Three Score Years And Ten

The Autobiography of J. D. Jones

At a congratulatory lunch given me on the occasion of my ministerial Jubilee I spoke of some of the famous men whom I had met and come to know in the course of the fifty years. They were men who belonged to an earlier generation than those who were gathered to do honour to me that day, and, to most who were there, they were little more than names. After the lunch one and another urged me to put on record my recollections of these great and good men of a by-gone age. This book is the result. It is not, strictly speaking, an autobiography. At any rate, I never meant it to be an autobiography. But as I wrote, I found I wanted to set down my recollections of movements as well as of men and in some of these movements I took a share. I hope I have not obtruded myself overmuch. It is upon the people I have been fortunate enough to meet, some of whom became my dear personal friends, that I wish to concentrate attention. If this book helps to keep green the memories of some who would otherwise be forgotten it will have fulfilled its purpose.

My thanks are due to my friend Mr. Arthur Porritt who read through this book in MS. and made many valued suggestions, and who then added to his kindness by revising the proofs and preparing the index.