are all merely players in this world who "strut and fret" about for a short lime and then are heard no more. Although Sam Jones's life in the pulpit was one of vigor and
death, the legacy of Rose Lawn ensures that his record of good deeds, hard work and powerful sermons has endured long after his "hour upon the stage." ft
Bob Kdiey is a freelanc riter in Atlant
All Aboard! No railroad enthusiast's library will be complete without
this richly-illustrated, soft-cover, 140-page volume featuring
more than 180 vintage photographs (many previously
unpublished). This book Includes a complete Southern
Railway System history, thorough steam and diesel coverage,
maps, time tables, and engine and passenger train details.
Coverage includes both freight and passenger service
rs of Southern Railway System
Address:
City: _
Phone: ( )_
Enclose per copy:
Ship each additional copy (CA only) sales tax per copy Make checks payabie to: LEGACY COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
S34-95
J VISA J MasterCard
with memorable Southern Railway
Routes, Memphis Special, Carolina
Printed on heavy coated stock in an
8 1/2 x 11 inch format.
You may also purchase this book via
credit card by calling us toll-free at
1-800-547-1625 or by ordering It online at
our web site: www.georgiabaclcroads.com.
Jones, once one of the most famous men in America, continues to honor his life and work.
The road to hell may be paved
late 19th century, a southern preacher fond of repeating that famous proverb was riding a wave of American popularity aimed more for the heavens than the devil's playground. In the 1880s, Samuel Porter Jones—a hand-
dox Methodist preacher from small-town
beiovcd evangelist in the United States. The Cartersville, Georgia, resident no
doubt spent many quiet evenings on the wide, curved front porch of his residence, Rose Lawn, in deep spiritual conversa- tion with family, friends, or visiting cler- gy. A hundred years later, this Victorian crown jewel of Cartelsville's historic dis-
mere $4 entrance fee, visitors are treated to an intimate glimpse into the life of an all-but-forgotten Georgia personality.
Give Me that Old Time Religion If there is one word to describe the
legacy of Sam Jones it would have to be
his Father transformed a wayward lifestyle
service and fellowship. His spiritual mes- sages, often preached to crowds number- ing in the thousands, ttansformed lives and families across America forever. And along the way, the renovation plans implemented by Jones and his wife, Laura, ultimately transformed a simple two-story farm cottage into an elegant
Born in Oak Bowery, Alabama, Sam Jones was 10 when his parents moved the family EO Cactetsville. Hailing from a long line of Methodist preachers, he sur- prised family members by becoming a lawyer instead of following in the foot-
steps of his great-grandfcther, grandfa- ther and four uncles. However, by age
had reduced his law practice to shambles.
PH O TO G R A P H Y B Y B O B K E L L E Y
As his circumstances spiraled downward he supported his family by doing odd jobs such as driving freight wagons and srokirig furnaces.
In 1872, Jones' dying father begged his son to change his ways, and he vowed
Within a week of making the promise,
The crown jewel of Cartersville's historical district, Rose Lawn has been restored to its former glory as a grand Victorian home. In tts heyday as the residence of Reverend Sam Jones, the house was always buzzing with guests, visiting travelers who needed a place to rest, and fe51o ministers seeking counsel with Rev. Jones.
the young Jones delivered his first ser- mon, and after only three months was licensed to preach by the Methodist Church.
poo test and most destitute charge in Georgia, the rural Van Wert circuit, a group of five churches spread over Polk, Bartow, Paulding and Floyd Counties. As his reputation grew, eventually he was appointed to the cash-poor Methodist orphanage in Decatur, Georgia. This freed Jones from being tied down to local churches, and he traveled the state to raise money. Thanks to his efforts, the orphanage soon flourished.
Honing a distinctive pteaching style that featuted a homespun, shirtsleeve
ology unlike any other American evan- gelist of the time, Jones soon filled revival tents throughout the South., startling thousands into salvation. His dry wit and humor reportedly had a major influence
day including a shy. humorous cowboy from Oklahoma who never met a man he didn't like: Will Rogers.
Fight the Good Fight In 1885, while leading a crusade in
Nashville, Jones converted a local saloon owner and riverboat captain, Tom Ryman. In those days, many revivals were held under outdoor tents. With
enough to accommodate the overflowing crowds Jones drew.
