The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-09-12 00:00:00

MR. SPURGEON'S COLLEGE.

In London, on Tuesday evening, a portion of the
congregation belonging to the Metropolitan Tabernacle,
Newington Butts, took tea together in the large room
under the Tabernacle, and afterwards assembled in the
Lecture-hall of the Pastor's College, closely adjoin-
ing, and which has recently been erected, when
they were addressed by the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon
and several other ministers. The Collage connected
with the Tabernacle was established in 1856, com-
mencing with one student, but the number of stu-
dents soon increased largely, and since that time
upwards of 300 have left the institution, having gone
through the prescribed course of instruction, and are
now mostly pastors of Baptist congregations, princi-
pally in this country, but some portion of them in the
United States. The average number of students in
the college at one time is 75; and their stay in it is
generally two, but in some cases three years. The
class-rooms were under the Tabernacle, and as they
were damp and ill ventilated, the need of new college
buildings has long been felt. The foundation stone of
the present building was laid by Mr. Spurgeon on the
11th October, 1873. The cost, including the site, has
been a little over £14,000, about £12,000 of which has
already been received, leaving about £2,000 still to be
raised. In order to raise this sum it was determined
to appeal to She congregation, and as the most conve-
nient course to invite them in sections to tea, and
then to receive their subscriptions. The gathering on
Tuesday evening was in pursuance of this plan, the
section invited being those who sit in the area. After
singing and prayer,

The Rev. C. H. Spurgeon, who presided, said this
was not an official opening of the building, nor had
they invited the outside public to be present, but only
a section of the congregation. He had never sat at the
receipt of custom with greater happiness than he had
that evening. There WM no pressure, but everybcdy
gave as they liked. They had gone over the building,
and he hoped they were satisfied with the way in
which he had spent their money. He was the respon-
sible person. He did not divide the responsibility
with say committee, for his experience was that one
man might commit mistakes, but six men committed
six times as many. There bad been mistakes made, 1
and he could see some of them, but there was no mis-
take in erecting the building, for if any of them had
been down in their cellar below stairs they would have
found it something dreadful. During the summer
the lower part of the Tabernacle was all very
well. It was cool and well fitted for the storing
of ice, but in the autumn and winter they were obliged
to have the gas lit, and at one end there was a large
tire, but at the other end it was cold. Then in order
to get some ventilation they were obliged to open some
of the windows, and the draught was enough to cut
their heads off. The place was not fitted for study,
and it injuriously affected the health. He saw the
evil, but did not say much about it, but he resorted to
what he considered the proper plan for getting money,
namely, asking God for it. He did not ask the con-
gregation; and he did not think he mentioned it te any
one, except the few who gave the money, till he got
1.11,000. One woman wished to give a sum as a suitable
memorial to her husband, and she gave 1:3,000 for the
college. In other instances friends would have left
money to him personally, but as he could not wear
more clothes or eat more food than he was
already able to get, he did not want any one to give
him any money; and he t ild them that if they wished
to give any money to a good cause, they could
give it to the college, and they did so. Then he re-
ceived about £l,OOO from members of the Church, and
£61.5 interest of money since he began the work- Then,
from Baptist ministers who had been students of the
college he had received £l,lOO up to this date, for
which he felt very grateful. In all, he had received
£12,500, and he wanted about £1:2,000 more—a little
less since they had been there that night. As he had
already explained, the legacy of £.5,000 which had
been loft was sot available foe this work. The