The Washington times., 1902-04-14
TRIBUTE PAID TO DR..
TALMAGE'S MEMORY
Rev. George Buckler Eulo-
gizes the Dead Theologian.
"The Commander in Chief of the Gospel
Army on Earth Falls in
the Fray"

Rev. George Buckler preached yesterday
morning at the First Baptist Church in
Anacostia upon the theme Truth and
Freedom taking his text from John
viii: 80: And we shall know the truth, and
the truth shall make you free" He pref
aced his sermon with a glowing tribute
to the memory of DR.. T. Dewitt Talmage.
Mr. Buckler spoke with great feeling. He
said in part:
My friends, you will pardon me this
morning If my discourse is delivered I'M
der great oppression of spirit. but one of
the best friends ever had on earth lies
cold in death, and humanity is very fraiI.
My individual sorrow. however, is but as
a drop in the ocean. The wide world
mourns this morning for the commander
in-chief of the gospel army on earth has
fallen in the fray. The worlds most
popular preacher has passed from earth.
T. Dewitt Talmage is dead About 9
o'clock last night the great soul of this
great and good man went home to God.
And now that he is gone the world
eulogies that will be delivered this morn
ing throughout Christendom. and l want
to add my slight tribute TO the memory of
this man, based not upon what I have
read nor upon hearsay. but upon my per-
sonal knowledge OF his character.
DIR. Talmage was a great man. He
was great in every sense of the word. He
| was broad and liberal minded. He was
one of the few men who had the world
view. He preached not only to Presby-
terianism but to all Professionalism, to
all Catholicism. TO Judaism, to agnosti-
cism, to paganism. His sermons were
not for sects. He preached to the ,f)rld.
Jew and GENTLE. Romanist and Protest
ant. infdel. agnostic, and pagan, found
much to applaud and little to condemn.
Better than any other man / have ever
known he knew how to reach the popular
heart. He knew human nature. And he
had that rare gift. tact. He knew when
to stop. And he knew when to rest mis-
audience after following prosaic or pro-
found discourse by the intersection Just
at the right place and in the right time
of humorous story or illustration. He
knew we lived to laugh as well as weep.
A Generous Man.
Or Talmage was a generous man. To
many a struggling brother and sister has
he extended helping hand. Many a
church and congregation has he aided in
more ways than one when in financial
embarrassment. And thousands Of the
humble poor this morning breathe bless
ings upon his name. Like all other great
men, he was frequently misjudged and
ma ligned And blush to recall the fact
III, iatr IA attI-o VIC hoo
among men of the world. Occasionally a
brother minister has damned him with
faint praise or accused him OF preaching
for greed of gold. Thank God, | demon
strated to my entire satisfaction before
he died the utter falseness OF the accr-
sation. few months ago | held series
of interdenominational eyangelistic SER
vices in two Of our local theatres, and |
wanted Dr. Talmage to preach the initial
sermon. | had never met him then, and
the stories | had heard of the big prices
he demanded for his preaching required
to me. and it was not without some mis-
giving that / went to see him. But the
recent reception OF Prince Henry of Prus
STA to our American shores was not more
royal than that accorded the obscure
local preacher in the palatial study
of this ambassador OF the King OF
Kings. He was very kind. He was more
than kind: he was pleased with my plan,
and he agreed to preach the opening ser
mon When | preached the subject OF
pay for his services his genial countenance
assumed an expression. half OF pain and
half of amusement, and then followed a
bit OF colloquy ] shall never forget:
" Why. my boy. | wouldn't accept a
penny. | don't take money for preaching
the gospel
And then ! began to get a glimpse Of
this great heart. II was my turn now to
become amused at the ridiculous stories I
had heard concerning this man. He was
so kind, so good. so genial and affable.
and placed me so much at home with him
that asked:
We'll, doctor. where do you get your
money. them
He laughed good naturedly. He said:
"I lecture. and ! am paid for Iecturing.
and paid well. Then ! have an income
from my paper and from other sources.
But take no pay for preaching
Many Ridiculous Stories.
Then followed a most delightful chat.
during which he told me OF some of tho
ridiculous things said Of him. and We
laughed over them together. Some man
had said that he received percentage Of
all the missionary money he collected
Another said that Talmage's neighb0rs
were all glad when he went away in the
summer, because his practlcing on the
cornet was such an annoyance. when, AS
a matter of fact, he had never but once
had a cornet in his hand and then only to
examine Its fine workmanship and hand IT
back to It's owner. He laughed as he re-
counted these incidents. but | somehow
felt that in the depths OF his great heart
they hurt him nevertheless. He never
took the trouble to deny these scnseless
stories. He preferred to suffer in silence,
and so he opened not his mouth.
DIR. Talmage was a modest man When
ever he was advertised to speak the place
was crowded. Recently in England the
people literally pressed upon him to hear
he I'd If IL. ,xalIld In