A rare recording of a recitation, performed by William F. Hooley,
of a speech given by the famous preacher Thomas Talmage on "Infidelity".
Talmage on "Infidelity"
Company
Edison's National Phonograph Company
Cylinder #
3827
Category
Recitation
Title
Talmage on "Infidelity"
Performed by
William F. Hooley
Circa
1898-1899
Announcement
"Talmage on 'Infidelity'."
Edison's orator "of record" William F. Hooley records a fine example of the formal style,
language and content of 19th century American celebrity Bible preaching:
reciting a speech by Dr. Thomas De Witt Talmage on the topic of "infidelity" (to Christianity).
Talmage's talk was likely in response to – or in anticipation of – an opposing speech
by the renowned atheist Robert G. Ingersoll.
According to the Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia (courtesy of Infoplease.com) Thomas De Witt Talmage (1832-1902) was an
American Presbyterian clergyman, b. near Bound Brook, N.J.,
grad. New Brunswick Theological Seminary (1856).
His work in Brooklyn, N.Y., began in 1869 in the Central Presbyterian Church.
The Tabernacle, built in 1870 to accommodate the great audiences attracted by his
sensational style of preaching, was burned in 1872, as were two other large buildings
erected by his congregation during the next 20 years.
Between 1873 and 1902 Talmage edited in turn the Christian at Work, the Advance,
Frank Leslie's Sunday Magazine, and the Christian Herald.
He made popular lecture tours in the United States and England.
