TALMAGE BURNED OUT. SECOND DESTRUCTION OF THE BROOKLYN TABERNACLE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 420, 16 November 1889, Page 4

TALMAGE BURNED OUT. SECOND DESTRUCTION OF THE BROOKLYN TABERNACLE.

The famous Brooklyn Tabernacle, of which Rev. T. De Wifcb Talmage, D.D., is pastor, Ims been for the second time in its history totally destroyed by fire. At 2.15 on October 13, a policeman discovered flames issuing fiom the small windows over the main enhance, and sent in an alarm. Soon atter the fiiemen arrived it became evident that the edifice was doomed. It burned like a tindev-box, and the tiremen, despairing of saving it, diiected their eftortb to the adjoining property. Many of the occupants of the neighbouring dwellings were already awake and the police proceeded to arouse those who were bleeping. Two buildings on the east side and two on the west side were destroyed, and a number of buildings across the street from the tabernacle were badly damaged. The residents of the neighbourhood were awakened and rubhed oat and an enormous crowd viewed the fire. In about an hour the Tabernacle was a complete wreck. The loss on the church, including the organ and furniture, is •¥150,000, covered by insurance. The loss on the adjacent buildings is perhaps $10,000 more. The origin of the fire is a mystery, but the theory is that during a thunderstorm lightning entered on the electric light wires and set fire no the building. The old Brooklyn Tabernacle was built for Pr. Talraage in 1870 and was of s>heet iron, All seats were free. Two years later it was destroyed by fire and from then until 1874, when the new building was erected, the congregation used the Academy of Music. The new edifice »vas over a mile east of Fulton Ferry in an unfashionable neighbourhood and had neither spire i:or bell. It was soini- circular in torm and had a seating capacity of 6,000, each sitting being worth #30, It was the largest Protebtaiit church in America.