The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-06-06
BELlAAY is UP 70 DATE
Sermons byTelephoue Are Now an
Accomplished Fact,
Interesting Experiments Recently
Made in Philadelphia. Pastor Con-
well VIII be Heard by Thou
sands Who do Not See HIM.
An English Precedent.
And now the telephone is to be util-
fyed as an aocessorv RI tho ,>plnit

Philadelphia, which, when carried to
their natural conclusions, will make it
possible, and even easy. for any popular
pulpit orator to enlarge the numerical
limit OF his auditors almost indefiuite-
". The speaker, whose audieucc is now
limited to the seating capacity of his
church, may simultaneously address his
words of exlortation to two, three or
.evea q dozen snch con regations, gather
@ in separate auditoriums, and that,
too, without any extra exertion or incon-
xeniea0s on has part, provided he pos
aesses the first requisite of tho successful
orator-good speaking power md dis
tinot enunciation.
The experiments were made in Phila-
delphia's famous Baptist edifice known
Ms the Temple. 1t is ono OF the largest
church structures In America, greater
than anS of the thbernacles which DIR.
,Talmage has made ~fRrnoua, larger in its
Ena6ing capacity than Rost Of the thea
*ers and opera houses Of the world. And
ystiit is nc longer large enough.
P9se individual members Of this great
Temple flock were brought faee to face
with the oIntnous fact that they wore
rapidly eutgrowing their sheepfold one
Esridey right about n month ago when
tho Rev. Russell 81. Conwell, their pas
tor, In his Enthusiastically blunt way,
said to them when 1la more persons
have associated themselves as members
OF this church every seat in the upper
temple will be occupied by II Christian.
Ii every one Of these Christians attends
service and occupies his or her seat,
then there will BIC no further scope here
for evangelical work. What shall we do?
Think it out. Think it outr'
What Pastor Conwell alluded to as
the upper tomple is tho main audi
torium, in which the preaching services
are held. Every Sunday night and
morning for years it has been crowded.
But there is q lower temple, too-a
vast, airy room beneath the other-and
for many months overflow meetings
have been regularly held there. There
is also q commodious forum i'll the Tenn
pie college building immediately ad-
Joining tho Temple.
But the trouble is that Mr.. Conwell
is a popular speaker, and those who
throng the Temple doors go there OK
pecting to hear him.
When Pastor Conwell said, "Think it
out, think it cut, " therefore, everybody
knew just what he meant. He wanted
some problem thought out tho solution
CT Which would make it possible for the
congregations in the upper temple. the
lower temple and the college forum to
practically attend the Same service and
all at once to be within the sound Of
his voice.
There is q young man in the church
who has quite a reputation rs q Joker.
He said sententiously, why not run n
speaking tube from the upper to the
lower temple?"
Those who heard this suggestion
Thought it was only a joke, and some of
the young women snickered. but" rs
one of the moro serious minded mem
bers said, that remark set as to think
ing, and now We have Thought it out"
a competent electrician was called in
consultation, and he undertook to super
intend the task Of uniting the three
2ud1toriums 30 as to achieve the desired
result. He was confident of success, and
he had good enough precedent in Eng
land and Europe if not in America. He
told the Temple people how q similar
problem had been solved not long ago
In Birmingham, England, and The
Temple Magazine published this inter
esting account of 1t as a stimulus to its
own readers:
Christ church, Birmingham, Eng
land, 10 n large edihce, and is blessed
with q rector who is not only a beauti-
full and exemplary Christian character,
but . powerful and telling speaker.
Thousands Dome regularly every Sunday
70 listen to him. He wa struck with
the unhappy lot Of the multitude Of poor
snfferins creatures who were compelled
to lie day after day IN the hospitals, and
he made up mis- mind t brighten their
dark path.
After consulting with several emf
nent electricians, he gave orders, at his
OWE expense, Cor q loud speaking tele-
phone connection to be made between
Christ church and the principal hospital
in the city. After several experiments it
worked successfully, and further con-
fracts were placed with the electricians
to connect other hospitals with tho
church. Then the Jail was put in the cir
cuit, and eventually seven large cities
at q distance ranging between 100 and
2b0 miles heard the whole service at
Christ church simultaneously.
"That is the greatest regular tsle-