The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-02-14

Charles Haddon Spurgeon, who dis
cards the usual title Of reverend, Ii an
English Baptist minister Of the liberal
type. While he teaches that baptism
should be administered to believers ex-
clusively, he administers the Lords Sup
per to those who differ from him in this
view. On the other hand, he is the pas
tor of church which refuses church
membership to all excepting those who
hold that only persons who have been
baptized after the profession of their
faith in Christianity, should be admitted
to church membership. All the mem
hers of his church are, therefore, Bap-
fists, but all christians are welcomed to
commune with them. lie has revived
old-fashioned Calvinistic preaching in
bagfand, but those who condemn Wllst
is in their view narrow theological teach-
ing, admire and love its whole hearted
manly and genial defender. Mr.. Spur
geon's wonderful success as minister
seems to be due in great part to his sym
pathetic, sunny and brotherly disposi-
tion, his humor and ready wit. Asso-
ciated with these and tending to the
same end, is his uneompromising adher-
ence to the theological scheme which he
embraced in his early life. His teach
ing is certain and consistent, and also
characterized by an extraordinary sim
plicity ofeXpression, assistedhy apt illus
tration. He is diligent student of the
Puritan divines, Of Bunyan particularly.
His delivery is easy, perfectly natural
and unaffected, earnest hut not impas-
stoned, highly pleasing and impressive
but not eNemplyfying the highest form
Of oratory. His appearance is dumpy
and neither very intellectual nor refined,
but his smile is fascinating, and his voice
is sweet, clear and flexible. Mr. Spur
geon is the son Of a Congressional minis
ter. He was born at Kelvedon, Essex,
England in 1884 When fifteen years
old he left school as a pupil, and engaged
himself as an under teacher at Newman
ket. After remarkable religious ex-
perience he gave his thoughts to the
ministry Of the Baptist denomination
of which he had become member. His
first sermon was delivered while he held
the position of assistant master in a
school at Cambridge, was preached in a
tiny village chapel and was heard with
considerable interest, His services were
sought eagerly after this, and he was
known over considerable piece of coun-
try as "the boy preacher" AT seventeen
years of age he assumed the pastorate
Of Baptist chuch at Waterbeach, from
whence he removed to the New Park
Street Chapel, Southwark, London, where
he attained marvellous popularity. His
congregation so far outgrew the accomo-
| dations provided that in 1859 the erec-
tion of a monster building was decided
upon. 1t was opened free of debt two
years afterwards, and from that day un
til now has been attended by a congrega
ton averaging over six thousand persons
on Sundays when the great preacher
occupies its rostrum. Mr. Spurgeor
once preached to a congregation Of TWEEN
ty three thousand at the Crystal Palace
near London. When during the progress
of repairs at his Metropolitan Taber
nacle, he preached in the Agriculture
Hall, Islington, his audience numbered
about twenty thousand persons at ever,
service. Connected with his church, out
growths of its energies, are the pastors
college, from which several hundreds o
young men have been sent out as minis
ters, and an orphanage which was begun
at the instance Of a lady friend who sen
Mr.. Spurgeon check for one hundre,
thousand dollars with which to begin il
About three hundred orphans are fed
lodged, clothed and educated in this in
stitution Other institutions connects
with the Tabernacle are a colportage al
) sociation, aims houses for aged womer
! missionary station, Sunday schools,
/ mission to the blind, ladies' benevolen
, and maternal societies and many other
. Mr.. Spurgeon was happily married whe
q very young man. lis twin sons---h
has no other children--are minister
Charles, whose church Is at Grecnwic
E England, recently visited this countr
E and preached frequently. Thomas live
in New Zealand.