Ryman, taken with the preacher and grateful for helping him to "see the light," built the Union Gospel Tabernacle in Nashville, specifically as a home for Jones' revivals. Later renamed Ryman Auditorium, the site would later
country music," the birthplace of the Grand Ole Opry.
A series of Nashville revivals pro- pelled Jones onto die national stage, and he was soon leading crusades and pack- ing crowds into rafter-rattling gospel meetings across America. One year, Jones
claimed to have preached 1,000 sermons
Wherever Sam Jones preached, liquor stores often closed, the audiences at bur- lesque theatres plummeted, the number of jail inmates dropped, and public curs- ing was reduced to whispers. His career spanned three decades, and it is said that his written and spoken messages influ- enced millions. Without a doubt, his daily newspaper columns were read by more than a million devoted followers.
Rose Lawn Blossoms
In 1885, Jones purchased Rose Lawn, which was built by Nelson Gilreath in the 1860s. A decade later, Jones began transforming the house in ways that would reflect his rising local and nation- al prominence. Wishing ro enlarge the home without altering its architectural integrity, Jones initiated a monumental effort to raise the entire house and buitd a new ground floor and basement below the original structure.. This unorthodox endeavor was accomplished in the 1890s for just SI 10 (the equivalent of nearly 522,000 today).
project, Rose lawn's first floor featured 12-foot ceilings, 10-foot double doors
and a kitchen. As was common in fine Victorian homes of the day, the ceilings
ornate, gilded-wood moldings. Stained glass fretwork graced many of the house's windows. One particularly elegant fin- ishing touch included lead-lace glass panels embellishing the front entrance and several windows throughout the first floor.
In a recent interview, Jane Drew, director at Rose Lawn Museum, described the feature: "Lead-lace glass is created by heating the glass panel to a certain temperature and then taking turkey feathers, dabbing them in water and using the feathers to apply water to the heated glass creating a shadowing effect." She notes that Rose Lawn's lead- lace panels have been called the finest
Rose Lawn sits on 3.5 acres near downtown Cartersville, Its huge curved porch provided a. cooling respite on riot summer days for visi- tors hoping to spend time with the Jones fam- ily. Just off the porch was the entrance to the
knocking at all hours to be married,
example of this disappearing form of
When Jones finished his remodeling project, Rose Lawn had transformed from a simple two-story dwelling inro a dignified 18-room mansion that was an architectural wonder of its day.
Located near downtown Cartersville on nearly four manicured acres, Rose Lawn boasted a one-room schoolhouse, carriage house, brick smokehouse, arbor and, true to its name, more than 200 rose planrs scattered across the property. Jones hired a governess to instruct his children and surtounding neighborhood children in the schoolhouse. Later, after his chil-
became his office. At one end of the curved front porch,
a doorway led to the Preacher's Room. Here, at all hours of die day and night, Jones welcomed visirors wishing [o he married or seeking counseling or a place to sleep. Upstairs, a round porch oft one
Rose Lawn's lead lace glass windows are said to be the finest example of this art form in existence. Class was heated to a certain temperature, then turkey feathers, dabbed in water, applied water to the heated glass to create a shadowing effect.
r.iv( slo•eping quai i for the J children on hot summer nights.
It was claimed that nobody really knew Sam Jones until they had met him in his own household. There, he was sur- rounded by a wife and six children who loved him with a passionate devotion.
That atmosphere of ''family" and unpre-
Beyond the Pulpit By the end of the 19th century, Jones
had achieved national fame as a lecturer and public speaker who often lashed out against "moral issues" of the day, includ- ing corrupt clergy, crooked politicians,
halls. Speaking not only for religious organizations but to state legislatures and civic organizations, he often shared the stage with dignitaries like President Theodore Roosevelt, who once praised
Jones by noting, "Sam, you have been doing as a private citizen what I have
tried to do as a public servant." Although Jones was never a sickly
person, his rigorous schedule may have taken a toll on his health. While return-
Oklahoma City in 1906, he died of heart
failure a day short of his 59th birthday.
and more than 30,000 came to pay respects as his body lay in state ia the
Atlanta. Thousands lined the railroad tracks berween Atlanta and Cartersvilie as his remains were brought home to be laid to rest.
