Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-04-08
One sunday morning in December, 1872,

X
mini was on the sermon | was about to
preach, until some one rushed uo and told
me that our church was going up in the same
kind of a chariot that Elijah took from tho
banks of the Jordan. That Sunday morn
ing tragedy, with its wringing OF hands end
frozen tears on the cheeks of many thou
sands standing in the street, AMI the crash
that shook the earth, is as vivid as though
it were yesterday. But it was not perfect
loss.
All are anxious to do something, and as
On such occasions sensible people are apt to
do unusual things, ono OF the members, at
the risk of his life, rushed in among the
fallen walls, mouutei the pulpit and took a
glass of water from the table and brought 1t
i'm safety to tlc street. 50 you see it was
not a total loss. Within an hour from
many churches came kind invitations TO &C.
cupy their buildings, and hanging against a
lamppost near the destroyed building, be-
fore IL o'clock that morning, was board
with the inscription, 1.-THE congregation Of
Brooklyn Tabernacle will worship tonight
in Plymouth Church"
Mr.. Beecher made the opening prayer,
which was full of comm iseration for me and
my homeless flock, and preached that night
the sermon that | intended to preach that
morning in my own church, the text con-
corning the precious alabaster box broken
at the feet OF Christ, and sure enough we
had one very precious broken that day. We
were. as a church, obliterated. "But arise
and build" said many voices. Another
architect took the amphitheatrcal plan of a
church, which in the first instanco was nee
essarily somewhat rude and developed it
into an elaborate plan that was Immediately
adopted.
But how to raise the money for such an
arfa b.
extensive not because Of any senseles5
adornment proposed, but expensive because
Of the immense siz9 OF the building needed
to hold our congregation. 1t was at that
time when for years our entire country was
suffering, not from financial panic, but
from that long continued financial depression
which all business men remember, as the
cloud hung heavy year after year and CON-
mercial establishments without number went
down. Through what struggles we passed
the eternal God and some bravo souls to-day
remember Many time would have glad
ly accepted calls to some other field,
but | could not leave the flock in the wilder
ness.
At last, after, In the interregnum. having
wors SHIPPED in our beautiful Academy OF
Music on the morning of February %, 1874,
the anniversary of the Washington who con-
That always celebrates the resurrection, Dr.
Byron Sunderland Chaplain OF the United
States Senate, thrilled us through and
through with a dedicatory sermon from
Haggai H., 0. 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 illus
trious and now enthronel DR.. lreneus
Prime. On the platform on dedication day
sat, among others, DR.. Bowling, of the Bap-
fist Church. DR.. Crook, of the Methodist
Church, MIR. Beecher, OF the Congregational
Church, and Dr. French. of the Presbyterian
Church. Hosannahl Another S35, 900 was
raised ON that day.
The following Sunday 32S souls were re-
ceived into our communion, mostly on
confession Of faith. At two other commu-
Mons over 500 souls joined at each one. AT
another ingathering 62S souls entered this
communion. and so many of those gathered
throngs have already entered heaven that
we expect TO feel at home when we get there.
Mv!m Won't we be glad to sea them
the men and women who stood by us in days
that were dark and days that were jubilant
Hosannah, The work done in that church
on Sohermerhorn street can never be
undone
What self sacrifices on the part OF many,
who gave almost till the blood came! What
baleluiahs! What victories What we'd
ding marches played with full organ What
baptismsl What sacraments! What obse-
ouies! One of them on a snowy Sabbath
afternoon, when all Brooklyn seemed 70
sympathize, and my eldest son, bearing my
own name, lay beneath the pulpit In the last
sleep. and Florence Rice Knox sang. and
score of ministers OIL and around the plat
form tried TO interpret how it was best that
70
with brightest worldly prospects, should BE-
taken and we left with heart that will not
cease to ache until we meet where tears
never fall.
That second Tabernaclel What a stupeu-
dous "reminiscences But, il the Peter Of my
text had known what an undertaking it is to
build two tabernacles he would not have
proposed two, to say nothing OF three. As
an anniversary sermon must needs be some
what photographed. let me say l have
not been idle During the standing OF those
two Tabernacles fifCy-two books, undor as
many titles, made up from my writings,
were published. During that time also was
permitted to discuss all the great questions OF
the day in all the great cities of this CONT
nent, and in many of them many times be-
sides preaching and lecturing ninety-six
times in England, Scotland and Ireland in
ninety-four days.
During all that time, as we'll as since,
was engaged in editing a religious news
paper, believing that such periodical was
capable Of great usefulness, and have been
q constant contributor to newspapers and
periodicals. Meanwhile all things had be
come easy in the Brooklyn Tabernacle. On
Sabbath in October, 1889, | announced 10
nv congregation that l would in a few
weeks visit the Holy Land, and that the Off
GERS OF the church had consented to my go
ing. and the wish of life TO me was about
TO be fulfilled. The next Sabbath morning,
about 2 o'clock, or just after midnight
member of my household awakened me by
saving that there was a strange light IN the
sky. A thunderstorm had left the air full
OF electricity, and from horizon to horizon
everything seemed to blaze. But that did
not disturb me, until an observation taken
from the cupola of my house declared that
the second Tabernacle was putting on red
wings
/ secuted the idea and turned over on the
pillow for another sleep, but a number of
excited voices called Lie to the roof, and L
went up and saw clearly defined in the night
the fiery catafalque OF our second Taber-
nacle When | saw that | said to my family
''i think that ends my work in Brooklyn.
Surely the Lord will not call a minister to
build three churches in one city. The build
ing Of one church generally ends the useful
ness of q pastor. How can any one preside
at the building of three churches" But
before twenty-four- hours had passed we
were compelled to cry out, with Peter Of
my text. LET us build three tabernscles."
We must have home somewhere. The old
site had ceased to be the center Of our con-
gregation and the center Of the congrega-
ton, as near as we could find it, is where we
now stand.
Having selected the spot. should we build
on it barn or a tabernacle, beautiful and
commodiOus? Our common sense, as well as
our religion, commanded the latter. But
what push, what industry what skill, what
sacrifice, what faith in God were necessary
1mpediments and hindrancss without num-
Der were thrown in the way, and had it not
been for the perseverance of orr church Off
cials, and the practical hello OF many people,
and the prayers of millions OF COOL souls in
all parts of the earth. and the blessing %
Almighty Cod the WORK would not nave
been DONE But it is DONE aud all COOL
people who behold the structure feel in Their
hearts, If they do not utter it with their lips,
"How amable are Thy tabernacles o Lord
OF Hostsw On tie third Sabbath of last
April this church was dedicated, DIR. HamliD,
of Washington, preaching an ms bring ser.
mon, DR.. Wendell Prime of New YORK.
Offering the dedicatory prayer, AMI some
fifteen ciergymen during the day taking
part in the services. Hosannah.
How suggestive TO many of us are the