Pulpits & Rose PetalsTHE LEGACY OF SAM JONESThe beautifully restored Victorian home of Reverend Sam

Jones, once one of the most famous men in America, continuesto honor his life and work.

The road to hell may be paved

late 19th century, a southernpreacher fond of repeating that famousproverb was riding a wave of Americanpopularity aimed more for the heavensthan the devil's playground. In the1880s, 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 thewide, 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 Victoriancrown jewel of Cartelsville's historic dis-

mere $4 entrance fee, visitors are treatedto an intimate glimpse into the life of anall-but-forgotten Georgia personality.

Give Me that Old Time ReligionIf 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 livesand families across America forever. Andalong the way, the renovation plansimplemented by Jones and his wife,Laura, ultimately transformed a simpletwo-story farm cottage into an elegant

Born in Oak Bowery, Alabama, SamJones was 10 when his parents moved thefamily EO Cactetsville. Hailing from along line of Methodist preachers, he sur-prised family members by becoming alawyer 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 YB Y B O B K E L L E Y

As his circumstances spiraled downwardhe supported his family by doing oddjobs such as driving freight wagons andsrokirig furnaces.

In 1872, Jones' dying father beggedhis 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 formerglory as a grand Victorian home. In tts heyday as the residence of Reverend Sam Jones, thehouse was always buzzing with guests, visiting travelers who needed a place to rest, and fe51oministers seeking counsel with Rev. Jones.

the young Jones delivered his first ser-mon, and after only three months waslicensed to preach by the MethodistChurch.

poo test and most destitute charge inGeorgia, the rural Van Wert circuit, agroup of five churches spread over Polk,Bartow, Paulding and Floyd Counties. Ashis reputation grew, eventually he wasappointed to the cash-poor Methodistorphanage in Decatur, Georgia. Thisfreed Jones from being tied down to localchurches, and he traveled the state toraise money. Thanks to his efforts, theorphanage soon flourished.

Honing a distinctive pteaching stylethat featuted a homespun, shirtsleeve

ology unlike any other American evan-gelist of the time, Jones soon filled revivaltents throughout the South., startlingthousands into salvation. His dry wit andhumor reportedly had a major influence

day including a shy. humorous cowboyfrom Oklahoma who never met a man hedidn't like: Will Rogers.

Fight the Good FightIn 1885, while leading a crusade in

Nashville, Jones converted a local saloonowner and riverboat captain, TomRyman. In those days, many revivalswere held under outdoor tents. With

enough to accommodate the overflowingcrowds Jones drew.

Ryman, taken with the preacher andgrateful for helping him to "see thelight," built the Union GospelTabernacle in Nashville, specifically as ahome for Jones' revivals. Later renamedRyman Auditorium, the site would later

country music," the birthplace of theGrand Ole Opry.

A series of Nashville revivals pro-pelled Jones onto die national stage, andhe was soon leading crusades and pack-ing crowds into rafter-rattling gospelmeetings across America. One year, Jones

claimed to have preached 1,000 sermons

Wherever Sam Jones preached, liquorstores often closed, the audiences at bur-lesque theatres plummeted, the numberof jail inmates dropped, and public curs-ing was reduced to whispers. His careerspanned three decades, and it is said thathis written and spoken messages influ-enced millions. Without a doubt, hisdaily newspaper columns were read bymore than a million devoted followers.

Rose Lawn Blossoms

In 1885, Jones purchased Rose Lawn,which was built by Nelson Gilreath inthe 1860s. A decade later, Jones begantransforming the house in ways thatwould reflect his rising local and nation-al prominence. Wishing ro enlarge thehome without altering its architecturalintegrity, Jones initiated a monumentaleffort to raise the entire house and buitda new ground floor and basement belowthe original structure.. This unorthodoxendeavor was accomplished in the 1890sfor just SI 10 (the equivalent of nearly522,000 today).

project, Rose lawn's first floor featured12-foot ceilings, 10-foot double doors

and a kitchen. As was common in fineVictorian homes of the day, the ceilings

ornate, gilded-wood moldings. Stainedglass fretwork graced many of the house'swindows. One particularly elegant fin-ishing touch included lead-lace glasspanels embellishing the front entranceand several windows throughout the firstfloor.

In a recent interview, Jane Drew,director at Rose Lawn Museum,described the feature: "Lead-lace glass iscreated by heating the glass panel to acertain temperature and then takingturkey feathers, dabbing them in waterand using the feathers to apply water tothe heated glass creating a shadowingeffect." She notes that Rose Lawn's lead-lace panels have been called the finest

Rose Lawn sits on 3.5 acres near downtownCartersville, 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 remodelingproject, Rose Lawn had transformedfrom a simple two-story dwelling inro adignified 18-room mansion that was anarchitectural wonder of its day.

