Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-02
sPURGEog.
semetbins About HIS Work ant His Home.

London than all the Archbishops ant
bishops OF the Establishment" IL Is M
common work that elected such an enco
MUM, nor II it a common man who's
fiftieth birthday Is celebrated this weel
as kind Of religious jubilee. The mos
surprising thing 20 most people viii be tn
discovery that Mr.. Spurgeon Is only fiftl
years old. His position Is aosolutel,
unique. OF all the ministers, Established
or Non. Established, IN the metropolis
whose rames were familiar when Mr.. Spur
geon came up from the country, not ont
now survives, and there is at the present
dry no man who, whether for universal
popularity or solid work. can hold u candle
20 the Essex pumpkin" Seldom has any
life more remarkably successful been lived
| for thirty years before The eyes Of all men
with such uninterrupted good fortune
| Other men have had vicissitudes, re-
| verses, disasters. Mr.. Surgeons only
| yicissitudes have arisen from his continu-
ally increasing influence. He has had ankle
| ty, no doubt. as other men. but II has only
been the anxiety OF growth. never the
misery OF decline. Everything. whether
II he an orpbanage or a magazine. tabcr-
Daele or q college. has prospored under his
| hands. The real bishop OF South London,
L
| popular authors Of our time, the head OF q
| college which has sent out five hundred
| students into the ministry. the founder
and mainiainer Of an orpbauage In which
| four hundred orphans find comfortable
home. the director OF colpOrtage associ.
! alton. the editor OF n magazine, and the
| presiding engineer OF the pent-up energies
OF n church OF tive thousand members.
Add 10 this n personal popularity 50 great
rs only 10 be measured by the yirulcncc OF
the abuse over which il has tr'uinphcd.
and we need no other explanation OF the
enthusiasm Of the Jubilee " IS ctle-
bratcd to-day.
IL IS not so much with Nj ~puI gcon's
public work that we have % d. to-day.
That is familiar enough 10 all men, both in
England and oft Of Il. We prefer rather
10 dwell for moment upon the almost
ideal private life Of one of the most famous
OF our public men. WcStwoOd, where he
at present lives, is n house on the extreme
western edge OF Beulah Hill, the southern
ridge Of the wooded heights Of sydcnham.
A more charming spot it would be difficult
TO ind in the lovelieSt suburbs OF London.
The house. which is a large one. stands in
the midst OF wel-wooded and spacious
grounds, commanding from its win
dows an extended view OF a wide
expanse OF Surrey. All is so peace
full and still that the house and the
grounds might be City miles from town iu-
stead of beng but three-quarters-of-an-
hours drive from the Tabernace-that
swarming hive Of ceaselcSs activity in the
heart OF busy London. The house Is APP
preached by a carriage drive entered bv the
lodge gates. The miniature lake, in which
a laf NJ OF nj nOQtInO
at the time Of our visit, lies Immediately
below the house. The grounds are taste
fully laid out, the lawns well kept, the
strawberries in good order. Mr.. Sturgeon
loves to bask IN the sunshine, and regrets
nothing so much at MentOne as the delight
Of bathing in the southern sunlight all day
long. A friend recently gave him water
proof mattress. on which he can Tic in the
grounds nj Beulah Hill without fear
Of rheumatism, but the blazing eflul-
genee Of The southern skies no mat
tress can supply. The stables aud coach
house lie out Of sight down the hill. they
are protected against witches, warlOcks,
and all the uncanny tribe by a mOnStrOuS
Horseshoe weighing a couple OF hundred
weight, the gift Of friend, who evidently
deemed quantity an invaluable specific
against evil spirits. There is fountain
with gold fish ia another part Of the gar
oeu. and any number Of beehiyes, for Mr..
Sturgeon is great Gpiarlan. aud loves TO
hear the murmur OF the bees as he strolls
through bis small domain. The borders Of
the kitchen garden are allaglow with pinks
and other hOmely English flowers, the beds
OF which yield every week heavy crop OF
floral fragrance for the slumS OF Southlrk.
The flower mission in connection with the
Tabernacle there is almost everything in
connection with tie Tabernacle except a
theatre and public house-sendS its CLEAN
ers regularly 10 Wcstwood, and their bas-
kets Of flowers gladden. many home In the
dark and droaTy alleys OF London. Rustic
arbOrS and convenient seats Olier pleasant
Testing-paces, nor ls the sense OF reSiful
seclusion and tranquility much disturbed I
even by the presence OF one or two fat
pags, ugly with the beauty OF their breed,
which run about the garden ms II it belong
ed TO them.
Within the house is very bright and airy.
The first thing that strikes visitor Is the
peculiar arrangement by which Wcstwood
in summertime stands all day long with
AL lis doors open TO the air and sunlight /
without any insecurity. Within the hail 4.
entrance 10 the house is barred by d wire /
lattice fastened with small brass lock. /
allowing free egress TO the air, but eXclu- |
ding all more unwelcOme intruders. Mr.. |
Sturgeon rather prides himself upon this |
and in the hot aud stuify |
London summer it would De q benefit TO De |
able TO leave the door open without any |
sense OF danger. Passing the lltticc door, re-
calling "reminiscences Of the wicket-gatc, the ,
visitor finds himself In a small entrance-hlll, |
from which the dining-room opens to the |
right and Dir. Surgeons study 10 the ,ei:;
while between the two lie Mrs. Surgeons
room. Mrs. Surgeons Owl
room, and Mr.. Surgeons library. Mrs.
Surgeons room, from whence she directs
the distribution OF the books provided by
the book fund, adjoins the small room,
where innumerable volumes accumulate
until the fortnightly wagon arrives from
the Globe Parcel Express, and carries them
OH from Wcstwood to all parts OF the world.
Mr.. Spurgeon received me in his study
just as he came in from the garden,
upon which the study windows open
directly. From the windows the eye wan
ders over. the kitchen garden, murmur-
Gus with bees, to Thornton Heath, with
Croydon III the distance. In this study
Mr.. Spurgeon keeps two private secretaries
going. He has two more at the
Tabernacle, one or two n. the college, and
others elsewhere. One OF them at West
wood Is shorthand writer, and, together
with bis colleague, he is kept busy till 6.
AL moneys sent for the college. orphanage,
&C., are sent direct TO Mr.. Sturgeon, who
Is the paymaster-general OF all his institu-
lions. 1t Is my constant labor" said Mr..
Sturgeon, to thrust OF some portion OF |
my work upon other shoulders, but il all |
comes back upon me. The more do the |
more there is to do" The study is work-a-
day room, the walls lined with books, aud |
the spacious table in the centre bearing |
abundant traces Of work and wear. Mr.. |
Sturgeon himself, in q white felt wide |
awake and hight alpaca garden-coat, |
chatted pleasantly OF men and things. A |
genial, hearty man-fulloi shrewdness aud |
humor- whose character has broadened |
and deepened as he has made his way |
through life, and Who. having lived down |
the calumnies with which he was almost |
overwhelmed at first. now maryels most |
OF all at the all-encompassing atmosphere |
OF reverence aud love In which he |
spends bis life. Mr.. Sturgeon has mellow
ed much with time; like generous wine. |
he has improved with age. 1t was very plea |
SAINT to hear him hold forth In the midst OF |
his well6lled shelyes-forty well-bound !
volumes OF his sermons stood Immediately |
behind his chair concerning the teachings |