The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1874-11-05
@.
Spurgeon's Church in London.

We got a scat in one Of the galleries,
says the Danbury man writing from Spur
geon's church in London, and found
ourselves in an obong building with sew
eral tiers Of galleries, and a wide spread
of floor, capable in all Of seating 10000
persons. It was not particularly attrac.
tive building, being merely a succession
o. sittings wherever We looked. At the
end opposite the front, and just below the
galleries, was broad platform. This
was the only semblance of a pulpit
There were but few hundred people
present when I eStered, and they looked
embarrassed and Insignificant in the forest
Of seats. I imaeinined there was to be
slim attendance.
When the doors opened the people
fairly swarmed in, and for fifteen minutes
they fairly piled into the aisIes without
cessation. But still the building was far
from being filled. I grew discouraged
Still they came floating in and filling up,
but when rather large and ovsrfed look
ing gentleman came upon the platform
from door under the lowest back.galIery,
and everybody about mo said, "There he
is" the seats were not entirely filed
he gave out the first hymn amid the
rustic Of dresses, and the shutting of
feet, and it was sung with . will, but
there was no interruption to the insetting
current Of humanity. I don't exactly
realize to this day how those seats were
Tiled, because it was done rs impercepti-
bly, us a gentle fall of snow hides the
earth and blocks up the ways. The hymn
was sung, the service read, and other
singing followed, aud all the while the
eager admirers Of Spurgeon raiucd down
upon the tabernacle, aud when he roso to
commence his sermon every scat was FL
led and the steps which formed the pas
sage'wsys between the gallery seats were
hidden beneath perspirinS but curious
humanity. In every direction but the
ceiling was sea of faces and clothing.
On the platform with the cause Of the
great gathering were the officers and ma.
ny of the prominent men Of the church
There was no choir.
Ten thousand people quietly seated
and filed with religious emotions and
cologne, is spectacle rarely vouchsafed
to n,QrtaIs gaia Here tAsy we're spread
out before me like : shsss Of ay-paper on
druggists show case; and all the little
eccentricities Of a congregation, but rare
ly noticed in the average gathering, swell
led into volume of startling Dimensions
in this huge audience.
The change of position, which is but
perceptible rustic in the average body of
worshippers, on the close of prayer o,
hymn, here became q rustling sound like
the breaking away of a great body Of wa.
ter, and the preparatory cough or hawking,
as the hymn was given out, arose from
ten thousand throats, and became magui.
fed into clap of prolonged thunder.
The man who steps on the end of foot
stool and tips it up, so that it frightens an
entire audience, was here multiplied by
thirty, with the most cheering success.
And when all the ladies took out their
handkcrchiefs to wipe their mouths, it
seemed go much like snow storm, that I
had put on my hat and pulled it down
over my eyes, before realizing my mistake.
The turning of the leaves Of ten thousand
hymn books need not be described. Any
imagination enjoying the mo.t moderate
health, can depict the noise without trou.
bic. The nearest thing I can liken it to.
is the rolling and breaking of tho surf
upon New Hampshire coast
Mr.. Spurgeon is the main object of in-
tsrest He is large man, and thorough
Englishmsn in appearance. A broad,
reddish face, light hair, and square form
too large for the length. There was
nothing particularly attractive about his
voice. He preached without notes.
Ono oF tho ssddaet tb;nos shaut tho