Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1902-04-25
copyright. 1900. by Louis Klopsch.l


who breaches the gospel every week to
20.000,0C0, but one man who thinks in
pictures and paints with large brush
in colors that burn and glow, and the
nations gather around his pictures and
feel an uplift and holy thrill,,. This
was said by a 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 a little farm
in the New Jersey village of Bound
Brook, the youngest son of 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 70 China as n missionary and
won renown there. Another became a
minister. and De Witt. the youngest OF
all, chose the profession of the law.
<AlG(i Will ITOlil Tie
University OF the City of New York he
spent a year in special studies. But his
parents never ceased TO hope that he
might become n 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 lie set the laws of pull
pit oratory at defiance and with bold
originality spoke the thing that was i'm
him in current pbraseology 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 uncon-
vendonai language and. illustrated by
figures and events of the ordinary
daily life
HIS FIRST RAsToRATE.
At the conclusion ofrhis' theological
course he received an Invitation from
church ct BeIlevilIe, y. J.. to be
come fits pastor. He accepted IL and
spent three years in that quiet town.
he was fond OF relating an incident OF
that early time which TO the last oc,u-
pied a grateful place in his memory.
De was promised stipend OF $500 q
year. which seemed 10 him magnif-
cent income. But be was fresh from
college. With 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 larder bare, the bospitable homes
or his people were open TO him. There
was parsonage attached to- the
church. but 1t was as bare of furniture
as his pocketbook was OF money. A
Few or bis parishioners suspected the
condition OF his finances, and one day
they suggested that he take weeks
vacation On his, return one OF his
church officers handed. him the key OF
the parsonage. He entered and 10 his
amazement found II carpeted and cozi-
~ furnished from basement to garrett.
In the cellar was a stock or coal. and
the pantry was filled with provisions.
Even the kitchen stove contained n
nre,- ready laid. "'All | had TO do in
beginning housekeeping" said DIR. Tai
mage in telling the incident. was TO
strike match" Thistwas one OF his
earliest CLEANS OF ministers sun
shine"
Belleville. however. could not retain
him long. Other churches offered a
wider sphere OF labor, and at the end
. OF his third year he accepted call TO
church at Syracuse, n. Y. There his
powers became more widely known.
aud invitations to more prominent put.
pitspoured in upon him. In 1862 a call
came from the Second Reformed
church OF Philadelphia, giving him the
opportunity OF reaching the people or a
great city. he accepted II, and his
vivid, dramatic address, his anecdotal
ahuence and his fresh and pertinent
Illustrations took the people by storm
Ills brilliant vocabulary and the su.
peru imagery that marked all his ad.
dresses were revelation. 1t was pull
pit oratory redeemed and sublimated.
This sudden popularity might have
spoiled some men. but young Talmage
Kept n close watch on himself. 1t gave
MIN sense OF enlarged responsibility,
and he became even more. careful not
only In the preparation, of his sermons.
but In his general conduct
HIS LAST CIGAR.
at the beginning OF bis Philadelphia
pastorate a characteristic incident &C.
CURED. Dr.. Talmage at that time was
a smoker. A member Of his ccngrega-
ton. tobacco merchant, called on him
In his study. and. detecting the odor of
tobacco, he casually remarked on ieay-
Ing that he would like to have the
pleasure OF sending the doctor some
choice cigars. Nexteday the preacher
found on his study table a box filed
with fragrant Havanas. and on the top
OF the cigars was the card OF the send.
er. Inscribed. with compliments" He
took out a cigar. looked at 1t, turned IL
around between his thumb and singer
and soliioQuized, 'Shall l smoke and
enjoy these and thus very likely impair
my Influence with this man and his
friends and my congregation in gener-
al. or shall put influence and example
hrstT He laid the cigar back in the
box. closed it with snap and returned
1t to the sender with this note:
My Dear sir-I have stopped smoking
quit today. II. ID. w n
The sudden resolution, acted out in
the spur of the moment, was typical OF
his whole life.
In 1860, seven years after his settle
mept IN Philadelphia, DR.. Talmage re-
ceived simultapeous calls to Chicago,
Brooklyn and San Francisco. Their
demands spurred him TO still higher 'ef-
fort. He chose Brooklyn, as he believed
that city needed him most. The call
bore only seventeen signatures. but il
was unanimous, for there were but sey-
enteen members in the church. They
had large building, but the pews
were mostly empty, and though 1t
stood among teeming population the
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