The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-10-22

culation. From the beginning OF 1854 ona n
his sermons was published every week. nm mr.
rangement which has been continued without
interruption from that time to this. According
to the biographer. mo other minister the
world has ever known has been able to produce
one printed sermon weekly for twenty seven
years" He adds what he characterizes as
"A gratifying fact. not generally known. that
from tho first year Of Mr.. 6purgeons ministry
In London several clergymen have used his
sermons weekly. with a little adaptation. in
their own churches. This testimony has been
given by the clergymen themselves. in person
and by letter. to the writer" Far from stigma
tlzing these performances as pagiarsms. tho
compiler Of this volume observes with unction
that the sermons. though delivered second
hand in this manner are not without fruit"
In 1856 Mr. Spurgcon married Miss Susan.
nah Thompson. by whom he had twin sons,
Charles and Thomas both Of whom are now
settled as pastors. In the same year the dea-
cons OF his congregation found it necessary to
abandon the new Park street chapel. which.
although enlarged. had become entirely made
Quato to accommodate tho crowds attracted by
MIR. Spurgoon and to take the largest building
then available for their purposes in London,
tho Royal Surrey Gardens Music Hall. Hero
Mr.. Spurgeon preached every Sabbath morning
till the Great Metropolitan Tabernacle was
opened The last named building which was
completed in 1861. has seats for $500 persons,
and standing room for 1 ZOO more. During the
interval between the bandonment OF the Park
street chapel. and the opening of services in
the tabernacle. Mr.. Spurgeon preached two SER
mons. OF each of which more than 100000
copies were sold. The first. delivered in tho
autumn OF 1857. was entitled midas Ills and
Engands Sorrows" and had reference to the
mutiny in India. The second. which bore ON
tho same subject. was preached in the Crystal
Palace at Sydenham. where the audience is said
to have comprised not less than 20 900 persons.
His personal appearance at the time the WAS
then % years old is thus depicted by one OF his
auditors: He is Of medium height. quite
stout and has round beardless face. not high
forehead. and dark hair. parted In the middle.
His appearance in the pulpit is interesting
rather than commanding. He betrays his
youth. and still wears boyish countenance.
His figure is awkward his manners are plain.
his features Except when illumined by Z
smile) are heavy" The only physical instru-
ment of oratorical influence which he possessed
was his voice. which is described rs rich.
melodious. under perfect control. and so pow
erful that $4,000 persons have distinctly heard
every sentence he uttered in the open air."
When. to tho influence Of an organ which 1t Ii
said can alternately whisper or thunder at tina
wish OF its possessor. we add the effect Of thrill
ing description. touching anecdote sparkling
wit. startling episodes. striking SMILES. alt
used to illustrate and enforce the home truths
of the Bible" We have . combination OF ele-
ments which accounts for Mr.. Spurgeons ex-
traordinary power over IN audience.
Besides his ministerial lUbors. Mr. Spurgeon
has done great deal Of missionary and
philanthrOpical work. Eighteen years ago he
established q religious monthly magazine.
= -. ALL, 1, 49,
contributions have insured large circulation
among nom conformists. About the Same
time he organized an extensive system Of pro-
pagands by means OF colportage. which has
had the effect Of extending his personal infiu-
ence far beyond the limits of his audiences.
In the year 1880 the distributing association
started and directed by Mr.. Spurgeon. employ
cd 70 colporteurs who sold los. 900 books. and
272,000 magazines. besides distributing gratu-
itously 1874 900 tracts. In connection with the
Metropolitan Tabernacle was founded the So
called Pastors College. IN institution designed
to prepare young men for tho ministry. and the
Orphans Houses. at Stockwell. where desti-
tute and orphaned children are provided with
a home and an education. The Boys Orphan
age alone. when the buildings now under
way completed, will have accommodation
for 500 beneficiaries.
There was at one time widespread impress
sion that Mr. Sturgeon, by means OF his Col
portage Association. his Pastors College, and
the large number of new chapels which have
been erected all over England for the gradu-
ates of the last -named institution. WAS aiming
at the foundation of u new sect. Tho notion
was dispeled by the pastor OF the metropolitan
Tabernacle in a we'll; article entitled
there is no word in the world so hateful To
our heart as that word Spurgconism, and no
ormns neW HHr sSs ltn saw ANA" hat at
while his course has been. and will he. an indie
pendent one. yet 70 charge him with separating
trate an unfoundcd libel" He declares that
we are in open union with the Baptists for
the very reason that We cannot endure isola-
name last forever said George Whitfield and
SO has Charles Sturgeon said hundred times
We aid and assist the Baptist churches 10 the
restrict our energies to them and in this those
churches are far enough from blaming US"
me SrrAter part OF the large volume COM
from Mr.. Surgeons sermons. and coniribu-
tons to newspapers and magazines. 1t seems
TO us that ms utternnce- bear the test uf tyne
PIT orators VINO have gained great repntations
on this side ol the Atlantic. OF erudition and
culture thereiS no trace, nor have We any right
TO look tor II; but Mr. Spurgeon does not even
give you the impression Of speaking from a
thoroughly well-informcd mind as do Mr.
Richard Golden and Mr., John Bright. both of
whom were self-educated men As for his
command ovcreNprcssion. no one would dream
OF comparing his style with Mr.. Br2ht's or
with Coobetts or evcn with that of thc once
Widely real, non conformist cssayist, Foster.
The power, however, with which he wiclt,s tho
spoken word is ndisputab!e. Since Whitfield
the English non cOntormirtS have had no such
spokesman. and Il is acknow leds;"d hy his least
friendly critics that Mr. Spurgoon is nest To
Mr.. Gladstone. tho greatest orator now livin.
in tho United Kingdom.