American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-09-03

O. .Niy sonS 40 OIL piIScu uI NT.s Opur-
geon's readiness and fluency, a gift so
rare, especially among Englishmen.-
During the whole Of this long discourse
he had not note or line before him.
1t was purely extemporaneous. 1t was
taken down in short hand, as are all
his Sunday morning sermons, and print.
ed in a tract, from which I have quot
cd those passages which most Impress
cd mo in the delivery. 'e1 e li.ia y
But what / admire moro than tho
fluency Of speech, was the simplicity of
the language. There was not d word
which couldnot be understood by every
body. He used plain, homely phrases,
and thus the truth was brought direct.
ily into contact with the minds of his
audience. In many points Mr.. Spur
geon reminded us strongly of Henry
Ward Beechor--in his hearty earnest
ncsa, in his blunt, pithy way of saying
a thing, in his touches of tenderness
and occasional CLEANS of humor, and in
his varied Imagination, which though
sometimes STOPPING to coarse figures,
often rises to the use of imaginery the
most delicate and beautiful.
From all this you will readily infer
that came away from Surrey Hall
with very pleasant impression. 1
confess lhad gone with some misgiying,
for ! had so often seen great reputa-
tion dwindle as it was approached, that
! dreaded to have another illusion dis
fpelled. But this sermon relieved my
fears. i had seen Mr.. Spurgeon cri.
ticscd and ridiculcd in the English
! Journals as clerical mountebank, and
did not know but he might appear as
q theatrical performer in tho pulpit. -
But the critic who can decide Mr.. Spur
gcon as charlatan, must be insensible
to any. demonstrations of oratorical
power. No candid listener can deny to
him the possession of great talent, and
when the amount Of his labor is con-
sidered, it appears still more remark
able. r.'sh1s
The same evening We heard him q
ain in his own chapel in New Park
strect, and after service we saw him in
his vestry and had very pleasant inter-
view. l had natural apprehension
that he must be breaking down from
actual labor. But he assured me that
he was in robust health. He said that
his constant speaking was the best
exercise for him, and that he should
die if he did not preach tWelve times
a sceek. / asked him when he found
time to study, to which he replied that
ne could give but little preparation to
his sermons, often entering the pulpit
with not more than fifteen minutes pre-
yious thought of his subject. y q.
But he has lately contrivcd to get
some degree of leisure. He has taken
a house out by Claphman Common, at
several miles distance from his church,
to avoid Interruptions. His deacons
do all his visiting, and hence in the in-
teryal of his public duties, heis able to
snatch few hours for study and books.
| suspect, too, that he has read largely
in former years. He appears to be
very familiar with old divincs, especially
with Bunyan, whom he calls ''the great
est Of Englishnen." In this very SER
mon, when speaking Of tho holy dead,
ne paid an eloquent tribute to the
memory of the marvellous dreamer. -
Traces ofthis familiarity with the writ
Iings of Bunyan arc seen everywhere
in his style.
Such are my impressions of Mr.. Spur
geon. frank him very highly among
the living men Of this country. Some
times l hear fling at him that he is q
coarse, vulgar man, and that he is puff.
edup with concoit. Perhaps he is vain
of his popularity. ] can only say that
did not discover it in his public preach
ing, or in his private conversation. AS
to his low breeding, certainly he has
not aristocratic airs. AS he has sprung
out of the ground, he shows plain marks
ofhis origin. IEe is of the earth, earthly.
But that very fact may give him half
his power. His thoughts and language
arc racy Of the sol, and thus he is fitted
to be what he is--not d fashionable
preacher, but arcal tribune Of the peo-
pie, swaying the hearts Of thousands
Of mon. s" HE