Middletown transcript., 1869-02-06
OWN NEW CASTLE COUNTY, MORNING

at its extremity is one hundred weight
The great bell, which is only tollcd when
member of the royal family dies, weighs
four and half tons, and is ten feet high.
St. Pauls is open every day free to the
public, but no place is exhibited during
divine service.
One of the great shows of London comes
off annually at this Cathedral in the shape
of a children's festival, on the first Thurs
day in June, when thousands of charity
children are congregated together. The
late Dean, was the Very Rev. II. N. Mil
man, d. d. the author of the " Latin
Christianity"
Passing through Temple Bar, down the
Strand, to Trafalgar Square, on that same
night, Nelson's Column, with bronze
statue of that naval fighter surmounting it,
{ the whole $50 feet in height) appeared
grand on that calm June evening.
St. Paul's and Nelson's Monument
should be seen at first by moonlight.
But calm, bright evening, in old Eng
land is appreciated both by natives and
foreigners, as the damp and foggy atmos-
phere is the rule rather than the exception
Of the Dissenting Chapels in London,
by far the most remarkable. is Mr.. Spur
geon's Tabernacle, built at cost of about
$50. 900 or $3.50, 900, at Ncwington, on
the sunny side of the river Thames, near
the gilt Elephant and Castle, situated in
front of a hotel close at hand. 1t stands
about mile from the Westminster and
Waterloo bridges, and may be reached by
the Metropolitan Railway, or by omnibus,
cab, and Hanson.
About 10 o'clock, A. NJ. on Sunday
morning, We arrived at the long talked of
place and found about 1000 strangers
awaiting entrance, although the church
service does not commence until 1915
A. NJ. The holders of pews are admitted
at any time by several private side doors.
Precisely at the commencement of the
services the huge doors are thrown open,
and the officers of tho church Immediately
scat all, provided there are sufficient seats
left after the pew-holdcrs have been ac-
commodated.
The building is without spire, of light
colored sandstone, and is about $50 feet
in length, 100 feet in breadth and so feet
in height. The entrance is gained by as
cending fight of steps. The rooms in
the basement are devoted to prayer meet
ings, weekly lectures, Sunday school,
and on every week day the students of
Surgeons College rccitc there.
Three tiers of galleries surround the
preachers platform, which is brought out
about IS feet from the farther end of the
building, so that the congregation is on
every side of the preacher. Surgeons
stand is about 20 or % frcet high from
the ground floor, and is surrounded by
mahogany railing, being the continuation
of the ratings of tho two circular stair
ways leading to it; an absence of pull
pit is noticed, and only small sofa, table
and a chair for the precentor are visible.
About 10 feet below the preacher,
platform for about 60 men and women
singers is situated these choristers with
the precentor lead in the congregational
singing. Although there is no organ, the
blending of seven or eight thousand voices
in rich harmony was truly grand beyond
description.
As Americans have heard of this ccc-
bratcd divine often. both by hearsay and
pen-and-ink sketches, full description
would be unnecessary in short, he seemed
to us very unclerical, and looked like
good natured, stout and jolly Englishman.
His voice is clear and stentorian, and can
be heard all over that immense structure.
Although the services lasted about two
hours, and the sermon one hour in length,
the whole did not seem any longer to us
than our usual church services. He prea-
chcs without notes, in simple language,
but enchains the audience from first to
last. There is not a particle of the SEN
sationarabout him, as we have been led to
suppose from his published sermons.
After hearing an apostolic discourse
from the lips of this great teacher, one
feels already abundantly satisfied with his
journey across the broad Atlantic.
n