Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-04-04

mes. Wat wedding marches played
with fall organ WAT baptisEnsi What
sacramento What o5sequiesi One Of
them on snowy sabbath afternoon,
whea al Brooklyn seemed 10 symps-
thize. and my eldest son. bearing ny
own name, lay beneath the pulat II the
last sleep, and Florence Rice Knox sang,
AID score Of ministers on and around
the platform tined 70 interpret how il
Was best that one who had just come 10
manhood, and with brightest worldly
prospects, should be taken, and we left
with heart that VIII not cease 70 ache
until we meet where tears never fall.
That second Tabern2cle. What stu
pendous reIninisccncel But If the Peter
Of nay text had known what al under
taking IL IL TO build two tabernaeles, he
would not have proposed two. 70 say
nothing Of three. As an anniversary
sermon must needs be somewhat auto
biographical. let me say have not been
idle. During the standing Of those two
Tabernaclas Gfty-two books. under Us
many titles, made up from my writings,
were published. During that tune, also.
l was permitted to discuss all tho great
questions Of the day In al the great
cities Of this continent, and in many Of
them many times, besides preaching and
lecturiug ninety-six times in England,
Scotlant and Ireland in nineiy-four
days
During all that tinc, as well as since,
! was engaged in editing religious
newspaper. believing that such peri
odical WIS capable of great usefulness,
and have been constant contributor
to newspapers and periodicals. Mean
while all things had become easy in the
Brooklyn Tabernacle. On Sabbath in
October, 1889. announced to my con-
greyation that would in few weeks
visit the Holy Land and that the officers
Of the church had consented to my
going. and the wish of lifetime was
about to be fulfilled. Tbs next Sabbath
morning, about 2 o'clock or just after
midnight. a member Of my household
awakened me by saying that there was
Z strange light in the sky. A thunder
storm had left the air full Of electricity,
and from horizon to horizon everything
seemed to blaze. But that did not dis
turb 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 num-
Der Of excited voices called me to the
roof, and went up and saw clearly de-
fined in the night the fiery catafalque of
our second Tabernacle. When | saw
that I said to my family: II think that
ends my work in Brooklyn. Surely the
Lord will not call minister to build
three churches in one city. The build
ing of one church generally ends the
usefulness Of pastor; how can any
one preside at the building of three
churchesY' But before twenty-four hours
had passed we were compelled to cry
out, with Peter of my text, LET us
build three tabernacles." We must have
q homo somewhere.
The old site had ceased to DO the GEN.
ter of our congregation, and the center
Of the congregation, as near as we could
find it, is where We row stand. Having
selected the spot. should we build on it
q barn or a Tabernacle beautiful and
commodiousf Our common sense, rs
well as our religion, commanded the lat
ter. Bot what push, what industry. whx.
skill, what self sacrifice, what faith il
God were necessary. Impediments and
hindrances without number were thrown
in the way, and had it not been for the
perseverance, of our church officials and
the practical help of many people and
the prayers OF millions of good souls in
all parts Of the earth and the blessing
Of Almighty God, tho work world not
have been done.
But it Is done, and all good people
who behold the structure feel in their
hearts IL they do not utter with their
lips, How amisble are thy tabernacles,
q Lord of Hosts" On tho third Sab
bath Of last April this church was dedi-
Gated, DR.. Hamlin, Of Washington,
preaching IN inspiring sermon, DR.. Wen
dell Prime, Of New York, Offering the
dedicatery prayer, and some fifteen
clergymen during the day taking part
In the services. Hosannah!
How suggestive to many Of Us are tho
words spelled out in flowers above the
pulpit-"le63'' and .'I392"-for those
dates bound what rapturcs, what griefs.
what struggles, what triuInphsl l men.
ton it as matter of gratitude to God
that in these twenty-three years l have
missed bat one Sabbath through physical
indispodti0u. and but three in the thirty
six years Of my ministry. And now,
having reached this twenty-third mile
stone. start anew. have in my men,
orandum books analyses of moro ser
mons than I have ever yet preached, and
have preached, as near as can tell.
about $3.50.
During these past years have learned
two or three things. Among others l
have learned that "all things work to
gcther for good" Ny positive mode of
preaching has sometimes seemed 10 stir
the hostilites Of all earth and hell Feel
ing called upon fifteen years ago to ex-
plore underground New York city life.
that might report the evils to be COM
batted, took with me two elders Of my
church and New York police commits
sioner and q policeman. and explored
and reported the horrors that needed re-
moval. and the allurernents that en-.
dangered our young men. There cams
upon me "a outburst Of assumed indig.
nation that frightened almost everybody
but myself. That exploration put into
my church thirty or forty newspaper
correspondents. from north, south. east