The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-08
TALMAGE's NEW TABERNACLE.
Laying the Corner Stone Yesterday Addresses
by the Pastor, the Rev. DR.. Bowling and
Others-Rationalism Denounced.

An immense concourse OF people assembled yes
terday afternoon to witness and participate In the
ceremony attending the laying OF the corner stone
or the new Tree Presbyterian tabernacle for Rev.
L. De Witt Talmage's congregation, on Schermer-
horn, between Nevns and Powers streets, Brooklyn.
the new church will be or the largest in the
country 1t Will give at least one-halfmore seating
accommodation than the old one. with opportunity
for charging to the extent OF an additional good
sized church The building will be $50 feet by liz.
The front will have large central gable, with a
deeply recessed sx-light window twenty.two feet
by forty feen above gallery floor, with double
stored colonnade on each side, terminal
ing on ends with angular porches about
fifty feet high. covered portico with
stone noorng, will be thereby secured, about 14O
feet long, with door openings equal to an outlet OF
rs feet from ground floor. Eight staircases COM
municating with galleries, are so constructed
as to be outside and independent or the main
building, and not to conflict with the delivery
from lower floor. After securing the best supposed
conditions for seeing, hearing, lighting and ven-
tilati0n the whole matter will be developed arch-
tecturaly. and built very substantially of stone and
brick, with no external wood work excepting the
coors, all window tracery, &C., being OF stone
The seats and internal 1nshings will be black
walnut. Three large ornamental cor0nas. Of about
two hundred lights each, will form q prominent
feature in lighting tho building An organ Of
great compass and sweetness Is being built in New
York.
LAYING THE CORNER STONE
platform had been erected over the south
western corner or the foundation and near the
street for the clergymen who were to take part
in the exercises and spectators. II was soon
crowded, and proved to be a very uncomfort-
able place. as 1t was exposed TO the full blaze OF
the sun. The street fronting the grounds was also
densely crowded, while from the windows OF the
opposite houses many witnessed the ceremonies.
Mr. Talmage presided and was surrounded by
numerous clergymen Of the various Protestant
denominations, superintendent b. r. Corwin, Of
the tabernacle; trustees and otner officers OF the
by singing, which was conducted by Mr.. George
Stowe, the precentor. Rev. DR.. Bowling then read
the 122l Psalm and delivered prayer; after which
Mr. Talmage addressed the assemblage as FOL
lOWs:-
ADDRESS OF MR.. TALMAGE.
This Is day for which our souls have longed.
There is great contrast between the audience as
sembled this afternoon and the audience assembled
on that cold December Sabbath when the old taber-
nacle was in flames. To-day there is holy joy on
the countenances Of the people,. Then there were
sorrow and terror. The tears Of Christ's servants
in this very place on that very dav, said within
their souls "lath God forgotten to be gracious9 Is
able no moreY'' But our sorrow has been turned
into singing. Helping hands have been raised on
all sides. The blessing OF God has ac-
OF the Lords house. There is hardly
q mail mat comes across the water but brings
lettcrs from England and Scotland and Ireland
ing, showing that we have the sympathy oil the
Christian world and their practical help ! am
glad to have on the platform to-day the representa-
tlycs OF the different evangelical denominations in
this country. shall not occupy the time which
sci and words OF encouragement. Let this build
ing rise Tor the worship OF Almighty God and for the
proclamation OF the old gospel that Paul announced
and Batter preached and Edward PaysOn prayed
"God so loved the world that HE gave His only be-
gotten son that whosoever believeth in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life." For
the proclamation OF those glorious struths this
church 10 be erected, in c0ntradstnction to the
MODERN RATIoNAIisM AND HuMANI1ARiANisM,
with which we have no sympathy at all. Ii the
Gospel Of Jesus Christ cannot save this world
thoroughly reform it--then it never will be saved
it never will be reformed. Blessed be the Lord
God OF Israel from everlasting to everlasting, and
let the whole earth be filed with His glory Amen
ana amen. The corner stone Will now be formally
laid by the Rev. DIR. irenaeuS Prime, OF the Presby
terrain church.
The venerable DR.. Prime then advanced to the
stone, in which had been deposited copy OF the
Holy scriptures and religious papers, and said: -
Now lay the corner stone IN the name OF the
Upon thus firm foundation may there rise
= house olGod-tne God of Abraham and OF Isaac
and OF Jacob, the God and Father OF our Lord Jesus
Christ, our Fathers God and our Coda house to
be the resting and abiding place OF the Churcn OF
the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be the praise, it
was III me beginning, Is now, anu ever small Dc
world without end, amen" SO saying. the Doctor
struck the stone three times with masons ham,
mer. The stone contained the following inscrip-
tion :-'Brookyn Tabernacle. Built 1870; de-
stroyed by fire December ~, 1872; rebuilt 1873"
ADDRESS OF DIR. BOWLING.
Rev. DR.. Downing. OF the Baptist Church, New
York Clergyman. next addressed the assemblage
He said that the laying OF the corner stone was an
enterprise which. II seemed to him. belonged TO no
particular section OF the hosts OF Gods elect. 1t
was an enterprise in which Christians IN general
without distinction of name, can mplore the bless
ing OF God and heartily bid you God speed. Some
may ask, continued the speaker, as the children
among the tribes Of Israel sometimes asked, "What
mean ye by this service ~ Does 1t not partakc, some
may say, at least in part OF the ritualism or the
iormality Of an apostate church? II thought 1T
did you would not find me here to-day. II you
asked for the precedent Tor a service like the
present, might turn you to the Old Testament
where we read that the tribes OF israel mad re-
second Temple. DR.. bowling spoke Of the Temple
and the prophecy In Haggai, that the glory OF that
second Temple would be greater than the glory OF
the first. The reason was, that during the cOntin
nance Of.that second Temple the Son or God was to
appear on earth. Jesus said II will I'LL this house
was that the presence OF the Lord Jesus Christ
constituted the glory OF the sanctuary. Therefore,
let me tell You who are engaged In the enterprise
OF erecting this place Of worship, that II you
would have such q promise as that fulfilled in
this house, and these spacious grounds should he
filed with the glory of the Lord then you must
make Christ tile central point IN the whole of
your service. ] heartily congratulate you on this
memorable occasion do 1t with the utmost con-
fdence because have long known your pastor and
his devoted attachment TO the doctrine OF Christ
He may have
HIS PECUIJAgrTIEs
All OF us have pecuaritieS. Some may,
perhaps. term them eccentrcites. Some may
think, perhaps, we wander in sermons from Dan
to Beersheba. suppose we do: never mind, II we
don't go out of Israeli Q.aughter.) Not long ago
l saw a letter written by q most h0nored and one
OF the most distinguished preachers in Chrstendom
some say the most distinguished. 1t was Charles
Spurge0n, OF London. He had been reading one
OF the volumes Of 7; De Witt Talmage, and,
81 sometimes wonder that my sermons should
be honOred and blessed OF God TO the salvation OF
many precious souls hut when read the sermons
OF I. De Witt TaImage don't wonder that these
sermons should be blessed TO the conversion OF sin.
flersu regard that as honorable testimony, and
allow me tJ express the hope that so long as THESE
walls shall staiid they may echo with the glorious
Gospel OF the blessed God-not the rationalism OF
the pre- day, but that blessed, glorious truth
which places the Lord Jesus Christ In the centre ;