News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1892-04-07

same kind of chariot that Elijah took
from the banks of the Jordan. That
Sunday morning tragedy, with its
wringing Of hands and frozen tears on
the cheek OF many thousands standing
in the street, and the crash that shook
the earth, is as vivid as though it were
yesterday. But it was not a perfect loss.
All were anxious to do something,
and as on such occasions sensible people
are apt to do unusual things, II of the
members, at the risk of his life, rushed
in among the fallen walls, mounted the
pulpit and took a glass of water from
the table and brought it in safety to the
street. So you see it was not a total
loss. Within an hour from many
churches came kind invitations to oc-
cupy their buildings, and hanging against
a lamppost, near the destroyed building,
before 10 o'clock that morning, was a
board with the inscription, 'The con-
gregation of Brooklyn Tabernacle will
worship tonight in Plymouth church."
Mr.. Beecher made the opening prayer,
which was full of commiseratiOn for me
and my homeless flock, and | preached
Llllb IllShU llC Hull tlldb L 1IlUCllUCu W
preach that morning i'll my own church,
the text concerning the precious ala
baster box broken at the feet of Christ,
and sure enough we had one very pre-
cious broken that day. We were, as a
church, obliterated. "But arise and
build" said many voices. Another
architect took the amphitheatrical plan
of a church, which, in the first instance,
was necessarily somewhat rude, and de-
veloped it into an elaborate plan that
was Immediately adopted. But how to
raise the money for such an expensive
undertaking was the question-eXpensive
not because of any senseless adornment
proposed, but expensive because of the
immense size of the building needed to
hold our congregation.
1t was at that time when for years our
entire country was suffering, not from a
financial panic, but from that long con
tinued financial depression which all
business men remember, as the cloud
hung heavy year after year and COM
mercial establishments without number
went down. Through what struggles
we passed the Eternal God and some
brave souls today remember. Many a
time would | have gladly accepted calls
to some other field, but | could not
leave the flock in the wilderness. AT
last, after in the interregnum having
worshiped IN our beautiful Academy Of
Music, on the morning of Feb. %, 1874,
the anniversary Of the Washington who
conquered impOssibilities and on the
Sabbath that always celebrates the res
direction, Dr.. Byron Sunderland, chap
lain of the United States senate, thrilled
us through and through with a dedica-
tory sermon from Haggai ii, 8, ''The
glory of this house shall be greater than
that of the former, saith the Lord Of
Hosts"
The corner stone of that building had
been laid by the illustriOus and now en-
throned DR.. Iren@us Prime. On the
platform ON dedication day sat, among
others, DR.. Bowling, of the Baptist
church; DR.. Crook, of the Methodist
church; Mr.. Beecher, of the Congrega-
tional church, and DR.. French, Of the
Presbyterian church. HOsannah! An
other $50, 600 was raised on that day.
The following Sunday 1923 souls were
received into our communion, mostly on
confession of faith. AT two other COM
munions oven 800 souls Joined at each
one. AT another ingathering CPS souls
this communion, and so many of
hose gathered thrOngs have already en-
heaven that we expect to feel at
when we get there. My, myl
Won't we be glad to see them-the men
ONE who stood by us in DAYS
hat were dark and days that were jubi-
ant! Hosannah!
The work done in that church On
Schermerhorn street can never be I'M
lone. What sacrifices on the part of
many, who gave almost till the blood
anne! What hallelujahs! What victo-
les! What wedding marches played
full organ! What baptisms! What
sacramentsl What o~bsequies! One of
them on a snowy Sabbath afternoon,
when all Brooklyn seemed to sympa-
5hize, and my eldest son, bearing nv
OWN name, lay beneath the pulpit in the
sleep, and Florence Rice Knox sang.
and a score of ministers on and around
The platform tried to interpret how it
was best that II who had Just come TO
manhood, and with brightest worldly
prospects, should be taken, and we left
with a heart that will not cease to ache
until we meet where tears V fall.
Thai second Tabernacle! What a stu
1endous Renaissance! But if the Peter
If my text had known what an under
it is to build two tabernacles, he
would not have proposed two, to say
of three. As an anniversary
sermon must needs be somewhat auto
biographical, let me say | have not been
die. During the standing of those two
Tabernacles fifty-two books, under as
many titles, made up from my writings,
published. During that time, also,
was permitted to discuss all the great
Iuestions of the day in all the great
titles of this continent, and in many of
hem many times, besides preaching and
occurring ninety-six times in England.
scotland and Ireland in ninety-four
avs.
During all that time, as well as since.
was engaged in editing a religious
ewspaper, believing that such a peri
deal was capable of great usefulness,
L have been a constant contributor
newspapers and periodicals. Mean
lille all things had become easy in the
'rooklyn Tabernacle. On a Sabbath in
1889, | announced to nv con-
regatlon that | would in a few weeks
lslt the Holy Land and that the officers
the church had consented to NV
olng, and the wish of a lifetime was
bout to be fulfilled. The next Sabbath
forming, about 2 o'clock or Just after
l1dnlght, a member of my household
Wakened me by saying that there was
strange light Ill the sky. A thunder !
orm had left the air full of electricity. :
nd from horizon to horizon everything
to blaze. But that did not dis ,
lrb me, until an observation taken :
the cupola of my house declared ,
lat the second Tabernacle was putting g,
l red wings. :
l secuted the idea and turned oven on ,
le pillow for another sleep, but a num-
II of excited voices called me to the t
'of, and went up and saw clearly de S
led l II the night the fiery catafalque of I
II second Tabernacle. When | saw !,
lat said to my family: Il think that l
IDS my work in Brooklyn. Surely the :
ord will not call a minister to build
rec churches in one city. The build
g of one church generally ends the
'%efulness of a pastor; how can any
le preside at the building of three
lurchesF' But before t~wenty-four hours is
ID passed we were compelled to CRY q,
1t, with Peter of my text, LET us n
Md three tabernacles.n We mnst harn :