USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > Lives of the clergy of New York and Brooklyn: embracing two hundred biographies of eminent living men in all denominations. Also, the history of each sect and congregation, Pt. 2 > Part 22
USA > New York > New York City > Lives of the clergy of New York and Brooklyn: embracing two hundred biographies of eminent living men in all denominations. Also, the history of each sect and congregation, Pt. 2 > Part 22
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REV. T. DE WITT TALMAGE.
Mr. Talmage carly induced his congregation to consent to have a free church. He states that he is utterly opposed to the present sys- tem upon which most churches are conducted of high rents for the pews, and utter unconcern for the accommodation of those who cannot pay them. As a student of human nature, and as a believer in the influence of Christian teachings, he is confident that a church which is really free will thrive more abundantly on the voluntary offerings of God's people than by the method generally adopted. He thinks that one system appeals to the baser nature, while the other will develop generous and Christian impulses. Hence out of all the pews in the vast structure of the Central congregation not one is sold or rented. The men of wealth, or in moderate circumstances, and the poor, all have equal rights in pews, and the expenses of the church are borne by subscription, and the Sunday collections. Priority of application is the only rule regulating the selection, and a pew once taken can be held as long as the occupant desires it. This is in fact, an experiment of the free-pew system on the most extensive scale ever attempted.
Mr. Talmage has lectured throughout the country with great success, having been everywhere received by crowded audiences. Among his lectures may be named "The New Life of the Nation," " Grumblers," "Our New House," and "The Bright Side of Things." He is also a contributor to many of the periodicals. Exceedingly agreable sketches from his pen have appeared in the New York Weekly, Hearth and Home, Hours at Home, and in the New York Independent. He is the editor of a religious paper called the Christian at Work. He has published a volume of Sermons, and "One Thousand Gems, or Brilliant Passages, Anecdotes, and Inci- dents, etc.," edited by Professor Larabee.
Mr. Talmage is above the medium height, and well-proportioned. His frame is large, but he is naturally rather thin in flesh. His head is of the average size, with marked evidence of intellectual power. He has light eyes and a sandy complexion. Looking into his face, you are struck with its amiability and cheerfulness. In conversa- tion it is always bright with animation, and at all times is a perfect mirror of his emotions. ITis eyes are clear, tender, and observing, while his tone and manners are gentle and warm in the extreme. An invariable self-reliance, and calmness, and judgment in all his proceedings give him dignity and self-possession, but in these partic- ulars there is nothing affected or studied about him. IIe is plain
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REV. T. DE WITT TALMAGE.
and unostentatious in his appearance and bearing, and henee mingles freely with his fellow-men. His warmth of manners and his genial flow of conversation place even the stranger at onee on the most agreeable terms with him. In truth, his conversational powers are little less than fascinating. He is full of noble sentiments, poetry, and humor; he looks at life with his " eyes and ears wide open," and he diseusses both men and topies with comprehensiveness and origi- nality. He is never ashamed to show his feelings, and never afraid to declare his opinions. Independent, out-spoken, and yet generous, tender, and sympathetic, he presents in his own disposition the most manly and at the same time the most beautiful traits that ever adorn human character. In social life he is all vivaeity, all goodness, and all himself. Whether it be eccentricity, or whether it be simply a larger share of rich, exuberant animal spirits than most ministers possess, certain it is that the Rev. T. De Witt Talmage is more real and true to a genuine human nature in social life than any of his contemporaries. He seems to go down into his own heart for a gush- ing, abundant spring of fellowship and love, which washes out channels to every other heart. He follows no conventional rules, he is guided by no example, but, as we have stated, he is himself. This is not because he is indifferent to the force of these rules and ex- amples, but because he acts from a quiek, impulsive, and original nature of his own. When, in the glee and enthusiasm of the mno- ment, at a church festival, he exclaimed that he felt " like the morning star," it was not that his taste induced him to take his illustration from negro minstrelsy, but, aeting on the impulse of the moment, he humorously seized upon a popular saying to express the state of his own feelings. Men of stiff propriety and of starched dignity would not do or say many things that he does every day. With him, however, a free, honest, cheerful heart is much more cul- tivated, and it is given, impulsive and erratie as it often is, full influenee and control over his actions and sentiments.
