The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1893-03-24
An Appeal For Aid.

a pig DlacK cloud OF ueDJ hangs over
the spacious Tabernacle in Brooklyn,
where Rev. DR.. Talmage speaks every
Sunday to thousands. If it be not speed
lily dispelled, this great preacher and
teacher must give up his labors in a To-
cality where he can do more good than
in any place else on earth. The story of
the financial trouble at this church seems
to be simple one. 1t casts not the slight
est reflection upon the care, prudence
or foresight of either DR.. Talmage or his
congregation. Several years ago large
church was built. The year following
it was found necessary to enlarge it at
almost the expense of new church.
Justras tHey>were getting it paid Tor it
took fire and buyned down. Then an
other large edifce 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
emit great structure was erected, which,
including the enlargement on the first,
practically comprises four churches that
this congregation has built within a
few years. During DR.. Talmage's pas
torate in Brooklyn his people have raised
the sum of 81, O40, 900 for religious pur
poses. This, for congregation of which
the members are almost without excep-
ton in 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
to be rid of this financial embarrassment
Twenty-Five thousand dollars of the debt
must be paid at once, or the noble insti-
tuition viii! pass out of the possession of
the congregation. The present pecuniary
distress is greater than they or any other
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 a work of charity or of
good will either. but rather from 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 food catastrophe oc-
CURED, his response in deeds and words
was most potent. When the cry of dis
tress came from the starving peasants in
Russia, he went 5000 miles to distribute
bread. For every local charity and every
case of individual distress his right hand
has literally been extended at all times,
and his left knew nothing about 1t.
If this unfortunate financial embar-
rassment of his church had not occurred,
DR.. Talmage would probably never have
troubled himself to correct the prevail
ing opinion that he had been drawing
from $4,000 to $4,000 per year for his
services as pastor, but in speaking of the
difficulty the other day he remarked in
cidentally that for the past three years
he had received $3.50 for his. work, the
balance of his salary having been turned
back to the church.
The Brooklyn Tabernacle is unique. 1t
is crowded at every service in the year.
Everybody is just as welcome there as
Somebody, and it is quite unnecessary to
60 TO the highways and the byways to
draw people in. Nor do the masses go to
hear fine music or to see gorgeous altar
or rich church decorations, for these are
very simple at the Tabernacle.
They go to hear Talmage preach. And
his sermons are so luminous, so fresh. so
inexhaustible, so full of interest and
power, that they never tire of him. DIR.
Talmage does not trouble his congrega-
ton much about theological dogma. No
body can tell whether the Tabernacle pull
pit is Baptist, Methodist or Presbyterian.
His religious views are as broad as the
poles, as deep as human needs and as