The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-03-22
npnrleirho Al spurreon,. Church.

On Sunday morning heard Spurgeon
! preach. The audience was large, but by no
! means as crowded as when | heard him two
years ago. Then, at q quarter before the
commencement Of service, the yard, steps
and streets in front we're crowded; aud Eve
minutes before the commencement of service
the doors were thrown open, people came
in with rush, filed every seat in an in.
slant, crowding all the aisles, and occupy.
ing every available space. 1t was not 80
yesterday. A half an hour before service
commenced the gates were opened, the
rear church doors were opened, no guards
we're at the door, no tickets were demanded
| walked into the house and looked
around without being disturbed by any
one. Fifteen minutes before service COZ"
menced there we're not fifty people "a 'he
| bnusa When Mr.. SpurgcOn opened the
| worsbip the house WAS probably three
oparters fpll. II kept filing up during the
! ;n,.aJro,o-v services There are no car.
49,, an ,Lo goor Of the chapel, and the in
| lem, ,rarp. tramp tramp Of the people
made il almost impossible to hear what the
sneaker aid especially as universal cold
| seemed 10 peryade the congregation, and
ZACH person present seemed to take part in
the coughing or sneezing that was going on.
At no time were the seats oil filled. A few
persons only sat in the aisles. Two years
have wrought some changes in Mr. Spur
geon. He has had much sickness, and his
rheumatic govt as made great inroads on
his physical energy. He has grown very
stout. He is less careful in his dress and
personal appearance than formerly. He
gave total abstinence limited trial. Find
ing II not 10 agree with hin, as he supposed,
when the period was up that he allotted to
the trial he went back to the English Gus
toms. His voice is mellow, sonOrous and
hewitchiug ~ ever. His sermon on the
efforts people make to render themselves
wretched was in his best vain, sparkling,
eloquent, impressive. lie seemed like
man whose spirit and resolution Outrau his
strength All his services were very long.
His Introductory services reached fifteen
minutes. Three hymns were sang, and all
before the sermon. lie reads the entire
HYMN, and then reads it again verse by verse
while the congregation sing. His exposition
of the chapter was longer than an American
sermon The allotted time Of the sermon is
one hour, though he often exceeds this. The
SINGING was tspeClhly grahu' No IhslTu'
ment Of music Of any kind il allowed, The
leader stands on the platform from which
Mr.. Splrgeon breaches. The congregation
rise at all the singings, aud begin with the
| first note Of the chorister, and sing fall,
CHEEKY prompt and in unison. | don't be.
lieye there is such singing elsewhere in the
world. The pulpit has a miscellaneous look.
On the platform from which the pulpit
springs, stands n huge table, suitable for a
warehouse, aud around il sit a company Of
men, women and children, in the very eyes
Of the congregation, and sadly disGgure the
whole. From an American stand point
there is no elegance in the London churches
They are without carpets. They wear Il
sombre look, ~ If unclean. Little scrap.
! Of cushions are in the prw4, made up o
d different colors and ages. The walls AT.
placarded like depot. The ycsUbulc AZ,
surroundings resemble an exchange or mari
r. in which all sorts of wares are set forth %
show bills. The most fashionable church,
are she oldest, most uncomfortable and o.
Irst.-Lrtter Ia Bosi5H JolgHai.