Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-05-21
MISCELLANE0Us.
Spurgeon.


The London correspondent of the Boston
Journal speaks of this remarkable clergyman
and his place of worship as follows:
Without question Mr. Spurgeon is the most
popular preacher in London to,day. His
church will seat comfortably six thousand.-
1t is always FULL All the seats in the vast
ediice are rented. The chapel is rented by
seats. The party who takes pew receives
as many tickets as their seats in it. These
led good for six months. Each person to oc
seat in that pew presents ticket at
gate and is admitted. Without such
no one enters the church until ten min
Fore services commence. Then the
hOpened aud the crowd rush in and
TAX D unoccupied seats. Mr.. Spurgeon' s
church is an old one. TWAS formed in 1850.
1t was ministered to by DIR. Fill, Rippon and
-other distinguished men. 1t now numbers
three thousand and eight hundred members.
every one of which has to report himselfat the
regular monthly communion or he is subject
to discipline. Mr.. Spurgeon is an open com.
muniOn Baptist, but, allows no members but
those who have been immersed. Other Bap-
fist churches, are more liberal than his. Some
Of the most important and prominent allow
persons not immersed to become members of
the church, and also deacons. Indeed some
OF the churches, should they become vacant,
without any change of articles of covenant
could as we'll settle Congregationalist as a
Baptist pastor. The communion is celebra,
ted in MIR. Surgeons church every Sunday
night, but only by part of his church who
believe in weekly celebration. The regular
communion is monthly.
Every thing about this concern is gigantic,
The chapel as they call dissenting churches
ho.. ., -
stone portico, supported by six columns, and
guarded by an iron fence which would be
sufficient for a penitentiary. The interior is
in cathedral style. The two deep galleries
sweep clear round the church. In front of
the gallery, opposite the main entrance, is a
large platform filled with chairs, and beneath
the tables, standing on the platform, is the
baptistry. Above this platform is a second
one. 1t is reached by circular stairs on eth
or side from the first platform. On this ups
per platform is a sofa, with a table by its side.
This is the pulpit of the famous London
preacher. This platform is surrounded by
railing, and this is all that keeps him from the
people. During his preaching lie walks the
circuit of the rails, grasping it at times with
energy, shifting it with the palms of his
hands, leaning over it, while he holds ia
mliar colloquy with his people. Sitting on
this upper platform, the sight is exhilarating
Every seat is full Every standing place is
crowded The aisles can only be known BY
the height of the men standing in them. At
precisely the time for worship Mr.. Sturgeon
walks to the platform from the rear, attended
by his elders aud deacOns, who have seats pro.
vided for them in stalls. He is a short,
chunky man, with genuine English lock.
dark hair, expressive eyes and cheerful face.
He has merry spirit, and cheerfulness and
humor predominant in his system. He is
very reverend in his manner His voice is
ringing and cheerful. His words are full
aud clear, and ring through all the chapel. =
There is mounting, snuf1ling, whining.
indistiuct mode of speaking here, to which
Sturgeon is splendid contrast. The sing
ing is very grand. Each hymn is read twice
once through before the singing, and then
verse by verse as it is sung. A chorlster
steps out on the upper platform and sets the
tune, in which the whole congregation join.
No organ or musical instrument is allowed in
the chapel. While he breaches, every inch
of Mr.. Spurgeon is to be seen. from his boots
to his hair. a small piece of paper laid on
the table by the side of the sofa, to which he
seldom refers, contains his notes. A sermon
of about forty-fve minutes is a simple pre-
seDtation of Evangelical truth, earnestly, viz
idly, and sometimes graphically set forth
Spurgeon has the power of putting himself
in sympathy with his audience and sways
them at his will