• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses Graduate School 1980 A Rhetorical Analysis of Selected Sermons by Sam Jones During His Emergence as a National Figure, 1872-1885. Herman Daniel Champion Jr Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses Recommended Citation Champion, Herman Daniel Jr, "A Rhetorical Analysis of Selected Sermons by Sam Jones During His Emergence as a National Figure, 1872-1885." (1980). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 3553. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/3553 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INFORMATION TO USERS This was produced from a copy of a document sent to us for microfilming. While the most advanced technological means to photograph and reproduce this document have been used, the quality is heavily dependent upon the quality of the material submitted. The following explanation of techniques is provided to help you understand markings or notations which may appear on this reproduction. 1. The sign or “target” for pages apparently lacking from the document photographed is “Missing Page(s)”. If it was possible to obtain the missing page(s) or section, they are spliced into the film along with adjacent pages. This may have necessitated cutting through an image and duplicating adjacent pages to assure you of complete continuity. 2. When an image on the film is obliterated with a round black mark it is an indication that the film inspector noticed either blurred copy because of movement during exposure, or duplicate copy. Unless we meant to delete copyrighted materials that should not have been filmed, you will find a good image of the page in the adjacent frame. 3. When a map, drawing or chart, etc., is part of the material being photo­ graphed the photographer has followed a definite method in “sectioning” the material. It is customary to begin filming at the upper left hand comer of a large sheet and to continue from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. If necessary, sectioning is continued again—beginning below the first row and continuing on until complete. 4. For any illustrations that cannot be reproduced satisfactorilyby xerography, photographic prints can be purchased at additional cost and tipped into your xerographic copy. Requests can be made to our Dissertations Customer Services Department. 5. Some pages in any document may have indistinct print. In all cases we have filmed the best available copy. University Microfilms International 300 N. ZEEB ROAD, ANN ARBOR, Ml 48106 18 BEDFORD ROW, LONDON WC1R 4EJ, ENGLAND 8110407 C h a m p io n , H e r m a n Da n ie l , Jr . A RHETORICAL ANALYSIS OF SELECTED SERMONS BY SAM JONES DURING HIS EMERGENCE AS A NATIONAL FIGURE, 1872-1885 The Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical Col. PH.D. 1980 University Microfilms International300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106 PLEASE NOTE: In all cases this material has been filmed in the best possible way from the available copy. Problems encountered with this document have been identified here with a check mark . 1. Glossy photographs __________ 2. Colored illustrations _________ 3. Photographs with dark background _________ 4. Illustrations are poor copy _ 5. Drint shows through as there is text on both sides of page _________ 6. Indistinct, broken or small print on several pages 7. Tightly bound copy with print lost in spine _ 8. Computer printout pages with indistinct print ________ 9. Page(s) _____ lacking when material received, and not available from school or author 10. Page(s) ________ seem to be missing in numbering only as text follows 11. Poor carbon copy _________ 12. Not original copy, several pages with blurred type _____ 13. Appendix pages are poor copy _ 14. Original copy with light type ________ 15. Curling and wrinkled pages _______ 16. Other ___________ University Microfilms International 300 N. / EFB RD., ANN ARBOR, Ml 48100 13131 701 4700 A RHETORICAL ANALYSIS OF SELECTED SERMONS BY SAM JONES DURING HIS EMERGENCE AS A NATIONAL FIGURE, 1872-1885 A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The Department of Speech by HERMAN D. CHAMPION, JR. B.A., Mississippi College, 1963 M.Div., New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 1966 M.A., Louisiana State University, 1968 December 19, 1980 ACKNOWLEDGMENT The writer wishes to express his appreciation to all those who contributed to the preparation of this dissertation. He is particularly indebted to Dr. Harold Mixon and Dr. Waldo Braden for their guidance and helpful suggestions. Gratitude is especially strong for his wife, Lily, and daughters, Tara and Lori, who sacrificed more than anyone. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. INTRODUCTION ............................................. 1 The Problem................ .......................... 2 The Procedure.......................................... 4 Sources of Material .................................... 7 II. THE SPEAKER'S LIFE AND C A R E E R ............................. 10 Early L i f e ............................................ 11 Education and Speech Training .......................... 17 Speaking Career ........................................ 26 D e l i v e r y .............................................. 47 III. THE SPEAKER'S APPROACH TO REVIVALISM ..................... 55 Theological, Social and Political Views ................ 55 Organization and Conduct of Revivals .................. 80 IV. CAMPAIGN IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE ........................... 107 Sermon: "How Can You Be S a v e d ? " ...................... 119 Sermon: "Escape for Thy L i f e " ........................ 136 Sermon: "Cornelius, A Devout M a n " .............. 155 Summary................................................ 167 V. CAMPAIGN IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE ........................ 172 Sermon: "Righteousness and Life— Sin and Death" .... 182 Sermon: "Grace and Salvation" ........................ 196 Sermon: "For Him or Against Him— The Best Wine at the L a s t " .................................. 205 Sermon: "The Fruits of the Spirit".................... 221 Sermon: "God's Calls and Man's Calamities" ............ 235 Summary.................................. 247 VI. CONCLUSION ............................................... 256 BIBLIOGRAPHY.................................. 269 APPENDICES.................................... 275 Appendix A .................................................... 276 Appendix B ........................ 283 Appendix C .................................................... 289 Appendix D .................................................... 292 VITA .............................................................. 294 iii ABSTRACT With an inimitable style out of the rural south, peppered with caustic, biting criticism and practical illustrations, Sam Jones combined the rustic, earthy qualities of southern hill country religion with the full auditoriums, careful schedules and trained assistants of urban religion. After an "apprenticeship" in North Georgia Methodist Circuits and as an advocate for the Decatur Orphan's Home, Sam Jones took his brand of revivalism throughout the United States and into Canada. He consistently attracted capacity crowds, large numbers of decisions, strong controversy and extensive press coverage. The purpose of this investigation was to study the preaching career and sermons of Sam Jones from the start of his career in 1872 through the middle of 1885, the year of his complete emergence as a national figure in revivalism. Sermons for analysis came from two campaigns, Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee, selected because of their significance in his emergence and the existence of reliable sermon texts. The first part of the investigation involved a survey of the speaker's background, training, experience and other factors which may have contributed to his speaking success. The second part focused on the speaker's approach to revivalism, including a survey of the theological, social and political views which he ultimately expressed in his sermons and a study of the organization and conduct of both the revival campaigns and individual services in which the analyzed sermons were preached. The third part of the study involved a rhetorical analysis of eight selected sermons preached in the 1884 Memphis campaign and the 1885 Nashville campaign. The structure, lines of reasoning, forms of support, style and responses to his sermons were studied. In both campaigns Jones accepted reluctant invitations and faced considerable opposition. In spite of these handicaps he generally preached two to three times a day to overflowing crowds. Jones saw his task to be that of aligning the forces of God, "born again" church members, against the forces of evil, all others. The test which determined whether a person was among the forces of God was his deeds. A cardinal area of Jones' advocacy of the importance of deeds concerned prohibition. Jones relied on six basic forms of support: Scripture, illustrations, examples, hypothetical reasoning, humor and comparison-

Load more

  304

Copy Link