Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-10-08
ON STURGEON.


big city, bot the traveller looks in
vain for any continuous sunshine.
1t is Sunday and our attention is
turned toward churches and preach
ers. Grand edifices and great men
exist here. All who edo" London
visit these weird big cathedrals to
hear the great expounders of theol
ogy. The noted celebrities in this
thing here are numerous. Among
the most prominent are Sturgeon,
Cannon Farrar, Cannon Liddon,
and Catholic priests. To day Spur
geon is announced to preach in his
own misunderstanding ana even
ing. We start early, in order to DE
there in time, from Trafalgar square
"off strand" and go down White
Hall street by the government Offices.
These, especially the treasury, are
well guarded by soldiers in uniform.
A little further and we pass the
beautiful statuary monument of
Lord Beaconsfeld-the man defeat
ed DER and DER again, but ne er dis
graced. There just across the street
is West Minister Abbey-a universal
sepulchre, a temple of fame of the
dead where rests the bodies of men
and women whose fame has spread
over the earth. 1t looks dingy and
solemn, but WHITES in the memory
centuries of human beings and their
actions. We go on by the old Par
lament buildings and cross the
Thames on a solid bridge. a mile
more of dense city and we come to
Surgeons Tabernacle. Crowds Of
people stand ON the sidewalk waiting
for the two great iron gates to be
opened. BY dropping a contribu-
ton in box one Is allowed to pass
in little earlier and take "waiting
seat" The crowd gathers thick and
fast until about 5000 people are in
waiting for the great Dissenter to
appear. Fifteen minutes before ser
vice all seats are made free and one
takes any seat he can get, rule to
prevent pew renters from keeping
seats empty during service. The in
side of the tabernacle is in the form
of an egg. 1t has first floor and
two galleries which extend all
around the inside of the building.
The pulpit platform stands on level
with the first gallery about thirty
feet from the end of the tabernacle
toward the center of the building
The speaker thus stands entirely
surrounded by the audience. The
pupit is the oldest thing in the build
ing. 1t has railing in front and
stairs running up to ii on either side.
Much rushing and jostling occurs
at opening of the tabernacle, but
trained ushers call out in clear sen
fences "penty of room for all. "I
"Gou will all get seat" In very
kind and gentlemanly way the crowd
is soon seated There is no choir OF
organ or any instrument to sing
with. The whole congregation,
G,00o strong, sings. All are now
seated and watching the pulpit.
Slowly yonder comes a short, stoutly
built man, with grayish brown hair,
rather closely cropped whiskers and
a massive head. lie wears a long
Prince Albert coat uubuttoned. His
clothing is black and appears much
too big for him. He moves slowly
because he is a great sufferer with
govt, which prevents him from
preaching a considerable part of the
year. In general appearance he is
u typical Englishman. lie made n
short, pointed prayer sings with the
congregation, reads two scripture
lessons with unique, original and
telling concentrations. In the
reading nd singing of hymns he is
a born leader. He does it In such a
manner that the whole congregation
follow almost exactly what he says
He reads his text, takes off his
glasses and steps to the front of the
platform without a note, to preach
Spurgeon is a plain, blunt man and
Speaks right on in almost pure
Anglo Saxon words. He speaks
without hesitating and uses but few
gestures which are strong and app
proprate. His language IS simple
and easily understood. His illus
uatjons are very good. He has u
powerful voice, never rants, but he
glows with enthusiasm and elo-
quence. Sturgeon has a mannerism
of constantly putting up his right
hand to brush back a heavy head of
hair. lie is powerful man among
the common people. He seems to
thoroughly believe what he says
Few can sleep under his eloqueuce.
One says 81 have been here eight
years and his congregation has
steadily increased lie attracts
great numbers Of laboring people
because he talks plain and simple
and uses his office tor the betterment
Of mankind. He is independent