The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1873-09-12
Spurgeon.
His appearance and Manner.

Owing to my early appearance I haG
| three-quarters of an hour in which tc
study building and people. The former
is simple in style and reminds one by Its
! Grec:an front of dark stone, Corinthia1
pillars, and plain pediments above, Of
the Unitarian church on Franklin street
at Baltimore. Only by its exterior,
however. Within the walls are painted
white, within the faintest tinges OF
green, tint which proves very restfuI
to the eyes. The building is well
| lighted both through numerous win
dOws and by skylghts IL the roof, none
of which are stained or otherwise orna-
mented. Below, the seats appear to be
cushioned only as a matter of private
convenience, which causes diversity of
color and occasional barren spots pain
full in their suggestive hardness. There
seems to be much cordial intimacy
among the members of the cOngrega-
ton, who are in general a plain, decent
folk, apparently we'll to do, and quietly
dressed. I noticed in a great many in
stances that on taking their seats they
would, after a moments devotion, turn
around and shake hands with every one
in the pew Immediately back of them.
This occurred in so many pews that it
seemed to be the fashion. An old lady
just behind leaned forward and hoped
we would be able to hear Mr.. Spurgeon
to-day, but he had been every hill on
Friday last" Finally, Spurgeon him
self emerged from some hiding place
aIoft and settled himself deliberately
into plain red plush chair by the side
of the pulpit desk. At the other side,
and little back, sat a modest little
man Of that Notwithstanding, black
whiskered type which, as the French
say, never invented gunpOwder.
Spurgeon himself disappointed me. He
is quite short-nOt over five feet four I
should say-with a round face, little
longer than it is broad ; in fact, much
the egg-shape Of the q Tabernacle" He
has moderate amount of side whisker
and goatee, his hair is black, but not
very black. His chin seemed weak, but
was most concealed by beard. He has
a dark eye, rather full, and capable of a
great deal of expression. He cannot
use his facial muscles as Beecher can,
nor modulate his tones so perfectly.
But he seems more thoroughly in earn
est, and has perhaps more magnetic
power in driving home the thought
without so much personal power. I do
not know that I make myself under
stood. but you viii readily comprehend
that a man might fix his thoughts in
your mind without conveying Herewith
much respect or regard for the speaker.
Now Beecher always impresses me quite
as much with Beecher as his sermon,
and his whitening hair and noble front,
with his wonderfully rapid changes of
tone, all create an effect far more i'm
pressive than Spurgeon's regular fea-
lures and exceedingly mediocre express
sion. He does not look 20 be over forty,
and you could readily imagine that you
had seen that dark hair, fat face, and
squat figure on the steps of the New
York city hall He begins with prayer
in loud, full tones which evidently come
from powerful lungs, a little weak by
illness. Although one sees the effort it
costs him to send his voice over the
house, there was none of that ladder
like shrieking, the build yourself-up-
gradually-and-tumb umble-dOwn-On-the- 9th
er-side sort of hortation which obtains
so extensively with popular preachers.
SpurgeOD relies for his effects upon the
greater or less fuIness of tone, rather
than upon changes in its pitch. After
few ordinary remarks upon the privilege
of being In his house to-day to offer up |
prayer for the people of God, his prayer |
turned to the subject of salvation from
with the words, few and |
simple enough Grant, o Lord, that !
we may this day be hedged in from all |
sin" Now you viii hardly believe that |
the effect of that little petition, as he |
delivered it, was beyond all description. |
As he leaned far forward over the rail !
and spoke the words with a slow inten- |
sity, the consonants of the "h-e-d-g-g- !
ed" thrilled through that great audi |
ence as must have done the famous |
g disgorge" of Webster.-Cor. N Y |
World.