Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1892-04-13

10000 less than nothing: in other words
in addition To serving this church gra-
tuitously for two years. 1 let IL have
$4,000 for building purposes. Why is IL
that people could not do us Justice and
say that all our financial struggle as a
church came from doing wha, Peter. i'm
my text, absurdly tried 10 do, but
which, in the inscrntablc providence OF
God, we were compelled tn do--build
three tabernTcles.
Now, l feel better that this is OFT my
mind. The rest of my sermon will be
spun out OF hosannahsI announce To
You this day that we arc at last, as n
church. in smooth waters. Arrangements
have been made by which our financial
difficulties are now fully and satisfac-
torily adjusted. Our income will exceed
our out-go, and Brooklyn tabernacle
will be yours and belong to you and
your children after you, and anything
you see contrary tn this you may put
down To tho confirmed habit which
some people have got OF misrcprcscnt-
ing this church and they can not stop
When came To Brooltlyn came to n
small church and n big Indebtedness.
We are now the largest protestant
church in America, and financially as n
congregation are worth, over and be-
yond all indebtedness, considerably
more than $4,000.
have preached here twcnty-thrcc
years, and l expect, II my life and
health are continued, To preach here
twcnty-threc years longer. although we
will all do well Ia remember that our
breath Is in our nostrils. and any hour
we may be called To give nm accout of
our stewardship. All we ask for the
future is that you do your best, con
tributing all you can 20 the support OF
our institutions Our best days arr vet
To come; our greatest rovivals OF religion
and our mighticst outpouring OF the
Holy Ghost We have got through Red
sea and stand to-day ON the other bank.
clapping the cymbals OF victory. Do
you wonder that last Sabbath | asked
you in the midst OF the service Ia rise
and sing with jubilant voice the long
meter DoXology;
Praise God from Whom all Dressings flow,
Praise Him all creatures hero below
Praise Him above, yc heavenly host
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost
Yes, twenty-threc years have passed
since | came To live In Brooklyn, and
they have been To- me cventful years.
IL was n Frustrated church 20 which I
came, "A church so fiat down IL could
dropno further. Through controversies
which IL would bc useless 20 rehcarsc IL
was well nigh extinct, and for long
while 1t had been without "a pastor But
nineteen members could be mustered 20
sign call for my coming. As n commit
tee was putting that call before me in an
upper room In my house In Philadel-
phia, there were two other committees
on similar errands from other churches
in other rooms, whom my wife was en-
Pertaining and keeping apart from un-
happy collision. The auditorium OF the
Brooklyn church 20 which came deficd
all the laws OF acoustics; the church
had n steeplc that was the dcrision Of
the town, and high box pulpit which
shut IN the preacher as though he were
dangerous To be Let loose, or IL acted as,
barricadc that was unnecessary co
keep back the people, for they were so
few that n minister OF ordinary muscle
could have kept back all who were
there. My first Sabbath In Brooklyn,
was n sad day, for / did not realize how
far the church was down until then.
ON the evening OF that day my own
brother, through whose pocket ] enter
ed the ministry. died and the tidinQs OF
his deceasc reached mo at g o'clock in
the evening, as I was 10 preach at 1880.
But from that day the blessing OF God
was on rs, and In three months we be-
gan the enlargement Of the building
Before the close OF that year we resolv-
ed 20 construct the first tabernacle.
twas 10 be temporary structure,
and therefore we called IL a tabernacle
| instead OF n temple. What should be
the style OF architecture was the imme-
date question. had always thought
the amphitheatrical shape would be
appropriate for church. Two distin-
guished architects were employed, and
after much lowering over designs, they
announced 10 us that such "A building
was impossible for religious purposes
as IL would not be churchly. and would
subject themselves and US 30 ruinous
criticism; in other words, they were
not ready for "a revolution In church
architecture. Utterly disheartened as
10 my favorite style OF architecture.
] said 90 the trustees: Build any thing
You please, and I must be satisfied. -
But one morning young architect ap-
P'AAf" AZ NY AbuNf anu dthf1lt we nufi
yet selected n plan for our church
said: mo, and what wc want we can
not get. what style Of building do
you want2' he asked Aud taking out
lead pencil end letter envelope from
my pocket. in less than minute, by a
few curved lines. ! indicated in the
rough what we wanted. But" 7 said.
''old architects tell as 10 can't be- done.
and there Is no use in. your trying. Z"
He said. II can do H. How long can
have % make out the plans2r said.
This evening al o'clock every thing
is to be- decided"
Ats o'clock 81 that evening The arch
itcct presented his plans. aud tho bid Of
builder and mason were presented. and
Ia five minutes after the plans were
presented they were unanimously
adopted. So that ] would not oe in the
way Of the trustees during the work,
went 90 Europe, and when ! got back
the church vas wcil-nigh done. But
here came in a staggering hipdrahce-
We expected ~ pay for the new church
b. the sale of the old building The
old one had been sold but just az the
time we must have the money the pur-