Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1902-04-19
Copyright. 1902. by Louis KiOpsch.l

dience of thousands and
who breaches the gospel every week to
100000. but one man who thinks in
pictures and paints with large brush
in colors that burn and glow, and the
nations gather around his pictures and
feel an uplift and a holy thrill" This
was said by a celebrated orator ten
years ago Of Thomas De Witt Talmage,
the farmers boy, whose remarkable
career has just ended. Yet there was
nothing in his boyhood home or early
surroundings from which an augury
could be drawn Of the worldwide fame
he afterward attained. On little farm
in the New Jersey village Of Bound
Brook. the youngest son Of q family Of
twelve children, the future pulpit ora
tor first saw the light seventy years
ago. His parents toiled hard and lived
frugally that they might give their
children an education. The eldest broth
er at the close Of his college career
went to China as q missionary and
won renown there. Another became a
minister, and De Witt. the youngest Of
all, chose the profession Of the law.
After graduating with honor from the
University of the City of New York he
spent a year in special studies. But his
parents never ceased to hope that he
might become preacher. Their hopes
were fulfilled, and in 1853. at the age Of
twenty-one, he entered the College Of
New Brunswick to prepare for the min
istry.
As q student he was eccentric rather
than brilliant He set the laws of pull
pit oratory at defiance and with bold
originality spoke the thing that was in
him in current phraSeology and in his
own way. you must change your
style" his teacher said to him. 10Th
erwise no pulpit will be open to you
But somehow the people listened to
the daring young preacher whose doc
trines, while familiar and orthodox.
were explained in novel and uncon-
ventional language and illustrated by
figures and events of the ordinary
daily life.
HIS FIRST Passionate.
At the conclusion Of his theological
course he received an invitation from
a church at Belleville, n. j., to be-
come its pastor He accepted 1t and
spent three years in that quiet town.
He was fond of relating an incident Of
that early time which to the last occu-
pied q grateful place in his memory.
He was promised a stipend OF $500 q
year, which seemed to him magnit-
cent income. But be was fresh from
college. with college students pow
erty. The first installment Of the in
come was not due, and he was glad
that. whenever the loneliness Of his
bachelor lodging became oppressive or
his larder bare, the hospitable homes
of his people were open to him. There
was a parsonage attached to the
church. but it was as bare Of furniture
as his pocketbook was Of money. A
few OF his parishloners suspected the
condition Of his finances, and one day
they suggested that he take a weeks
vacation. On his return one Of his
church officers banded him the key Of
the parsonage. He entered and to his
amazement found 1t carpeted and cozi-
" furnished from basement to garrett
In the cellar was q stock Of coal, and
the pantry was filed with provisions.
Even the kitchen stove contained q
fire, ready laid. "All / had to do in
beginning housekeeping" said DR.. Tai
mage In telling the incident. was to
strike a match" This was one Of his
earliest CLEANS Of ministers Sun
shine"
Belleville. however, could not retain
him long. Other churches offered
wider sphere of labor. and at the end
of his third year he accepted a call to
a church at Syracuse. n. Y. There his
powers became more widely known.
and invitations to more prominent pull
pits poured In upon him. In 1862 call
came from the Second Reformed
church Of Philadelphia. giving him the
opportunity of reaching the people of a
great city. He accepted it, and his
vivid, dramatic address. his anecdotal
afluence and his fresh and pertinent
illustrations took the people by storm
His brilliant vocabulary and the su
perb imagery that marked all his ad
dresses were revelation. 1t was pull
Dit oratory redeemed and sublimated
This sudden popularity might have
spoiled some men. but young TalmaGe
kept a close watch on himself. 1t gave
him q sense Of enlarged responsibility.
and be became even more careful not
only in the preparation of his sermons,
but in his ge"Cyal conduct
HIS LAST CIGAR.
At the beginning Of bis Philadelphia
pastorate Il characteristic incident oc-
CURED. DR.. Talmage at that time was
q smoker A member OF his congrega
ton. a tobacco merchant called on him
In hiSstudy. and. detecting the odor OF
tobacco. he casually remarked on leav
ing that he would like to have the
pleasure of sending the doctor some
choice cigars. Next day the preacher
found on his study table box filled
with fragrant Havanas, and on the top
of the cigars was the card Of the send
er. inscribed. With compliments" He
took out cigar. looked at 1t. turned II
around between his thumb and finger
and soiloquized. Shall smoke and
enjoy these and thus very likely impair
my influence with this man and his
friends and my congregation in gener-
al, or shall put influence and example
first" He laid the cigar back in the
box. closed it with a snap and returned
1t to the sender with this note:
My Dear Sir-I have stopped smoking
quit today. T. D. w. T.
The sudden resolution, acted out in
the spur Of the moment was typical of
his whole life.