Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-09-24
ON SPURGEON.

I'VE copy from DR.. F. B. Robinson's note
book the following letter
1t is May day in London. The sun
tries to send its rays through the black
dirty atmosphere of this big city, but
the traveller looks in vain for any
continuous sunshine. 1t is Sunday
and our attention is turned toward
churches and preachers. Grand edi-
fees and great men exist here. All
who "do'' London visit these weird
big cathedrals to hear the great ex-
Founders Of theology. The noted
celebrities in this thing here are
numerous. Among the most promi-
nent are Sturgeon, Cannon Farrar,
Cannon Liddon, DIR. and Cath
Ollie priests. To-day Sturgeon is
announced to preach in his own Taber-
Woodworking and evening. We
start early in order to be there in time
from Trafalgar square "off strand"
and 90 down White Hall street by the
government Offices These, especially
the treasury are we'll guarded by sol
diers in uniform. A little further and
we pass the beautiful statuary monu-
ment of Lord Beaconsfeld-the man
defeated DER and Ger again, but 'er
disgraced. There just across the
street is West Minister Abbey-a uni
versal sepulchre, 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
action. We go on by the old Parlia-
ment 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 contribution in box one
is allowed to pass in little earlier and
take a ''waiting seat" The crowd
gathers thick and fast until about
5000 people are in waiting for the
great DiSsenter to appear. Fifteen
minutes before service all seats are
made free and one takes any seat he
can get, rule to prevent pew renters
from keeping seats empty during SER
vice. The inside of the tabernacle is
in the form of an egg. It 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 80 feet
from the end Of the tabernacle toward |
the center of the building. The speak
er thus stands entirely surrounded by
the audience. The pulpit is the oldest
thing in the building. 1t has railing
In front and stairs running up to it on
either side. Much rushing and iost-
ling occurs at opening of the taber-
nacle, but trained ushers call out in
clear sentences ''plenty of room for
all" "You will all get seat" In a
very kindly and gentlemanly way the
crowd is soon seated. There is no
choir or organ OF any instrument to
sing with. The whole congregation
5000 strong. sings. All are now
seated and watching the pulpit. Slow
ly yonder comes short stoutly built
man with grayish brown hair, rather
closely cropped whiskers and a massive
head. He wears long Prince Albert
coat unbuttoned. His clothing is black
and appears much too big for him.
He moves slowly because he is great
sufferer with govt, which prevents him
from preaching considerable part of
the year. In general appearance he
is typical Englishman. He made a
short pointed prayer, sings with the
congregation, reads two scripture les
sons with unique, original and telling
concentrations. In the reading and
singing of hymns he is 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 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
propriate. His language is simple and
easily understood. His illustrations
are very good. He has powerful
voice, never rants, but he CLOVIS with
enthusiasm and eloquence. Spurgeon
has mannerism of constantly putting
up his right hand to brush back
heavy head of hair. He is a powerful
man among the common people. He
seems to thoroughly believe what he
says. Few can sleep under his elo-
quence. One says Il have been here
eight years and his congregation has
steadily increased He attracts great
numbers of laboring people because he
Il