The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-04
GREAT JOY.
DR.. Talmage's Sermon Yesterday.
The Return of the Prodigal to His
Old Home.
A Jubilee Day In the Great Brook
Ign Tabernacle.
1t Has n Membership of 4. 4o9, All
Communicates.
The Annual Renting OF Pews Brings In
Revenue OF s33, 1904, the Largest
Rental Ever Known in the
Church.
snccInl pIsrnteh to Tho Anrcnl.

BROOKLYN, n. V, Feb. ga jubilee
sermon was preached this morning by the
Rev. I. Dewitt Talmage, ID. d., at an es.
pecial communion for the reception OF 24C
persons, making the present communion
membership OF the Brooklyn Tabernacle
i,I0S. This is also moving day in the
church. The annual renting OF pews has
just occurred and today many OF the con.
gregation occupy new places The pcws
brought higher premiums this year than
ever before and tine income of the church
this year will be S33, SOl. But both plans
are observed in this church. A vast space
is kept free from all expense and only a
part Of the building is mapped oil for rent,
Dr. Talmage took his text from the tif-
teenth chapter Of Luke, twenty.third
verse: Bring hithor the fatted calf aud
kill it, DIR. Talmage said:
JOY! joy joy! We banquet today over
this accession OF a multitude OF souls. In
all ages OF the world 1t has been customary
TO celebrate joyful events by iestivity-thc
signing of treaties, the proclamation of
peace, the Christmas, the marriage. How
ever much on other days OF the year our
table may have stinted supply, on Thanks
giving day there must be something boun-
tcous. And all the comfortable homes Of
Christendom have at somo time cclc-
brated joyful events by banquet and ies-
iiyity.
Something has happened in the old
homestead grcrter than anything that has
ever happened before. A fayorite son,
whom the WorldHupposcd would become u
yagabond aud outlaw forever, mas got tired
OF sightseeing and returned Ia his iathcr's
house. The world said he never would
come back. The old man always said his
son would come lie had been looking
for hun day after DAY aud year after year.
| lie knew lac would come back. Now, hav-
ing returned TO his fathers house, the
father proclnims celebration.
There il calf in the paddock that has
been kept up aud fed 60 utmost capacity
20 ~ to be- ready for some Occasion Of JOY
| that might come along Ali there never
will be- grandcr day on the old home
stead than this day. Lot the butchers do
their work. aud the housckecpcrs bring
In TO the table the smoking meat The
gny groups will move up aud down the
lloor. An the friends aud ncighbors are
gathered In. and extra supply ~ sent out
10 the table Of the servants The father
prcsidcs nj the table aud says grace. aud
thanks God that his long.abscnt boy h
| home again. OH how they missed HIM
How glad they are 10 have him back. one
/ brother, indeed. stands pointing at the
| back door ani SAYS This Is great ado
about nothing this bad boy should have
been chnstcned instead Of greeted veal u
too good for him." hut the father says.
| Nothing IN too good. nothing Is good
enough" There sits the Young man, glad
at the hearty reception, but a shadow OF
souOw fitting across his brow nj the 70.
mcmhrancc OF the trouble he had seen.
| Al ready, now. Let the covers lift. Music,
lie was dead aud he IL alive again. IL,
was lost and lac is found by such bold
imagery does tho Bible st forth the mrr
ry-making when soul comes home "a
God
/. Fir-t Of all there IN the new converts
Joy. IL is no tame thing 20 become .
Christian. Tho most tremendous m0mcn
~ mans life ~ when be surrcndcrs him
self TO God. The grandcsi time on th'
fathers homestead h when the boy come
back. Among the great ihrong WHO ~
the paflurs Of this church prolusscd Chris
one night was young man who, mex
morning, rang my door bell and said, ''Sir
cannot contain myscli with the Joy
feel. | came here 20 express H. have
found more Joy la i've minutes Ia scryini
God than in all the yenr oi my prodignl
ily. and ! came 90 say 80
You have seen, perhaps. man tunnin
ipr his physical liberty and the ollic"rs u
the Law after him, ani YOU saw him e.,
care. or nitcrward you heard the Judg
had parluncd him, and bow great was th
glcc Ul that rescued man. bui u Is yer
lame thing that, compared With the run
ming Tor one = everlasting lii, ihe terror
Ui tie Law after him, but Christ coming b
, 10 pardon aud bless and rpsruo and save
You remember John Buuyun 10 his grca
story tells how tho Pilgrim put his iingcr
loo his ears, aud Tau, crying 'l.ilc, W.
| eternal liicl' A poor car driver ~ thl
/ city some years ago, after having had
struggle io support his .amily, suddcnl
WIS informed That a llrrr inheritance WI
biz, and there was Joy amounting "a b'
D ! Nidrrucnt, but thar b. a small thing con
!. | pafud with the experience Ul one whom u
d hss put IN his hands the title deed ~ tl
2 Joys, tic raptuws, the sp'anlors OF heayoI
d aud hc can truly say, 'lt mansions NJ
3. mInc is temples are mine, 10 songs az
: mine, H. God b. mine"
On, II h no tame thifg 10 become
Christian. IL 10 u mofy-ulkng. IL
the killing Of the iatlol cTil II b. iubllc,
]. You know lhe Bible ncycf compares u
e q funeral. hut always couuII u ~ hoin'
d thing bright. ltismJ. ap. TO DO con
. pared Ia banquet than anything ei4e'
" u compared la the Bible 10 waller, bugh
u flashing water; 10 the morning. foscat
= livwyfkcd, mCuniain.tUuHIFncd NOR
= Ing. wish could tod 81 i1ao all lhe u
:, bir expressions about rtIInn and P'h'
y aud life aud comfort and hope ana llcaNe
und twist them into one g.Ulnl, aug ~
II on the brow Of the humh'Hl ehlH
God in this a,sYmblagc, ggi cry we
,. u. wear 10 now, wear 10 II.r''r son
, God, daughter Of the lori Goa a
y mighty" Oh, the Joy Of Iho new 'on ..'.',i
70 On, the gladncss Of the tnf''ihn Ie'n'o :.
+ You have seen some,i b. a man ~ a =
k. ligious assembly gct up sui ki'e hls q y
q, renee. Well, Paul gave I've 'Ayo,'o1,o'
ID lie arose in thu presence Ut '"y ShuiS"v
D. the Church Oh cluth aid No N""'e"