The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-05-16
DIR. TALMAGE's STORY.
He Says IL Is n Mystery with the Lord
Working in IL.

He Says Ii Is n Mystery with the Lord
Working in IL.
Mrs. TaInage tells the following story
of the fire:
1.-THE doctor was still in the pulpit,
shaking hands with the people, of whom
there were nearly a hundred probably
left. His back was TO the organ. 1 was
standing up at the end Of the pew talk
ing with Mr. Martin of Chicago, who
wanted TO see the doctor with messages
from loved friends in that city 1 looked
up toward the ceiling and saw a tongue
OF flame burst out between the pipes of
the organ. 1 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 l 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 Lafayette-ave. to a friends,
where we remained until we could hear
that friends in the Regent were out of
danger and what prospect there was of
saving any of the church.
The doctor had quite a reception at his
home during the afternoon. Dr. Tai
mage made a graphic statement of the
incidents connected with the fire. He
said:
AT the close of the church service 1
was standing at the foot of the pulpit
shaking hands with hundreds Of people
from all lands. l was about through
and walked toward the center of the
church. where my wife stood. when she
called my attention 10 fire springing out
from the top of the organ. l saw at
once that it was under full Roadway and
my first impulse was to look around and
see how many people were then in the
house, and, 10 my great joy, there were
only about twenty people. and with
twenty-five doors to get out through, l
felt that they would all escape
Il then went into my study. back of
the platform. passing under the blazing
piping. to get my hat and coat and then
! said to myself, is il manly to run?
No So l walked up and down the study
room. rejoicing that the fire had &C
CURED when there was no chance of
fatality. While in this sort of brown
study New York friend rushed into the
room. and, taking my arm. said: Get
out Of this room Immediately or you'll
not get out at all One-half of the or
gan was already down and the fire had
leaped To the roof. ] saw that nothing
could save the building and | came out
The tears were cOursing down the
doctors cheeks and his voice broke, as
he told the story, but in an instant he
spoke With his old vigor. There is
mercy on top of the disaster If it had
occurred One-haIf 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 or 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.
Personally L feel not the least item
Of disheartenment, nor less faith in God,
nor less Of hope for the future. This
long procession of disasters is ineXplica-
ble-like what occurs sometimes in a
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 ii has always occurred on
Sunday. Ii is a mystery that / adjourn
till the next world shall let us know. 1t
is the Lord. Let Him do what seemeth
good in His sight"
When asked for his own opinion as to
the cause Of the fire he said emphatical-
ly: Electric lights, electricity caused
this Ere, as it did that of the last taber-
nacle en- Schemerhorn-st."
Continuing, DR.. Talmage said: 1.-THE
fire may change my entire program and
/ do not think / will start on my trip
around the world as / intended tomor-
row night I. however, do not know
what / shall do