Connecticut western news., 1889-10-16
TABERNACLE DESTROYED.
Dr. Talmage's Famous House of Wor.
 ship in Ruins.
Loss Estimated at Sl5O,O ,OOO, Insured for
 S129,OOO.

The famous Brooklyn Tabernacle, of which Rev. Dr. T. Dewitt Talmage is pastor. has for the second time in its history been burned. The fire was discovered at 2.45 Sunday morn- ing by policeman, who turned in an alarm. The flames had gained such headway, how ever, that the firemen were almost helpless and turned their attention to saving tho ad joining buildings. The three-story structure No. 3o3 Schemerhorn street caught fire, how ever. and was damaged to the extent of 5000. The roof of tie building No. 355 also became ignited and was damaged to like amount. Dr. IIalleck's house, on the west side of the church, was also burned. Loss 5000. Number 357. owned by John Ames. sustained loss of S25O0. Buildings ou the south side of the church were also damaged. The loss on the church building, including the organ, one of the finest in the country, is s15O.OO0, well covered by insurance.
 While the tiremen aud police worked for the preservation of adjoining property the time only tottering walls remained. Dr. Talmage was soon on the scene, and after he had seen the edifice which had been his pride laid in ashes returned sorrOwfully home. All day crowds visited the spot and gazed upon the ruins. Nearly all the members of the Tabernacle congregation received their first intimation of the fire upon rounding the adjacent corners and being confronted by the blackened walls and smouldering ruins. No church services were held. but notice upon
 
 horn streets announced Sunday school in the hall of the Young Mems Christian Association, where about GOO teach CTS and scholars assembled in the afternoon.
 The origin of the fire is unknown. The sexton denies the rumor that fires had been lighted yesterday in the furnaces, and thus eXplOdes the defective fiue rumOr. EdsOn's men were in the building arranging new electric plant, and it is thought that during the thunder shower which prevailed during ,ir1,f tn;v bod .sa1 int f1,o building by the wires they introduced, and which ran around the gallery about on alevel with where the flames were first seen, The building was of fourteenth century gothic architecture, and was dedicated Feb. 9, 1874. It was of brick, with stone trimmings, with frontage of 150 feet and depth of 113 feet, to which had recently been added an exten- sion 60 feet wide and 1a deep. The seating capacity was 2,800.
 At meeting of the trustees of the church. Fire Marshal Lewis, who was present, stated his belief that the fire was caused by the cleo tric light wires. The trustees recalled the fact that the insurance companies had settled their policies immediately in the case of the burning of the Catholic Cathedral last spring, and expressed the hope that similar prompt ness would be shown in this case. The in- surance amounts to S129,4 in American and English companies. The building cost S11S,0OO, organ S20,000, furniture 26,0OO, improvements $SI, ,0OO recommendations S1 ,000, carpets SZ,VUU. UT. 1almaSe naS issued all | address to the public, appealing for aid. He says that the church has never confined it's work to it's own locality. It has never been large enough to accommodate all who came. ':It is now desired to build something worthy of our city and of the cause of God. We want S10O,0OO, which, added to the in- surance, will build what is needed. l make appeal to all our friends throughout Christen- dom, to all denominations, to all creeds, and those of no creed at all, to come to our assist ance. I ask all readers of my sermon the world over to contribute. What we do as a church depends upon the immediate response to this call" Dr. Talmage adds that he will postpone his trip to the Holy Land on ac- count of the fire.
 The Trustees adopted resolutions to erect a sufficiently commodious structure. it's size, locality and style to depend upon the amount of contributions received. Thanks were ex- | tended to the owners of various public build- ings which had been placed at the disposal of the Trustees. X letter was received from Dr. Lyman Abbott, offering the use of Ply mouth Church for evening services. The Trustees have secured the Academy of Music | as temporary place of worship.