Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-05-16
Ta1mage's Third Fire.

Talmage's Third Fire.
The Brooklyn On. W Tabernacle, of
which the Rev. DR.. Thomas Dewitt
TaImage is pastor, was destroyed last
Sunday by fire. which broke out soon
after the morning service had been
concluded. The Hotel Regent, ad
joining. was also destroyed, and Sum
merfleld Methodist Episcopal Church
and about twenty residences We're
damaged. The total loss is over 81 ,OOO,-
900.
Mrs. Talmage says
The Doctor was still in the pulpit
shaking hands with the people, of
whom there were nearly Il hundred
probably left. His back was to the
| organ. | was standing up at the end
of the pew talking with Mr.. Martin, of
Chicago, who wanted to see the Doctor,
with messages from loved friends in
that city. l looked up toward the
ceiling and saw a tongue of flame burst
out between the pipes OF the organ. l
at once called aloud, Doctor, the
church is ON fire" He turned and told
all the people to retire, while he went
into the study to get few Things. |
waited for him at the door. The flames
spread very rapidly, so quickly that
some of the trustees were overcome
and had to be helped out. The Doctor
| Joined me soon after and we went down
to Lafayette avenue to the house of a
| friend, where We remained until we
could hear that friends in the Hotel
| Regent were cut OF danger and what
prospect there was of saving any OF
the church"
IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN WORSE.
DR.. Talmage says:-
There is mercy on top OF the dis
aster. If it had occurred one half hour
before it would have been the calamity
of the century. The church and all
the rooms adjoining were packed with
people, and the panic would have left
the whole scene one of indescribable
horror. Or if it had occurred two OIL
three hours later, when the Sunday
school was in session, there would have
been a thousand households bereft in
Brooklyn. Little children, helpless
children, what would they have done
God cared for them, and even in this
calamity His mercy is Infinite.
'This long procession of disasters il
linexplicable, like what occurs some
times in family, four or five dying
from scarlet fever. 1t is inexplicable
we must simply accept the fact.
"Our church has been burned three
times, and it has always occurred on 9
Sunday. 1t is a mystery that l ad
journ until the next world shall let VI
know.
ut is the Lord. Let Him do what
Seemeth good in His sight"
ELECTRICITY THE CAUSE.
When asked as to his own opinion al
to the cause of the fire he said, EN-
phatically: Electric lights. Elec
tricity caused this fire, as it did that o.
the last tabernacle, on SchermerhorI
street."
: The Doctor then crossed two fingers
and continued ut was some mlsar
rangement of the wires. Electricity il
force that is only partially harnessed
, 1t is one of the greatest agents of benef
icence and power in the future, but
just now it has the bit in it's mouth
and almost beyond our control. Elec
tricity was, undoubtedly, the cause o
the fire.
| THE CHURCH AND PASTOR.
Rev. Dr. Thomas De Witt Taimag,
| u
uary 7, 1882. He became pastor o
Central Presbyterian Church in 1862
In 1870 his congregation erected new
semicircular church of wood and iron
capable of seating 3,400 persons. Thi
building, known as the Brooklyn
Tabernacle, was enlarged in 1871 so a
to seat 500 more. 1t was destroyed b,
fire December %, 1872. Two years later
February %. 1874, new tabernacle
was dedicated seating 5000 persons
That church was burned and the on,
n IVY burned erected in its place.
Owing to the heavy debt incurred in
the construction Dr. Talmage an
nounced in January last that he would
resign. The debt was adjusted and il
March he decided to remain. Las
Sunday he preached his twenty tiftl
, Anniversary sermon.
Mary Washington was a model ma
2 iron, attending to her domestic dutie
. and training mp her children in the wa,
they should go. The result was tina
she gave to her country it's creates
statesman.
; May her noble example be studied
! and followed as contradistinguishe(
from the teachings of those women o
| tllH0S w uO WOulO lutthc
pear that the duty of the sex is to for
sake the home life and follow the voca
{ tions that belong to men.-Richmont
State.
The New York AdcertiSer says "ther,
are too many ex Confederate cripple
in Congress" If the Northern army
hadn't been composed mostly of for
eigners, there might possibly be more
federal crippIes among the members o
the body referred to than now have
seats therein.-Ale alexandria Gazette.
GERMAN BAPTIST ANNUAL MEET
: ING The annual national meeting o
the German Baptist Brethren Church
(Dunkards) will be held at eyersdale
Pa, May 25th. Meyersdale is thirty
five miles west of Cumberland. Md.
on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
and has a population of 1890. The
town contributed seven acres of wood
land for the meeting, $400 in cash
electric lights and water. A large
tabernacle, ia by 1913 feet, capable o
seating 5000 people, is now building
along with building for the book an(