Respected in both the black and white
of mourners paid their respects as they viewed Jones' bier in Rose Lawn's par- lor—the blacks filing in from the back of the house and the whites entering at the
front door, in keeping with the accepted social and racial customs of the day.
Once, when asked why he
didn't attack the Catholics,
through with the Methodists,
candidate for President of the United
States, memorialized Jones: "He had a great mind, directed by a great heart; an eloquent tongue enlisted on the side of humanity; a marvelous energy employed for the improvement of society."
At the time of his death, Jones was
one of the largest landowners in Barrow
County. The most generously-paid min- ister of his time he had earned approxi-
mately $750,000 during a 30-year career, a far cry from the S65 he had earned his first year on the Van Wert circuit. Yet he
those in need. It is believed that he spent approximately three-quarters of his for- tune building churches, YMCA facilities and sending young men and women to
teaching colleges. He also funded the building of the Sam Jones Female College
in Cartcrsville, later known as Cartersvilie High School.
Jones remains were buried in Cartcrsville's Oak Hill Cemetery, sharing a large burial plot with his hcloved wife
built for use by his children as well as other
were grown, Jones converted the facility into his personal office.
obelisk marks the site and is engraved,
appropriately, with a passage from the Book of Daniel: "Those that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars
Rose Lawn Today Since relatively few visitors to Rose
Lawn today are familiar with Sam Jones and his long-ago brush with national celebrity, the docents of Rose Lawn share his story with visitors on the comfortable potch or in the coiy front parlor.
After the lasi private owner died in 1968, Rose Lawn lay vacant and became a favorite of vagrants and vandals, who decimated its interior. Cartersville citi-
zens and local officials took the first step
the National Register of Historic Places.
Then, Barrow County purchased the house in 1978 and initiated a full-blown restoration project.
"We tried to bring Rose Lawn as close to its former glory as possible," Museum
Director Drew recalls. "Families donated furniture from that time period and we looked to old photos and records to recreate exact details. We even took swatches of the original curtains and made newer versions using the same pat- tern. Jones family members, who hold
"Two of our most prized pieces on display here are a couple of beautiful
36
LEFT: The massive carriage house on the grounds at Rose Lawn had stalls for eight horses. Today it is closed for structural repairs. RIGHT: Guests were often served refreshments in the Rose Lawn parlor, a daizling example of Victorian elegance.
porcelain vases of the old Paris design that were donated by U.S. President Grover Cleveland's family," Drew adds.
Arranged in educational displays throughout the house are many of Sam and Laura Jones's personal belongings
toys, Bibles, jewelry and other items. Numerous photos are on display that show highlights from Sam Jones' long, successful career. Throughout the neatly maintained grounds and gardens, more
grjti.'d Rose Lawn have been restored. Welcoming about 7,000 visitors
annually, Rose Lawn hosts tours, wed- dings, festivals, birthday parties, family reunions and tea parties. "We get a lot of senior groups too," Drew says, "plus church groups and well-known evangel-
a strong spiritual heritage and the largest National Day of Prayer assembly in Georgia is held in Cartersville each year."
Shakespeare cautioned that we are all merely players in this world who "strut and fret" about for a short lime and then are heard no more. Although Sam Jones's life in the pulpit was one of vigor and
death, the legacy of Rose Lawn ensures that his record of good deeds, hard work and powerful sermons has endured long after his "hour upon the stage." ft
Bob Kdiey is a freelanc riter in Atlant
All Aboard! No railroad enthusiast's library will be complete without
this richly-illustrated, soft-cover, 140-page volume featuring
more than 180 vintage photographs (many previously
unpublished). This book Includes a complete Southern
Railway System history, thorough steam and diesel coverage,
maps, time tables, and engine and passenger train details.
Coverage includes both freight and passenger service
rs of Southern Railway System
Address:
City: _
Phone: ( )_
Enclose per copy:
Ship each additional copy (CA only) sales tax per copy Make checks payabie to: LEGACY COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
S34-95
J VISA J MasterCard
with memorable Southern Railway
Routes, Memphis Special, Carolina
Printed on heavy coated stock in an
8 1/2 x 11 inch format.
You may also purchase this book via
credit card by calling us toll-free at
1-800-547-1625 or by ordering It online at
our web site: www.georgiabaclcroads.com.
