Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1888-01-21
THE BROOKLYN TABERNACLE.
DIR. TaImage on the orical
p,,rnrs IF tl,a Note,t Prcnchcr

DIR. TaImage on the platform-Crat orical
Powers of tlie Noted Preacher
The first object that strikes the visitor to
tho Brooklyn Tabernacle is the immense CT
gan Promptly at Ills O'Clock the organist
runs his fingers over the ivory keys, and
pluys two or three selections. At the exact
mcment of 7:3O DR.. Talmagc walks on tho
platform Els black broadcloth frock coat :
is thrown open. A turned down collar encir-
clcs his neck, and u black tie covers his
snowy shirt front. He drops into blue
plush chair, and moment is spent in prayer.
Then he adjusts his glasses to his eyes and
opens his Bible. Tho organ peals forth
"Prase God, from Whom All Blessings
Flow" A stout, well built man steps OH
snail platform and'waves his RICH: hand In
his left he holds silver cornet This lie
puts to his mouth and leads the vast audience
in song. There is no choir or quurtettc in
tho Tabernacle. The singing is entirely by
the congregation. After this Dr. Talnage
steps forward. The peal Il the organ has
hardly died away before he announces his
Bible reading. He holes the good boo, in
his right hand, close to his face His left
hand steals around to his back and clutches
ncrvously at his coat tail He begins in a
VIGIL lOb luuSlCtll VOICE.. 10
vast audience is hushed in expectancy The
afallsof o pin could be heard Slowly the,
preacher proceeds. 1t is the ever delightful
story of Ruth that lie has selected. Ho reads
sentence after sentence, and in CONVERSE
tional way injects comments until the old
story, that all tho world has laughed and
cried over, is invested with new light and q
new meaning. After this another hymn and
then the collection AS the pennies, dimes
and quarters jingle unsteady together III the
collection boxes the cornetist plays again.
Tho great church is by this time full to over
flowing There isn't standing room any-
where. Massive chandeliers light up the
building perfectly, and the stained glass
windows make a pretty and effective back
ground.
Then the sermon begins. The preacher
comes down TO the front of the platform with
out notes or even q book in his hand He
doesn't use table OF Pulpit He stands
alone. Every eye is on lin Flo gives out
bis text in a clear, loud. ringing voice, and =
repeats it twice He usually begins the scr
mon by a hasty word picture of the sceno
where the text is laid or by an anccdotc.
Tho sermon lasts forty minutes. 1t is full Of
vigor and carncstress. Indeed, that is the.
chief characteristic of Talnagc on the plat
form. lie is in earnest. He talks quickly,
nervously. lie PAGES up and down tho plat
form, and now tells q story in u low, sweet
voice, and again he belchcs forth like Vesu-
viuS, and makes tine chandeliers rattle With
the sound Of his voice. At times he is in
tensely humorous Again he has the audi
ence in tears Again, he is SO dramatic
that the conviction forces itself upon you
that if he had taken to the stage instead Of
the pulpit he would have nlado great actor.
"What words did the Master use when the
winds AID waves lashcd Galilce into a furyl'
be shouts
lie steps back half dozen feet, and for
moment there is silence. Then he comes rush
ing down tho platform like tornado until
he reaches the very edge. His hands arc up
lifted. lie turns his face to the ceiling until
his mouth is on straight line with his ears,
and in q pleading voice says, softly, music
ally: "PcacoI"
Quick os flash his han Is come down. His
face has lost its sweetness. Ills voice is
changed and harsh, and the sentence is COM
pletcd by IN awful and intensely dramatic
yell: "De still!' It is the voice of authority
Galilee is stilled. There are "Ob's" in the
audience, and man in q pew in front of me
leans over to his companion and whispers:
II never understood the meaning of that
sentence BEFORE
is an audience made up fully two-thirds Of
men between the ages of 25 and s.. They
belong to all walks in life. Some arc stu
dents, others arc actors and playwrights,
young ministers, bankers, brokers, lawyers
ard storeiccpers They laugh at the anec-
dotes, and they cry and listen rcverently,
tenderly, to tho manly pleading to come to
Jcsus.-Foster Coatks in New York Mail and