The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-04-20
REV. DR.. TALMAGE.
THE BROOKLYN DIVINE'S SUN
DAY SERMON.
Subject: "The Three Tabernacles,
Story Of Trials and Triumphs-"

Y tTExr: "Let Us make three ta6ernacles." )"
Luke *, 33.
Our Arab ponies were almost dead with
fatigue. as in December, 1889. we rode near
the foot Of Mount Hermon in the Holy
Land, the mountain called by one "a
mountain Of ice," by another "a glttering
lbreastplate Of ice" by another "the Mont
Blanc Of Palestine" Its top has an almost
unearthly brilliance. But what must 1t
have been in the time to which my text re.
ferss Peter and James and John were on
that mountain top with Jesus when, sud-
denly, Christ's face'tooS on the glow or the
noondsly sun. and Moses and Elijah, who
had been dead for centuries came out from
the heavenly world and talked with our
Saviour. What an overwhelming three
Moses representing the law; Elijah, repre-
ssnting the prophets, ani Christ, represent
ing all worlds.
Impetuous Peter was so wrought upon by
the presence of this wondrous three, that,
without waiting for time to CONSIDER now
preposterouS was the proposition, he cried
out Let us make three tabernacles-one
for Thee, one for Moses and one for Elijah"
Where would they get the material Tor
building one tabernacle, much less materla!
enough to build two tabernacles, and still
less how would they get the material for
building three2 Where would they get the
hammerss Where the gold? Where the
silver? Where the curtains? Where the
costly adornments: Hermon is barren
reak, and to build one tabernacle in such a
place would have been an undertaking be-
yond human achievement, and Peter was
propounding the impossible when he cried
out in enthusiasm, LET US build three taber-
nacles"
: And yet that is what this congregation
has been called to do and has done. Inc
first Brooklyn Tabernacle was dedicated IN
1870, and destroyed by fire in 1S7S. The
second Brooklyn Tabernacle was dee dedicaTsa Ie
In 1874, and destroyed by fire in 1889. The
third Brooklyn Tabernacle was dedicated IN
April. 1891, and in that we are worshipmg
to-day. What sounded absurd for Peter to
propose, when he said on Mount Hermon. In
the words of my text, Let US build three
tabernacles," we have not only done. but IN
the mysterious province OF God were COM
PEELED to do.
Iannounce to you this day that we ara at
las, as church, in smooth waters. Ar
rangements have been made by which our
financial difficulties are now fully ana satls,
factorily adjusted. Our income will exceed
our outgo, and Brooklyn Tabernacle will be
yours and belong to you and your children
after you, and anything you see contrary 10
this you may pue down to the confirmed
habit which some people have got OF mis-
representing this church, and they cannot
stop. When I came to Brooklyn came to
small church and big indebtedness we
have now this, the largest Protestant church
In America, and financially as congrega-
ton wc are worth, over and beyond au IN
debtedness, considerably more than $50. 900.
. have preached here twenty three years.
and expect, if my life and health are con-
tinued, to preach here twenty three years
longer. although we will all do we'll to re-
member that our breath is In our nostrils,
and any hour we may be called to give an
account of our stewardship. All we ask for
the future is that you do your best, contrib
nting all you can to the support OF our lnstl-
buttons Our best days are yet to come; our
zreatest reyivals Of religion, and our might
lest outpourings of the Holy Ghost We
have got through the Red sea and stand to-
day on the other bank clapping the cymbais
Of victory.
= Yes, twenty-three years have passed since
I came to live in Brooklyn, and they have
been to me eyenttul years. 1t was pros
trated church to which I came, church 80
fat down 1t could drop no farther. Through
controversies which it would be useless TO
rehearse it was we'll nigh extinct, and for
long while it had been without q pastor.
But nineteen members could be mustered 10
sign a call for my coming.
As committee was putting that call be-
fore me in an upper room In my house In
Philadelphia, there.were two other commit
tees on similar errands from other churches
In other rooms, whom my wife was enter
tanning and keeping apart from unhappy
collision. The auditorium OF the Brooklyn
church to which I came defied all the laws
of acoustics; the church had q steeple that
was the derision Of the town, and high
box pulpit which shut in the preacher as
though he were dangerous to be let loose,
or it acted as q barricade that was unneces-
sary to keep back the people, for they were
so few that q minister Of ordinary muscle
could have kept back all who were there.
NY first Sabbath in Brooklyn was q sad
day, for did not realize how far the church
was down until then, and on the evening or
that day my own brother, through whose
pocket entered tbs ministry, died, and the
tidings Of his decease reached meat6 o'clock
in the evening, and was to preach at half
past seven. But from that day the blessing
Of God was on Us. and in three months we
began the enlargement Of the building. Be-
fore che close Of that year we resolved to
construct the first Tabernacle. 1t was to be
q temporary structure, and therefore we
called It Tabernacle instead OF Temple.
What should DO the style OF architecture
was tho immediate question. l had always
thought that the eampitheatrical shape would
be appropriate for a church.
Two distla aguisheo architects were en-
ployed, and after much lowering over de-
signs they announced to us that such
building was impossible for religious pur-
poses, as it would not be churchly, and
would subject themselves and us to ruinous
criticism; in other words they were not
ready for revolution in church archi-
lecture. Utterly dishearteneS as to my
favorite style OF architecture. I said to the
R,,t1l rryfh ,y,lo NJ I
must be satisfied" But one morning q
young architect appeared at my house and
asked if we had yet selected plan for our
church. Isaid, "No, and what we want we
cannot get" What kind Of building do you
want?' he asked. And taking out lead
pencil and a letter envelope from mypocket,
I'm less than L minute by few curved lines
q indicated in the rough what we wanted.
IS'But, said, ''old architects tell us it can't
ibe dore, and there is no use in you trying"
He said, II can do it. How long can have
to make out the plaus" said, ''This even
ing at o'clock everything is to be decided"
}, At O'Clock Of that evening the architect
presented his plans, end the bids Of builder
and mason were presented, and in five min.
utes after the plans were presented they
were unanimously adopted. So that
would not be in the way Of the trustees dur.
ing the work went to Europe, and when
got back the church was well nigh done.
But there came in staggering hindrance.
We expected to pay for the new church by
the sale OF the old building. The old ono
had been sold, but just at the time we must
have the money the purchasers backed out
and We had TWO churches and no money.
By the help OF God and the indomitable
and unparalleled energy OF our trustees
(here and there ons Of them present to-day.
but the most in better world,, we got the
building ready for conservation and on
September 25, 1870, morning and evening
'dedicatory services were held, and in the
afternoon the children. with sweet and multi