The Butler Weekly Times Newspaper, February 26, 1890, Page 6

“IS TALMAGE A HUMBUG” A Suecession of Charges Tending ‘to Prove That Hels. His Morbed Loye of ,Notoriety—How He Raised Money tor His Church— His Adventures in the Holy Land—A ‘Thrifty Parson, and a Shrewd Spec- ulator. The New York Sun of Sunday, under the heading, “Is Talmage a Humbug?” contains a vigorous are raignment of the famous Brooklyn preacher. In many respects, says the Sun, Talmage may be described as one of the most remarkable and puzzling products of modern civili- zation. Comparisons with him are impossible. He takes rank at once as one of a new species of the genus homo. If he be but mentioned with the great orators or the giant intellects of the age, he sinks into an insignificance that is pitiable, and yet for years more men and women have eagerly sought his words than have paid heed to any public teach. er ofthis or any other generation. The solution of the mystery is found in the man himself. The church to which he came was broken down and hopelessly disintegrated. He put new life into it, and drew a crowd almost from the start. He got the crowd by much the same methods that a dime museum man- ager uses. He realized that the sit- uation was desperate, and he adopt- ed desperate measures. He seems to have deliberately determined to reach fame by the ladder of notor- iety. He made of himself a pulpit mountebank. No clawn in the cir- cus ring could have been more ine genious than Talmage in treating the audience to fresh acrobatic sur- prises. One Sunday morning when the time came to deliver his sermon, he walked to the extreme edge on one side of his great fifty foot plat- form, faced about, and suddenly started as fast as he could jump for the opposite side. His coat tails flew out behind him, his long arms threshed the air like windmills, his legs, with trousers above his ankle, worked like the crank attached to a steamer’s walking beam. Just as everybody, breathless, expected to see him pitch headlong from the further side of the platform, he leaped suddenly into the air and came dowr with a crash, shouting: “Young man, you are rushing toward a precipice.” And he proceeded to deliver a rattling sermon on the sins and temptations of a youth ina big city. Talmage is a pastor only in name. His neglect of pastoral duties in Brooklyn is notorious, and many in- stances might be cited wherein his wilful and often cruel failure to per- form the pastoral duties which ev- ery clergyman recognizes as due to the humblest member of his flock have caused poignant grief and anx- iety. It is no uncommon thing for him to fail to keep an appointment at which he is expected to officiate. This has come to be so well under stood that many dare not arrange with him for such a ceremony unless they are people of such position and influence that they know the Taber- nacle preacher will scarcely dare to ignore his engagement in case he should feel disinclined to go out when the time arrived. A young man, a sincore admirer of Dr. Talmage, and a son of an humble but earnest worker in the Tabernacle church died quite sud- denly. His grief stricken father be- sought his pastor to conduct the fu- neral of his son and Talmage prom- ised to do so. The services were to be held at 1 o'clock one afternoon at the home of the bereaved family. At 11 o'clock of that day Talmage sent word to the house that he “eouldn’t come.” The mourners be- ganahalf distracted search for a clergyman. Talmage started to the Holy Land just after his church had been burned and when his con- gregation was struggling with the most perplexing problem they could have encountered——how to build a new church with out money. But the pastor contented himself be fore his departure by resorting to the most audacious plan for raising money that ever was attempted in the name of a Christian congrega- tion.SeFirst he issued a broadcast appeal to Christendom to come and help a poor stuggling congregation of only 5,000 or 6,000 members and with an impoverished $12,000 pastor to build a church to shelter them. Somehow, Christendom didn’t tum- ble over itself in responding to the invitation. Then came Talmage’s brilliant coup d’etat. He sat down at his desk one day, when the time for his departure was drawing near, and wrote a series of pathetic per- sonal letters to certain wealthy citi- izens of western states. He was careful to pick out men who had big bank accounts and who had suffered some great family bereavement. It made no difference whether they were personally known to him; that was not necessary to the doc- tor’s purpose. To each of these men of dollars and grief stricken hearts Talmage made this cool prop- osition: Send me $100,000 in cash to rebuild the Tabernacle, and I'll christen the new building as a me- morial of your dead son, or daugh- ter, or wife as the case may be. One or two recipients of this cold blooded proposition were so indig- nant that they were not satisfied with writing to Dr. Talmage what they thought about him, and the facts, some of them became public- ly known. That Dr. Talmage is the most suc- cessful money getter of any man in his profession is generally admitted His income is from four sources— his pulpit (church salary), his pub- lished sermons; his lectures and his interest and dividend account. The most reliable estimate of his gross income makes it $40,000 annually. He is a good business man and his investments are generally safe and profitable. Much of his money is in mortgages on Brooklyn real es- tate. His total possessions, all ac- cumulated by his own industry and shrewdness since he became pastor of the Tabernacle church amount to little if any less than $500,000 in value. All his money has been made since he was 40 years old and he is not yet 60. The price paid Dr. Talmage by American Press Association for the exclusive advance use of Sthe manu- script of his sermons is at the rate of nearly $12,000 per annum. But that by no means expresses his full income from the publication of his