The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1858-08-05
9fLlgtGLLanGONs.
Rev. Mr.. Spurgeon, the Great Eng
lish Preacher.

Rev. Mr. SpurgeOns Jne Great Eng
lish Preacher.
From the original correspondence of
the Evangelist" (H. M. Field, Esq,
we take the following graphic portrait
of the world-renowned Spurgeon, which,
with the interesting personnel of the au-
dience Of the Music Hall, will be found
highly interesting:
LONDON, June %, 1853.
No preacher in England, since Ed
ward Irving, has had such a popularity
as Mr.. Spurgeon. He is one of the IL
ons Of London-a rather young lion, to
be sure; but one who, since his appear
ance in the field has roared so loudly as
to make the nation hear--and every
stranger who wishes to "do' the sights
of this Babylon, must for once, at least,
sec and hear him. Accordingly we set
apart our first Sabbath to this purpose.
We arrived before the gates were open
ed, but found the crowd already begin
ming to collect had a letter to Mr.
Spurgeon which l gave to one of the
officers of the church. who Immediately
admitted us and invited us to sit on the
platform, but we preferred a seat in the
front of the side gallery, from which we
could overlook the audience, which was
almost as much a matter 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. Itwa interesting to see the au-
dieuce assembling--tO mark the hurried
step and eager look of the multitude.
Music Hall, as it is named, is situated
in the centre Of the Surrey Gardens, a
place of resort and amusement during
the week. The hall was designed, as
its name indicates, for monster concerts,
such as those given by Julien. 1t is
built with three or four galleries, like
the Academy of Music in New York,
though, from its greater length, it can
hold much larger audience--it is said
that it will contain eight or ten thous-
dAd people. But, vast as was this am
phitheatre, it was soon filed. Tier
above tier rose the dense array Of heads.
The admission is by tickets, though the
price is so small that it is but triae to
those who wish to attend. Thus, shil-
ling buys a ticket which is good for a
month; and FIVE shillings for the same
time secures reserved seats. At half
past ten the doors were opened to those
without tickets. Then came second
rush, which choked up every aisle and
passage with persons standing. But at
length the trampling ceased, for the
building could hold no more, the audi
ence hushed to quietness, and the
preacher assembled the pulpit.
! Never had a public speaker a more
unpromising exterior than Mr.. Spur
geon. He is very short and very fat,
and altogether what we should call chub-
By, and as he goes waddling up the stairs
he looks more like an overgrown boy
than fully developed man. Nor does
his countenance betoken superior intel
lect. His forehead is low, and his up
per lip is so short that it shows his teeth,
which gives his mouth the appearance
Of a simper or q grin, Surely, / thought,
olOquence cannot come out of such a
mouth as that.
But the impression which a physiog-
nomist might form from these dull and
heavy features, is dispelled as soon as
he begins to speak. Then his counte-
nance lights up with animation. His
voice is full and clear, and rings through
the Hall like a clarion, filling every ear
with the melodious sound
j The Introductory services were not
Of any special interest, beyond the or
dinary services in every church. AS is
common in England, the reading Of the
Scriptures occupied a longer time than
with us, being accompanied with an ex-
position The prayer which followed
was appropriate and feryent, but not re-
markable for thought or expression, as
were the prayers Of Edward Irving
The singing, though of the plainest
kind, was grand from tho multitude Of
voices which swelled the mighty chorus.
Mr.. Spurgeon read the words, verse by
verse, and a preoentor, standing in front
Of the pulpit, gave out the tune, and led
the singing. 1t was q noble sight TO
see the whole audience rising and join
ing in that majestic hymn Of which each
verse ends with the line
"Reiolos aloud yo saints rejoice"
The text was Ecclesiastes viii. 10:
"And 80 / saw the wicked buried
which had come and gone from the place