The Progress., 1892-05-07
ANECDOTES OF sPURoEoN
TT. Cou,d Not Preach with His Wifs
Looking at Him.

Looking at Him.
Among the crowd OF apocryphal an
acdofes concerning Mr. Spurpeon let
me record two for which | can per-
sonallv vouch. writes Edmund Yates
in the London World. At the Surrey
Gardens Music hall. if | mistake not
in the year 1856 where | heard
Thackeray's four lectures on the
Georges and where Spurgeon preached
regularly before the tabernacle was
built there were French windows
openinr out into the grounds The
Mace was crammed one hot Sunday
morning and these windows were
many of them left open, so that
fringe OF the congregation was stand
inc half In and half out OF the great
building.
New corners gradually edged some
of the others onto the floor some OF
whom remained covered. as they were
justified In doing so long, and no
longer. as their standing ground was
in the gardens These unfortunates
Mr. Spurgeon spoke at thus from the
pulpit before beginning his sermon. in
an easy friendly manner, but in those
magnifcent tones which vibrated
through the building: 81 regret to see
that there are some present who are
so unaccustomed 10 attend public wor-
ship that they have quite forgotten 1t
ia the practice to take off their hats. !"
This heard. and shall never forget
its effect in the Immediate dotfing OF
male headg and in a sort OF smoth-
cred hum of amused approval from
the crowd.
Another personal experience OF Mr.
Spurgeon was at the Crystal Palace,
where he preached TO 20. 900 people.
Seated near TO the pulpit | observed
Mrs Spurgeon take her place just be-
fore her husband appeared and that
she was visibly affected by the mighty
concourse of souls all with upturned
faces and fixed gaze upon one man.
and all about to be thrilled TO the
core by that mans impassioned ap-
peals to them TO be saved alive.
While Mrs Sturgeon was conceal
ing her emotion as best she might-iu
other words dealing furtively and
shyly with her pocket handkerchief
I saw the pastor beckon far of with
his forefnger to one OF the deacons,
a stout and solemn gray-hair man o
rubicund complexion and defect In
one eye, which | remember made me
speculate whether it was natural OF
acquired. He was in the very glossy
black which was the orthodox dissent
ing uniform in those far-off days anC
walked with limp which made his
progress up to the pulpit or rather plat
form, stairs tantalizingly slow.
Some brief but evidently importan
instruction was at last whispered By
Mr.. Spurgeon in the lame man S ear
aud % 900 people were at once ago.
with curiosity to know what this coult
possibly be at such q time when tn
whole vast place was quivering will
anticipation and suppressed emotiona
excitement happened to be seate'
so near to Mrs. Spurgeon that whel
the worthy deacon made for her" II
his crab-iike ponderous way 1t wa
unavoidable that ], at least out o
that vast and silent crowd of expect
ants, should hear what had delays
the pastor. and what the urgent matte
was he had. at such a critical moment
to communicate.
In hoarse, feshy whisper l hear'
this: MIR. Sturgeon says" could
help listening?-the interlude wa
serious and even dramatic, and m
ears craned that way whether / woul
or not) Mr. Sturgeon says pleas
will you change your seat 30 that h
will not be able to see you 1t" lit
was doubtless Mrs. Surgeons obviou
emotion) makes him nervous" an
the lady moved immediately to anott
err seat not visible from the preacher
Mace.