Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1892-04-15


many titles, made up iron my writings
were published. During taat 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 TINA as we'll as since, I
was engaged in editing a ligious news
paper. believing that such periodical was
capable of great usefulness and | have been
a constant contributor to newspapers and
periodicals. Meanwhile all things had he.
come easy in the Brooklyn Tabernacle. On
a Sabbath in October, 1882 | announced to
my congregation that l would in 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 70 me was about
TO be fulfilled. The next Sabbath morning,
about O'Clock. or just after midnight, a
member OF my household awakened me- by
saying that there strange light In the
sky. A thunderstorm had left the air full
Of electricity, and iron 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
Cne merry our second 1aOor.
nacle. When l saw that said to my family.
"I 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 useful
ness of a 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 tabernacles."
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 tabernacle, beautiful and
commodlous? Our common sense, as we'll as
our religion, commanded the latter. But
what push, what industry, what skill. what
sacrifice what faith in God were necessary!
Impediments and hindrances without num-
Der were thrown in the way and had it not
been for the perseverance of our church Off
Gals, and the practical bel 10 of many people,
and the prayers of millions of good souls in
all parts of the earth. and the blessing Of
Almighty Goo, the work would not have
been done: But it is done, and all good
people who behold the structure feel in their
hearts, If they do not utter it with their lips
''How amiable are Thy tabernacles, 0 Lord
of Hostsr' On tie third Sabbath of last
April this church was dedicated, Dr. Hamlin,
of Washington, preaching an inspiring SER
mon, DR.. Wendell Prime, Of New York.
offering the dedicatory PRAYER. and some
fifteen clergymen during the day taking
part in the services. Hosannah!
How suggestive to many OF US are the
words spelled out in flowers above the pull
pit-"1S69' and 1882" for those dates
bound what raptures, what griefs, what
sUruggIos. wuau UrIumpns. menUloh e as
matter Of gratitude to God that in these
twenty-three years I have missed but one
Sabbath through physical indisposition, aud
hut hi~fVT
istry. And now, having reached this
twenty third milestone, I start anew. 1
have in my memorandum books analyses
of more sermons 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 together for
good" My positive mode of preaching has
sometimes seemed to stir the hostilities of all
earth and hell. Feeling called upon fifteen
years ago to explore underground New York
city life, that might report the evils to be
combated, l took with me two elders of my
church and New York police commissioner
and policeman, and I explored and re-
ported the horrors that needed removal and
the allurements that endangered our young
men. There came upon me an outburst or
assumed Indignation that frightened almost
everybody but myself. That exploration
put into my church thirty or forty news
paper correspondents from north, south,
east and west; which opened for me new
avenues in which to preach the Gospel that
otherwise would never have been opened.
Years passed on and | preached a series
Of sermons on ADJUSTMENTS, and false re-
port OF what did say-ant one of the SER
mons said to have been preached by me was
not mine in single woru-rOuSed violence
that threatened me with poison and dirk
and pistol and other forms of exhnguish-
ment, until the chief Of Brooklyn police,
without any suggestion from me, took pos
session of the church with twenty-four po-
licemen to see that no harm was done. That
excitement opened many doors, which l en-
tered for preaching toe Gospel.
After awhile came an ecclesiastical trial,
in which l was arraigned by people who did
not like the way did things and although
was acquitted OF all the charges, the contest
shook the American church. That battle
made me more friends than anything that
ever happened and gave me Chistendom and
more than ChriStendom for my weekly
audience. On the demolition of each church
we got a better and a larger church, and not
a disaster, not carcature not persecu-
ton, not an assault during all these twenty
three years, but turned out for our acvan-
taSe, and ought l not to believe that ''all
things work together for good?" Hosannaul
Another lesson have learned during these
twenty-thTee years is that it is not necessary
to preach error or pick flaws in the old
Bible in order to get an audience; the old
Book without any fixing up Is good enough
for me, and the higher criticism, it is
called, means lower religion. Higher
criticism Is another form Of intideity, and
Its disciples will believe less AMI less, until
many of them will land in Nowhere and
become the worshipers of an eternal What
is it," The most OF these higher critics seem
to be seeking notoriety by pitching into the
Bible. It is such a brave thing to strike
your grandmother. The old Gospel put IN