As a preacher, he has even more striking peculiarities. He is an- original, terse, bold, and eloquent writer, and a fluent, impassioned speaker. He has the most complete command of language, which takes forms of expression which are not less new than graphic and impressive. His thought takes a wide range on every subjeet, and they are sudden in their changes from the solemn and sublime to the humorous and odd. At one time he will indulge in a strain of the most touching pathos, and then suddenly introduce some humorous
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and grotesque illustration that will almost set the audience in a roar. His language is chaste and beautiful in the expression of the more sentimental passages, and it is most pungent and overwhelming in criticism and denunciation. He has sarcasm, irony, and ridicule at his tongue's end, not less than words of exquisite poetic beauty and tenderness. All of this is so mingled together, and so altered in surprises, that his audience find themselves spell-bound by the nov- elty of style as well as the eloquence of the orator. His voice is powerful and flexible. He can in an instant change it from tones that ring out to the capacity of the largest building to accents that float in soft whispers to the ear. His gesticulation is somewhat mar- velous. There is not a sentence that he has not some gesture of the hand, the arms, the head, or the body to illustrate or enforce, and still it is all done with such appropriateness and gracefulness that it adds immensely to the effectiveness of his oratory. ITis face, too, has great mobility, and in the changing expressions of eye, mouth, and brow is a vivid accompaniment to his fervent words.
Many persons find it difficult to form a favorable opinion in re- gard to Mr. Talmage's merits as a preacher. His style is so eccentric and original that some consider it mere sensational trash in language, and buffoonery in action. But this is a harsh and unjust judgment. To be sure he puts language into unusual forns, and deals in the comic to a large degree ; but no preacher of the day can give a keener dissection of human motives, or make a more masterly and elo- quent Christian appeal. A half-hour of his earnest, original discus- sion will give you suggestions which will not leave you for many a day thereafter. As a man he is somewhat of an oddity ; but as a preacher, he is full of the spirit of God, and every talent and every purpose is devoted to the work for the regeneration of fallen man. If he makes you smile and weep in a breath, if he has simple sayings and whimsical ways, he is also a ripe scholar, a clear-headed philoso- pher, and a Christian orator. He has qualifications which enable him to reach and control the great popular heart, and his ministry is consequently one of most marked success.
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yours faithfully
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REV. WILLIAM M. TAYLOR, D. D.,
PASTOR OF TIIE TABERNACLE CONGREGA- TIONAL CHIURCII, NEW YORK.
EV. DR. WILLIAM M. TAYLOR was born at Kilmar- noch, Scotland, October 23d, 1829. He was graduated at the University of Glasgow in 1849, and at the theo- logical Hall of the United Presbyterian Church in Edinburgh in 1852. On the 14th of December of the same year he was licensed to preach, and on the 28th of June, 1853, he was first settled as a pastor at Kilmaurs, a small village of Ayr- shire county, Scotland. Here he remained two years until called to the Derby Road Church in Liverpool, England, October 23d, 1855. This was a missionary enterprise among the middle classes and skilled operators of the city, and from a inembership of thirty or forty, at the beginning of Dr. Taylor's pastorship, the church rose to a member- ship of six hundred, and a regular attendance of from eight to nine hundred. A new church edifice was erected at a cost of fifty thousand dollars.
In 1871 Dr. Taylor visited the United States, and for over two months filled the pulpit of the Pilgrim Church (Rev. Dr. Storr's), Brooklyn, as a supply. Crowds were drawn to hear him, and his preaching produced a profound impression. When the Rev. Dr Joseph P. Thompson, for twenty-six years pastor of the Tabernacle Congregational Church, New York, suddenly resigned by reason of the permanent failure of his health, it was determined to call Dr. Taylor to the vacancy, though he had never preached before the con- gregation. Dr. Thompson went abroad immediately, and bore with him the call to Dr. Taylor, which was duly accepted. Dr. Taylor shortly reached New York, and was installed pastor of the Taber- nacle Church, April 18th, 1872. He received from the Liverpool congregation, and the temperance and other reform organizations with which he was actively connected, many tokens, in gifts and addresses, of the most sincere admiration, and regret at the necessary
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REV. WILLIAM M. TAYLOR, D. D.
separation. In every sphere of religious and moral effort his sojourn of seventeen years in Liverpool had been characterized by the most gratifying results to the community.
