Mrs. Eddy Mentioned Them October 23, 1954 Issue

Thomas DeWitt Talmage, 1832-1902

[Mentioned in Miscellaneous Writings, p. 117]

DeWitt Talmage was one of the greatest and most popular preachers of his day. Although he had been told in theological school that unless he changed his style, he would never get a call to a church, he persisted in being himself, and conventional, theological phrases were not natural to him. But his desire to reach men's hearts, his faith, his sunny nature, his fresh word pictures, won him listeners.

After three growing years with his first church, he was called to Syracuse, N. Y. Here his ability to make Christ real, to shed new light on the Bible, and to make religion vital began to attract attention. In his 30th year he was called to the Second Reformed Church of Philadelphia, Pa. His popularity in this large city gave him a new sense of responsibility. He determined to extend his knowledge and observation and to weigh his own actions. Previously he had enjoyed smoking, but on receiving a box of cigars from a church member, he asked himself if he should not put example above enjoyment. His decision was to return the gift with the comment, "I have stopped smoking —quit today. T. DW. T."

In 1869 he accepted a call from Central Church, Brooklyn, N.Y. The membership of this large church had dwindled to 17. Within a few weeks Talmage was preaching to crowds, and within a year plans were adopted for a new Tabernacle seating 3000 and introducing a free-seat system. His first sermon in the new edifice had for its text "Compel them to come" and began, "Religion is a joyous thing." During his 25 years in Brooklyn, 2 more churches were erected, each larger than the other —the last seating 6000. His sermons, which were syndicated in 3000 newspapers and translated into many languages, extended his gospel of a joyous, everyday religion and brought him invitations to preach from many parts of the globe. Meanwhile he had become editor of The Christian Herald. In 1900, he resigned from pastoral work to give more time to his preaching and editorial work.

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Signs of the Times
October 23, 1954
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