Litchfield enquirer., 1859-10-06

LITCHFIELD, THUE
From the New York Examiner
JUDGE HARRIS IMPRESSIONS OF
i STURGEON.
The following letter to Smith Sheldon
Esq, of this city, from the Hon. Ira Harris
dated Edinburgh, May 80, 1859, was MOI
written for publication. But believing that &
large number of the readers of the Examine
would be glad to know what such a man Of
Judge Harris thinks of Mr. Surgeons preach
ing, we have sought and obtained Mr.. Shell
dons permission to publish oil of the letter
that relates to that subject Ed. En-
| Upon landing at Southampton, we spent
tive or three days in that vicinity, visiting the
Isle of Wight, and reached London Saturday
evening. The first question Sunday morning
was, Where shall we go to church ? 1t was
proposed that we should go to Surry Gardens
and hear Mr.. Sturgeon. The vote was unan.
imous. So we obtained cab and rode three
miles. We reached there just after the SER
mon had commenced, and though it rained a
little, we found that immense room, with its
three tiers of galleries entirely full. The en-
craving in the book you were so kind as to
give me on leaving, is an unusually accurate
likeness. Such things are often overdrawn,
but in this case was able to verify the accu-
racy OF the picture at once. suppose there
were eight thousand people present. There
was not vacant seat. was obliged myself
to stand during the entire service. Perhaps
you will be interested if give you, as we'll as
l can, my own impressions of what saw and
heard. [ was exceedingly interested, so much
SO that l heard him preach three times during
the two Sundays l spent in London. l want
ed to satisfy myself what constituted his great
attraction, and studied him as well as | was
able When entered, l thought he was
preaching, and it was several minutes before
was undeceived: He was in fact reading the
Scriptures at the commencement of the exer
cises, but his exposition was so full and earnest
that it might we'll be taken for a discourse
One thing that impressed me very much was
the grave attention of his vast audience. Ma
ny Of them had their Bibles, and followed him
in his commentary as he read. In this wav,
he made this one of the most interesting of the
services. Having closed bis remarks, and, as
l then thought, his sermon, he then read
hymn. In these selections l noticed that lie
uniformly chose such hymns us were most fa-
miliar and devotional, and then, such singing
Just think of hymn, Astounding with the
by several thousand people, every one of whom
seemed to feel what he was singing. 1t was
the most impressive thing of the kind | ever
heard.
His prayer was simple, earnest, persuasive,
l may say, impOrtunate. Another hymn was
sung, the mass of the audience having proyi-
ded themselves with books, and heartily uni
ting 1t was IL sublime spcctacie--I shall new
er forget it. lie read a text" I will put
my Spirit within YOU" He described, in SIM
pie and direct language, the fallen condition
of man, and thus showed the necessity of the
Spirits influence The discourse, like those /
heard subsequently, was highly Calvinistic.-
His great aim seemed to lie to show, and make
his hearers realize how helpless they were, and
at the same time what ample provision had
been made for them in their help!essncss.-
There was no attempt at eloquence nothing
to excite admiration. You feel, as you listen,
that what you hear is just what q faithful
preacher, careless of himself, and resolved up
ON making his hearers feel and act upon what
lie says, ought to say and might well be ex-
pectcd to say. He makes no rhetorical dis
play-has no remarkable beauty of expression.
On the other hand, in all his sermons l dis
covered nothing of rudeness or vulgarity. His
manner is solemn his preaching direct, simple
and earnest This, it seems to ME, is the Sc
cret of his wonderful success. He makes his
hearers feel, whatever they may think of them
selves that he believes what be says, and is in
earnest with them. He has an excellent voice,
and every word he says is heard without diff
Guilty by every person in the audience. ln
accomplishing this, he was very much assisted
by the audience ITSELF Not cough or a
movement of the foot could be heard while he
was speaking. Fixed attention was visible in
every face / left the place feeling that l
had heard plain, sound sermon-and still
wondering that such preaching should, Sab
bath after Sabbath, attract such immense au-
diences do not believe the effect would be
as great in New York, because / think you
have more evangelical preaching there-and
yet l am persuaded that he would attract
great crowds anywhere.
In the afternoon 1 went to Westminster
Abbey. In the evening heard Baptist No
Ell, with whom was delighted, but have not
time to speak of him now. The next Sabbath
we started out in still greater force to heal
MIR. Spurgeon. Several Of our fellow-passen
gers, who were staying at the hotel, went witt
US. had then received your letter of intro
duction, but had not presented it. We went
early, and had procured tickets of admission
The house was still more crowded than be
fore. l was still obliged to stand during tn
entire service. The text was g. The kingdom
of heaven sufereth violence, and the violen
} take it by force" The sermon was characte
} rized by the same simplicity, and what impress
sed me most, was his apparent sef-forgetfu
ness-if may use such an expressiou-hi
seIfabandonu,ent, for the sake Of moving hi
hearers. and inducing them to act for then