The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-10-23

DIR. TALMAGE's CHURCH A HEAP OF
RUINS.

The Great Fdihce 1T brooklyn Comp eteiy
Destroyed by Fire Second Tine-its
Pastor ,Postpones His Trip to the Holy
Land and Appeals for Help.
The Rrocklyn tabernacls, of which
T. Dewitt Talmage, d. d., Is pastor,
has been, for the second time in its
history, totally destroyed by fire. At
2:l5 o'clock in the morning a police
man discovered flames issuing from one OF
small window over the main entrance, and,
rushing TO the nearest signal-box, sent IN
on alarm. The fremen found the fire had
assumed large proportions, AMI additional
alarms, calling all available apparatus,
were at once sent in. IL became event
that the edifice was doomed to destruction.
It harmed like a finder box, and the fire.
man. despairing OF saving It, directed their
efforts to the adjoining property. Many
OF the occupants OF the neighboring dwell
ings were already awake, and the police
proceeded TO arouse those who were sleep
ing. The three story frame structure at
s53 Shermerhorn street, adjoining the
church on the east side, was the first to
take fire, and $685. similar structure,
followed: 357 was also damaged.
On the west side of the church the
flames extended TO two brick dwellings,
and on the opposite side OF Schermerhorn
street a row Of three-story brick dwellings,
1928 to 3iS, suffered from the intense heat.
Window glass was broken and woodwork
scorched.
The residents of the neighborhood, awak
ened either by the roar of the flames or by
the pounding OF the police upon their
DOORS became frightened and rushed out
half-dressed and in their night clothes,
and the police had great difficulty in as
surfing them that they were in no danger.
Fortunately there was no loss OF life or
limb. The police carried out one old lady
from 337 Schermerhorn street and placed
her in house at a safe distance. All the
other inmates were able to care for them
selves
But while the fremen and the police
worked for the salvation of property and
people the doomed building was RAPIDLY
being consumed and in an hours time only
lettering walls remained. Dr. Talmage
was on the scene soon after the first alarm
and did not leave until he had seen the
edfce which had been his pride laid in
ashes.
The origin OF the fire is unknown, but it
is thought that it may have been caused by
lightning.
The loss on the church building includ-
ing the organ, which was one OF the finest
in the country, is $3.50, 600 1t is SAID TO
be covered by insurance in n number Of
companies The building was OF four
teenth century Gothic architecture and
was dedicated Feb. %, 1874 It was Of
brick, with stone trimmings, with a
frontage of $50 feet and n depth of 113
feet, TO which had recently been added an
extension GO feet wide and ID deep The
seating capacity was $500 and it was
always fully taxed at the Sunday services.
Tho nrauions which huilt
of corrugated iron, was destroyed by fire
Sunday morning Dec. %, 1872 That fire
was also Of unexplained origin.
Or. Talmage has issued the following
address:
To THE PEoPLE:-By sudden calamity
we are without church. The b uilding
consecreated by so much that is dear TO us
is in ashes. In behalf OF my stricken con-
gregation / make appeal for help, as our
church has never confined its work to this
locality Our church has never been
sufficient either in size or appointment for
the people who come We want TO build
something worthy of our city and worthy
Of tine cause Of God We want 500, 00U,
which, added to the insurance, will
build us what is needed ! make appeal
TO all our friends through christendom, to
all denominations to all creeds and
those of no creeds at all 70 come TO our assist
ance. ask all readers of my sermons
the world over to contribute as far as
their means will allow. What we do as
a church depends upon the immediate re-
Spouse made TO this call. / was on the
eve of departure for brief visit to the
Holy Land that / might be better pre-
pared for my work here, but that visit
must be postponed. / cannot leave until
something is done TO decide our future.
Mav tha cd xybn has dactinu in
dividuals and churches in his hand APP
pear for our deliverance. Response to
this appeal to the people may be sent TO
me at Brooklyn, II. Y, and will with
my own hands acknowledge the receipt
thereof ~