The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-08-30


galleries, one above the other, running
entirely around, and accommodates six to
eight thousand. l had heard Spurgeon
years ago. l was disappointed the first
time, and 1 went again. was still dis
appointed. But 1 was not disappointed
the other day. 1 did not expect any
thing extraordinary-only good plat
form address. He preached from Jer.
XXX: 81, For who is this that engaged
his heart to approach unto me? saith the
LORD" He preached just As minutes,
and there was not an inattentive ear
during the address. Entirely without
notes. 1t was a gospel sermon to the
very marrow-a complete epitome, in
fact, of theology-the Shorter Catechism
boiled down into one chapter. There
were no long words, but strong, vigorous
Saxon-with nothing superAuous-every
word necessary and appropriate-and
every thought leading up to the bringing
of Christ wildly before the audience as
the totality of the gospel. At times he
spoke with great power, and the dis
course as a whole, was unquestionably
one of the finest I ever listened to. no
longer wonder at his hold upon the masses
here, and the wonderful maintenance Of
his popularity through so many years
which reminded me of a similar case in
Richmond. blessed God that this great
city had such a man to stand up and pro
claim with such power an unvarnished
gospel. What loss he will be when he
departs! l care not whether he is Bap-
fist or Presbyterian or of any other name
he breaches the simple gospel of Christ
as it has rarely been preached before.
There is another point about Sturgeon
there is nothing sensational-there were
no side-shows. The music was not re-
markable-or rather the singing. and
there were no strange doctrines, and no
smart illusions to the topics of the day
to tickle the audience. 1t was just
plain, old-fashioned sermon-unaffecte
earnest, full of persuasion.
In the afternoon I went to Westmin-
ster Abbey. The service was held in one
of the chapels, and there was quite a
crowd. There was a sermon by Canon
forget the name, very good
discourse, but lacking the JUNCTION Of that
in the morning For the first time in
my life heard the whole service intoned
which to a mind constituted like mine
seems to be mere nonsense, and often very
profane. After the sermon the choir OF
boys assisted by several men-there
were no female singers) sang a piece
which I was long time comprehending,
but which I finally discovered to be
chapter from Kings-a purely histori-
cal narration of certain events. 1t may
be possible to defend and explain the
chanting of the devotional or hortatory
parts of Scripture-but the philosophy
of setting mere affirmative proposition
like, "The distance from Bethany to
Jerusalem is - furlongs music,
and singing it, is something cannot un-
derstand Ishould be glad to hear some
explanation of it, Just as well intone
the propositions in Euclid.
The Londoners do not take the street
cars" which are here called the tram
ways but the means of locomotion are
abundant and cheap. The tramways are
not permitted in the limits of city, nor
are they aristocratic enough for the West
End but they are found on the suburbs
The omnibuses run in every direction
and in all the thoroughfares, and carry
twenty-four persons, twelve inside and
twelve on top, besides several other
seats by the drive. The fares are from
a penny to six-pence according to dis
lance, and are collected by the guard,
who stands on step by the door The
driving here is one of the wonders, the
manner in which they drive
at rapid rate, the wheels of the vehicles
fairly brushing each other at every step.
The "hansoms" are light two-wheeled
with the driver perched high up
on seat behind, his reins passing over
the top Of the cab They 60 like light
ning-the horses often in gallop; car