The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-28

Bo Regards II ~ the Best Field lie HAS
Eve. Entered.

MIN 1Olsh, stlt. 80. 49,
xoing to Washington" said the keV.
r. Dewitt Talmagc to a reporter last
evening. My letter OF acceptance was
written and forwarded "Wednesday night.
81 shall begin my duties there sunday
October 9th, when l shall preach my
FIRST sermon in the First presbyterian
church. 49,,
.sThen you Will soon leave Brooklyn
Le was asked.
why. naturally / must, for l have
not much time before me. nave al
ready instructed my agents to sen TINS
house and by the middle of october
expect to be In Washington, with my
family ana all my belongings.
mo doubt IL Will be a painful task, as
YOU say. for l have lived here at OK
ford street continuously for twenty
years. There are many memories at
tached TO the place, ana many me
mentocs gathered here. that | prize very
highly but fortunately can carry 'he
memories and the souvenirs win me 10
my new home. / shall preach once more
IN Brooklyn. That will be a week from
next sunday evening. when l have prom
ised the Rev. Or. Gregg that VIII
preach from his pulpit In the Lafayette
Avenue church.
ION the following day. Monday. ] shall
amply 10 the Brooklyn Presbytery for
letters OF dismissal. which Will be Tor
warded to the Washington church. THIS
IS merely the usual form OF procedure
The Washington Presbyterian church mas
an almost national reputation. and al
fords q field FOR usefulness that 1 couid
obtain hardly anywhere else. -Four Pres
idants of the United States have been
members OF the church, as have also
some of the most influential Cabinet Of
acers and members Of Congress the coun-
FRY has ever known. This state or AZ
fairs still exists so from the pulpit OF
the First Presbyterian church ! shall De
able TO address a congregation MADE up
of the best minds and the leaders OF
men from all parts of the country
"Since IL became known that 1 was
considering an invitation from the fIts-
lyterian church. j have received SNOW
er of letters and kilograms from persons
representing all religions and all creeds,
moi alone from Washington, but from all
parts of the country. In every one oil
these. | was urged TO go 10 NashlngtoA'
so 1 have no doubt as TO the cordlaliN,
not TO say urgency. Of the call.
.For a long time ! was really unde-
cided what TO do. j had before me IN
vitations 10 take up my home ana me
work in many different cities, but many
/ concluded that it was best that 1
should 10 10 Washington, so wrote
the letter Of acceptance, as told you
last Wednesday IL Is only rlsht tla'
l should say that while invitations came
90 me from other places. and some OF
them were very attractive, ! gave no en-
commencement TO any of my friends except
those in Washington.
.The First Presbyterian church Of
Washington has quite history befihu
IL. and. | trust, a stu better future'
IL is now within few days OF one nun
dred years old, and is TO celebrate It's
centenary in October 1t was reihou-
elled and greatly beautihed only a year
OF two ago. and was never more vigorous
nor In better shape for good work than
to-day.
IL was, In sense. in error wnen
told Won that | should preach my frst
sermon IT, the church TO which l am go
ing next month. 1t Is true that / snail
then first enter the pulpit as pastor OF
the church. but / preached there on sun
day evening last December. and at the
close of the service ] was told that there
was a great crowd outside that had been
unable TO find room in the ealhce.
When reached the steps louhu
there was certainly an enormous throns
waiting around the door, did not need
10 be told what they were there lot
Their manner showed that. There was
an inspiration in the occasion. and J
suppose i felt IL. Any way, ! ala not
hesitate for d moment, but then ana
there | spoke TO that great throng ana
certainly was listened 10 with marked
attention to the end.
washington is a delightful city TO I'VE
in. and l have many cordial trlends
there. ] have not missed iecturing III
washington q single winter for twenty
nGen TOD /
expect TO md a specially congenial field.
Everything there seems to he Just as 1
would like to have 1t.
"You ask If 1t will make any radical
tchanges in my life or habits. TO that
Il can only say that | shall know better
lin the future how TO answer the ques-
tion. At present I see no occasion Tor
any marked departure from my usual
conduct OF life. j shall retain the col
MORTAL chair OF the Christian Herald, for
4 believe the field OF religious Journalism
is wide and useful one.
II shall run over TO New York from
lltime 10 time, 10 keep in touch with
matters here. but most Of my editorial
work can and will be done in my Wash
ington study.
at has been my custom 10 lecture
more or less every winter. and l shall
probably always continue TO do so, as
long as ] find that lecturing does not
interfere with my pulpit work. l find
rest and diversion in the travel attend
ant upon a lecturing tour, and keenly
enjoy the contact I get in the cars and
hotels with my fellow-men.
There is, as yet. certainly nothing
further that I can tell you. except that
shall be installed few days previous
TO my entry upon my duties in my new
gefd ~ labor"