The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1868-07-02
NUMBER 5.
Suurgeon and Newman Hall.

| Correspondence the Saturday Evening Post.
Of course our first thought on our first
Sunday in London was the long talked of
visit to hear Spurgeon. We took q car
riage from the hotel at half-past nine
o'clock, and rode through Charing Cross
and several streets leading to the Thames,
over Westminster Bridge, past the splendid
new house Of Parliament and Westminster
Abbey past Cardinal Wiseman's cathe-
dral. and Beldam--where is still confined
the man who attempted to assinate the
Queen, some years ago-through several
streets where pouring throng showed
the near source Of some attraction, till
presently, we found ourselves at the door
of the Tabernacle" a plain stone edifce
with large pillars in front.
A porter led us to a side entrance, and
up narrow stairway to the Secretary's
room. That official having heard that
we were party of Americans, procured
us excellent seats on the first gallery,
about twenty feet from the desk The in
terror of the church is plain and unattrac.
tive 1t is immensely long, contains two
galleries, and seats five thousand persons
The pulpit is high, raised platform, sim
ply carpeted, and furnished with table
and sofa.
At half-past ten the church was crowded
to its fullest capacity. Just on the min
ute two gentlemen came swiftly down
the stairs back of the pulpit-they were
Spurgeon and his brother, who is now CO.
pastor with him. A short prayer was de-
livered, hymn read, and preceptor
stepped forward to lead the mighty con-
gregation, who sang as with one voice.
Mr.. Spurgeon then read the epistle of
Jude, expounding plainly and simply as
he proceeded. Another hymn was sung, q
long prayer followed, succeeded by yet
another hymn, land then the pastor stepped
to the front of the rails and began his
sermon.
Mr.. Sturgeon is short, fat, vulga r-look-
ing man, with thick, straight black hair,
thin beard and moustache. His face is
square and heavy, his forehead low, his
mouth large and determined, with strong
white teeth, and his eyes are bold, am
bilious, restless, black and piercing.
He wears long, loose, unclerical look.
ing coat, white craVat, tied carelessly,
and his whole tout ensembles slovenly and
undignifed. He has small, well shaped
hands and feet, and limps slightly in
walking, and his favorite position is that |
of standing on tiptoe with his legs crossed |
and his body bent slightly forward, lean
ing against the rails Almost his only |
gesture is the uprising of his right arm |
and shapely hand. His voice, once SO |
ringing and sonorous, is now thick but |
p penetrating
His sermon was on hypocrisy in the
church-seYere, denunciatory, scathing, |
He breaches entirely without notes, is YER |
bose without being eloquent, has a certain |
of styles full of anecdotes, |
classical and NEUROLOGICAL, familiar to |
every school girl, and is far more calcula-
ted to brighten and awe the simple and
uncultured than he is to win the enlight-
ened to higher, noDler life. Listening
to him my whole soul arose in bitter ref
utation of the harsh, unloving manner in
which he taught the divine tender truths
of the Master, and turned away unfed, |
uncontrolled, disheartened.
In the evening we went to hear New
man Hall. What chhnge 1t was like
a calm after storm, like peace after con-
tention, like faith and hope and love latter
distrust and despair and hatred The |
calm, noble face of the speaker glowed
with enthusiasm, and his clear, mellow
voice penetrated to the hearts of his lis
teners with thrill His mournful Ia
mentations over sin, his earnest persuasive
reasoning, tender importunate entreaties,
hopeful, helpful suggestions Of the right,
drew one upward like heaven sent mes
sage, and filed the soul with exceeding
sorrow and repentance.