The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-01-19
STORIES OF THE DAY.


fsontier town Of the great northwest, he
stiff back, strait laced Presbyterian,
who had swerved from the old Dutch
Reformed church of the Mohawk valley
TO fill more modern niche; / Of more
liberal faith. He was an old man;
young. In one Of our many long conver-
sations-for we were cronies and l liked
to hear his reminiscences-he told me Of
his schoolfellow, Talmage. "Whati T.
De Witt?" YEA verify. the same. We
were in college and in the theological
seminary together" Being encouraged,
the dOminie went on: Robert Talmage
was the great Talmage of the Talmage
family. He was born great He has been
missionary in China many, many
years. But De Witt has made himself
great"
"You interest me-genius of birth
and of growth both in the same family.
Tell me Of the genius that grows, de-
velops. There is hope for some of us
maybe" A broad grin spread over his
face as he complied. "We We're installed
in charges not very distant from each
other, and as two young men began our
work. 1t was among the good old Dutch
Reformed brethren, not far from New
York. Being in the same presbytery, as
we call it now, De Witt and myself were
brought together from time to time. We
were interested-yes, glad-to know Of
the growth of the Lords work in each
others hands. During the first year we
met one day, and to my hail, DE Witt,
how goes the times?' he made answer,
SLOW, slow, B. slow How is that?'
We'll, there are too many empty pews.
/ tell you, b., am going to make a
break. laughed and said: You better
spend more time with your Bible. Be
on your knees more for your people.
Agonize more for souls. He replied
hastily, L do all those things, am year
ing myself out TO no purpose that way,
and am going to make a break.
"We went our several ways and had
forgotten his threat, if, indeed, it was a
threat, i am going to make a break,
when one day we met on q committee,
and grasped his hand, with the, We'll,
old boy, how goes it?' His answer was,
First rate-splendidp and he looked it.
But / whispered, they say they are
going to ship you down there?' All
right, said he; I'll go to larger place.
You made the break and have no empty
pews. Tell me about it, And this was
his story. He noticed the show people
and theater people had the willing
crowds and thOthurches the unwilling
few. What was the secret? Who had the
secretf Evidently the actors.
HE immediately wrote to q friend in
New York city for the address Of some
one who would be . good trainer for the
stage, and in due time BY engagement
was greeted at his door. Il was his an
nual summer vacation. The man looked
surprised when he learned De Wits er-
rand, seemed to hesitate for moment,
and then said, Mr.. Talmage, suspect
you are clergyman, and I never train
clergymen, SO cannot take you as a pu-
pill. De Witt bridled at the thought.
Why, sir, why?' Simply impossible.
You would not do as tell you, and, if
you did, they would expel you from the
pulpit But will do as you tell me,
and Twill take the risk of expulsion
"But let me give you the story in his
own words. The trainer went ON to say:
You were educated all wrong according
to our standard Of speaking All minis
ters are. answered promptly, Il be-
lieve you. He continued, You speak
from little box pulpit high up?' Yes,
SIR Will you agree to abandon that
and have large platform like a stage
for you to walk around ON to talk to
men from?' Yes, SIR with some hest
tation as the ghosts Of ministerial pro-
priety glared mt me from the unchanging
past. However, Mr.. Talmage, the
greatest difficulty to remove will find
in yourself rather than in the church
building. There is not thing you have
been trying to do but is wrong He was
growing interesting Mr.. Talmage, you
believe in this book, picking up small
Bible; that men must know its truths?
Yes, sir; l do. That Nthey would be
saved they must receive them; that the
choice OF life or death is here?' Yes,
sir. That thousands will go down to
death unsaved unless you teach them to
receive Christi Yes, sir And this is
the way you go about it. Changing his
quick, nervous, earnest ways to great
deliberation, he Strengthened up to his
highest, seemingly, buttoned his coat,
touched up his hair, slowly adjusted
pair OF glasses, dropped his arm by his
-sides and began dead march in Saul
pace to the imaginary pulpit. A face of
chalk would have had as much express
sion as his as he calmly opened the book
and read in perfunctory way some
Scripture.
He cleared his ministerial voice and,
turning to me, said, Mr.. 'Talmage, did
do it justiceT Yes, too true to life.
He came back to my side, unbuttoned
his coat put on an alert look, strobe to
his pulpit, opened the book with eager
ness, and with flashing eye and fervid
voice read Scripture. making NV blood