Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-11-07
MAX'S MELANGE.
A Street Wanderers Comments and 0piu-
ions On Subjects of Local Impor-
tanCe.
Dr. Talmage and the Lima stone Man-An
Important Conference.-The Times
Monumental Gall-Gas and
shade Trecs-A sugges-
ton.

In recent sermon the Rev. T. Dewitt
Talmage discussed blaSphemy and its con-
sequences. He drew from ancient and
modern history instances of the sudden and
awful punishment inflicted by divine power
upon blasphemers, and warned his hearers
to avoid the sin as one that brings them into
special danger from an offended provi-
dence. His most striking illustration was
an incident that he declared happened only
last August. | could scarcely believe my
eyes when | read the account of his sermon.
Could it be" Yes. it certainly was
warmed-Oyer version of the GLOBEREPUB-
Lies Lima Stone Man story. As there
were some inaccuracies in the newspaper
reports or that part of the sermon which re-
lated 10 the stone man, DIR. Talmage gives
to New York sun reporter the following
corrected version of his narrative:
$50 common has blasphemy become that
the public mind and the public ear have got
so used to it, and a blasphemer goes up and
down this country in his lectures defying
the plain law against blasphemy, and there
is not a mayor in America that has back
bone enough to interfere with him save one,
and that the mayor or Toronto. Profanity
is worse than theft, or arson, or murder,
for these crimes are attacks upon humanity.
That is all attack on God This country is
preeminent for blasphemy. The crime is
multiplying in intensity. God very often
shows what he thinks of it, but for the
most part the fatality is hushed up. give
you fact that is proved by scores of wit
nesseS. This last August of 1856 a
man got provoked at the continued drought
and the ruin of his crops, and in
the presence of his neighbors cursed God,
saying that he would cut his heart out if he
would come, calling him liar and a cow
ard, and flashing a knife. And while he
was speaking his lower jow dropped,
smoke issued from mouth and nostrils, and
the heat of his body was so intense it drove
back those who came near. Scores
of people visited the scene and saw the
blasphemer in the awful process of eXpir-
ing. Do not think that God has been silent
of your case, . profane swearer, that he is
dead. Is there nothing now in the peculiar
feeling of your tongue, or nothing in the
numbness of your brain, that indicates that
God may come to avenge your blasphemies,
or is already avenging them? There are
hundreds of such cases. Families keep
them still to avoid the horrible conspicuity.
Physicians suppress them through profess
sional confidence"
Mr.. Talmage was asked for a circum-
stantial account of the blasphemer who was
miraculOuSly burned to death. His re-
sponSe was as follows: II appreciate the
desire for further details in this matter, but
purposely avoided locating the event, and
t le reasons that actuaisiuW impel me
now 10 keep tHs-' -. from the public.
S"11'h-sm event is terrible thing for the
family and friends OF the man who was
punished. and it was out of consideration
for them that | omitted to state where the
scene was laid. That it is strictly true. how
ever, | have conclusive evidence. forget just
how it was brought to my attention. |
heard il reported by somebody or got my
first information from a private letter, |
cannot say which. but | am inclined to
think it was the latter. But no matter. l
asked a trusted friend of mine 10 investi-
gate for me, and he did SO. Some cores
pondence enSued, which he turned over to
me, and from ii | am assured that the af-
fair did actually and exactly take place as |
describe il. / have the correspondence
still, but think had better keep il to my
self"