Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-03-30

where Hev. Dr. Ialnage speaks every
Sunday to thousands If it be not speed
lily dispelled, this great preacher ano
teacher must give up his labors in s
locality where he can do more good thar
in any place else on earth. The story Of
the financial trouble at this church Seems
to be n simple one. 1t casts not the slight
est reflection upon tho care, prudence
or foresight of either DR.. Talmage or his
congregation. Several years ago n large
church was built. The year following
it was found necessary to enlarge it at
almost the expense OF new church
Just as they were getting it paid for il
took fire and burned down. Then an
other large editice was constructed. But
a lightning bolt set fire to it, and this
also was destroyed just as the debt upon
it was being wiped out. Then the pres.
ent great structure was erected, which
including the enlargement on the first
practically comprises four churches that
this congregation has built within
few years. During DR.. TalmaCc's pas
torate in Brooklyn his people have raised
the sum of $l,0i0,O00 for religious pur
! poses. This, for congregation of which
the members are almost without excep-
ton i'll poor or moderate circumstances
financially. is remarkable example
of self sacrifice and liberality. Nor are
they weary in this well doing. They say
they are willing to work day and night
70 bn ria .biu GpopCia al ON m
twenty-five thousand dollars of the debt
must be paid at once, or the noble insti.
tuition will pass out Of the possession Q!
the congregation. The present pecuniarI
distress is greater than they or any othcl
average church congregation where the
poor far outnumber the rich can carry,
Will they get the needed assistance
There should be no question about it
1t need not come as n work of charity q
of good will either, but rather from 4
sense of obligation. DR.. Talmage is the
worlds preacher and the worlds bene
factor. At the call of every species OF
distress his heart and his hand, his voice
! and his pen, have responded as soon As
the cry reached his ears. When Charles
ton was stricken by an earthquake, he was
leader in the work of relief. When the
Johnstown flood catastrophe occurred,
his response in deeds and words was most
potent. When the cry Of distress came
from the starving peasants in Russia, he
went G,0O0 miles to distribute bread. For
every local charity and every case of in.
dividual distress his right hand has liter
ally been extended at all times, and his
left knew nothing about it.
If this unfortunate financial embar-
rassment of his church had not occurred
DR.. Talmage would probably never have
troubled himself to correct the prevailing
opinion that he had been drawing from
$40, 900 to $50, 600 per year for his services
as pastor, but in speaking of the diff
Guilty the other day he remarked Incl
dentally that for the past three years he
had received $3.50 for his work, the bal
p .ance of his salary having been turned
5 back to the church.
The Brooklyn Tabernacleis unique. II
is crowded at every service in the year
Everybody is just as welcome there as
Z Somebody, and it is quite unnecessary tC
q go to the highways and the byways t.
r draw people in. Nor do the masses go t
? hear fine music or to see u gorgeous altal
= or rich church decorations for these are
d very simple at the Tabernacle.
u They go to hear Talmage preach. An(
Y | 10 frael, CT
: inexhaustible, so full of interest an(
power, that they never tire of him. DR.
O 'Ialmage does not trouble his congrega
IS ton much about theological dogmas. No
a body can tell whether the Tabernacle pull
+ pit is Baptist, Methodist or Presbyterian
Il His religious views are as broad as tn
> poles, as deep as human needs and a
> high as heaven. He is no half hearted o
=. doubling preacher, but he handles tn
r. truth forcibly and fearlessly
% A movement has been started to he'll
l. DR.. Talmage and his congregation. Per
haps many readers of this paper VIII
10 have had the rare pleasure Of reading hi
r sermons will be glad to contribute to tn
: success of this movement. The test
l. mouiai is to be IA popular one, and do
d lars, dimes and pennies will be receive
Is with equal gratitude. 1t is hoped that
/ large number of contributions may b
1t rendered by our readers, to whom Dl
Is Talmage's uttcrances have proved hell
ID ful az they have appeared in these co
20 umns and elsewhere.
r All subscriptions sent to the Office {
this paper will be acknowledged and foi
! warded mt once to DR.. Talmage in Brool
.f Ign, together with the names of the d'
y, nurS.
If The Meaning of Fast Day.
le The good old colonial custom of obserN
n ing an annual Fast day seems to be in In
% minent danger of falling into dsuse /
a Massachusetts,. and the popularity OF th
ut situation has called forth a unique Fast da
40 proclamation from Gov. Russell. 1t seem