Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-07-30
Religious Intelligence.

A Boston gentleman, now III hohuOl'
writes thus of Mr.. Spurgeon, the cele-
brated preacher:
1--WE went last Sunday morning and
heard him. at the Music Hall, Surrey
Garden, and l found afterwards that he
outdid himself even in his dicourse, and
for this reason, that his heart was very
glad and grateful. / will tell you why.
The proprietor of the Garden let them
for concerts, and fetes, and all kinds OF
such amusements, and they had agreed,
or were going to agree, TO let them TOR
some kind of public entertainment on
Sunday evening. Mr.. Sturgeon intima-
ted this in the course of his remarks,
and added that he had been able to pre-
vail On them to refuse, as he said he could
not possibly preach there any longer if
they were to be thus deseerated. Thus,
as his preaching there on this occasion
was an uncertainty last week, he was
overfowing with joy that the obstacle
was removed, and alluded to it specially
in prayer, thanking God for remoying,it.
Thus, although he still breaches as ac-
ceptably as ever and to equally vast
throngs he even outdid himself. His text
was Luke 1910 Likewise 1 say unto
you there is joy in the presence of the
angels of God over one sinner that re-
penteth.' AS ever, he deals in his own
peculiar manner with his discourse, the
theme being the sympathy Of Heaven
with Earth, and the impression one re-
ceives on hearing him is that he is plain
ly a man sent by God.
His speech is perfectly natural, not
the least straining at effect, apparently !;
his language plain and forcible his style
heightened and commanding, rather than
particularly argumentative or entreating.
Yet it has the true temperate genuine
Gospel ring, and peculiar penetrative
force, seemingly inherent, which it is i'm
possible to withstand.
He charges the ramparts of sin, so to
speak, with a boldness and confidence
which is heaven-gifted and triumphant.
cannot write more, and only add here,
that when he expressed in his earnest,
hearty manner, the idea that he had a
passion for mems salvation, thought l
discovered the key TO his unparalleled
success as a minister of the Gospel OF
Christ"
A writer in the Christian FITNESS
gives the following facts respecting the
Episcopal clergymen in this country. In
speaking of their circumstances in early
life, he groups together hundred names,
simply taking from a chronological cata-
logue for a given time such as happened
DC within nfs PU<sUuot sso1us.iratonUU.
Of these he says:
" Amongst these hundred, eighteen
were the sons of farmers or mechanics
in narrow circumstances, or who had left
their widows in dependent or straitened
lot; elven, of men of the same occupa-
ton, but of larger resources twenty
three of men in mercantile business. more
or less prosperous six of gentlemen Of
wealth, living in retirement from the
cares Of a profession two of men in
public offices; three of physicians one
of professor thirteen of lawyers; and
twenty-three of ministers. There were
probably thirty who received and requir-
ed assistance in obtaining their education.
Only about half of them have been gra-
duates of colleges, and about two-fifths
have attended theological Institutions
One hundred and fifty-three Episcopal
clergymen in this country have written
books. The longest ministry was sixty
nine years after ordination, and the aver
age reaches the very high figure of thir-
ty-eight years"
There appears to be more than the
usual amount of theological discussion
in the pulpits and in the religious pa
per8 at the present time, and by the vigor
with which it is conducted, it is evident
that those who thought the union of
Christians in the recent revival indicated
the advent of the millennium were mis-
taken. The orthodox pulpit and press
are busily enforcing the doctrine of the
future endless punishment of the wicked,
and the Universalist pulpit and press are
busily denying this doctrine, and advoca-
ting their belief in the final salvation of
the race. The Baptist papers are inter-
changing compliments with their religi-
Gus contemporaries, and are calling upon
HFrw g.A~