New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-09
THE PARSONS STUDY.
ABOUT MEN AND THINGS.


OF MI Spurgeon. When about to leave he took the
boy on his knee and said Il feel solemn PRESENT.
ment that this child will preach the Gospel TO thou
sands and God will bless him many souls. So sure
am OF this that should like him to promise me that
when my little man breaches in Rowland HIPS Chapel
a. ne Will one day, he will give out the hymn begin
ming:
God moves in a mysterious ways
The prediction fulfilled. said Mr.. spurgeon in
later years; when had the pleasure Of preaching
the Word OF Life in Surrey Chapel and also when
preached In Mr. HIPS first pulpit at wOOten Edge, the
hymn was sung in both places. Did the words Of
Mr. Knll help TO bring about their own fulflmenti
think So believed them, and looked forward to the
time when should preach the Word
As boy spurgeon especially fond Of the Bible
and the Pilgrims Progress, two books which doubt
less did much TO form his robust style well as his
equally robust religion. He hated sham and incOn-
sstency When six years of age he happened TO see
a religious man talking with some rreigiOus men on
the street and going up 10 him, dumfounded him with
the question, /" What dOest thOu here Eltah;S No
boy could have been free from sin Of any sort,
and yet he constantly burdened with the convic
ton of his deep sinulness and his prayers for pardon
we're sometimes agonlzng. He went from chapel TO
chapel seeking in vain for preacher who would con-
vict him Of sin and show him how he might be saved
At last he strayed into Primitive Methodist chapel
where thin man said to him: d" Young man, you are
In trouble YOu will never get out of 1t unless you
look to Christ" and then lifting up his hands he
cried out, Look. look, look 1t is only lookl' IL
saw at once" said Mr.. spurgeon, the way of saliva
ton. oh. how l did leap for Joy at that momentl
know not what else he said did not take notice of
i'll was so possessed with that thought. Like
as when the brazen serpent lifted up they only
looked and were healed. / had been waiting to do
fifty things, but when I heard the word Look what
charming word it seemed 10 me Oh, looked until
| could almost have looked my eyes away! And in
heaven l will look on still in my Joy unutteable.'
He became a Baptist and attracted attention as
a Sabbath-schOol worker. When he was sixteen he
preached his first in cottage from the text,
3" Unto you therefore which believe, He Is precious
A small church at Waterbeach az onco engaged him
as It's preacher and in two years he had doubled the
membership He extended his labors 10 eleven other
villages and was practically preaching every day in
the year. The new Park street Church in London
heard Of him and engaged him as supply. He made
a sensation and In his twentieth year he was called
as pastor. In a few months the half empty church
was crowded and it was determined to enlarge It, In
the meanwhile services held in Exeter Hail. which
was filed 10 overlooking. When he returned to his
enlarged church thousands unable to gain ad-
mittanoe since then the career Of Mr.. Sturgeon is
familiar to all. For many years he has been one OF
the foremost preachers OF the world His activity has
been incessant and the amount Of work he has done
Is amazing. Besides editing and Wiltng lot HIS
monthly magazine "The sword and TrOwel,' since
January. 1863 he has written "The Saint and his
Saviour" "The Treasury Of David, An Exposition of the
psaImss In seven octave volumes; "The New Park
Street Pulpit" and the Metropolitan Tabernacle Pull
pit which contain about 1000 OF his weekly sermons
from $50 1882 making thirty lar &c volumes Also
Lectures to my Students" Commenting and COM
mentariesr John Ploughman," the "Cheque Book OF
the Bank of FAITH and various other publications.
Many ~ thaSe have been translated luto various
tongues.
In 1887 Mr.. Sturgeon withdrew from the Baptist
Union with the following explanation
ITO pursue union at the expense Of the truth Is
treason to Jesus. To tamper with His doctrines Is
to become traitors 10 Him. we have before US the
wretched spectacle of proessedy orthodox Cnrsuahs
nubIicly ayowipg union with those who deny the
faith, and deny the personality Of the Holy Ghost.
Az might be expected, he is conservative OF the
.traItest kind, and his designation Of the liberal
movement in the churches the dOwn-grade in
theology has become historic. The foundation-stone
Of his present Tabernacle laid in 1859 by Sir
ssmue Morton Peto and the edifce was opened for
worship In 1851 having seats for 1850 people ana
standing room for 1000 more. Ever since 1t mas
ALWAYS been crowded when Mr. Spurgeon preached
The church has a membership Cd $500 WIN lou IocaI
preachers 81 mission stations, 90 Sunday and ragged
schools and nearly 5000 scholars. There are also
Pastors COLLEGE, with 20 students for the ministry
two orphanages with $50 orphans in each, and
coportage association, employing rs oolporteurs IN
80 counties Truly great and useful career WHICH
all will hope may not be ended for many years 10
come
have received the following communication, which
pnnt because II expresses the fears OF certain Episco-
palians Looking at the matter impartally cannon
see that there is any good reason for these frs Io
Anglo Catholic movement in the Episcopal Ch'IVh
is marked by some reaCtionary tendencies ana some
OF its disciples are unduly anxious TO return 10 the
outworn theories and ideas OF the past. But the
movement has already done much to promote uuo
spirituality, and it has in 1t elements Of permanent
value which the Church cannot afford to ignore
fear my correspondent does not take suihGenuy
comprehensive view Of the subject. He Is Judging
a great movement by q few petty squabbles. As
look at the matter, AngoCatholicism is gong 10 DC
profoundly modified by modern Christian scholarship
and the liberal movement Of the age. The logic OF
the situation suggests union Of the High Church ana
Broad Church parties which will result I'm each party
dropping its untenable theories The appearance OF
Lux Mundi7 is an indication that the union has al
ready begun and it will not be permanently hindered
by the efforts of irrecOnciables either side. With
this preface, give the letter of my correspondent:
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The question about Dr. Phillips Brooks is set
tied at last and, Providence permitting he viii become
Bishop in due title some OF IL EpiscOpdIldns nave
been watching this co1est with interest, not because
because We are anxious the future Of the Church
OF our baptism This has been test OF the Strength
Of the Remaining movement In the Episcopal Chlrch.
The Oppost DR.. Brooks has been almost wholly on
the part Of this Remaining clement mat TINS party
exists none can GOubt. What it would bring our
Church TO- one can see by the churches Of ST. lgnatus
and ST. Mary the Virgin In this city ms party mas
failed this time, but il IS sad 10 think That the 0ppJs
top was so strong bitter IL and next time II
may succeed. Are coming 10 thS, that no one DII
a High Churchman can ever be confirmed by the stand
ing committees
what sIoall like to know is this: Does the Brooks
case show that the Remaining movement I'D our
church has grown stronger weaker say IN the last