The evening times., 1895-10-28
TALMAGE'S FIRST SERMON
First Church Was Packed From
the Pulpit to the Doors.
Floral Decorations Made the Church
Unusually Attractive-ThOusan
Could Not 0et in.

Rev. T. Dewitt Talmage last night
preached his first sermon as copastor of
the First Presbyterian Church. When the
| great orator arose in the fern and flower
banked pulpit he faced an audience that has
seldom been held before in the four walls
OF that historic edifice.
| Ever since the announcement of the date
Of the opening sermon, it was understood
| that standing room would be at n premium.
Recent announcements informed the pub
lie that the pew holders would first be pro-
vided for, and that after them such accom-
| modations would be furnished the public as
! was possible under the circumstances.
These circumstances probably surprised
evea the board of trustees and the Rev.
Mr.. Adolos Allen, co-pastor, with DIR.
| Talmage. The public understood that there
| would be general admission at quarter
| past Z O'Clock. As early therefore as 6
| O'Clock the pavement in front of the church
| was crowded up to the very doors, at
which policemen were stationed, probably
| to prevent the capture OF the church in
body by the thousand or more admirers OF
| Mr.. Taimage, VINO counted on nothing but
general admission and standing room only.
The arrangements were carried out Ia
the satisfaction OF all except. perhaps, those
| who did not gain abundance. The pew
holders entered by the south door and were
promptly seated by the ushers.
The rostrum, the baptismal font, and the
| spaces 10 the right and left OF the pulpit
| were made particularly attractive by large
| masses of chrysanthemuIns, roses, and
smilax. The auditorium, which is noted
for its architectural regularity, was bril-
liantly lighted.
The music OF the services was grand, the
selection at the offertory being Shelley s
"Oh, King Gf Love- by the quartette.
Mrs W. l.. Wilson, soprano: Miss Emma
Brook, contraltO: Gabriel F. johnson,
baritone, and W. o. Smons, tenor. and
+. Ward. organist. The solo strain open
ing this beautiful harmony was sung with
thrilling effect by Miss Brock.
DR.. Talmagc was. of course, the observed
of all observers, as he sat upon the rostrum,
DR.. Sunderland occupying seat with Mrs.
Sunderland near the front in the audience.
This fact was commented on, as IL has
been many years since this venerable and
honored minister has been seen in the church
during services elsewhere than on the
platform.
1t is estimated that more thau- 800
people managed to compress themselves
within the auditorium and its approaches
1t was, therefore. stirring effect when
the whole congregation with organ ac-
compartment Joined in the singing OF the
hymn, Nearer My God to Thee"
ditcr blis DE- ldiiAiEe aioot anu ie"u'
making comments as he read, the story of
the shipwreck as given in the Acts of the
Apostles, beginning with the 21th verse.
The delivery of the sermon was marked
with the closest attention and the
preservation of the utmost decorum,
even out in the vestibule, In which
people were craning their necks uver
their neighbors' heads 10 catch glimpse of
the magnetic speaker whose voice COM
pletely filled the church. 1t is not neces-
sary to speak to very many citizens of the
United States of Talmage's method and de
livery.
The subject of his sermon was IAN
Heaven Looking On" the text selected be-
ing the famous passage from Hebrews
Kill: Seeing we also are compassed about
with SO great cloud of Witnesses