sermons. Soon after his sermons became popular among American papers, a weekly religious paper published in England, sought to use the manuscript of his sermons ex- clusively in that country. A bar- gain was promptly closed by the doctor. Before long other English papers endeavored to get the same privileges. Dr. Talmage never neg- lects an opportunity to secure great- er publicity for himself and his ser- mons, and he promptly cancelled his first contract and arranged that discourses might go to as many pa- pers in the old country as might be willing to pay for them. The Eng- lish syndicate is now quite a large one, and the net revenue from this source, added to the handsome price paid by the American Press as- sociation, makes Dr. Talmage’s in- come from his sermons before they are delivered, greater than his sala- ry from the Tabernacle. Besides this there comes to him a good round sum every year from the prof- its on the sale of sermons in book form. Talmage’s trip to the Holy Land, which has attracted attention to him all over America and Europe on ae- count of the methods skillfully em- ployed to advertise his movements, was made for the announced pur- pose of collecting material for use in writing the life of Christ upon which he is at work. Talmage ex- pects by means of this book to lift himself from notoriety into fame. That his book will be eagerly read, and that it will be financial success, the clever advertising methods al- ready used make certain. The trip to Palestine is said to have been suggested by the publishers of the work, who paid all the expenses of the tour. No doubt the outlay will prove a wise investment. Before he left America Talmage Prepared a series of sermons, one for each Sunday during his absence, which he arranged should be sent out to 500 newspapers from week to week, and should be printed as having been delivered in the most prominent spot near which his itin- erary indicated he should be on the respective Sundays of his journey. Furthermore, it was arranged that the papers should print these ser- mens under date of the various places where they were supposed to be delivered, and that they should appear as cabled reports. What more hideously impious thing can there be than this? Go- ing on a pilgrimage to the land where the feet of Christ himself had trod, a preacher of His gospel delib- erately plots a needless deception upon thousands. They were less profane who raised the cross itself, for they believed not. Into Jerusa- lem and the presence of Calvary it- self was the fraud carried. Hun- dreds of newspapers proclaimed the news that cable had brought, that Talmage ‘‘preached to-day the fol lowing sermon on Mars Hill.” There was great provocation for the sacre ligious remark of a Brooklyn man when he read the headlines in a morning paper: “What a lucky thing it was for Paul, that he got there first!” How many of these “cabled” ser- mons were really delivered, nobody knows except Talmage and those in his party. It would be interesting to know, for instance, in what church in London this sermon was preach- ed. No mention was made of it in the “faked introduction of the dis- patch The first extraordinary exploit of which we have authentic account af- ter Talmage reached the Holy Land was his attempt to buy Calvary for spot cash. Grievous must have been the disappointment of this most en- terprising of American clergymen. Had he succeeded at any price, how cheap would have been the immor- tal fame thus purchased! The name of Talmage would be forever linked with the scene of what is most vital in the faith of Christian world. Solong as the Bible re- mained, so long as the early pilgrim. age of the humble Nazarene contin- ued to be the best guide of the lives of men, even until then would suc- ceeding generations of Christians haye acknowledged a debt of grati- tude to this American preacher of the nineteenth century. But the great boon was snatched from him as he thought he was about to grasp it, and the modern pilgrim went on his tracing of the Master's footsteps he professes to serve. He failed to buy Calvary, but he succeeded in purloining a “reddish rock,” which he rolled down the hills, loaded up- onacamel, and brought home to make the corner stone of his new church. He came eventually to the River Jordan. Its sacred associations could not fail to impress even an unbeliever in the Holy Writ. Tal- mage says there came to nim there a request that he as a minister of the gospel should administer the same holy rite of baptism to one of his countrymen. What more sa- credly impressive scene can be im- agined than this? A traveler from a distant land, with heart touched by the story, and the scene of the saviour’s consecration, begs a man of God of his own country to conse- crate him to his new allegiance. This is what Talmage says happen- ed. “At Jericho I met an American, whose name I have forgotten, who asked me to baptise him in the river Jordan. So one Sunday morning, when the sun shone gloriously bright, we assembled on the banks of the greatriver. I was clad in the white robes cf an arab sheikh, with a small crowd of interested people about me, some of whom were Americans. We sang together, ‘On Jordan’s Stormy Bank I Stand,’ which my daughter had copied from a hymn book and distributed. After this the rite of immersion was performed and we disbanded.” But what are the facts? The sto- ry has been told all over Brooklyn, and has already been in print, that the man baptized by Talmage in the Jordan, was a dirty native tramp. Recognizing the striking dramatic power of such an incident, it is said Talmage siezed upon a poor wretch on the bank, dragged him in and soused him under. What greater profannition of sacred history and of holy ground could there be? Talmage’s congregation has been called the ~Tabernacle Rabble.” One day the Eagle came to the de- fense of the “Tabernacle rabble” in an able editorial, which was 2s sug- gestive asa man’s defence of his wife. That Dr. Talmage’s congre- gation should need defending