The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-03-10
TALMAGE ON
NEWSPAPERS.
He TELLS HOW HIS SERMONS
ARE PUBLISHED.
70 be Given in Parts.

The sermon of Dr. Talmage sent out
to the world last week is devoted es-
pecially to newspapers. We deem 1t
worth prlnting-every line of it-but
it is too long to print all at once in
these columns so THE COMMONWEALTH
will print it in parts, and hopes that
all our readers will be interested In the
series:
For the first time DIR. Talmage in
this discourse tells in what way his
sermons have come to multiplicity
of publication such as has never in any
other case been known since the art of
printing was invented; text, Nahum
il, 4, "They shall seem like torches
they shall run like the lightnings."
Express, rail train and telegraphic
communication are suggested if not
ioretold in this text, and from 1t start
to preach sermon In gratitude to God
and the newspaper press for the fact
that have had the opportunity of de-
liverlng through the newspaper press
2 1000 sermons or religious addresses, SO
that have for many years been allow
ed the privilege of preaching the gospel
every week to every neighborhood in
Chrlstendom and in many lands out
side of Christendom. Many have wond-
cred at the process by which 1t has
come to pass, and for the first time IN
public place state the three causes.
Many years ago young man who has
since become eminent in his profession
was then studying law in a distant city.
He came to me and said that for lack
Of funds he must stop his studying un-
less through stenOgraphy l would give
him sketches of sermons, that he might
by the sale OF them secure means Tor
the completion of his education. +
positively declined, because it seemed
to me an lmpossibllity, but after some
months had passed and had reflected
upon the great sadness for snch bril-
liant young man to be defeated in his
ambition for the legal profession. l
undertook to serve hlm-of course free
of charge. Within three weeks there
came request for those stenographic
reports from many parts OF the con-
tinent.
Time passed on, and some gentlemen
OF my profession, evidently thinking
that there was hardly room for them
and for myself in this continent, began
to assail me, and became so violent in
their assault that the chief newspapers
of America put special correspondents
in my church Sabbath by Sabbath to
take down such reply as might make.
1 never made reply, except once for
about three minutes, but those cor
respondents could not waste their time,
and so they telegraphed the sermons to
their particular papers.
ORGANIZATION OF THE SYNDICATE.
After awhile DR.. Louis Kiopsch OF
New York systematized the work into
| a syndicate until through that and
other syndicates he has put the dis
courses week by week before more than
20, ,OOO, 900 people on both sides the sea.
There have been SO manv guesses on
this subject, many of them Inaccurate,
that now tell the true story. l have
not improved the opportunity as
ought, but I feel the time has come
when as matter Of common justice to
the newspaper press / should make this
statement in a sermon commemorative
of the two thousandth full publication
of sermons and religious addresses, say
ling nothing of fragmentary reports,
which would run up into many thous-
ands more.
There was one incident that ]. might
mention in this connection showing
how an insignificant event might in
fluence us for lifetime. Many years
ago on Sabbath morning on my way
to church in Brooklyn q representative
of prominent newspaper met me and
said, care you going to give US any
: points todayy" I said, "What do yor
mean by .polnts?'" He replied, "Any
thing we can remember" l said te
myself, eve ought to be making
points all the time In our pulplts ant
> not deal in platitudes and inan,ties.'
That one interrogation put to me- tha
morning started in me the desire o
making points all the time and nothin.
How TO GET THE SYSTEM READY Fol
THE SPRING.
II always dread the Spring" he said
u,t makes me feel 80 bad wake vi