da; San Francisco, California;
Louisville, Kentucky; Chicago, Illinois; New York City; Brooklyn, N.Y.
London had pledged me a larger edifice than Spurgeon's Tabernacle. All
these cities, in fact, promised to build big churches for me if I would
go there to preach.

The call which came to me from Washington was as follows:

"Rev. Dr. T. DeWitt Talmage--

"The congregation of the First Presbyterian Church, of Washington,
D.C., being on sufficient grounds well satisfied of the ministerial
qualifications of you, the Rev. Dr. T. DeWitt Talmage, and having
good hopes from our knowledge of your past eminent labours that your
ministrations in the Gospel will be profitable to our spiritual
interests, do earnestly, unanimously, harmoniously and heartily, not
one voice dissenting, call and desire you to undertake the office of
co-pastor in said congregation, promising you in the discharge of
your duty all proper support, encouragement and obedience in the
Lord. And that you may be free from worldly cares and avocations,
considering your well and wide-known ability and generosity, we do
not assume to specify any definite sum of money for your recompense,
but we do hereby promise, pledge and oblige ourselves, to pay to you
such sums of money and at such times as shall be mutually
satisfactory during the time of your being and remaining in the
relation to said church to which we do hereby call you."

On September 23, 1895, accompanying this call, I received the following
dispatch from Dr. Sunderland:

"T.D.W. Talmage, 1, South Oxford Street.

"Meeting unanimous and enthusiastic. Call extended, rising vote, all
on their feet in a flash. Call mailed special delivery.

"B. SUNDERLAND."

On September 26, 1895, I accepted the call in the following letter:

"The call signed by the elders, deacons, trustees, and members of
the congregation of the First Presbyterian Church of Washington is
before me. The statement contained in that call that you 'do
earnestly, unanimously, harmoniously and heartily, not one voice
dissenting,' desire me to become co-pastor in your great and
historical church has distinctly impressed me. With the same
heartiness I now declare my acceptance of the call. All of my
energies of body, mind, and soul shall be enlisted in your Christian
service. I will preach my first sermon Sabbath evenin