Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-07-28
a Near VI,,. or spaEgeon.

- tNe9H NV -
The following graphic portrait Of the world
renowned spurseon, which We fad in our east
efn exchanges, viii Ii found highly eutertain'
ing and worthy ola aretul perusaI
I0xDoS, June %, 1883
No preacher in Epgaud, since Edward Irving,
has hsd such popularity Gs Ne. Spurgeon.--
He Is one Of the lions q London rather young
ion, to be sore; but ,ne who, since bis appear
ance in the field has pared so loudly as To make
the nation hear-agd every stranger who wish
Is to "dOr the sight Of this Babylon, must for
once, at least, see aHi hear him Accordingly
We setapagI our first sabbath to this purpose. -
We arrived before the gates were opened, but
found The crowd already beginning to collect
had letter to III. Spurgeon which gave TO
one Of the officers Of the church, who immedi-
atey admitted US and invited Us TO sit on the
platform, but We preferred seat in the front OF
the side gallery, from which We could overlook
the audience, which was almost as much q mat
ter Of curiosity as the preacher, Soon we knew
that the gates were opened By the hurrying Of
those who had tickets to secure good places II
ras interesting to see the audience assembling
to mark the hurried step and eager lool: OF
the multitude,
Music Hall, as 1t Is named, is situated in the
centre Of the Surrey Gardens, place Of resort
aud amusement during the week. The hall was
designed, as It's name Indicates, for monster con-
certs such as those given by Julian. tits built
with three or four galleries, like the Academy
Of Music in New York, though, from its greater
length, il can mold a much larger Gudience-it
Is said that II will contain eight or ten thousand
people. But, vast as was this aInpitheatre, ii
was soon Oiled. Tier above tier rose the dense
array Of heads The admission IS bv tickets,
though the price isso small that it is but a trihe
10 thOs who wish to attend. Thus, shilling
buys tcketwhich is good for month; and hTe
shilingsfor the same time secures reserved seats.
at ha!fpAst ten the doors were opened to those
without tickets Then came second rush,
which chokcd up every aisle and passage with
persons standing. But at length the trampIing
ceased, for the building could hold no more, the
audience hushed to QuietneSS, ard the preacher
assembled the pulpit
Never had public speaker more nnprom.
Using exterior than Mr., Spurgeon. lie is very
short and very fat, and altogether what we
should call chubby, and US he goes wndding up
the stairs, he looks more like an overgrown boy
than fully developed man. Nor does his
cOuntcnance betOken superior intellect. His
foreliand is low, and his upper lip is so short
that it shows his teeth, which gives his mouth
the appearance Of smP!r or grin. Surely,
thought, eoquCnce cannot come out Of such a
mouth as that
But the impression which a physiOgnomist
might form from these dull and heavy features,
is dispeed as soon as he begins to speak. Then
his countenance lights up with animation. His
voice is full and clear, and rings through the
Hall like a clarion, filling every ear with tho
meodous sound.
The introductory services were not Of any
special interest beyond the ordinary services in
every church. AS is common in England, the
reading Of the Scriptures occupied longer time
than with us, being accompanied with an expo
sition. The prayer which followed was nppro'
pirate and lervent, but not remarkable for
thought or expression, as were the prayers Of
Edward Irving. The singing, though of the
plainest kind, was grand from the multitude OF
voices which swellcd the mighty chorus Mr..
Spurgeon read the words, verse by verse, and a
precentor, standing in front Of the pulpit, gave
out the tune, aud led the singing twas no.
BILE sight to see the whole audience rising and
joining in that majestic hymn of which each
verse ends with the line
"Rsjolec aloud, ye IAln.r, rsjOIet,"