The Iola register., 1902-04-18
TALMAGE Is DEAD
Noted Divine Has Been in Poor Health
for Weeks

dSulnSlOD, H. ~, April liz ne
Rev. 7. Dewitt Talmage, the noted
Presbyterian clergyman, died at 8
O'Clock tonight at his residence in this
city. 1t has been evident for some
days that there was no hope of re-
covery and the attending physicians
so informed the family. The patient
gradually grew weaker, until life pass.
ed away so quietly that even the mem
bers of the family, all of whom we're
watching at the bedside, hardly knew
that he had gone. The immediate
cause of death was Inflammation of
the brain.
DR.. Talmage was in poor health
when he started away from Washing
ton to Mexico for a vacation and rest
six weeks ago. He was then suffering
from influenza and serious catarrhal
conditions. Since his return to Wash
ington some time ago he has been
quite i'll. Until Thursday, however,
fears for his death we're not enter
tanned.
While arrangements for the funeral
have not been finally completed, the
family have about decided.to have lhe
remains taken to the Church of the
Covenant here on Tuesday, where SER
vices will be held. The body will then
be conveyed to Brooklyn, where inter-
ment will be made in hthe family plot
in Greenwood cemetery probably
Wednesday.
Thomas Dewitt Talmage was born
near Bound Brook, N. j., January I,
1882. He received his education at
the University of the City OF New
York, and entered the ministry in 1856
After filling several different pulpits
he went in 1869 to theI.Central Presby-
terian church of Brooklyn, which has
since that time been known as the
Tabernacle. The church has had
quite a checkeredl. history during DR..
Talmage's pastorate. 1t has been
burned three times, in 1872, 1889 and
1894, aud was rebuilt each time in bet
ter style than before.
For many years his. sermons have
appeared every week, in several humid
red religious and secular papers and
have been translated into,many foreign
languages. In addition to his work
as a preacher he was theI author of
fifty or more books, andihad acted as
the editor of several religious maga-
zines and particularly the Christian
Herald, of which he had been the
editor for about twelve years. past.
DR.. Talmage has been in the West
several times on lecturing.tours, and
was we'll known in Kansas. A notable
incident of one of his visits to Kansas
comes to mind. Aboutiten years ago,
Dr. Talmage lectured before the Usage
County Teachers institute at Usage
City. A few nights before the lecture,
q robber bad been fatally shot by S.
B. Pettee, q local merchant, during q
midnight fight in Pettee's house. which
the robber and his companion were
trying to loot.
PRAYED WITH A ROBBER.
The unfortunate man was taken to
the city Jail, where for several days he
suffered before death came. Talmage
expressed a desire to call on the rob
Der, whose name was never learned.
Going into the wretched room, DR.
Talmage kneeled down on the dirt!
floor beside the cot so that he could
better talk to the man. With grea
tenderness he tried to speak words o
comfort to the stricken robber and tC
point out to him that way of relic
which his own Christian experience
taught him was the best, and thel
prayed fervently. The happening wa
not without its effect on the crowd o
men present. 1t was not until afte
Talmage had gone that the burgla
learned the identity of the man VIII,
had tried to comfort him. Then h
showed the first emotion that had bee
noticed since he had been shot. -
can die more cheerfully now, he said
That night DR.. Talmage left the cit
and the next day the prisoner died.
Two years later, while passin
through Usage City on his way wes'
DR.. Talmage stepped out on the depo
platform and inquired about the rot
ber with whom he had prayed in th
city Jail.