Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-05-15


ton to know that there is one subject
upon which all clergymen agree, sub
ject that interests the entire human
family Shall we know each other in
hesven?'' A large number of we'll
known clergymen have been asked to
give their views on the matter and
very interesting symposium is the result.
Each has something to say that is worth
reading.
DIR. TALMAGE IS OPINION.
The Rev. DR.. T. Dewitt Talmage is
one who thoroughly believes that we
shall know each other in heaven, provid-
ing that we have known each other on
earth, and that if we are fortunate
enough TO achieve heRven-two condi-
tions that are, in good sooth, important.
"Shall we know our friends in
heaven?'' said he, when this question
was raised in his presence the other day.
alt is a curious question, but one that
has been often asked. -
"Do you know continued the IA
nous preacher in his frank and ready
manner, "that l have often thought
over that question myself, always to ar
rive at the same conclusion, and that is,
that we shall know our friends better in
heaven than it is possible for us to know
them here on earth. Why, just think of
it., said DR.. Talmage, ''what are we on
earth to what we shall be in heaven, if
we are able to attain it? What are our
faculties as we possess them here on
earth to what they will be in heaven?
There can be no comparison. Here on
earth we know the faces of our friends.
We think we know their various charRo-
ters. In most cases we know only their
characteristics. In heaven we shall know
their souls. In heaven we shall have that
olearness of vision that is not given to us
on earth. In heaven our vision, 1 be-
lieve, will be so quickened that things
that we are unable to comprehend now
will be clear to US. We shall, l firmly
hope, be able to appreciate the beauties
the souls of those we know as we cannot
now.
Gin heaven, - continued DR.. Talmage
earnestly, al believe that we will know
our friends in a fuller and better sense
than it is possible for US to know them
on earth. There our spirits, our souls,
will meet with full understanding. And
there our souls will meet enlarged and
purified There we will have knowledge
that is now denied us. There we shall
meet in a larger and better sense. -
"Then the family meeting will be an
ideal circle?'' the writer suggested.
81 should not like TO believe other
wise, was the response.
'What could be grander than when
husband meets wife, sons and daughters
meet father and mother, and brother
meets sister in heaven? What meeting
on earth could compare with this? 1
can think of nothing greater to be hoped
for or prayed for, than that we should
meet our beloved ones in that better
land. Meet their purified souls shorn
of all but the beauty with which the
Creator destined them to be invested,
meet them never to part again, never
TO suffer, never to know sorrow or pain,
never to doubt and never to fear. 1t is
not in our power to say that this will be
so, but il is in our power TO hope and
pray and believe that it will. Such is
my prayer, my hope and my belief. 1
believe that, after our life on earth Is
ended, we shall know and enjoy a life
indescribable in its beauty and peace in
heaven, knowing our friends as we can
not know them now.
"Know our friends In heaven, 3" re-
peated DR.. Talmage in conclusion, 81
more, / find wonderful comfort in the
belief. -
There could be no doubt as to the ear
.nestness of the great Tabernacle pastor
as he spoke on this topic.
NOTED DIvINE's VIEWS.
The Rev. DR.. Robert Meredith, pastor
of the Tompkins Avenue Congregational
Church. Brooklyn, is among the best
known and most eloquent of the many
gifted pulpit orators who have made
Brooklyn renowned as the CITY of
churches. His Sunday school is the larg-
est in the world. At times he speaks with
deliberate distiuctness, but when moved
with the spirit of his discourse, the
words pour forth in q perfect torrent
of eloquence. The personal appearance
of the reverend gentleman is imposing.
He is rather above the medium height,
large in figure, and this adds not little
to his impressiyeness as a speaker. He
wears short side whiskers and his face,
although rather severe in cast, is not
unkind in expression. In regard to the
question, ''Sha!l we know each other in
heaven?" DR.. Meredith said:
"There can be but one opinion about
It. l do not believe it would be possible
70 ma any body who does not believe It.
Continuance of the understanding mem
ory and identity, and the age can never
come when if l have the ability TO know,
the ability to remember, and am myself
and have retained my identity-and the
same is true of my wife-the age can
never come when we shall not know each
other Just as well as we do now.
al once had a friend in New jersey
who was an unlsttered but an amazingly
shrewd man. He had q quaint way of
saying things, and they were so pat and
forcible that you would have to smile at
them even in q meeting. When he was
dying a friend said 10 him: do you think
you will know A, b. and c., > referring
TO friends who had died within year or
two, when you get TO beaven?' He
turned up his dying face, and said:
why, do you think I will be bigger
fool in heaven than l have been on
earth?'
"'The epistles of Paul speak Of friends
being crowned and rejoicing together on
the great day. Whole sections of the
writings of Paul imply that he expected
that this would be his browning glory.
Then there is the old Hebrew expression