New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-30
SURGEONS TABERNACLE.
A CURIOUS RCPTURE--DR. PIERSoN-SlR
THOMAS SPCRGEON-A LONDON
MILLIONAIRE.


MILLIONAIRE
Westminster, Oct. IS.
Thomas Spurgeon, son Ct the great preacher
and founder Of the Tabernacle has set forth his
return journey to New Zealand. fortnight
hence Dr. Picrson, OF New-York, is expected TO
arrive on the scene and occupy the pulpit where
through many years the first and only Spurgeon
marvclousy preached. 1t Is less than a year
since Sturgeon died, and already there are signs
Of the breaking up Of the great work he estab-
lisLed When on his death tho question II ap.
pointing SUCCESSOR came to the front. the great
mans brother, James, was ready and DESTROYS Of
coming to the assistance of the belatcd congrega-
ton. lie had acted with his brother In the ca
pacity of c0-pastor He knew all the ropes, had,
indeed, he dsrkly limited, pulled moro Of them
than the world thought, and what could be more
natural than that he should step into his brothers
shoes and pulpit? Perhaps Brother Janess
chances Of promotion would have been better il
he had been less active in urging them. Among
other things he permitted himself TO be inter.
viewed whilst yet hearts at the Tabernacle were
bleeding at the death Of their beloved pastor. In
the course Of the reported conversation he more
than limited that much Of the administrative work
that stood in the name Of Charles lIaddon Spur
SeOn really belonged to the humble instrument
known az Brother James Charles was all very
well In the pulpit, but il man Of affairs was
wanted TO overlook the extensive and wellcn-
dowed institutions that had grown up round the
Tabernacle Brother James was tho man. This
effort, though we'll meant and carefully directed,
had not quite the desired and contemplated effect.
Indeed. it happened quito otherwise, and Brother
James found himself hopelcssly in the rear.
Then the eyes tf the elders were turntd toward
America and your Dr. Picrs0n was invited n
afford the ngregatiOn at the Tabernacle an OPP
portunity Of making his acquaintance. lie cano
over in April last, and his preaching was 50 far
approved that at church meeting it was resolved
to renew the invitation, movement rasonany
regarded as preliminary to formal call perma-
nently TO fill the famous pulpit. DR.. Pierson re-
turned to New-York, and there was q general
understanding that everything was settled. 10
the mean timc az Mr.. William Black occasionally
observes in his novels, 10. a stranGe thing nap
pcncd. Some years ago one OF Spurgcons sons
Thomas. twin br thpr Of Charles SpurS"on, who
ministers at Greenwich. went out to New Hra-
land, and at Auckland founded Baptist Ch'irch
on the lines Of his fathers. Shortly after LII.
Pierson had returned to New-fork Thomas spur
econ accidentally dropped in at the Tabernacle and
was invited to occupy the pulpit till the Am'ri'
can preacher returned. This he did with uniore'
scco results. Thrmas is singuarly like his Illus
trious father in personal appearance, and stnd-
ously dresses up to his pattern His voc" IL not
dissiniar, the fathers style is closely followed,
and in brief il came to pass that some OF the Oh
members of the congregation hogan 70 say that
cir sing their eyes during tho sermon and infenfy
lstc ming they could fancy that the pastor was
back again and the old times had come again once
more
Some Of the cdcn-who sit around the roomy
platform which serves as pulpit at tie Tafer-
naclc and through divine scrvic" more or less
accurately recall groups Of scraphim-r"panrd
faithful to DIR. Picr.on, and section OF the con-
9rcgaton were with them. But the great mass
went over TO tho young preacher from N"w-I'a-
land and when the other night he prslcheh hs
farewell sermon. his discourse was broken in urOn
| hy sobs and lamentations at his going away.
The Kaikour1. in which he took his passage
for New.Zealand. weighed anchor at Craycsend
Yesterday afternoon Mr.. Thomas SplrSror was
| accompanied down tho river in a special steamer
engaged by members Of the congregation. who at
parting presented him with an adGrss in which
they expressed the belief that he was returning
70 Ncw-Zealand for only short time we
horpr they said "that YOU will bc sent back
| again to complete your life's work at the Metro
politan Tabernacle" All this was very awkward for
| DIR. Vcrson, and. in the present temper OF the
congregation, threatens split that may sof"N
| handicap the cool work which the administrative
genius of Spurgron, lres known than his pulpit
0rutory. bequeathed TO the struggling poor OF
London
| Great Britain cannot compete with the tni'ci
States in the production OF milionaircs. HE list
recently published in The Tribute has authorlta-
lively settled that question. Bat We IN LoEdop
ar. not absolutely destitute in this respect. In
&Lo A.,. tbnro mir fN,i % a
gentleman Of whom it was said with batel breath
that owing to the general depreciation of values
| for some months prevalent the stock TX
chance he was five millions sterling poorer than
| he was before the pulling mp of tho Barln2s gave
| y check 70 booming markets With that precision
| with which in the city other peoples pri'aoe
affairs are known, this gcnlemau> pr pcrty
fixed TO lave stood at il. normal figure AZ Tile IT,
spcctable sum OF eleven millions sterling. rs
| in the course Of tie last eighteen months many
stocks In which he is Il large holder hav" dep'e-
ciatcd By 80 per cent. lie is now an Object Of
| commiseration as heinz not likely TO icaize more
than six million II h" were sold mp to-ilor!ow'
| The germ Of the property does not 20 lurthcx
| back than n generation. But II seems nul'' MT
ural to the family to become misllontlrcs '.iGHy
years ago the father WAS engaged IN Snan Ie'
tail business in the city, parvcying odds ad ends
OF tittinvs for tailors. Ills business grew I'LL u
expanded into mighty warehouse. which in due
course was for a consideration. handed over 10
| limited liability company. ana Is AT this DAY
one Of the industrial institutions OF I'll" CITY,
| When the father died he LETT personally 'ha'
| amounted TO sixteen millions Stcrlin. Bat 'hN
| had TO be divided among his sons, and the some
what secdy looking gentleman IevcrertlalvIoiW'o
| out to mo in the city did not acquire m"s" t'an
triac OF four millions. This h" s,iulois.y
uursed till it became the eleven millions SpoSen
Of O. figure which il he lives few years 1t may
| touch again. and perhaps even exceed.
,l. mil, fro oNo