Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-12-13

ally, and is kept by her at Windsor
Palace. the one exhibited in this collec-
tion being only Il crystal facsimile of the
original
THE BRITISH MUSEUM.
Kensington Museum, Kew Gardens,
the Botanical Gardens, Geological Gar
dens, etc, ETC., were each visited, but
to give anything like a description of
any one of them would occupy the space
of several such letters as this. | will
only repeat what your readers have
often heard before, that each of these
collections is almost as perfect as such Il
collection can be, and is such Il one as
would be looked for in city like this.
In the genealogical department of the
British Museum are about $50, 900
specimens of shells; in the ornithologi-
cal, about $1,000 specimens of stuffed
birds while in all the other depart
ments the number of specimens are as
large in proportion.
At the Kew Gardens there are about
1000 varieties of ferns, and about rs
many of the cactus, while nearly every
tree and plant in the world may be seen
growing, including the fruit and spice
bearing trees and plants of the tropics.
sPURGEoN AND HIS TABERNACLE.
A visit to London without hearing
Mr.. Spurgeon would be regarded by a
majority of travellers as being almost a
failure, and | began to think that such
would be my experience, as he was sick
and unable to preach the first two Sun
days that | was in the city; but on the
last Sunday that | was to remain, it was
announced that he was better and would
otliciate. | started early, and was for
tunate i'll securing seat in the lower
gallery, about on a level with his plat
form, and not more than twenty feet
distant. The church, or tabernacle as
it is called, is oblong in shape, with two
galleries, one above the other, extend
ing entirely around, and will accommo-
date about 1000 persons. The platform
extends ont on level with the lower
gallery, from which there is an entrance
to it. There is railing around, but no
pulpit or other furniture ON the plat
form, excepting sofa and Il small table
by the side Of which Mr.. Spurgeon
stands when preaching. The choriater
and some SIX or eight elderly gentle
men-deacons, | suppose-sit in the
front Of the gallery behind the minister.
The seats fill rapidly-all excepting the
strangers having their particular seats
and when the time to commence service
arrived, every place in that immense
building was full, including the aisles,
where temporary seats were arranged.
This has been the case every pleasant
Sunday, it is said, for the last ten years.
'rIi, -, al I,n+ 60,
have ever received, and shows that he
possesses wonderful power. Mr.. Spur
geon came upon the platform from his
room adjoining, with hobbling sort of
a walk-it is said he is troubled badly
with the rheumatism-took Il seat mo-
ment, and then rose and made the usual
invocation or opening prayer. He is
now in his forty-frst year, began to
preach when he was about twenty years
old, and was first talked about as a
celebrity about twelve years since. He
is a short, thick set, tlark-complexioncd
man. When he is sitting entirely at
ease, he appears rather dull, and judg-
ing from his form and features, would
be almost the last man in a crowd that
you would select for an eloquent one.
But when he is fully aroused with his
subject, you can see that he is more
than an ordinary man. He speaks in a
very clear and distinct manner, and his
language III the first prayer, rs well rs
throughout the entire service, was very
plain, simple, and at the same time ap-
propriate. For instance, in the first
prayer he used substantially the follow
ing language, though / cannot remcm-
ber so as to give it with half of the
beauty as well as force and effect that
he did: "During the six days of the
week all our energies are employed in
driving forward the wheels of business,
and SO accustomed to revolve do they
become that it seems almost impossible
for us to stop their revolution when the
day of rest arrives. Lord, we desire
that they may stop. We wish that the
motion should cease entirely We de
sire IL day OF perfect rest. Lord help
us to apply the skids to the wheels, so
that there shall be no motion during
the whole of this Thy blessed Sabbath
of rest" He then read hymn, and
the chorister came to the front Of the
platform by his side and started the
tune, )" the whole congregation joining
in singing, the minister reading each
verse before it was sung. One of the
hymns sung during the service was the
familiar one commencing "All hail the
power of Jesus name," and to say that
the effect was wonderful does not begin
to describe it, The truth is, tie sing
lug of congregation like that must be
listened to to be understood. The SER
mon was short and to the point, the
language used very plain and simple,
and without any attempt at display in
any manner. He speaks with great
deal of eamestness. and apparently with
much feeling i'll what he says at the
same time there is nothing boisterous
in his tone or manner. Every person in
the congregation sits perfectly absorbed
in the man before them, who appears to
you entirely like plain Methodist min
lister in the country, and you ask your
self wherein his wonderful power con-
sists and when the service is done you
are still speaking the question, and can
only answer it by saying that his power
consists in his earnestness of manner
and simplicity of style