Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-04-24
FILIAL TRIBUTE TO
LATE DR.. TALMACE
Memorial Sermon by Rev. Frank
De Witt Talmage, D. D.
GREAT DIVINE AS HIS SON SAW HIN

O1nerent FROM Othcr MinfSter0-A
handwriting. Cheerful, Corsecrnt.
ed Genius Was His.
Chicago, April 20.-This morning in
the Jefferson Park Presbyterian church
the Rev. Frank De Witt Talmage, d.
D., delivered sermon, in which he
paid a touching and timely tribute to
his late distinguished father. The text
was 1 Kings xix. 20, "Let me, pray
thee, kiss my father"
Affections most sacred form OF salu.
tation is a kiss. We bow to an &c.
ouaintance, we shake hands with
friend, but we press the lip against the
lip Of one whom we love. This state.
r1ent is especially true when applied to
Elisha. the son of Shaphat, who was
about to Leave home and 60 forth into
the great wide world. Elisha was sum.
moned to carry on the work Of Elijah.
Already the horses were being harness
ed to the chariot Of fire for the old
prophets famous journey from earthly
struggle to heavenly triumph His sue.
cessor, starting out on his arduous
task, desires first to imprint on his ia.
theirs face the kiss Of farewell.
The salutauon Of the kiss is even
more sacred when used by one who is
standing by the open casket Of father
whose eloquent tongue has so often
spoken the golden words of the gospel
to countless throngs-who, with pen
guided by Spirit sprinkled with the
blood Of the Lamb, has every week pro-
claimed the divine message to millions
upon millions of readers who were
wearied with sin and heavy with trou.
BILE. My fathers work for nearly TWEEN.
ty years has been the pillar Of cloud by
day and the pillar of fire by night to
guide great multitudes through the
dark wilderness of earth toward the
brightness Of the promised land.
Many pens are writing eulogies upon
the lifework Of Rev. T. De Witt Tai
mage. Perhaps few words may be
welcome from his son. speak as one
having authority. For over twenty
years I was his constant companion.
When he was at home, rarely left his
study until after the midnight hour.
Twice with him visited the European
cities. Once we circled the globe. To-
gether we sailed forth from the Golden
Gate Of the Pacific. Side by side we
have seen the light at the entrance Of
New York harbor beckon us into the
Narrows, welcome to US as was the
star of Bethlehem to the three astrolo-
gers wandering over the sea of sand.
But no more shall we have sweet COM
partnership. The world becomes in
stantly changed to the son who is COM
PEELED to let his parent sleep among
the flowers and who hears summons
to more strenuous service. Before
start forth anew for my life's work
l would, with flial emotion, ask a mo-
ment for the tribute of personal af
lection, as Elisha spake to Elijah in
reference to Shaphat: Let me, pray
thee, kiss my father Then will fol-
low thee"
An Original and Natural Man.
MY father was the most original and
yet the most natural man l ever knew,
original in the sense that he always
did everything in a way different from
any one else. He wrote differently, he
lectured differently, he preached differ
emily. If two persons stood before him
ut the nuptial altar, his marriage cere-
mony was unique. 1t was impossible
to compare him to any one else. The
mold used for the formation Of his
r TU a nfnl
has never been made another like unto
it since he lay in his humble cradle in
the Bound Brook farmhouse.
Yet my father was natural in the
sense that he never strove to be origi-
nal and different from every one else.
1t was in his personality that he was
different. He was the same In the
home as in the p2pit. on the street as
upon the lecture platform. He was the
same original and yet natural charac-
ter when writing to one of his children
as he was when penning an article for
the press. He uttered the message
which was given to him as naturally
and yet with the dissimilarity that
characteriZes the notes Of the birds Of
the forest. AS the brown winged thrush
lifts his treble note when he Is awaken
ed by the rising sun, as a goldfncb
chirrups when hopping between the
garden rows, rs Baltimore oriole
sings when he swings backward and
forward upon the tree branch which
overhangs the brook, each bird is melo-
dious in Its own way, yet each singing
a different song. He was so natural
that he could not recognize his peculiar
traits. One day he turned to me and
said: Frank, people say am different
from other ministers; that am differ
ent even in giving out my notices and
the reading Of Scripture. Show me how
] am different" When attempted to
show him the difference, he innocently
remarked. "Why, do not see anything
peculiar about that" He was so differ
ent from other men that for many
years the American pulpit could not
understand him. Under the scrutinlz-
Ing eye Of the theological critic there
could be found no heretical flaw In his
sermons. When he arose to preach, q
solemn stiffness like the expectant hush
OF the coming judgment day silenced
his auditors. Every eye was focused
upon that tall, straight form and broad
massive brow. Each ear was alert to
catch the first word which fell from
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