The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-03-10
THE sRooKLYn rAsERNAcLE<

q
DR.. Ta,,naye on the PIatform-Ora-
ror.cai rowers OF the Noted
Pre- acher.
The first object that strikes the visi-
tor 10 the Brooklyn Tabernacle is the
immense organ. Promptly at TAO
o'clock the organist runs his fingers
over the ivory keys, and plays two OF
three select ns At the exact moment
of $50 DIR. Talmage walks on the plat
form. His black broadeioth frocE coat
is thrown open. A turned down collar
encircles his neck, and black tie COW
ers his snowy shirt front He drops IN
to blue plush chair, and q moment IS
spent in prayer Then he adjusts MS
glasses to his eyes and opens his Bible.
The organ peals forth PRAISE God,
from Whom All Blessings Flow A
stout we'll built man steps on a small
platform and waves his right hand. In
his left he holds silver cornet. This
he butts to his mouth and leads the vast
audience in song. There is no choir
or auartette in the tabernacle. Inc
singing is entirely by the congregation.
After this DR.. Talmage steps forward.
The peal of the organ has hardly died
away before he announ ces his Bible
read ng. He holds the good book in
his right hand. closo to his face. His
left hand steals around to his back and
clutches nervously at his coat tail. He
begins in well rounded but not musi-
cal voice. The vast audience is hush
ed in expectancy. The fall of pin
could be heard. Slowly the preacher
proceeds. 1t is the ever delightful
story of Ruth that he has selected Ho
reads sentence after sentence, and in q
conversational way injects comments
until the old story. that all the world
has laughed and cried over. is invested
with a new light and new meaning.
After this another. hymn and then tho
collection. As the pennies, dimes and
quarters jingle unsteady together in
the collection boxes the oornetist plays
again. The great church is by this
time full to overlooking There isn't
standing room anywhere. Massive
chandeliers Light up the building per-
fectly. and the stained glass windows
make a pretty and effective back
ground.
Then the sermon begins. Tho
preacher comes down to the front of tho
platform without notes or even book
in his hand. He doesn't use table or
pulpit He stands alone. Every eye is
on him. He gives out his text in n
clear. loud, ringing voice. and repeats
it twice. He usually begins the SER
mon by a hasty-word picture OF the
scene where the text is laid. or by an
anecdote. Tho sermon lasts forty m n
utes. 1t is full of vigor and earnest
ness. Indeed. that is the chief char.
acteristic of Talmage on the platform.
He is in earnest. He talks quickly,
ncryously. He PAGES up and down tho
platform, and now tells story in q
low, sweet voice. and again he belches
forth like Vesuvius. and makes the
chandeliers rattle with the sound OF his
voice. At times he is intensely humer-
Gus. Again lie has the audience in
tears. Again, he is so dramatic that
the conviction forces itself upon you
that if he had taken TO the stage in
stead of the pulpit he would have made
n great actor.
''What words did the Master use
when the winds and waves lashed Gal
lice into a furyp" he shouts.
He steps back half dozen feet, and
for moment there is silence. Then
he comes rushing down the platform
like q coronado until he reaches the
very edge. His hands arc uplifted.
He turns his face TO the ceiling until
his mouth is on straight line with his
ears. and in pleading voice says, soft
IL, unsteady: "Peace!''
Quick rs flash his hands come down
His face has lost its sweetness. His
voice Is changed and harsh, and the
sentence is completed by an awfu an
intensely dramatic yell: BE still" 1t
is the voice of authority. Galllee is still
ed. There are "Oh's''in the audience,
and a man in pew in front Of me
leans over to his companion and whis-
peres: II never understood the mean
ing of that sentence before"
The vast audience never loses inter-
est 1t is an audience made up fully
two thirds of men between the ages of
25 and So. They belong to all walks
in life. Some are students, others are
actors and playwr;ghts. young minis
tors, bankers brokers. lawyers and
storckeepers. They laugh at the anec-
dotes, and they cry and listen revernt-
ly. tenderly, to the manly pleading to
come to Jesus. Foster Coates, IN AeSo
York. Mail and Er,res $.