The Christian Herald and Signs of Our Times, founded in England in the year 1878, was co-founded by Michael Baxter and Joseph Spurgeon. Michael Baxter is an Anglican priest and evangelist. The Herald has always combined apocalyptic fervor and social reform. It put a lot of emphasis on Jesus Christ’s imminent return and declared in its preface for its first U.S. Edition that it was its only goal to “keep alive” the expectation of Christ’s personal return. W.E. Blackstone was an American Christian Zionist evangelist. George Muller was an English evangelist. Both were major contributors of the magazine, who focused on prophecy about the end-times. The Herald’s apocalyptic views were instrumental to the Social Gospel Movement.
The Herald supported a group of New York clergy in 1879 who were committed to preaching sermons condemning the horrendous conditions of Lower East Side tenement homes, and raising awareness of the plight the poor. Rev. Talmage preached previously a series sermons in which he deplored landlords’ actions and expressed generosity and solidarity towards the poor. Several relief agencies, rescue missions and other organizations joined in the protest. Jeremiah McAuley took legal action to close down filthy housing that exploited the poor. He had just left the Lower East Side’s squalor, crime, and exploitation to become an evangelist. Clergy members protested the conditions in slums, while workers helped those living there. The workers provided food and fuel, cleaned filthy apartments, and helped evicted families find housing. The Herald editors would continue to align their magazine with many other movements.
The Herald had its origins in the United Kingdom. This was where it was very popular. New York was also home to a U.S. Edition. A religious magazine at the time had a US circulation of about 30,000. Klopsch and Michael Baxter met in England during Klopsch’s 1889 trip. Klopsch purchased the magazine in 1889 after several negotiations. The Herald’s readership increased to 250,000 under Klopsch. It is now the most read and influential religion magazine in the whole world. Klopsch had a destiny to reform, and his faith was the way he fulfilled his calling.
Louis Klopsch is a German who was born on 1852 in the vicinity of Berlin. His mother died a year after he was born from a lung infection. Next year, Osmar Klipsch, an impoverished physician, brought his young son with him to the United States to avoid prison by the German Government for his participation in the European revolutions of 1848. Louis, who was only two when he came to the United States, spent his entire life in New York. Mary Merritt, at age 34, was his wife. Together, the couple had four kids. Klopsch began his career as a journalist at Columbia University. He then went on to develop publishing and entrepreneurial skills in a number of different ventures. He created a devotional newspaper called Good Morning. Next, he launched the daily hotel reporter. He owned the Pictorial Associated Press which was one of the first newspapers to feature photographs. He syndicated his pastor and close friend Rev. Talmage. Talmage became the co-editor after Klopsch acquired the Herald. Talmage was already a contributor. Talmage first preached before Klopsch was a teenager. Talmage remained Klopsch’s confidante and mentor throughout his lifetime. Both men traveled around the globe, usually accompanied their wives. Due to the magazine’s photojournalism, and articles written by preachers like Talmage and Sprurgeon, its circulation continued to grow. Spurgeon, who is revered and respected by Christian conservatives as well as fundamentalists today, was in his heyday a known political progressive. Many articles and sermons published in the Herald reflect his antiwar and radical position. Spurgeon’s socially progressive and conservative theology struck a chord among Christians both on this side of Atlantic. Southern Baptists either severely edited or refused to print his sermons because he is a strong abolitionist.
Talmage played a key role in the Herald’s success. Talmage at the time was one of America’s most influential preachers. He also served as pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle at Brooklyn Academy of Music. Talmage was a social reformer with a strong interest in the poor, disenfranchised and his desire to effect social change. By the 1890s America was ready to receive a magazine called the Herald that combined apocalyptic fervor with evangelical fervor as well as a deep desire for reform. Tenement Movements were born in the decade, as was W.E.B. DuBois and Jane Addams. DuBois surveyed society. A new social consciousness emerged. Talmage was the editor of the Herald, which positioned it for greater success. He connected with the people, and especially the church, who were struggling to find a way to integrate gospel teachings into social issues. He wrote many articles dealing with issues that directly affected the poor.
