The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-10-13
CORRESPOND NOE.
Letter from Rev. DR.. Dabney.
LONDON, Sept. 21st, 1880.


MessrS. Eo5tors,-We reached London,
on our return, last Thursday. Our expe-
rience verified the usual remark, that
even those who are sea-sick no where else
must be so on the English Channel. A
night passage, doubled in length by head
winds and rough water, made us both
wretchedly sick. But we are again in
the metropolis of the English world and
although utter strangers, we begin to feel
almost at home, in town where people
speak our mother-tongue. On the 30th
Of September, we sail from Glasgow, in a
swift steamer; and hope to be at the
Seminary and at work by the middle Of
October The furlough so kindly given
me by the Trustees will still lack six
weeks of ending But knowing that the
Seminary has opened and that my col
leagues are proceeding under disadvan-
tage from my absence, cannot consent
to prolong my stay.
Spurgeon and his Work.
When the Sabbath came, proposed to
the young Americans with me to go, of
course, to hear Spurgeon. The weather
was, as usual in London, execrable. So
our best philosophy was, to argue: "Now
Mr.. Spurgeon's rainyday congregation
with his fair-weather one. We'll, it
compared very favorably; there were
three thousand people present; his full
number being five thousand But we
were doomed to another disappointment
When the hour arrived, youthful look
ing person, very much like one of our
icentiates, appeared on the ro8t4qt7e, and
having begun the devotional services,
read note from Mr.. Spurgeon, excusing
himself on the ground of severe sickness.
He had been i'll week before last, had re-
gained enough strength to preach the last
Sunday and was now sicker than before.
The young gentleman who appeared in
his place was his son; he officiated with
good sense and propriety, reminding us
Of his father, in voice and method some
what as the moon of the sun.
These returns of the clouds after the
rain, coupled with Mr.. Surgeons Sc
we're sufferings in previous winters, sug-
gest the fear that his splendid work is
near It's end. This sorrowful thought
again suggests question which strongly
illustrates a principle of Church govern
ment Who IS to take up Mr.. Spalrgeon's s
20ork aUhe,e has o1On strong hand IS paIsied2 ?
This work is great deal more than that
of popular pastor only. The Taber-
nacle church, with its more than three
thousand communicates is small part.
There is the Spurgeon press, if may 50
call it, with its weekly journal, THE
SyOrd and ZFo1OeJ, and multitude of
subordinate prints there is the Stockwell
Orphan Asylum there is the Pastors
College, with one hundred and ten stu
dents, supported chiefly by the college;
one hundred and thirty-two new mission
airy churches, and thirty-six thousand
communicates. Now, Mr.. Spurgeon
would say, doubtless, the strength Of all
these is In their unity and his personal
energy and will are, now, the unifyinp
force. When that is gone, the Baptist
denomination are INDEPENDENTS" their
order can consistently offer no unifyinp
power to Mr.. Spurgeon's enterprises.
Hence, it is probable he will feel strong
inclination to attempt the Transmission
OF his personal influence, in some form. to
a successor. This individual, while in
name simple Baptist minister, will be,
IN effect, prelate, performing diocesan
functions, without episcopal responsible
Qes. lie may inherit Mr. Spurgeon' s
dlslnterested purity and equity, or he
may not. If the Transmission is made a
system, then, according to the order of
fallen human nature, it will not be LONG
before the successor will appear, who wifi
not be a Spurgeon in purity. Then all
the evils Of prelacy will be developed
and that, out Of the most anti-prelatio Of
systems. Thus one extreme generates
another But were MI, ,spurgeon Pres