The Broadway Tabernacle congregation had its origin in the first free church movement in New York, over forty years ago. About 1830 Lewis Tappan, and a few other persons, organized the earliest free church at the corner of Dey and Washington streets, Two years later they called to New York the Rev. Charles G. Finney, now of Oberlin College, but then a noted revival preacher. The Chatham Theatre was obtained for a place of worship, and a small colony went to it from the Dey street church. Mr. Finney preached during four years at the Theatre building, sometimes to audiences of twenty-five hundred people, and caused a great religious excitement. At length it was decided to build the edifice which took the name of the Broad- way Tabernacle, and was completed in 1836, at a cost, for ground and building, of sixty-six thousand dollars. The building was one hundred feet square, with a spacious gallery around the entire circuit, and would bold three thousand people. While the chief design was the extension of the free church plan, it was proposed also to provide suitable accommodation for the May anniversaries and other public meetings. From the number of important meetings held here during the twenty-one years of its existence, the building became famous throughout the whole country.
Mr. Finney and a colony from the Chatham Theatre first occupied it as the sixth free church of the city. It adopted the name and became mainly Congregational. In less than a year Mr. Finney left, and in 1838, a colony from the first church came in, and the Rev. Joel Parker became pastor. During two years the church was chiefly under Presbyterian rule. A heavy mortgage on the building was about to be foreclosed, when it was purchased by the late David Hale, a member of the congregation, and editor of the Journal of Commerce, for $34,363. At the last meeting held in the vestry July 7th, 1840, under Mr. Parker, a committee was appointed for the formation of a Congregational church, which was done under its present name. Mr. Hale gave the new church a most liberal lease, and the Rev. E. W. Andrews was settled as the first pastor in January, 1841. He was succeeded in April, 1845, by the Rev. Joseph P. Thompson, who so long was the efficient and popular pastor. The last religious services were held in the old Tabernacle on the 26th of April, 1857. A very eligible site, on the corner of Sixth avenue
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REV. WILLIAM M. TAYLOR, D. D.
and Thirty-fourth street, consisting of six lots, was purchased for $60,000, and a fine stone edifice, costing $100,000, was completed in 1859. The congregation at once became one of the strongest of the up-town religious bodies. In 1872 the building was remodeled and beautifully decorated at a cost of $40,000. There are about six hundred members, and every seat is rented. A large Sunday School is under the care of Caleb B. Knevals, Esq. In all their contributions for the support of public worship and benevolent objects, the congre- gation is not exceeded in liberality by any in New York.
Dr. Taylor was a contributor to one of the Scottish reviews for several years. IIe also published in 1862 a volume entitled "Life Truths ;" in 1865 two volumes on "The Miracles ; Helps to Faith Not Hindrances," and more recently "The Lost Found," a series of sermons on the fifteenth chapter of Luke. In July, 1872, he received the degree of D.D. from both Yale and Amherst colleges.
In personal appearance Dr. Taylor is a good type of the intellect- ual Scotchman. Of the medium height, he is of a compact, well-propor- tioned form, showing evidence of no little physical vigor. He has an active step, with a slightly inelined and swinging body as he hurries along. His head is large, gradually increasing in fullness from the broad massive mouth to the round high brow, which over- hangs the clear observing eyes. He has thick black hair and heavy whiskers. The face is one in which force of character, greatness of mind, and kindness of heart, are all displayed. It shows resolution and courage in the firmly compressed mouth, and grasp of thought in the noble brow, but not less of gentleness of heart in the kindly beaming eyes, and warm sunny smile. His manners are always courteous and fascinating, so that you are unconsciously drawn into intimate relations with him; but at the same time you never cease to feel that he is the impersonation of the giant forees which move and guide mankind. He is not wanting in dignity, but has an easy politeness and sociability with all, which quickly remove restraint. Talkative and cheerful, in social life he is alike popular with the old and young. In the wider scenes of his public duties, good feel- ing and earnestness of action always prevail.
