That experience at Frankfort was one of the many courtesies I have received from all the leading men of all the States.  I have known many of the Governors, and Legislatures, when I have looked in upon them, have adjourned to give me reception, a speech has always been called for, and then a general hand-shaking has followed.  It was markedly so with the Legislatures of Ohio and Missouri.  At Jefferson City, the capital of Missouri, both Houses of Legislature adjourned and met together in the Assembly Room, which was the larger place, and then the Governor introduced me for an address.

It is a satisfaction to be kindly treated by the prominent characters of your own time.  I confess to a feeling of pleasure when General Grant, at the Memorial Services at Greenwood—­I think the last public meeting he ever attended, and where I delivered the Memorial Address on Decoration Day—­said that he had read with interest everything that appeared connected with my name.  President Arthur, at the White House one day, told me the same thing.

Whenever by the mysterious laws of destiny I found myself in the cave of the winds of displeasure, there always came to me encouraging echoes from somewhere.  I find among my papers at this time a telegram from the Russian Ambassador in Washington, which illustrates this idea.

This message read as follows:—­

    “Washington, D.C., May 20, 1893.

    “To Rev. T. DeWitt Talmage, Bible House, New York.

“I would be very glad to see you on the 27th of May in Philadelphia on board the Russian flagship ‘Dimitry Donskoy’ at eleven o’clock, to tender to you in presence of our brilliant sailors and on Russian soil, a souvenir His Majesty the Emperor ordered me to give in his name to the American gentleman who visited Russia during the trying year 1892.

    “CANTACUZENE.”

Gladly I obeyed this request, and was presented, amid imperial ceremonies, with a magnificent solid gold tea service from the Emperor Alexander iii.  These were the sort of appreciative incidents so often happening in my life that infused my work with encouragements.

The months preceding the close of my ministry in Brooklyn developed a remarkable interest shown among those to whom my name had become a symbol of the Gospel message.  There was a universal, world-wide recognition of my work.  Many regretted my decision to leave the Brooklyn Tabernacle, some doubted that I actually intended to do so, others foretold a more brilliant future for me in the open trail of Gospel service they expected me to follow.

All this enthusiasm expressed by my friends of the world culminated in a celebration festival given in honour of the twenty-fifth anniversary of my pastorate in Brooklyn.  The movement spread all over the country and to Europe.  It was decided to make the occasion a sort of International reception, to be held in the Tabernacle on May 10 and 11, 1894.