The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-04-22
copyright. 1902. by Louis Kiopsch.l

AneElCa VINO can OTaW anQ
hold and thrill every Sab
bath the year round an au-
dience OF thousands and
who breaches the gospel every week to
20.OO0.OO0 but one man who thinks in
pictures and paints with 4 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 q celebrated orator ten
years ago OF Thomas De Witt Talmage.
tie 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 4 little farm
in the New Jersey village Of Bound
Brook. the youngest son Of a 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 a 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 hat he
might become a 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 "a 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
ventional language and illustrated by
figures and events Of the ordinary
daily life.
HIS FIRST PASTORATE.
At the conclusion OF his theological
course he received an invitation from
i church at Belleville, y. j., to be-
come its pastor. He accepted it 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 Il grateful place in his memory.
He was promised Il stipend of $500 n
year. which seemed to him a magnif-
cent income. But he was fresh from
college. with n 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 Harder bare. the hospitable homes
of his people were open to him. There
was n parsonage attached to the
church. but il was as bare Of furniture
as his pocketbOok vas Of money. A
few of his p~arishioners suspected the
condition OF his finances. and one day
they suggested that he TAX q weeks
vacation. On his return II OF his
church officers handed him the key OF
the parsonage. He entered and to his
amazement found it carpeted and coZi-
~ furnished from basement to garnet.
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 u match" This was one of his
earliest CLEANS OF Ministers Sun
shiae."
Belleville. however. could not retain
him long. Other churches offered 4
wider sphere Of labor. and at the end
of his third 4 he accepted Il call 20
a church at Syracuse. y. Y. There his
powers became more widely known.
aud Invitations TO more prominent pull
pits poured in upon him. In 1862 a 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 SUI
perb imagery that marked all his ad-
dresses were a revelation. 1t was pull
pit oratory redeemed and sublimated.
This sUGCcu popularity might have
spoiled some men. but young TalmaEe
kept a close watch on himself. 1t gave
him u sense or enlarged responsibility.
and he became even more careful not
only In the preparation OF his sermons.
but i'm his general conduct.
HIS LAST CIGAR.
at the beginning Of his Philadelphia
p~asforate d characteristic incident oc
Cured. DIR. Talmage 1T that time WAS
n smoker. a member OF his congrega
tion. a tobacco merchant. called on him
in his study. and. detecting the odor OF
tobacco. he casually remarked on ieav
ing that he would like TO have the
pleasure of sending the doctor some
choicp CignrS Newt dav the Dreacher