The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1895-08-03
DR. 7. DEWITT TALMAGE
Has Cancelled His Engagement
for August II
At Gypsy Grove for Not Very Salts
factory Reasons.

Some MeddlesOme Busy Bodies Induce
the Great Preacher to Give us the go
By-On the Same Day He will Preach
at Harrisonburg, yirginia-His Agent
Breaks His Contraet-DOn't Want
Fairmont Toughs TO Hear His Ser
mons.
To the Editor of the NEW DOMINION.
MoxoNeAH, July I'll am very sorry
to inform you, and also notify the public
through your valuable columns, that
Doctor 7. Dewitt Talmage will not APP
pear at Gypsy Grove Camp Grounds
Sunday, August 18th. The situation in
connection with this matter is a some
what complicated one and in order that
the public generally may know the facts
in the case, it is respectfully requested
that you will kindly publish this letter,
and thus afford an opportunity for an
explanation from the party or parties
who may be responsible for causing
Doctor Talmage to disappoint the people
OF this community,
As far back as February 18th last, |
opened correspondence with DR.. Tai
mage regarding an engagement at Gyp-
sy Grove during the present Summer.
The matter was finally referred to the
Shearer Lecture and Musical Bureau Of
Cincinnati, O., Mr.. J. L. Shearer, Man
ager, it appearing that Mr. Shearer was
the duly authorized Agent OF Dr. Tai
mage. After some correspondence with
Mr.. Shearer, he wrote me under date Of
June 9Th, as follows:
eIn reply to yours of June 3rd, per
NIT me to say that ! will accept your
proposition for DR.. Talmage Find en-
closed contract, one copy of which
please sign and return by early mail,
You will notice that have added trans
portation from Grafton and return also
entertainment during time the Doctor
is with you at Gypsy Grove. Kindly
look carefully to his comfort, owing to
the long journeys he is obliged to take
during the summer, which are naturally
wearing on the public speaker Await
ing your early favor, | am, yours truly. "
The contract referred to by Mr. Shear
er is a regularly printed document with
Autograph heading of the Shearer Lee
tare and Musical Bureau, and as same
was promptly accepted by me, the mat
ter was considered as definitely closed
and the occasion was accordingly adver-
tised. This contract (Which was unso-
licited on my part particularly specifies
that the engagement is made "Condi-
tional upon the ability OF Dr. Talmage
TO fulfill same" yet il seems that some
parties in this community nave made
representations TO DIR. Talmage which in
his judgment warrant him in ignoring
the contract made by his Agent.
On July 9th, Agent Shearer writes me
that DR.. Talmage desires to cancel his
appointment at Gypsy Grove, though
states that he will see DR.. Talmage and
endeaYor to fix the matter so as to avoid
caneelling. | at once made a vigorous
protest against cancellation of the Gyp-
sy Grove date, and claimed Gas | do now
that to do so, would not be Justice to the
people of this community, who were ex-
pecting to hear DIR. Talmage as per ad-
vertisements which had been extensive
ly published in large number Of West
Virginia newspapers.
Mr.. Shearer at first did not give me
DIR, Talmage's real reasons for cancelling
the Gypsy Grove appointment, though
upon being urged in the matter, he final
ly admitted that DR.. Talmage had re-
ceived information from this section,
such as caused him to cancel the APP
pointment, and it is plainly inferred
that this information reached him in the
shape OF petition from certain parties
in this vicinity. After learning OF these
conditions, | concluded to interview DIR.
Talmage personally, and went at once
TO High Bridge, KY, at which place the
writer heard DR.. Talmage deliver q
grand sermon to about four or five thou.
sand people on Sunday, July 2lst. The
text OF the sermon was from the Eley-
enth Chapter of Daniel, sd verse.
And such as do wickedly against the
| Covenant shall be corrupt by batteries
but the people that do know their God
shall be strong, and do exploits"
Special force was given to the last
| fourteen words of this verse.
The congregation at High Bridge was
most orderly one considering the large
number OF persons, and as | especially
noticed these features of the occasion, !
will also state that it was said there
were only two intoxicated people
amongst this vast assemblage, and |
personally saw only one of them. Elk.
cepting this irregularity, the only other
Objectionable features we're a photo
graph tent on the outside OF the Camr
grounds and phonograph doing bust
ness on the grounds after the close OF
services.
1t was estimated that of the four OF
| five thousand people hearing DIR. Tai
mage at High Bridge, Ky, Sunday, July
2lst, at least four-fifths of them came
on trains, and really enjoyed this great
occasion at the cooperation of the rail.
road companies which furnished low
rates and special trains.
Is there any difference between this
meeting at High Bridge, KY, and such
a meeting as might have been had al
Gypsy Grove, Sunday, August 18th ?
The only MISUNDERSTANDING conclu-
sions from a similar meeting held last
year when the Rev. Sam Jones preach
ed to about five thousand people at Gyp-
sy Grove-is that we are freer from in.
toxicated persons, and no photograph
tents or monographs are allowed in the
vicinity on such occasions Can the
complaining parties deny this? II
so, please state only facts which can be
corroborated
DR.. Talmage might have been prevail.
ed upon to reconsider the Gypsy Grove
cancellation though after receiving a
supposed protest against his coming, he
made arrangements to appear at Har-
risonburg, Va, Sunday, August 18th,
where / learn he has been informed
that congregation of ten thousand peo-
pie will welcome him, and the only
promise / could elicit from him was
that he would agree to come to Gypsy
Grove next summer Before closing ]
want to say that DR.. Talmage stated to
me that he approved of the masses Of
the people going to hear preaching on
the Sabbath day, and that the method
of going whether by trains or private
conveyance, was all right if the object
were good one. | cannot remember
his words exactly, though I am sure |
have not misrepresented the substance
of his expression.
now ask the party or parties causing
DR.. Talmage to cancel his engagement
at Gypsy Grove to please express them
selves in order that no one may be mis-
judged.
We would also be glad to see some
item in your editorial columns relating
to the case, as it seems to us, that the
public has been mistreated, to say moth
ing of the injustice done the writer, who
made a contract withDr. Talmage's agent
and notified the people accordingly.
Yours very truly,
H. G. BowLEs.
Eycursinn IN Atlantic Gs+,r and nfb