Located near downtown Cartersvilleon nearly four manicured acres, RoseLawn boasted a one-room schoolhouse,carriage house, brick smokehouse, arborand, true to its name, more than 200 roseplanrs scattered across the property. Joneshired a governess to instruct his childrenand surtounding neighborhood childrenin 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 hemarried or seeking counseling or a placeto sleep. Upstairs, a round porch oft one

Rose Lawn's lead lace glass windows are saidto be the finest example of this art form inexistence. Class was heated to a certaintemperature, then turkey feathers, dabbedin water, applied water to the heated glassto create a shadowing effect.

r.iv( slo•eping quai i for the Jchildren on hot summer nights.

It was claimed that nobody reallyknew Sam Jones until they had met himin his own household. There, he was sur-rounded by a wife and six children wholoved him with a passionate devotion.

That atmosphere of ''family" and unpre-

Beyond the PulpitBy the end of the 19th century, Jones

had achieved national fame as a lecturerand public speaker who often lashed outagainst "moral issues" of the day, includ-ing corrupt clergy, crooked politicians,

halls. Speaking not only for religiousorganizations but to state legislatures andcivic organizations, he often shared thestage with dignitaries like PresidentTheodore Roosevelt, who once praised

Jones by noting, "Sam, you have beendoing 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 havetaken 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 payrespects as his body lay in state ia the

Atlanta. Thousands lined the railroadtracks berween Atlanta and Cartersvilieas his remains were brought home to belaid to rest.

Respected in both the black and white

of mourners paid their respects as theyviewed Jones' bier in Rose Lawn's par-lor—the blacks filing in from the back ofthe house and the whites entering at the

front door, in keeping with the acceptedsocial and racial customs of the day.

Once, when asked why he

didn't attack the Catholics,

Jones replied, "When 1 get

through with the Methodists,

it's bedtime."

candidate for President of the United

States, memorialized Jones: "He had agreat mind, directed by a great heart; aneloquent tongue enlisted on the side ofhumanity; a marvelous energy employedfor 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 hisfirst year on the Van Wert circuit. Yet he

those in need. It is believed that he spentapproximately three-quarters of his for-tune building churches, YMCA facilitiesand sending young men and women to

teaching colleges. He also funded thebuilding of the Sam Jones Female College

in Cartcrsville, later known asCartersvilie High School.

Jones remains were buried inCartcrsville's Oak Hill Cemetery, sharinga large burial plot with his hcloved wife

built for use by his children as well as other

were grown, Jones converted the facility intohis personal office.

obelisk marks the site and is engraved,

appropriately, with a passage from theBook of Daniel: "Those that turn manyto righteousness shall shine as the stars

Rose Lawn TodaySince relatively few visitors to Rose

Lawn today are familiar with Sam Jonesand his long-ago brush with nationalcelebrity, the docents of Rose Lawn sharehis story with visitors on the comfortablepotch or in the coiy front parlor.

After the lasi private owner died in1968, Rose Lawn lay vacant and becamea favorite of vagrants and vandals, whodecimated its interior. Cartersville citi-

zens and local officials took the first step

the National Register of Historic Places.

Then, Barrow County purchased thehouse in 1978 and initiated a full-blownrestoration project.

"We tried to bring Rose Lawn as closeto its former glory as possible," Museum

Director Drew recalls. "Families donatedfurniture from that time period and welooked to old photos and records torecreate exact details. We even tookswatches of the original curtains andmade newer versions using the same pat-tern. Jones family members, who hold

"Two of our most prized pieces ondisplay 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: Guestswere often served refreshments in the Rose Lawn parlor, a daizling example of Victorian elegance.

porcelain vases of the old Paris designthat were donated by U.S. PresidentGrover Cleveland's family," Drew adds.

Arranged in educational displaysthroughout the house are many of Samand Laura Jones's personal belongings

toys, Bibles, jewelry and other items.Numerous photos are on display thatshow highlights from Sam Jones' long,successful career. Throughout the neatlymaintained 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, familyreunions and tea parties. "We get a lot ofsenior groups too," Drew says, "pluschurch groups and well-known evangel-

a strong spiritual heritage and the largestNational Day of Prayer assembly inGeorgia is held in Cartersville each year."

Shakespeare cautioned that we are allmerely players in this world who "strutand fret" about for a short lime and thenare heard no more. Although Sam Jones'slife in the pulpit was one of vigor and

death, the legacy of Rose Lawn ensuresthat his record of good deeds, hard workand powerful sermons has endured longafter his "hour upon the stage." ft

Bob Kdiey is a freelanc riter in Atlant

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