Interesting articles. Approx 3,300 words. So a long read....
Usual caveat - just because it's in a newspaper, doesn't mean that it is accurate or correct.
BUT what is interesting is HOW it is reported and WHAT is reported (and what is left out!) - and today we have historical hindsight.
This is really a 'thematic' follow-on from this thread: https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/5464807023050752/revealed-remarkable-activities-unusual-religious-sect
TBH the second part below with the jelly fish is probably the most interesting....
Even before the Brooklyn Taberacle was officially opened on Sunday 31 January 1909 - the WT was using it as part of their tag-line in newspaper columns

The Richmond Palladium and Sun-Telegram - Monday 4 January 1909, page 4 top
PLYMOUTH-BETHEL
PEOPLE'S PULPIT
BROOKLYN TABERNACLE
In this issue we commence a series of discourses under the caption, 'People's Pulpit. They are strictly unsectarian, and not intended to build up any one denomination at the expense of another. As Beecher and Talmage of the same 'City of Churches' were independent preachers who gave their time and strength to the moulding of public thought, 'with charity toward all and malice toward none.' so with Pastor Russell of the Brooklyn Tabernacle.
Pastor Russell's only fault (if fault it be) is his extreme Orthodoxy — his close adherence to the Bible as the inspired Word of God. But after all, if the Bible be not man's only chart and compass as respects God and the future, what have we? And if this be so perhaps it is impossible to give too earnest heed to its teachings. On one point Pastor Russell is quite emphatic, namely — he insists that it is inconsistent with reason to believe that all mankind, except the merest handful of 'saints.' were predestinated by God to eternal torment in fire, because of ignorance or unbelief. Ninety-nine of us out of every hundred reached that conclusion years ago; and it shook our faith in the Bible considerably. Pastor Russell, however, holds to the Bible tenaciously and claims to prove that on this point it has been misunderstood by many of its friends as well as by its foes. He has shown a few faulty translations, and offered preferable interpretations for some parables, and altogether he has thrown a new light on the Scriptures. His presentations of the Bible's teachings have certainly rescued many from unbelief.
Mr C T Smith, deceased, who was one of the editors of the Atlanta Constitution, paid Pastor Russell, a most pronounced compliment along this line in the following terms: "It is impossible to read his writings without loving the writer and pondering his wonderful solution of the great mysteries that have troubled us all our lives. There is hardly a family to be found that has not lost some loved one who died outside the Church — outside the plan of salvation, and, if Calvinism be true, outside of all hope and inside of eternal torment and despair. He makes no assertions that are not well sustained by the Scriptures. His argument is built up stone by stone, and upon every stone is a text, and it becomes a pyramid of God's love and mercy and wisdom. There is nothing in the Bible that the author denies or doubts, but there are many texts upon which he throws a flood of light that seems to uncover its meaning."
[sermon was printed below]
The Richmond Palladium and Sun-Telegram, Monday 25 January 1909, page 4 top
PLYMOUTH-BETHEL
PEOPLE'S PULPIT
BROOKLYN TABERNACLE
Pastor Russell of Brooklyn Tabernacle
The above is a very good portrait of Pastor Russell, who is perhaps the most widely known speaker on the American platform to-day, having spoken in nearly every large American city, as well as in many cities in Europe. Pastor Russell treats popular themes of vital importance to the thinking Christians of this our day of wonderful enlightenment. He is a stickler on the claim that the whole Bible is the inspired Word of God and has a peculiar facility in presenting Orthodox subjects in an attractive and interesting light. Brooklyn is to be congratulated on its reputation as "The City of Churches" and on its galaxy of pulpit lights, amongst whom are numbered as of the past, Beecher, Abbott and Talmage.
[sermon was printed below]
Notes:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Ward_Beecher
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyman_Abbott
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_De_Witt_Talmage
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Thursday 28 January 1909, front page - bottom half

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Thursday 28 January 1909, front page - bottom half
BETHEL TO BE REOPENED
Old Beecher Mission to Be Known as Brooklyn Tabernacle
First Services Will Be Held by Pastor Russell on Sunday Afternoon
Much interest is manifested in religious circles in the reopening of the famous old Plymouth-Bethel, at 17 Hicks Street, originally instituted by the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher. It was long known as one of the foremost missions in the country. It was closed about two years ago. This church building is to be now known as the Brooklyn Tabernacle and is being thoroughly refitted in every particular. The interior appointments of the large auditorium, situated on the second floor, will be especially tasty, bright and cheerful. An artistic arrangement of many Biblical texts on the large panels make an attractive feature. The pastor, C T Russell, will occupy the pulpit for the first time on Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock. His topic will be "Bethel: The House of God, the Gate of Heaven."
Last Sunday Mr Russell is reported to have addressed an audience of 4,600 in the Hippodrome at Cleveland, 0., and fully 600 were turned away at the doors not able to be accommodated. In his trip through England, Ireland and Scotland, last summer, he was everywhere accorded large hearings, and at Glasgow over 5,000 persons listened to him in one of the largest auditoriums. His sermons are already being published weekly in more than sixty newspapers throughout the United States.
The Brooklyn Tabernacle is to be undenominational.
Notes:
Definition: undenominational - not attached to any religious denomination
Definition: non-denominational - open or acceptable to people of any Christian denomination
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Saturday 30 January 1909, page 10 top
Advert for the reopening

next.... the reports on the reopening....