The Portland daily press., 1891-11-24
SNAKES WRlTHED IN THE PULPIT
They Came from All Around the
Rev. Mr.. TyndaI!.
One Man Couldn't stand IL and
Left the Church.
A New York Preachers Sermon
With object Lessons.

NEW YORK, November 23.-The Rev. G.
81. Tyndall delivered at the Broome street
Tabernacle last night a sermon on
Snakes" which he emphasized and inten-
si6ed by numerous and vivid object les
sons.
DR.. Tyndall believes In adapting his
evangelical work to the district In which
his tabernacle Is situated. Consequently
he first attracts large congregation into
the great audience room By big organ, a
large choir. four cornets and three bass
horns. After the people have once come
In he tells them they cannot 60 out again
until tue services are flushed, and then
proceeds to lay bare their sins before them
In most vigorous style, backing up his
words by object lessons. that the gospel
truth he utters may remain indelibly
stamped upon the minds Of his hearers.
DR.. Tyndall also believes In filing up the
front seats first, so section Of the rear
seats of the tabernacle Is roped In until
all the front seats are filed, after which
the ropes are removed.
All this was done last night, as usual.
and then, after the organ, the choir, the
tion had rendered the opening hymHs and
the blessing had been asked, the Rev. Mr..
Tyndall stepped to the front of the large
platform and began to speak.
The preacher took up the several cases
In which the snake Is mentioned In the Bi-
BILE. He described how Moses was walk
ing In the wilderness when he received
command from on high to throw his staff
upon the sands. As he related this, DIR.
Tyndall, who had been walking up and
down the platform with a big hickory
stick, as he talked. threw the stick upon
after throwing down his staff. was COM
manded by Moses to pick 1t up again, and,
doing so, found the staff changed to SER
pent. As hs said this. DR.. Tyndall sud
denly stopped over, and as he arose there
dangled from his fingers, In full view Of
the audience, snake about five feet long
that squirmed. 1t wasn't alive, but 1t cre-
ated sensation.
Then. leaving the scrIptural snakes, the
clergyman grappled with the hideous
snakes OF the imagination. Il will never
forget" he said. "a Door man whom | once
of those who remained with him to protect
him from himself. and to try to quiet him.
What an awful thing were his shrieks of
terror, and his mad efforts to pull imagina-
ry snakes from his shoes. He would reach
down like this" continued the clergyman.
cuitti6 tuo dCthOu w ku6 WOkt, anu tu6Q,
Strengthening up, he would wave an imag-
mary snake about his head with maniac's
laugh Of triumph" As DR.. Tyndall him
self Strengthened up he waved about his
own head another imitation serpent that
he had pulled from his own shoe. The eff
feet of this object lesson upon the audience
was very evident. One man, near the
door, hastily arose and went out.
Continuing the preacher said; "The
glasses In the saloon you frequent may be
Of cutglass. beautiful and with CHEEKY
sound as they cllnk together, but there Is
an invisible snake in the bottom of every
one."
As he said these words most dramatical-
ly the Rev. Tyndail placed upon the pulpit
a glass, apparently filled with wine, while
the congregation watched, breathess.
Then, as the dominic touched a match to
the contents OF the glass, which were
chemicals especially prepared for the SER
mon, hideouS, writhing, snake-like
figure several feet long arose out of the
glass. squirmed aroung and sprawled upon
the pulpit.
This was the last of the snakes which IL
lustrated the sermon, the preacher closing
with words Of warning to those tempted
by strong drink.