Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1894-05-19


ths flames. The intense heat of tn,
hre, combined with that of the sun
caused several prostrations in tn,
crowd of onloolsers The victim.
were taken away by friends.
Expressions of regret at the mis-
fortune which had overtaken Dr. Tai
mage were heard on all sides. The
reverend gentlemen stood with the
crowd near the church and witnessed
the destruction of the beautiful ed.
lice His expression was a sorrowful
one ana he was nearly moved to tears.
ne was surrounded by a large gather.
ing OF friends when the reporter ap.
preached him.
Thank Cod said the minister.
"ods mercy overtowcrs the disaster.
~ was all so sudden that | cannot ey.
plain 1T. Had the fire occurred half an
hour sooner there would have been a
terrible loss of life. The church was
crowded, fully 5000 people were there.
A stampede would have occurred and
many would have been crushed TO
DEATH"
Rev. Talmage added that he was nn.
able to tell whether the fire would in
terfere with his future plans lie had
intended leaving Brooklyn this even
ing on his summer trip to Europe lie
dld not know if the disaster would de.
lay him.
The subject of Dr. Talmage's sermon
Yesterday morning was "A Cheerful
Church." " The text was Solomon's
song, chapter iv, first verse, "Behold.
Thou Art Fair, My Love-
1T was only on Thursday and Friday
last that Rev. DR.. Talmage celebrated
IN the tabernacle the completion of the
twenty-fifth year of his pastorate.
The ia bernacle occupied a lot Of
ground 200 feet by us feet in dimen-
slons' The style of architecture was
Eomanesque, the material corsehiI |
stone, and rainwashcd brick in red |
mortar. The roof was covered with |
Spanish tiles. The main tower at
.ireen n'ld Clinton avenues stood 100
feet in height. The main entrance
was at Clifton and Green avenues
'econd was on Clinton avenue, and
,hrd on Waverly avenue. The Green
md NaverN-avenuc entrances led to
he Sunday-school hall as well as to
he main auditorium, The vast inte-
Tor held seats for $500. The general
lope was mphitheatrical.
The lofty selling was domed and di.
'lded into panels, the material used
'eing of patent tire-proof wood,
vhlch, incidentally, was destroyed with
he rest of the building
The magnificent organ in the loft
yer which the fire appears to have
riginated was back of the rostrum
he woodwork ncasing it being ofash,
lcely plancd and ornamcnted with
arved columns. The glass used
throughout the building was com
nation of frosted crystal and various
lades of yellow, giving IA very mellow
ght.
There were two galleries finished
18th stereo relief work. There was in ;
lie tabernacle library and kitchen
nd supper room to be used in connec- I
on with fairs, The tabernacle had a
'bt OF 500, 900, and recently Mr.. Tai
age threatened to leave the pastor q
,e' but financial aid was promised and G
r, Talmage then decided to stay.
The first fire which affected DR.. Tai
age occurred in'Decembcr, 1871, at | y
clock in the morning. The church :
as then situated at Sackett and
streets Another church -
as built On the same site and on De. G
Der ., $50, was burned down at . Il
clock in the morning. The conpre- u
Itlon the, moved up town to Greene NJ NJ
ld Clinton avenues, where fire for the a
ird time overlook DR.. Talmage and II
Irned his church Gown. hi
The boald of trustees of the taberna. u
last night held Il meeting in the Of
use of Dr. Tamage, at which il was er
cided to 'ebuild the tabernacle. The be
lstees say that DR.. Talmage is to II. II.
lrt on his trip around .he world AS W,
first intended. IS
The statement given out by the tn
,stecs is that from the Insurance re. :
pts and money realized for the sale in
land, they will pay all debts. es
Within Il year the work of rebuild. ur
: will begin,
The ia tabelnacle was insured for slso.
, IN four companies. viz: London OF
| Ltveraool the Royal Insurance q
. the Phoenix of Hartford and !
rnix of Brooklyn.