Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-04-28
FILIAL TRIBUTE TO
LATE DR.. TALMAGE
Memorial Sermon by Rev. Frank
De Witt Talmage, D. D.
GREAT DIVINE AS HIS SON SAW HIM

Different From other Ministerial
ed Genius Was His.
Chicago, April 20.-This morning in
the Jefferson Park Presbyterian church
the Rev. Frank De Witt Talmage, D.
D., delivered a sermon, in which he
paid touching and timely tribute to
his late distinguished father. The text
was Kings xix, 20, "Let me, l pray
thee. kiss my father"
Affections most sacred form OF salu.
A.Stion is a kiss. We bow to an ac-
Quaintance, we shake hands with q
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 go 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 salutation 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 a 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 twen-
~ 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 a few words may be
welcome from his son. l speak as one
having authority. For over twenty
years / was his constant companion.
When he was at home, l 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 harhor beckon us into the
Narrows, welcome 70 US as was the
star of Bethlehem to the three astrolo-
a nP
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 a summons
to more strenuous service. Before
start forth anew for my life's work
would. with filial emotion. ash a mo-
ment for the tribute of personal af-
lection, as Elisha spake to Elijah in
reference to Shaphat: Let me. l pray
thee, kiss my father. Then ] will fol-
low thee"
An Original and Natural Man.
NV 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
at the nuptial altar, his marriage cere-
mcny was unique. 1t was impossible
to compare him to any one else. The
mold used for the formation of his
character was a special one. There
has never been made another like unto
1t 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 pulpit. on the street as
upon the lecture platform. He was tn,
same original and yet natural charac
Ter when writing to one Of his children
as he was when penning an article 70
the press. He uttered the messag
which was given to him as natural,
and yet with the dissimilarity tina
characterizes the notes of the birds o
the forest. AS the brown winged thrust
lifts his treble note when he is awaken
ed by the rising sun, as goldtincl
chirrups when hopping between tn
garden rows. as Baltimore oriol
sings when he swings backward an
forward upon the tree branch whic
overhangs the brook. each bird is melc
dious in it's own way, yet each singin
a different song. He was so natura
that he could not recognize his peculia
traits. One day he turned to me an
said: Frank, people say ] am differen
from other ministers; that / am differ
ent even in giving out my notices an
the reading of Scripture. Show me hoy
am different" When attempted
show him the difference. he innocent
remarked. why. l do not see anythin
peculiar about that" He was SO diffel
ent from other men that for man
years the American pulpit could ne
understand him. Under the Scrutini