, 1883-03-01

The pastor of the Central Presby-
tcrian Church, Brooklyn, New York,
is in his tifty-first year. Hewas born
at Bound Brook, New jersey, in the
year 1892 His education was supe
rior, and he was the fourth brother
to enter the ranks Of Christian
preachers. Before experiencing that
change in his religious life which de-
termined him to adopt the sacred
profession, be spent three years i'll a
lawyers office, and but for the con
version spoken of, which took place
when he was nineteen, Dr. Talmage's
unquestionGble ability and force
would have been employed in the
service Of clients. AS first step to
the ministry he entered college at.
New Brunswick, and in due time be-
came Il graduate of New York Uni
versity. His first pastorate was at
Belleyille, New Jersey, where he was
popular, and remained three years.
Subsequently, at Syracuse, New
York, his preaching attracted consid
cradle attention by reason of the same
characteristics which particularize it
nova vivid style, startling illustra-
ton, exaggerated expression, direct
ness of appeal and an extraordinary
earnestness OF delivery, effective spite
of its harsh and shocking variety Of
intonation and unseemly gesticula
tons. DR.. Talmage's removal to
Philadelphia increased vastly the
number of his admirers, and his min
istry of seven years in the Quaker
city was great success. During this
period he became popular rs II lectur
er. At the time of his acceptance of
the call by the Brooklyn church, he
had the choice of that seemingly the
poorest of all, only nineteen mombers
voting-one in Chicago and one in
San Francisco. He removed to
Brooklyn in March, 1869, and soon
filled a church which had been much
too large for the worshipers. The
next year a tabernacle of sheet iron
was built by the congregation for the
better accommodation of the large
audiences which assembled to hear
DR.. Talmage. He spent most of the
time in which the building was being
erected in trip to Europe and back
The tabernacle was opened by the
pastor three months after its build
ing had begun. All seats were free.
In December, 1872, it was consumed
by fire, and the congregation assem-
bled in the Academy OF Music until
February, 1874, when the new taber-
nacle was opened. This is one Of the
largest buildings in Brooklyn, and is
now known as the Tabernacle. 1t is
semi circular in form, the seats so
arranged that all can see and hear
the minister, who breaches from a
platform simply furnished without Il
desk. \ huge organ behind the
speaker and sometimes the use of the
cornet to lead the singing, indicate
one of Dr. Talmages wide departures
from Presbyterian precedent. Con
nected with the Tabernacle is col
lege to assist young men in theologi-
Cal study, in their devotions and
work among the poor and uninstruct-
ed, and to prepare those who are apt
to the ministry for its duties A few
years ago DR.. Talmage spent several
months in Europe, chiefly in Great
Britain, where his sermons have a
wide distribution. His appearances
in pubic created great interest there,
as at home, where his Tabernacle,
which accommodates five thousand
hearers very comfortably, is often
greatly inadequate to the admission
Of all who desire to hear him.
DR.. Talmage is of the positive and
aggressive type of men, and he has
detractors and enemies, as some Incl
dents in his career indicate, even
among his fellow Christians. He is
man whom it is well for fastidious
and fault-Gnding people to leave un-
molested. They would do much bet
ter to let him alone to do his work in
his own way, cultiyating that Pauline
breadth Of charity which rejoiced in
the preaching Of the gospel by whom
soever done Talmage is not thin
skinned man, by any means. Carica-
lures and abusive newspaper articles
minister to his popularity and in
crease the number OF his hearers, and
are pleasing to him rather than 9th
erwisc. ~ the bufIaloes on the plains
found the posts provided with brad
avis to be. The recent interference