The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-10-20
SPURGEON IN THE PULPIT.
Listening to tho Noted Baptist Prsaoho OF
Tho Opening Snrvioo.

Tho Opening Sorvice.
Very fortunately Spurgeon was at
home ON this our last possible Sabbath
In London, and no time was lost in de-
Gliding to hear this great Baptist preacher
and divine. The day was delightfully."-
cool, and at an early hour we were on
top OF a bus and headed for the "taber-
nacle." The service was for
III a. M, and at 1890 we stood in front
OF the great plain structure that stands
In n rather poor part Of the east side Of
the city. People were gathering hur-
riedly, though not in great numbers as
yet, and we were directed to enter
through II gateway leading along by the
side of tho church. On the inside of the
gate we were handed what we sun
posed were tickets of admission. but on
examination proved to be little envel-
opes in which the visitor is requested to
place. what he chooses to give and drop
the amount i'll a box by the way, Az he
passes into the church.. This we did,
ana once on the inside we found O
long row of earlier corners than our
selves seated i'll chairs by the wall. We
were old to move on and take our
Places and these we found by the side
or rather back of the high platform and
and pulpit; but the kind usher said:
Wait here and l will do the best for
you can" and as he hurried from point
to point directing others where to 20, in
passing us would say, "Bu patient, and
l VIII see what l can do" We heard
hlm ask one after another of the pew
holders" if they had any room, and as
o was found some one was quickly
shown to it, so that just before the min
lister took his place upon the stand we
were all provided with good seats just
In 'front.', the only Inconvenience being
That we had to look up at an anglo Of
about 90 degrees to see his face.
All this impressed me the more from
the fact that have so long been accus-
toned to seeing audiences assemble, and
seeing persons waiting for seats, and l
recall the saying Of Mr.. Beecoer, that he
thought that a good usher at tho door
could do about as much good as tho
preacher in the pulpit; and surely this
II usher at Mr.. Surgeons church had
said his prayers that morning, and no
one could have don more or better thar
did he. l should like to some time give
him a seat at our table in Chicago, and
q good bed at night.
Dir. Spurgeon, in appearan"" =,
heavy-set, typical Enc;;;A; r,,,
h,,nnIt"t lad expected to see,
inv 4 out few gray hairs, but inclin-
- to an excessive corpulcncy. We
were told that his health is not firm;
but in voice and movements he showed
no sign of weakness. He impresses one
az being n man of deep, honest convic-
lions and purpose in his life work, and
he Ia wholly free from mannerisms and
Alterations. When the great audience
was seated he arose and offered a short
but impressive prayer; after this he an
nounced a hymn, which was led in the
singing by a plain nan with a
strong, clear voice, the audience
seemingly all joining. There was
no Instrumental music, and the
song service, if not of a high order
artistically, was certainly not want
ing in volume and carnestness; | liked
it; and wished something like it might
be in every church in America. After
the hymn-trc stanZa5 OF which the
preacher read before thoy were ing
came the reading Of the 10th Psalm
mud the seventh chapter Of Hebrews, with
lengthy comments. me then Il second
hymn after the manner Of tho first; and
this was followed by the longer prayer.
One could readily az lcrstand that the
preacher prayed not alone Sunday and
and in the pulpit, no full WAS the PRAYER
or personal experience, and of deep,
heartfelt communion with God. ana re-
aliZatiOns Of the needs and sufrrings Of
mankind.
h opening service, including a third
hymn, lasted most thrco.quartrrs OF an
hour, and then came the sermon from
Heb. vii, 23-25. 1t was upon the inter
ccssioh Of Christ, and throu .i.out was
natural and easy in delivery, plain in
language and simple in method. The
great preacher is not what one would
call n great thinker; III, mind works by
accretion, or gathering, rather than by
evolution, or unfolding and growth in
the development of Il theme. But he is
earnest and honest, and evidently be-
ieves what he says; no, does he mako
any apology for saying it.-Dr. Ii. w.
Ihomas in Chicago Tribune.