Dr. Taylor has been a diligent student in the deeper studies of theology, as well as in more popular learning and literature, conse- quently his mind, of great natural freshness and quickness, is adorn- ed with a culture which enables him to deal with every question, not only in its most scholarly, but its most refined forms of thought and
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REV. WILLIAM M. TAYLOR, D. D.
expression. All his writings have a beauty and force of diction which charm the educated taste. His arguments have originality and penetration, while the language throughout is delicate, pure, and impassioned. Though a stern religionist, he is a man not without a love of the beautiful in nature and life. His heart and mind are always open to those impressions, and in his writings and conversa- tion his fancy often repeats them in graceful poetic imagery. A serious, earnest minister of the Gospel, his effort is to be exactly con- sistent in all the duties of his calling and faith, but fortunately he is a person moved by those impulses which harmonize his feelings with truth, humanity, and purity in all their phases. His writings there- fore, be they religious or whatever else, have all that the seeker for argument and scholarly depth may desire, with those exquisite touches of feeling to make them more beautiful and tender.
But without doubt the greatest power of Dr. Taylor is as the pulpit orator. He begins in a calm, self-possessed manner, stating his position in particularly clear and forcible language. His voice is full and pow- erful, but always completely under his control, and properly modu- lated to give effect to his utterances. As he goes on he becomes more absorbed in his feelings, he gesticulates a great deal, and frequently rises to bursts of strong emotion and thrilling eloquence. You are struck with the vigor and copiousness of the language, of the aptness and newness of the illustrations, and of the profound knowledge of the Scriptures and of the human heart. When he concludes, gen- erally with some glowing picture of religious fancy, or with some pathetic appeal to the feelings, you find yourself awakened from the spell which only matchless oratory can invoke.
We regard Dr. Taylor as a most valuable acquisition to the American pulpit. Ordained to preach the Gospel, he is doing it with his whole heart, and all the gifts which God has given him. Men are proud of him, and they are arrested in their heedless walks by his pious teachings and his bright example. Hence his pastor- ships are made memorable for fidelity to duty, and the number of those added to the household of the redeemed.
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REV. ELISHA E. L. TAYLOR, D. D.,
LATE PASTOR OF STRONG PLACE BAPTIST CIIURCHI, BROOKLYN.
EV. DR. ELISHA E. L. TAYLOR was born in the village of Delphi, Onondaga county, New York, Sept. 25th, 1815. His father, Richard Taylor, was the son of Judge Taylor, of Saratoga county, several of whose sons were distinguished in that county and elsewhere, in political circles and in service in the last war with Great Britain. Hon. John M. Taylor, of Balston Spa, who was State senator, lieutenant-governor, member of Congress for over twenty consecutive years, and Speaker of the House for two sessions, was one of the sons. The subject of our notice prepared for college principally at Hamilton, Madison county, and was graduated at Madison University, and at the Hamilton Theological Seminary, in the year 1839. He remained until the spring of 1840 a resident graduate, and then removed to Brooklyn, where all his ministerial life was spent. In May, 1840, he organized what is known as the Pierrepont street Baptist Church, and an edifice for worship was erected on the corner of Pierrepont and Clinton streets. This con- gregation increased rapidly from year to year. In the fall of 1848 a new society seemed earnestly called for in South Brooklyn, and Dr. Taylor was induced to accept the call of a colony from the old church, who went out with the cordial approval of the mother church to raise a new organization in that growing and important part of the city.
In 1849 worship was commenced in a new stone chapel in Strong place. A large and elegant main edifice of red free-stone, fronting on Degraw street, was erected during 1851-2, and dedicated Sep- tember 19th, 1852. For tastefulness, spaciousness, and convenience these buildings are unsurpassed in the whole country. The buildings alone cost over seventy thousand dollars, and the last of the debt
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REV. ELISHA E L. TAYLOR, D. D.
was paid in 1863. Up to the same period one thousand members had joined the church, and five hundred of the members were received and baptized on profession of their faith.
A few years since Dr. Taylor felt obliged, by ill health, to with- draw from the active ministry, and accordingly resigned. IIis con- gregation parted with him only with the greatest regret. The sum of twenty thousand dollars was presented to him.
During Dr. Taylor's pastorship we penned the following remarks concerning him, which show his habits at that time.
