The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-04-19

- .0 WedHesddV. 1
soH LONDON, March 2s, 1867.
1t had been advertised that, in CON
sequence of Mr.. SpuTgeon's TaberI1a-
Gle being closed for repairs, that preach
er would occupy, for five Sabbaths,
Agricultural Hall, Islihgton, in the
north of London. This Hall, one Of
the largest in the city, where are held
agricultural shows and exhibitions Of
-sattlesS has a capacity. Of 5000 toll, 900.
Going to,this snnchurchlyZp place on tn 9
first Sabbath that it was to be occupied
by the great London preacher, and ar
irving at the gate at twenty minutes to
eleven, we found a dense crowd watt
ing. for admittance. at the opening of
the gate the inward rush called TO mind
the words, "The Kingdom of heaven
sufferethl Violence."E In q lew moments
the immense amphitheatre was filed.
So large a cpucourse of people I never
saw within walls. Not only the long
ranges of seats in the side tiers were
packed, and the galleries in the rear of
the he.extemporized pulpit, but the broad
arena was crowded from end to end.
From the middle tier, commanding a
view of the enclosure, the spectacle OF
sucha multitude, in such a place, many
standing, yet SO still SO reverent, was
impressive in'the extreme. There were
NOT less than 1000 persons present.
eleven o'clock Mr.. Spurgeon as
cended the spulpit-an open platform
with only a hand-railing about 1t, and
a table and two or three chairs in 1t.
Rolling back the table, he advanced to
the front, and leaning over the railing,
he said to helistening multitude, 1--WE
will open the exercises of this meeting
with few words of prayer; let us
pray;" and his arms were outstretched
and his hands extended upward. Bis
prayer was q feEvent invocation, ut
tered in simple language, with a voice
musical aud sonorous, which, without
apparent effort filled the Hall. So su-
perb voice, have not heard, save,
(pardon the allusion) from the street
criers, whose clarion notes, crying
inarticulately their petty wares, wind,
like mellow horns, from square to
square, and reYerberate from street TO
street. observe that Mr.. s., like the
elocutionists OF the pavement, employs
the head tones; yet restraints them from
l,shrillness by the limits of the Oro-
tund. Endowed with a acapaciou1 chest,
sound lungs, and vocal organs un-
touched OF bronchitis, his voice Is al
most the perfection OF melody and
might; still it Is monotonOus. - {
From sheet containing the hymns
for the occasion, copies of which were
scattered over the Hall, Mr.: S. read,
verse by verse, the first hymn. Better
selection could not have been made.
II was the grand hymn,
"BeEore Jehovah's awful throne,
Yenations bow with sacred JOY" &C,
Read in the artless style, and sound
ing tones of the preacher, and sang, ia
old hundred, by thousands of worship
pers, this hymn had an effect beyond
the power of language to express.
When the 4th verse was reached, Mr..
8. exclaimed, "Sing this verse with
more power" he then read 1t with In
creased volume OF sound:
''We'Il crowd thy gates with thankful songs
High as the heaYensopr voices raise;
And earth with her ten thousand tongues
Shall fu thu courts lOtth IotlEdtn0 prutSe,"
E The poweriwith which that sublime
stanza $50 appropriate TO the occasionl
was read and sang. was almost super
human. Alter the singing OF five
verses, the minister, with solemn slow
ness, as one who had no fear of passing
time, brought forth ponderous bible
opened the gilt clasp, turned to the 103d
psalm and read the whole oft, remark
ing leisurely, but impressiVely, on
every verse, somewhat In this manner:
"He remembereth that we are dust-do
you Eeulou1DeE luis SOuESelVeSg' T. duu
more. in. that strain. "As for man his
the field, SO he fourisheth. Looking
over this vast congregation, how like q
garden of flowers 1t appears; and like
| flowers how perishable are you ALL
| On previous verse, 1.-THE Lord exc
cuteth righteousness and judgment
| for all that are oppressed" he said
will bold emphasis and strong
gesture: "There is never an op'
pressor who will not sooner
or later feel the might of Gods
arm" On the clause "Plenteoui
in mercy" he lifted his stentorian cry
40 ye who have been plenteous in sin
hearken and know that the Lord Il
plenteous in mercy, and though the Ag
IgregRte of our sins is tremendous, i
does not exceed the righteousness o
Gods mercy. Yea, ten thousand time
4 ten thousand more than we, may fint
mercy" With full voice, "Are yol
ETeGdB ARE YOU READY to ask 70
mercy7" -
A second hymn was read. and tn
congregation was requested to look
toward the choir, and keep in time ant
Itune by marking the chorister's hand
Sig verses were Sung to very indiffer
ent tune, but with great power. TheI
followed prayer, devout, earnest, va
rfous, comprehensive; and proving tn
humility, faith and godly dependenc
of this man of God. A third hymn wa
then sung, five verses; an ,exceIlen
hymn, but devoid Of musical merit, ye
the singing most engaging.
When the preacher was reading hi
text the clock of some neighbOrinl
steeple was striking twelve, and man!
congregations were receiving the Bene
diction. The passage OF Scripture Feal
as the text Is in Matthew 81: g. 81
(which please see,) The hush to hea
the text was succeeded by suddel
sounds, as of breathing and coughin
that had been forcibIy suppressed, an
took the moment between the. text an
sermon to get vent. i he exordium o
introduction, for beauty, simplicity
Lquietness, and, fitness was admirable
I1tlbeganl thus, in extemporaneous bu
choice, concise phrase, -.lai-
" GThe sight OF Ithis5vast assembly re
minds one of the aupitheatre Of Rome
where, in the centre Of. the arena, st0o,
! a man, tremblingly waiting for the lifl
ing OF the door which was to set fort
the Gagged lion. There stood the solitar
J disciple, trusting. in his Lord, an
ready 10 seal his faith with his blood
l1IwhiIe in the tiers of the Coliseum 50
: the crowded multitude, waiting an
eager to see the Christian martyr she
I his blood 'to make q Roman holiday
There would have been no difficulty
, drawing dividing line then and ther
&, between thes god1y and the ungodlJ
: But here the difficulty would be great
for in this arena trust are hundred
2 who's are ready TO die for Christ, Will
Il on either side, occupying these tier
. are thousands Of like precious faitl
: But i fear me that both in tiers an
8 arena! are, many who have NO love I
God in their hearts. i cannot attemI
the division. Angels would not nov
!, though the day Is coming when the
9 will separate the wheat from the tare,