Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-02-04
DEATH OF Mr.. STURGEON,


After IL p. m. on Sunday at Mentone.
MENToYE, ITALY, Feb. MIR. Spur
gecn died shortly after II o'clock last
night, His end was painless. He re-
manned unconscious to the last. His
wife, DIR. Fitzhenry and Miss Thorne
were present when he died.
Mr.. Surgeons body will be taken to
England for burial. Mrs. Spurgeon is
bearing her affliction bravely.
Mr.. Spurgeon took little milk dur
ing Saturday night, but early Sunday
morning it was evident that there was
no hope. Once or twice he just recog-
nized his wife. After 10 q. M, he took
no food and gradually sank.
Between his attacks of suffering on
Saturday he was able to speak, and ex-
pressed himself as anxious to send q
message to his congregation. He thought
constantly of his wife.
SERVICES IN THE TABERNACLE.
LONDON, Feb. 1.-At all the services
held yesterday in the Metropolitan
Tabernacle, of which Mr.. Spurgeon was
pastor, the auditorium was packed.
Rev. Mr.. Pierson and others offered
earnest prayers at these services and
read to the congregations telegraphic
bulletins from Mentone.
The morning papers contain long
memorials and obituary articles on Mr..
Spurgeon. The Chronicle appears with
q mourning border. II compares the
dead pastor to Martin Luther. The
Telegraph characterizes him as "a great,
fearless and faithful minister" 1t adds:
"Albeit of homely genius and elo-
quence, all agree that he leaves void
that will be filled with difficulty"
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER.
Charles Haddon Sturgeon was the son
of Rev. John Spurgeon, a minister Of
the Independent denomination, and was
born at Kelvedon, Essex, on the 18th of
June, 1884. His relatives intended him
from the first for the Independent min
istry, and proposed, when he had at
tanned the age of 16, that he should en-
ter one of their colleges and undergo
the usual training, but the boy had
formed Anabaptist views, and at this
iuncture left the church of his father
and joined the congregation which had
been presided over by the late Robert
Hall at Cambridge. This was in 1850.
On joining the Baptist communion he at
once became an active tract distri-
hutor and school teacher and
village preacher. In 1851 he removed
to Cambridge, and began to deliver cot
tage sermons in that city and neighbor-
hood, being known as the "boy
preacher" He became popular at once,
and never since then has he had to speak
or preach to empty benches or pews. AT
the age of II Mr.. Spurgeon was in
charge Of small Baptist congregation
at Waterbeach. The barn in which the
congregation met was every Sunday
crowded with auditors, while hundreds
contented themselves with listening to
the sound of his voice from the outside.
1t was not long before his fame
reached London, and he was called
there. His preaching attracted con-
stantly growing crowds in the Eng
lish metropolis. and one building
after another was abandoned because
too small to contain the thousands
eager to hear him. The great Taber.
nacle, opened in 1851, when Mr.. Spur.
geon was n years of age, has for &c
years been the scene of his labors. AS
an educator and philanthropist Mr.
Sturgeon ranked high. From his Pas
tors College, which was founded il
1856, hundreds of preachers have grad
uated. One Of Mr.. Surgeons creates
projects is the Stockwell Orphanage
Five hundred boys and girls are caret
for in every way and most efficiently II
this institution at a cost of about / ,00I
per annum. A long list of smaller in
situations have been, like this, sustained
by voluntary efforts, inspired by Mr.
Sturgeon.
The membership of Mr.. Spurgeon'
church was reported few months age
at 1854 persons. In October, 1887, Ia
withdrew from the Baptist Union an,
was followed by his congregation. MI
Sturgeon once preached to an audienc
of $4,000 in the Crystal Palace at Syden
ham, and during period when hi
tabernacle was undergoing repairs hi
services in Agricultural Hall, at lslng
ton were each attended by about 1000
persons.
Mr.. Spurgeon was nearly as wei
known as an editor and an author as h
was as preacher. For Sc years he ha
published one sermon each week, max
Ing each year volume of sermon:
These 36 volumes form q great thee
logical library in themselves. Iii
Treasury Of David" seven volumes,
his next large work, then come 9Th
Interpreter" Morning by Morning
and Evening By Evening"" a larg
number of single volumes and almOs
countless small books ana pamphlet
"People call me conceited," Spurgeo
.. said once to friend, well, I'm NJ
particularly conceited that know o
but when you remember that my Sc
6 mons have now for many years bee
.. translated into every civilized languag
: in the world, and some uncivilized one
and, when | remember that came u
TO London raw lad of l6 years Of az
some "a years ago, and from the time
began preaching as mere boy, ha'
not found any building-the presel
one included-large enough to bold ii
people who locked to hear me, why,
sometimes wonder I'm not more col
ceited.n In justice, however, to Il
great pulpit orator, it must be addt
that he always referred his gifts and Ii
successes to source higher than hir
: self.
Y Mail Car Burned.
c SYRACUSE, N. Y, Feb. 1.-The CT
b cage and New York express left III
$ city on the New York Central railro,