The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-02-03
THE GREAT PREACHER.
a Pom Sketch of tho Late @. z.
SpurGoon by an American.
He WAS ALWAYS A BUSY MAN.
No Orator Pnrailcled Him In Earnest
ness, EIoqucncc and Simplicity.
His Sermons III All Lands and AL
Langunscs--lIIs Delightful homo
Life.

ga uttiSic ucsS!lptl'o VI tHc eVINtSV aLu
tho noted pastor, said: have listened
to many orators on both sides OF the
Atlantic, have heard all tho famous
preachers, but l know Of one who par
allcls this real bishop Of London in his
carnestnoss, his ~eloquonce and his sim
plicity. The sermon is interspCrsed
with bits Of descriptive incident aud
anccdotc. It is all told in such u plain,
fatherly and simple way that it carries
conviction to the heart and it is easy
enough TO see that ono source OF the
great preachers success is the slmplici-
ty Of his manner OF preaching.
1t would not be possible, in the space
OF n newspaper article, 10 tell who this
wonderful man H., nor 10 outline the
work lie has performed. may say,
however, that everything he has under
taken has prospcrcd; whether it DO M
orphanngc. . magazine or q college, 1t
has grown magnilicently under his care.
He is one OF the most voluminOus and
popular authors OF the day. lie is the
head OF u theological college which has
sent out n thousand students into the
ministry. lie 10 the founder and maill-
taipcr OF IN orphanace in which five
hundred orphans find Il comfortable
homo. lie il a director OF colportage
association, the editor OF Il magazine,
and tho author oi countless pamphlets
oil I'LL sorts OF secular and religious sub
jccts. lie breaches to the largest aud
fence OF any minister III tho world. His
sermons arc scattered i'll all lands and
have been translated into every Ian
guagc. Some OF them have reached
an edition OF 10000. Helms published
many talks TO young men, and all his
lectures have been i'll pamphlet form.
There is hardly a subject Of interest TO
the human race that this great man has
not touched upon and said something
that has added to its interest and intll-
cncc. His writings would make 4 COM
plctc library. lie is one Of the great
men OF the world.
The graduates OF this preachers COL
lego are doing ycOman service in many
lands. He takes these young men into
his family, treats them like sons, in-
strllcts them, lectures to them, and fits
them for the ministry. There is not n
subject, from theology 10 the culture OF
the voice, that he has not lectured to
them upon. For all this there is no
charge. The college is supported by
voluntary contributions. Nearly Il
thousand graduates have passed through
the institution since it was organized.
OF the %orphanage it is sufficient 10 say
that it has saved many children from
early graves, and is a very bright spot
in 4 very dreary city.
Nh. Sturgeon has been heard ali over
England, ireland and Scotland, and
often breaches to a congregation OF from
fifteen to twenty thousand people. He
is very fond OF outdoor preaching, and
is the only mar who was ever invited to.
deliver y religious discourse at the
Crystal Palace. lie frequently ex-
changes pulpits, and often asks his con-
gregation, includingthe pew-holdcrs, 10
stay at home for q Sabbath and permit
visitors and strangers, and others who
who can not afford to buy pews. to take
their places for q day i'll his church.
That he is i busy MAJ you may well
guess, whom tell you thut lie employs
five stenographers and keeps them all
going. With the exception OF Mr.
Gladstone, he receives the largest mail
OF any man in the three kingdoms. A
great many OF his letters from sailors,
from soldiers, from poor fellows, whom
he has m~anaged.to help out oil the gut
ter, are. simply addressed Sturgeon,
England. To these he replies checrfuIly,
and is always ready TO give advice. Nor
is this all. He gives freely OF his
money. Intact, he is poor man. II
it werc not for the kindness OF his con:
gregation, he would be pcnniless. 4
few Years ago they purchased a house
for him, the house that he now occu-
pies ut Wcstwood, the southern ridge OF
the wooded heights oil ~Sydncyham.
Upon the occasion OF the twcnty-fiith
anniversary OF his pastorate. OF the
church, his congregation presented him
with Il large purse oil money rs u token
OF its esteem. 1t was intended that he
should pay of 4 mortgage, on his house
and take the remainder for Il holiday.
He did nothing Of the kind; he divided
the large sum equally between the pas
tors college and the .orphanagc. lit
were not for the prudence OF some of
his friends who insisted that it was his
duty to keep his house free, he would
to-day be living in hired apartments. l
may add, however, that his charity is
not iIdiscriminate. His money is only
given 10 those who deserve it.
He has declined as many rs Il score
OF invitations to lecture throughout Eu-
rope ana America nj fabulous prices,
because, as he explained, he is not 4
lecturer and he didn't want tho money,
and ho preferred to work his " way
among his people i'll London. When
an American Lecture Agency offered
him recently s. 1000 for every lecture
and to pay all the expenses OF himself
and wife and 4 secretary, IRON London
to America, on n great lecture tour, and
held out the tempting offer that he
could make $4,000, Mr.. Spurgcou de-
clined it. llo said he could do better.
He could stayi London and try to save
fifty souls.
Ills home in Wcstwood is q delightful
spot. All is SO peaceful and still that
the house and tho grounds might be
fifty miles from town instead OF being
but thrce-quarters Of ar hours drive
from the Tabernacle. 1t is n plain, old
fashioned house, with plenty OF room,
tasteirlly laid ont grounds, well kept
lawns, and Strawberries in good order.
There, are easy chairs under the trees
and Il splendid tennis court not far
away. There AFRO any number OF bee.
hives, for Mr.. Spurgcon is 4 great apiar-
ian. The grounds are aglow with pinks
and other homcly English flowers. The
stable and ont-houses are big %androomy.
The stable is protected by an enormous
horse shoe, weighing 200 pounds, the