Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-04-19
|. Dewitt TALMAGE ISDEAD
The Great Preacher Passed Quiet
Iy Away Saturday Night.
WAS UNC0NCIOUS TO THE END
The World Has Read or Listened to His Words
For Years He Was Pastor in Brook-
lyn---Sketch of His Noted Career.

byterian preacher. died at 8 O'Clock
Saturday night at his residence, IN
this city. The immediate eau Sc of
death was Inflammation of the brain.
Dr. TaImage was in Door health
when he started awav from Washing
ton for Mexico for vacation and rest
six weeks ago. He was then suffering
from influenza and serious catarrha,
conditions. Since his return to Wash
ington. some time ago he has been
quite ILL Until Thursday, however,
fears for his death were not enter
tanned
DIR. Talmage was born at Bound
Bark. n. j., January Z, 1882. be ng
the youngest of IL children. five girls
and seven bows. His entrance into
the Church was undoubtedly because
of the fact that two of his uncles, one
brot her in law and two brothers had
become ministers. When Is years old
he Joined the Church. and the follow
ing year entered the University of
the City of New York, but did not
exhibit any marked preterance for his
studies, becoming notable rather be-
cause of his oratorical ability and
his brilliant capacity.
After his graduation the Young ora
tor believed that he was best fitted
for the legal profession, and studied
law for three years. at the end of
which time he turned to the study of
theology. entering the Reformed
Dutch Theological Seminary at New
Brunswick to prepare for the minis
try.
He was ordained at Bergen. and at
once accepted call to BelievIlle, N.
j., where he preached three years and
then went to Syracuse. n. Y. He
then became the pastor of the second
Dutch Reformed Church of thilsdel-
phia, aud it was at that time and IN
that city that he began to publish his
sermons. They gained immediate
popularity. He remained in Phila-
delphia seven years then accepted a
call from Central PRESBYTERIAN Church
of Brooklyn, going there in 1869 at a
salary of 81, 500 a year.
The church which offered so large
a salary had but 10 members and a
congregation OF about 30. From the
first Sunday of his passionate the men,
bership inceased and after 10 months
1T was found necessary to build a
larger house of worship Dr.. Tai
mage, in persuading the congregation
to build the larger church. to be
known.as the Brooklyn Tabernacle.
Offered to give up his salary until the
new plan should prove success. The
church was begun in 1870. and while
it was building DR.. Talmage visited
England, ireland and Scotland. The
Tabernacle was completed the same
year. the ground plan resembling a
horseshoe, large enough to inclose
half an acre of ground. On the morn
ing of December %. 1872, the build
ing was burned. DIR. Talmage preach
ed in the Academy of Music while the
new and larger Tabernacle was being
erected in Schammerhorn street. Ii
was for nallv opened in February,
1874, and though it contained seats
for but 4670 persons, the sermons of
the great preacher were often listened
to bv 1000 persons crowded into the
building
In this tabernacle Talmage made
HIM self fame us by his sermons. The
church was in debt $72, SEQ He call' d
for subscripli ms, giving 5000 him
self. and OH the first Sunday raised
s42, 600. The debt was soon wiped
out. In October, 1878. the pas tors
salary was raised to Sl2.0"o. In the
fall of 1899 the second tabernacle was
DESTROYED by fire. DR.. Talmaeg was
Just starting ON trip TO the Holy
Land and at first, on account of the
disaster, announced his attention of
giving up the proposed trip. His con-
gregation. howev r. urged him to go,
and. being confident that new tab
ernacle would be built. he made the
trip as he had originally planned.
During his travels he sent home brill
liant descriptions of what he saw and
the thou hts Inspired.
In 1890 DIR Talmage returned home
and on Easter, 1891, opened his third
tabernacle. In the fall of that year
that building was also destroyed by
fire. the Nemesis of the great divine.
In 1896 he accepted call from the
FIRST Presbyterian Church of Wash
Ington, ID. o., as assistant TO DIR. By
ron Sunderland. He served in this
CAPACITY for two years, and from tina
| time has had no regular pulpit.
Wfelds a sharp Az.
Millions marvel at.the multitude of