The morning call., 1892-02-08
LONDON'S PREACHER.
Sturgeon Memorial Services Yes.
terday Afternoon.
Exercises in Metropolitan Temple-An Flo.
quent Tribute by Rev. DR.. W W. Case.
Luther's Prophetic Glimpse.

Memorial services in honor of the late
Rev Charles Haddon Sturgeon Of London
were held in Metropolitan Temple at 8
o'clock yesterday afternoon. There was a
large attendance. The memorial was given
under the auspices of the manager Of the
Peoples Gospel Services. E. E. Bayliss.
Every person entering was handed pro-
gramme and a eahet, containing an eloquent
tribute to the great divine, reprinted from
the columns of THE MORNING CALL.
Upon the platform were Rev. Drs. T. G.
Easton, G. 5. Abbott, W. w. Case and Mrs.
Ruth Bergman Ridges, the Quaker Evangel-
iSt, formerly of London. but now of Pasa-
dena, Los Angeles County. a cOrnetist led
the congregational singing, the organiSt ac-
companying.
Mr.. Bayliss presided and smoke several
times. Or. EastOn read sCriptuTai selec-
tons and offered prayer. Dr. Abbot spoke
on Mr. Surgeons loyalty TO Gods word,
DR.. Case on Mr. SpurgeOn as preacher of
the gospel Of the grace Of God, and Mrs
Ridges on the thoroughly practical char
aCter Of Mr.. Surgeons ministry.
AN ELOQUENT TRIBUTE.
The address Of the afternoon was by Dr.
Case, whose elcQuence frequently excited
the audience 10 applause. He said he repre-
scented 100000 MethOdjsts who were
ready to lit up their voices and hands in
praise Of Mr. SpurgeOn's work. Spurgeon
was emphatically a great preacher, first,
last ana all the time. He Will be known all
down The ages as preacher Of the word of
God. The evidences OF preaching were
truth and personality. Mr.. Sturgeon had
both these and they made him tue peerless
preacher Of his time.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR PREACHING.
Dr. Case portrayed in vivid words the
A1r IA mi MI frNr
ana his first appearance IN London as
gifted preacher at the age OF 10 For 50
years his fame steadily grew. He possessed
iu an eminent degree the ten qualifications
which Martin Luther had defined as neces-
sary to make a successful preacher. lie
had simplicity. lie could present whatever
he had 10 say in proper order. lie used
good language. possessing an extraordinary
gift in this respect. lie had a good voice,
Ms only rivals in this gift being Henry
Ward Beecber Gladstone and John Bright,
and so. 600 people could hear him distinctly
in Crystal Palace. lie always had some
thing to say, for lie was as 1ull az i0unt-
ain.
KNEW WHEN TO STOP.
He knew when 10 stop. He was dill
gent student: one Of the most industrious
of bis time. He had good head for he
had a marvellous faculty Of arranging his
work and Of setting other people to work.
He was fearless ana preached what he be-
leyed before God to be the truth. Finally
he was willing to be yeXed and harassed by
adverse criticism.
Dr. Case thought that either Martin
Luther had prophetic glimpse Of Spur
geOn OF that Sturgeon had built mp his
preaching on the standards formulated by
Luther
KNEW now TO CRYSTALLIZE THOUGHT
Tie reverend gentleman read a few ran
dom extracts from! q book containing 300
selections from Surgeons sermons TO show
that he knew how to crystalline mighty
thoughts into the narrow compass OF SIN
gle sentence. ''SpuTLeOu is not dead" he
concluded, He lives in the love of his
great congregation. He lives in the adj
mTation Of those who ever once heard him
while casually dropping IN at his services.
He lives IN the millions OF his published ser
mons, which viii 20 down the ages among
tie foremost literature Of the world. lie
lives in the esteem and admiration OF Chris
tian churches everywhere. lie lives in the
world Of Christians throughout all Chris
tendon.
UNFIT MoETUAGY SYMBOLS.
"No broken column, or imperfect shaft, or
overturned Urn, OF buTned-OUt torch ought
10 be used as a symbol over his grave. lie
remains win Il, to-day the incense Of
seasoned soul pouring out alteration before
God. He burns light for US to-day higher
and more enduring than he held or han
died for Us while here on earth"
LIRENED TO DAVID.
Mrs Ridges said that Spurgeon resembled
David more than any other biblical charac-
ter. He had a slnng and he knew how to
use It. So intensely practical was he that
the monuments be leaves speak for him to-
day.
A letter from Spurgeon to DR.. Abbott was
read in which the great London preacher
said he viewed with peculiar adherence the
thought Of preaching the gospel and deny
ing that he had listened 10 any financial in-
ducements whatever q, n consideration for
making a lecture trip in America His sole
reason for refusing TO 20 abroad was that
the work he had TO DO at home made II i'm
possible for him to leave his people IN Lon
don.