Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-07-21
THE GREAT PREACHERS OF LONDON-SPUR-
GEON, BINNEY AND FUNSTON.

| l have reached London, and heard Mr. Spurreon
These two facts mentioned together not as ne
cessary sequence, the to the other nor even rs
an indispensable attendant, one upon the other but
as at least very desirable one. Arriving late last
Saturday evening the necessary instructions were
eagerly sought to enable me to pilot nv wav to the
| Surrey Gardens, wherein stands SPLENDID must
cal hail, capable of holding ten thousand persons
Being too late to secure ticket the day before you
must make an early start, TO be near the en-
trance when it is opened to the untickeed crowd As
far back from the Gardens London Bridge a steady
current of people, generally grave and serious in
demeanor, gives the assurance that you are on the
right road.
As you near the Gardens, it becomes stream of
people, and they approach the place. the attraction
seems to get stronger, aud they start in a tro and
then IN run-young men aud young women, boys
and girls, are seen now in a very fast walk or run
all bending in one direction He proceeds announ-
cling his division, first; who saves them? Secondly
who is 1t that is saved? Thirdly, why are they
saved FOurthly, what difficulty is understood as
removed in the word 'nevertheless!" His dis
course is as simple may be; but throughout it the
same striking action. He gestures chiefly with the
left hand, the hand closed, all but his forefnger
Generally he passes his right hand under his left
arm keeping it there while using the left
While he speaks not breath is heard, and at the
close of every division the audience cough or re-
adjust themselves at ease before he re-commences
He is bold in his enumeration of sin, and holds up
the cross throughout As he closes, he cries: Iet
us send up glad, hearty note of praise to God
praise God from whom all blessings flow" all sing
and you will leave the house with a thankful and |
improved heart Mr.. Sturgeon is a remarkable |
instance of the power of voice and action. His SER
MONS IN composition, are surpassed by several |
hundred ministers every Sunday in the very city in
which he now breaches; but while many of them fail
to get tolerable congregation, no house can be |
found large enough to accommodate his audience.
At night attended the independence Chapel
served by the Rev. Mr. Binney, who is Justly re-
garded as one ofthe ablest preachers of the worlds
metropolis. He had a large audience, his spacious
chapel being filed, and one cannot help won derng
II any one Of his audience could ever forget such
discourse. His text was John ii, Is, Is, and l6
verses. his he never coulI eimitated
without any of what sometimes called charms of
oratory, he enchanted his audience for an hour and
half 1t was profound, logical and heart-search-
ing discourse In the course of his sermon he gave
a most lucid explanation of the entire freedom of
the will and the universally of atonement.
But this page is almost full and not a word has
been written about Mr.. Punshon (Wesleyman) whose
lecture last night in Exeter Hail. to about four thou
sand hearers, called forth the enthusiasm ofhis
audience. Do not be alarmed at the rapid consump-
ion of superlatiyes, evident in these pages. What
s one to do when in London, and favored to hear
III the great men of the world? To dispense with
uperlatiye will be to put the pulpit of London on
evel with the rest of the world which it is not that
s, in the cases referred to- The subject of Mr. Pun
hons lecture John Bunyan, apparently the
cry subject to call out his genius. For two hours
ne stream of elOquence flowed from his lips.
Chaste, classical, powerful, he hurried along
curing forth perfect torrent of beautiful SMILES
old figures and SPLENDID climaxes. lie reminds
on of Bishop BascOmb, in the rapidity with which
e speaks, but his action is very different. most
elightful feature in his lecture was an earnest
nd powerful appeal to the young on the subject of
ehgion. AT its close one profound shout of admit
ltion broke from the listening thousands, and for
veral minutes after the speaker sat down the cheers
nd waving of hats and handkerchefs testified the j
imiratiOn of all.-CharIeston 4 dUocats Of