, 1872-11-02
SPURGEON.
A Visit to his Tabernac1e---TheF Flock
and the Shepherd.
The Service, the Sermon, and the
Lords Supper.

xondon {oca ~ Co7espondenes Of tte eu FORK Vorzd
No one who wishes to understand England
md the English should fail, when in London. to
nay visit to 1Ir. Spurgeon's Tabernacle. The
Tabernacle lies on the unfashionable side Of tho
Ihames,-that transporting region which hun
dreds Of thousands Of Londoners never visit,
and which, to many of them. is an almost un-
known land. Southwark is the abomination Of
desolation- Here and there, perhaps are places
where one may possibly live IN some degree OF
comfort and cheerfulness, but for tue most part
it presents appearance lnexpresslpiy dun,
geon's Tabernacle stands in particularly sqllano
snd uncomfortable quarter OF this sad region
That his ministretions supplied somo great
need YES evident enough from the
GREAT CROWDS
assembled outside the gates of bis Tabernacle
good three-quarte1s OF an hour before the gates
we're opened. Those whose anxiety for ad1nls~
sion WAS equal to this test were after q time per-
snitted to enter the gates Of the enclosure N
front OF the building, which we're then agaln
closed Those Of them who were stockholders
were then sent to the front entrance Of the chap
el, while the others we're detained Tor some time
longer at side door. Even this portal, how
ever. could not be passed by any one; not fur
nished With a ticket, previously obtained OF
some member Of the Tabernacle, which, while
informing the holder TINT he Was entitled to q
seat. reminded him that 3 contribution towards
the expenses Of the institution would not be
O1SQA1uEQ. LIS 4A1uy viz Ae-A 1890
nor tickets we're still detained outside the gates
until the others had taken their seats. 4hey
were than admitted in squads Of 400 or go, IN
der the control of the police, and the gates
were closed On them from time to time to dlVlae
them into smaller and more manageaole GROVES.
With all these precautions their incoming
created q commotion in the chapel the more
especially as they. found the t'cket.holdefs we're
already in possession OF nearly az ne ne a7a14aoie
se The hoas ads sDqn' % S9 ro for
shout ooo and it is tiled @ n thls way ana 70 me
extent twice each week. The congregation Is,
without any Visible exception, respectani5 Dress
ed and it seems to be made up aos1 a "aoty 4pa oa
soEe few workingmen. ....
TIE nrER1oR OF TIE TABERNACLE, -,
which looks from the outside very much IKE
an old-fashioned country Court Houae, foIms
its is sides, the uppermoat reaching almost to the
roof These galleries and all the floor space are
filled with numbered seats; of ornament no or
decoration there ls scarcely snaoo". ,: ln9
with wood for warmth and comfort. 4 PLAN
moulding runs round the edge OF the wood
work, and that is all. The gas-buIners are
twisted into no fantastic patterns OF Gothic art,
brt are simply curved tubes of metal, with
burner aud globe at the end. The iron pillars
that support the galleries are indeed surmount-
cd by Capitals Of sort but, as # to atone
for this frivolity, the gas-burners have been
t1ai1ed upward, and the shadow they cast hides e:
oven this ornament from view. The floor line
OF the oval is broken at one extremity by pro-
jecting platform Of very spacious dimensions,
near which ie large marble tank, which Is the
4sfout" in which the adult converts Of Alr. Spur
geon-aud of course he makes no juvenile con-
yerts-are immersed for the rite OF baptism. I
an told that this tank is furnished with hot and
cold water pipes, 80 that the temperature Of it's
contents when used is made agreeable To this
asens tie rnde e5n1 Simplicity q Cd fashions The pat
form, which is the pulpit, is furnished with a
chair and sofa and with q small table, which can
be pushed easily from place to place over the
smooth carpet. Below and IN front OF this 1s
long and ordinary dining-room table, placed on
the floor Of the building, and now covered with
3 large sheet-1ike cloth, hiding quantity OF
bread end wine from present view. For this is
the first Sunday OF the month, and a1r. spurgeon
repast which they call "The Lords Supper u
Tie Elders OF the congregation and a
number Of persons who were immersed
this morning, and who are to be admitted
eether, il 8 low gallery some few feet from the
ktnd. and partly beneath the Hoor OF the plat
.'.4h. When, you have mastered all these de-
staais sou begin to fully comprehend that you are
no1 in church at all; that there Is no pretence
here OF altar or Of priest, or OF the presence
in any special way Of deity. You see no one
engaged in devotion; no one on his knees
e7ery one sits in his seat, as at concert or 9
theatre "al11ne 1o1 Ino entrance u Singer u
actor.
We are not kept long IN waiting 1t half-pazt
g buzz and then hush perVades the assembly
and in another moment
aR. STURGEON APREARs
on the platform and advances to the front. Fol
the moment expect to hear him crested with {
round of applause; but I remember that tht
audiences here applaud only when Mr. spurgeor
gives the cue. He is short in stature and il
neck, and very very round in form. Hi
face bellies all the theories Of physiognomy
it at least bellies them for all thoss
who regard Mr. Spurgeon with admiration
His features are almost Incredibly coarse
ard they have grown much grosser since I say
Linn last some eight or nine years ago. Hi
brow is perhaps broad, but very low. The love-
part Of his face is shaded by weak growth Of
beard. There is absolutely nothing in this fact
that painter could lay hold OF for 3 typical pic
ture Of one Of the spiritual guides Of mas' Tier Their
neat or Of spirituality, and the strength is tha
Of the bulldog. His voice is powerful Withou
being rick or deep in tone; and when he raise'
it, to begin with, in prayer for q blessing OF
this congregation and on my Words" there il
cot an inattentiTe ear. But no one thinks Of
PRAYING with him ; they expect him to do every