ince
coming to Brooklyn, and how much of the difficult work of church
building that implies you can appreciate. This church had its mother
and its grandmother, and its great-grandmother. I could not tell the
story of disasters without telling the story of heroes and heroines,
and around me in all these years have stood men and women of whom
the world was not worthy. But for the most part the twenty-five
years have been to me a great happiness. With all good people here
present the wonder is, although they may not express it, 'What will
be the effect upon the pastor of this church; of all this scene?'
Only one effect, I assure you, and that an inspiration for better
work for God and humanity. And the question is already absorbing my
entire nature, 'What can I do to repay Brooklyn for this great
uprising?' Here is my hand and heart for a campaign of harder work
for God and righteousness than I have ever yet accomplished. I have
been told that sometimes in the Alps there are great avalanches
called down by a shepherd's voice. The pure white snows pile up
higher and higher like a great white throne, mountains of snow on
mountains of snow, and all this is so delicately and evenly poised
that the touch of a hand or the vibration of air caused by the human
voice will send down the avalanche into the valleys with
all-compassing and overwhelming power. Well, to-night I think that
the heavens above us are full of pure white blessings, mountains of
mercy on mountains of mercy, and it will not take much to bring down
the avalanche of benediction, and so I put up my right hand to reach
it and lift my voice, to start it. And now let the avalanche of
blessing come upon your bodies, your minds, your souls, your homes,
your churches, and your city. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from
everlasting to everlasting, and let the whole earth be filled with
His glory! Amen and Amen!"

On the next day, May 11, the reception was continued. Among the speakers
was the Hon. William M. Evarts, ex-Secretary of State, who, though
advanced in years, honoured us with his presence and an address. Senator
Walsh, of Georgia, spoke for the South; ex-Congressman Joseph C. Hendrix
of Brooklyn, Rev. Charles L. Thompson, Murat Halstead, Rev. Dr. I.J.
Lansing, General Tracey, were among the other speakers of the evening.

From St. Petersburg cam