On March 5, 1899, Samuel Porter Jones - famed drunkard-turned-evangelist - began a fiery revival in Toledo that pitted him against Mayor Samuel M. Jones, who was also called "Golden Rule Jones," because of his reputation for fairness.

Samuel Porter Jones (the two were not related) had made a dramatic conversion in 1872 after promising his dying father that he would meet him in heaven. He became a preacher and fund-raiser for the Methodist Church.

He gained fame and converts (as well as a lot of money) in cities all over the country, including Cincinnati, where he converted 2,000 in 1886.

It was said that wherever he preached, liquor stores closed and cursing was reduced to a whisper - but not in Toledo. Jones, who was introduced to the Toledo audience by the mayor, soon ripped into the entire city - and its beloved mayor. The preacher Jones declared that if the Devil were mayor of Toledo, he wouldn't change a thing. (Toledo reportedly boasted 700 saloons, grossly outnumbering the churches, and 150 gambling dens.)

The revival made headlines in the Toledo papers, which claimed that the preacher preferred "the rule of hate to the rule of love." His message backfired and Mayor Jones was re-elected by a wide majority on April 3.

Rebecca Goodman

Ohio Moments appears daily this year. Have a suggestion? Contact Rebecca Goodman at rgoodman@enquirer.com or (513) 768-8361.