The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-22
THE DAILY STAR
BROOKLYN LETTER.

Rev, DR.. Theodore T.. Cuyler--Hts
Career. .Labors and Achi vements--
Two Anecdotes illustrative of the
man--programm of the Last
PhiIharm0nicC Concert OF the Sea-
son--Bicycle Riding -- Organiza-
tion of IA New Company fer the
Manufacture of the Telephone.
Special Correspondence of the Star.
BROOKLYN, N. Y, April 10, 1880.
How man can be great without be-
ing brilliant, or even profoundly cru
dite, is shown by the career of Rev. The
odore L. Cuyler, DID, of this city. Pos
terity will never mention his name in
the same breath with that of Beecher,
and he lacks the oratorical polish OF
Storrs; yet, in some respects there is
scarcely any other man in America who
has accomplished so much good. Not
one scintilla of talent or energy with
which nature endows him has been
wasted or perverted from a noble end,
and, best of all, every effort has been I'M
selfish and directed to the moral and
spiritual advancement of his fellows.
This is high praise to award any one,
and though his career has been un-
marked by any of those mastery strokes
by which the few succeed in inscribing
their names on the imperishable scroll
of fame, his influence will long be felt.
He has just attained the twentieth
anniversary of his pastorate at the La
fayette Avenue Presbyterian Church,
and within few days the event has
been celebrated with service BETTING
SO notable an event. Let me describe
for you the man, and briefly say few
words about some of the features of his
career.
Imagine person considerably below
the medium height, of slight build and
contracted shoulders, with thin gray
hair almost white, wide but not particu-
larly lofty brow, strong features and gray
eyes, somewhat hard of hearing and grow
ing more SO every day, and dressed in a
very ordinary suit of black, and you
have formed pretty fair picture of the
man. His voice is strong, infexible and
almost harsh at times and keyed to a
high pitch; his delivery more forcible
than elegant. Always earnest, always
keeping before him principles and never
indrlging in sensationalism, the pub
lie knows at all times just what to expect
Of him, and Just where to find him.
Now, what has this man accomplished
during the past twenty years? Besides
virtually refounding his own church he
has built three churches and two mis-
sions as ofshoots from the Lafayette ave-
nue. church, and during all these years
has lost but one Sundays work, while he
has preached 1900 discourses and re-
ceiyed 3,059 members into the church.
But it is not AS pastor that he is best
known, but as q contributor to the re-
ligious press. And it is perhaps as a
writer that he has done the most good,
for the 1,G00 articles lie has written for
the press have been largely copied until
it is estimated their circulation has
reached 40,000,O00
The great burden of all his writings
has been temperance, and his clear state
ments of the evil effects, morally, soci-
ally, intellectually and spiritually of in.
dulgence in strong drink, have produced
powerful impression for good upon
rising generations, and saved many {
young man and young woman from dis
grace, Or an untimely grave.
Some interesting anecdotes are tol(
of him. During the war he was a pro
nouneed Union man, and in May, 1851
his people heartily seconding him, thu
Stars and Stripes were, under his direc
tiOn, placed on the eastern tower of hi
church, where they were kept flying un
til the fall of Richmond. On one occa
sion two reporters having repaired tt
the Lafayette Avenue Church one week
day evening, to report meetingo of SOM
kind, thought, with the assistance of th'
sexton, to avail themselves of a larg
table on the left Of the pulpit, Just a
the critical moment when the wol
thy Doctor appeared, and taking in tn
situation said to the sexton in his pc
cnliar voice: "set another table, that
the Communion table!' leaving the tw
knights of the secular quill very muc
in doubt whether he has not remot
idea that their presence at that table, i
a business capacity, might be attepde
with some PROCLAMATION.
In 1876 issued from his pen littl
work that doubtless has carried console
ton into many households. 1t was
memorial OF his "Little Georgia." an
bore the title of "The Empty Crib.
Letme give you an excerpt from it.:
Both the narrative and the succeed
ing articles are published simply an
solely with the hope that they may
solace and blessing to some hearts i
the great Household of the Sorrowine
This is the largest household in tn
world. There is hardly . dwelling &
which there is not one dead In almos
every home there are stored away anon
Sts most cherished treasures a little nh,