Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-06
MIR. sPURGEON,s JUBILEE.
A Great Gathering in the Metropolitan
Tabernacle.
CorYespo ndeace of the M0rnin0 Meas.

Correspondence of the M0rnin0 Meas.
LONDON, June 20.-Last night i at
tended meeting which merits more than
an ordinary notice. allude to the great
gathering III the Metropolitan Tabernacle,
to commemorate the fftieth anniversary
of Mr.. Surgeons nativity, he having
been born in Kelvedon, little village in
the county of Essex, on June 10,
/ 1884. AS yoIr journal circulates widely
| through the largely-Baptist State of Geor-
/ gia, l hasten to place you in possession of
| a brief account, which will be read with
| extensive and intense interest. Not
! that Baptists only admire Mr.. SpurgeOn,
| for all who profess and call themselves
| Christians share the esteem that is felt for
| the man who has wrought a work
which for elements of philanthropy and
piety, power and permanence, is almost
| unique in human history. Many will
marvel when they are informed or re-
minded that Mr.. SpurgeOn is only 30 years
| old; for again and again have | been met
! with expressions of surprise when, in an
swer to inquiries as to his age, L have
told his friends in Georgia and in other
parts of America, the year of his birth.
| For thirty years he has been, in a sense,
! the Prime Minister of England, certainly
our most popular preacher, while in every
! quarter Of the globe his name has become
| famous; and yet he is hut now in the
| meridian of manhood, with, it is hoped,
many years of honor and usefulness still
| before him, ere his extraordinary day of
| divine duty shall end in evening rest.
Furnished with the indispensable card
/ of admission / made my way last evening
! to the vast Tabernacle, which was be-
sieged outside by an eager crown, many
/ of whom were doomed to remain without,
not having the passport. Inside the build
ing, half an hour before the proceedings
opened, 5000 persons filled every seat,
and when / gained a square foot of space
where l could stand, not far from the
platform, / saw a sight that defes de-
scription. Such mass of living men and
women is a matter for thoughtful wonder
ment. but not for words. At 6 80 the hero
of the hour appeared, and what a greet
ing he received A sea of upturned faces
broke into smiles of welcome; the floods
clapped their hands, the swelling sea be-
came voiceful with shouts, and, amid
white waves of pocket handkerchief, the
tumult roared and resounded until it sank
into great calm as the honored preacher
uttered the voice of prayer. After this
commencement the exercises were con-
tinued through three memorable hours.
Their excitement eliminated about
O'Clock, when Mr.. Thomas Olney, the
treasurer Vi Il6 luDllSe pI6oSHIeu
Mr.. Spurgeon with a tangible token of
appreciation in the form of a check for
$500, or So, 800. This was given, as the
Treasurer stated, on account, as more
money is expected from admiring donors
in America, Great Britain, and other
parts of the world who desire to have
f@eT tesfmon fas when heTfe0 includes @Ra
not only the hundreds of pounds
from opulent merchants, but also the pen
MES of the laborers, the farthings of SUM-
day school children, and the widows
mites. / will not attempt a synopsis Of
the speeches that were delivered. The
octogenarian Earl of Shaftesbury, who
presided. spoke of Mr.. Spurgeon as the
most admirable, amiable and honorable
man he mad ever known. Canon Basil
Wilberforce, as dignitary of the Estab-
lished Church, felt privileged to bear wit
ness to the faithful minister of the gospel,
whose work was a national blessing. The
Rev. Newman Hall, as a near neighbOr,
said nothing but kind things Of one who
was best beloved by those who knew him
most intimately. Sir William Macarthur,
NJ. p, as Methodist, claimed Mr.. Spur
geon for the universal church. And DIR.
Parker, of the City Temple, humorously
contrasted Mr.. Surgeons present re-
nown with the oblOquy of certain
short-sighted critics thirty years ago.
1t was exceedingly gratifying to all pres
ent to see Mrs. Sturgeon enter into re-
newed health, after being an invalid near
ly twenty years. And upon the platform
were the faces of the father, brother and
son of the renowned pastor of the Taber-
nacle. The occasion was in many ways
significant. Honest service for God and
man has its reward; the masses still love
the simple gospel of divine love; the pull
pit has not lost its pristine power; "blood
is thicker than water,'' and the horoscope
of the future is flushed with hope.
TIMOTHY HARLEY.