The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-26
A CLUSTERING SUNDAY,
But the Attendance at
the Churches in No
Way Lessened.
REV. DIR. HATCHER on STURGEON
AND HIS WORK.
suoaay-sehool Meeting. and Church Notes

dav. lust such a day as is calculated TO
make every who could do so stay IN
doors. And set so great is the church-
going propensiiy Of the people Of Rich
mond that reither wind, dust nor cold
conld nreyont The churches from being
well attended by their usual congregs
tiOns. -,
Nothing unusual in the church world
occurred, however. and about the most
interesting event OF the day was the di5
course last night by Rev DR.. Hatcher at
the First Baptist Church on "Spurgeon
and His Work" The church was crowded,
and though Dr. Hatcher was suffering
with a troublesome hoarseness which must
have made speaking very painful, he was
listened 10 with absorbed attention from
the time he began his discourse, about
$50. until he closed at 10 o'clock.
He said that during his recent visit
abroad nothing Of his entire trip so IN
terestei him as Spuryeon's character ana
work. He wished he had the power 10
depict the real greatness OF the man, as
| he was convinced that by 80 DONG he
could do much towards makicg man
kind better. He had been asked since
mis- return if Spurgeon was an old man.
Tnasmuch a. he had been born only tve
weeks before himself the speaker ana not
feel at all disposed 10 clsssify
him as man OF great age
His ancestry came from the poor weavefs
of Belgium, but he had said he wOulu
rather he among those singled out 10
preach the gospel than to have IN us
veins the blood Of Emperors. lie be
Longs to a family of preachers. HIS
father and his brothers had all been preach
els. thereby proving the talslty OF tha'
llihei of the devil about sons OF preachers
being the worst boys in the parish In
fact they were usually the best
Spurgeon's family were not Baptsts,
bnt Conrregationalists. lie was con-
veried when he was fifteen years OF age.
lofter laboring under conviction Tor SIX
months. aud the fact that he gave the
suhiect such prolonged consideration
was what was the source oil his po1eI'
for q mans value in preaching the gos-
mel was i'm exact proportion TO bis earn
cstness. , "a
When first converted be joined MS
fathers church. but when ne uegan
studying The Greek Testament he became
convinced that immersion was the only
nroner bsptism, and he decided TO enter
! ,hat Accommodation. His decision caused
| him great embarrassment but What maui
! him the man he was was his courage u
he faithful 10 an honest conYiction' TO
long after his union with the baptis's hi'
| brother James also became one.
e At sixteen Charles began 10 preach
hut took care not to preach hlmstH t'
C death. as so many Precocious younl
p preachers did. He first preached IN al
1 humble station. but at nineteen was calle'
e IN ( ondon 10 the Old Park street Chufcn
which was in a morlbund condition. d
e soon filled this Church, and 1t Decam
d necessary TO rent more cOmmOdiou
d quarters First Exter Hall was obtained
and then the Surry Music HAL, Wnlc
h.ld 10 600 people, was engaged. Her
he nreached to overlooking crowds an
II was finally determined TO Dun
him the preseni Metropolitan taDcrnacl
in which he had been preaching eve
since. Though he never misSeu any :
= his vast work, he was a constant SUI y
=, ~ from hereditary gout which kept hini
> ceaseless pain. eo,
, The sneaker then described Spurgeon
| domestic life. He lives at Beulah III
{ in the greatest msgnihcence, but ne ne
) entirely for Others. All his possessions,
"a saws he holds 10 trust for the Lord, al
'd ali his noultry, cows, milk, ilOweis al
OF whatever else he owns, he deyotes 10
ID ljeving the wants of his fellows
cares nothing for money except 10 g''
il away. ..o,, -,
IL vaIent in this country tnat Spurgeoh ia
81 loft the Baplists. Itwas not correct
u is aim AN earnest Baptist, but sSys ne it
lie tho Rantist Union because he says 'h
TO ,hev left the Baptist orthodox teachihs
r. AMI taurht what ne calls new theoios
be lie nern,its % limited extent open COZ
munion, but only as a means oi ie""''
oi men into the Baptist fOld'
n. Mr.. Surgeons great WORK vas NJ ~,
oil viewed in detail By tue spe 'kc'' w W.
eu ave a graphic description oi 1uc ni'
nj nificent church in which he no" pfe1C.n, ,.'.,
His congregation Of 6,oOo were ul'iv
iaio firy different organizations, ana
lands Yere upheld by all his assi5'ai
Snd deacons. lie has establisheu
loco which has graduated IOO pfeaonc
so0 ~ xhom are now preaching anu
has effected 10000 conversions. nc ne
also established splendid orphana,
an aged woman's home and various ao, O,'
lea enterprises, but he IS dong ms slInr Fae",
ave work through his books, he BENG
ing most extensive author and paulls
living. Ne caiis "''''"S
o, alton o.oo, a man
the asked the speaker. Because ne Is !"
the Serfully endowed, equally polseu
the uc'1 we'll worded; and canuot only do one one
m musl- many things well. There was was ;orasi sn'"
ces wonderful voice, his peculiar n imaY'
att ton which plainly but po%eii,uiils
uni nic,ed the Truth, and his good' pam, :,
'ich Fashioned common sense. All v
the made him the wonderful man nc was was
DIR Hatcher continued at cons'ue,
length, describing the various qua s"a
of This remarkable preacher ana
good he had accomplished anu ;a,s .no
konr and a hall, init