" Dr. Taylor is an carnest laborer in the field of the Lord. Mere preaching is a small part of his toils. His restless, untiring spirit will not allow him to keep aloof from any scheme or purpose which can possibly increase his flock and advance the interests of religion. He does not hide himself in his study, and leave all non-professional matters to his deacons and committeemen, but he goes abroad and puts his shoulder to the wheel with them, and, if they try to escape their duty, he pursues them 'where merchants most do congregate.' He is, in fact, a go-ahead, systematic, business-man, and one of the results is scen to-day in the somewhat rare circumstance of a church frec from debt. Hc watches everything and everybody, and he wishes everybody to watch him, and has drawn about him a class of people who are as thorough-going as himself. When the Strong Place congregation was organized, he took a colony of Baptists from other parts of the city, and created a population in the vicinity of the new sanctuary. All within a few years, a magnificent edifice has been built, one of the largest congregations in Brooklyn drawn to- gether, and the church clearcd from every cncumbrance. While much of this success has been occasioned by the talent of Dr. Taylor as a preacher, still he has done quite as much by his ability and per- severance in other branches of duty."
Dr. Taylor is now connected with the Baptist Union Rooms, as Secretary of the Church Extension Fund. His efforts are specially directed to the raising of money for the benefit of Baptist churches in the West. He is a very enthusiastic Baptist. ITis whole being seems constantly pervadcd with rejoicings in his faith, which is everything to him, while all others are as nothing. As may be sup- posed, his preaching is decidedly sectarian. "Rather," he said, on one occasion, "might my right arm be hewn from my body than that I should not stand baptized by immersion." The expounding of the Baptist faith, and the enlargement of the Baptist fold, arc to him the
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REV. ELISHA E. L. TAYLOR, D. D.
sum and substance of all earthly glory. In this work he is kindled with an ever-present, ever-controlling inspiration. To show his de- votion to his sect, it may be mentioned that he founded a library connected with his church, which consists of works on a great variety of subjects, but only those written by Baptists. He wishes to make apparent the extensive scope of the Baptist mind.
Dr. Taylor's sermons are extremely plain and practical. He is not much given to efforts of rhetoric or flights of fancy ; but he writes in bold, vigorous terms, discussing every point with peculiar thoroughness, and making sober logic his sole reliance. He has a full, harmonious voice, and exhibits much absorption in his subject, combine.l with an eloquent animation. In truth, Dr. Taylor is one of the most able, efficient, and popular of the Baptist clergy.
He received the degree of D. D. from Rochester University, in 1855. ITis publications consist of several sermons, and two or three public addresses, delivered on special occasions.
Dr. Taylor is under the average height, and slightly inclined to corpulency. His head is large, and set on his shoulders with a muscular neck. The face is broad and expressive, and the brow well developed. He is very courteous, while a person of decided opinions, and not backward in expressing them. He has a high sense of pro- priety in regard to everything he does, and is particularly rigid in the performance of all professional duties.
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REV. JESSE B. THOMAS,
PASTOR OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, BROOKLYN.
EV. JESSE B. THOMAS was born at Edwardsville, Madison county, Illinois, July 29th, 1832. His father was the late Judge Jesse B. Thomas, of the Supreme Court of that State. He was graduated at Kenyon Col- lege, Gambier, Ohio, in August, 1850, and commenced the study of the law. He was converted and became a member of the Baptist Church when not quite ten years of age. Theology had been also a favorite study with him, and in the autumn of 1852 he went to the Rochester Theological Seminary, a Baptist institu tion, with the intention of preparing regularly for the ministry Ill health obliged him to leave at the end of two months; and, re- turning after six months, spent principally in traveling, he was again compelled, for the same reason, to relinquish his studies. During this time, however, in 1853, he was licensed to preach. After leav- ing the Seminary he returned to Chicago, and was engaged in mer- cantile pursuits until the autumn of 1855. In the same year he was admitted to the bar in Chicago, where he practiced until October, 1862. He now became pastor of the Baptist Church, at Wakegan, Illinois, and thus continued until July, 1864, when he accepted a call to the Pierrepont Street Baptist Church, Brooklyn, an old and leading congregation. He entered upon his duties on the 1st of the succeeding September. Later, Mr. Thomas accepted calls to churches in San Francisco and Chicago. In 1873 he was invited to the pas- torship of the First Baptist Church of Brooklyn, which had formed a union with the Pierrepont street congregation. ITis official duties commenced on the first Sunday in January, 1874.
The First Baptist Church was organized with eleven members, and incorporated October 15th, 1823. Services were held for some time in District School House, No 1. A lot was purchased in Pearl street, between Concord and Nassau streets, for $4,000, and a house,
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