against any such insinuations as had been made is a suggestion which is received in Brooklyn with loftiest disdain. And really the crowds which laugh at the witicisms in his sermons every Sunday don't deserve the cruel imputations made against them by some of the aristocrats on the hill. The only difference be tween Talmage’s congregation and that at any other Brooklyn church is that a certain portion of them go to hear Talmage for the same reason that they go to the theater and in all probability would not go to church at all if they did not go to the Tabernacle. Grouning together the strange and antagonistic characteristics of this modern teacher of men. there is presented a difficult prob- lem. The question inevetably amounts to this: Is Talmage a humbug? The indictment constant- ly brought against him wherever he is known contains a fatal charge of issincerity and selfishness. That the latter count in the indictment is true there is no doubt. That the former is well founded the charac- ter of his influence, aside from any direct evidence, seems to show. Al though he uses evangelist methods and speaks to multitudes, he does not rank in the religious world as a saver of souls. He utterly fails to touch the hearts of his hearers. And yet he possesses in abundant measure the rarest gifts given to}? leaders of men—a keen insight into the human nature of his day. Add to his power to attract, the power to convince, and there would stand a man such as the world has not seen in this generation. Almost irresist- ibly is the conclusion foreed that there is needed only the element of SJACOBS oll LUMBAGO—LAME BACK. —sauno— NI SnNiIoc "SNUNG ONY SaAsinug “80}0}S POPUP OYY JO B40UED s0;6eU80g-x9 ‘omivudS ‘WOILVIOS ‘VID IVUNAN ‘WSILVANAHY wlO sqoonp "15 Burssoput ut anouoo J,, aaoyo onqnd poysin3unsip e jo ydvadoyne pue juouw "A1LLOG AUZAZ NI aund Vv -assoput pauio(qns ay} paqiosqns st ‘19 sqoous "yg 4q Ofequiny jo pasns uewapyuad v jo jeruownsay ay3 OL Sold ty Druggists and Dealers Everywhere. {HE CHARLES A. VOGELER CO - Baltimore, Md. 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Moss is not a resident of the state of Missouri: Where- upon it is ordered by the court that said de- fendant be notified by publication that plain- tiff has commenced a suit against her in this court, by petition and affidavit the general na- ture and object ef which is to obtain a decree | ; of divorce from the bonds of matrimony here- totore contracted and entered into by and be- tween plaintiff and defendant, upon the ground of the desertion and abandonment of plaintiff by defendant, without any cause, excuse or provocation,and that unless the said Cora Adell Moss be and appear at this court, at the next term thereof, to be begun and holden at the court house in the city of Butler in said county on the 2nd day of June next, and on or before humble sincerity to make of Tal- mage the greatest religious power of his age. Hibbards Rheumatic and Liver Pills These pills are scientifically com pounded and uniform in action. No griping pains so comonly tollowing the use of pills. 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Pyle, Agent Georgia is moving for an increase of population The state proposes to do everything possible to attract attention of emigrants. Pastuer, the celebrated Paris phy- sician, isin poor health. The non- professional’s ever ready prescrip- tion is: “Physician heal thyself.” AT COST AT COST My entire stock of Dry Goods must go at cost, as I have deter- mined to quit business on account of health, therefore, now is your time to get BARGAINS IN. DRY GOODS NOTIONS, HATS, CAPS, Clothing and Undewear this is no “Sham” sale to reduce the stock, but is a genuine clasing out to quit business. Come and see me and buy your dry goods cheaper — you ever bought them in your fe. AARON HART South-west Come - - + Square. the third day of said term, ifthe term shall so long continue—and if not, then on or before the last day of said term—auswer or plead to the petition in said cause, the same will be taken as confessed and judgment will be ren- dered accordingly. And be it further ordered that a copy hereof be published, according to law, in the BuTLer WEEKLY Tikes, a weekly newspaper printed and published in Bates county, Missouri, for four wecks successively, the last insertion to be at least fifteen days before the first day of the next term of the circuit court A true copy of the record ~— Witness my hand and the seal of the cA ? circuit court of Bates county, this Jth &¢ day of February, 18). JOHN © HAYES, Circuit Clerk. Sheriff’s Sale. virtue and authority of two general tions and one special execution is- d from the office of the clerk of the tes county, Missouri, re- bruary term, 1590, of said ed one in favor of D. H. »and against Daniel C. avor of Kimber L. Bar- Bi ton, William Barton and George A Barton and against Daniel ©. Barrett, and one in fa- vor of E. A. Bennett and against Daniel C. Barrett, {£ have levied and upon all right, of the said defendant of, in and to the follow- ing described real estate situated in Bates county, Missouri, to wit: The southeast quarter of the southeast quar- uar- ter of the northeast quarter of section nine (9) and the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section nine (9) and the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section nine (9) and the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section three (3) and the north halfofthe northwest quarter of section ten (10) and the south haif of the southwest quarter of section three (3) and the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section nine (9) allin township forty-one (41) range thirty-three (33) in Baves county, Missouri, I ter of section four (4) and the northeast will, on Thursday, February 20th, 1890, between the hours of nine o’clock in the fore- noon and five o’clock in the afternoon of that day, atthe east front door of the court house in the city of Butler. 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