Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-01

wears old he overheard his grandfather de-
ploring the habits of one of his flock, who
was accustomed to go to public house for
mug of beer and a quiet pipe. Little
Charles said. Il will kill him. and shortly
afterward told his grandfather that he had
done the deed
I've killed. old Rhodes He will never
grieve my poor grandfather any more"
''What do you mean, my child?" asked
the minister
4 have not been doing any harm, grand
father" was the reply; 1--WE been about the
Lords work, that is all +"
The mystery was presently explained by
I'D Rhodes himself He told Mr. Spurgeop
that the lad had come to the public l'Sdse
and SAID to him:
''What does: thou here, Elijen, sitting
with the Ungodly-yoU rIembef of
church, and break your pastors heart? I'm
ashamed Of you. l would, not break my
pastors heart, l am sure
''Old Rhodes was aEzry for moment,
ca1sfe-to-t1ne conclusion that the child
as right, and now begged pardon.
The Original Boy Preacher
Beginning as tract distributor, the bov
was led on to preach now and again. He
speedily became a local celebrity, and was
known as the BOY Preacher When he
was not more than Il years old he was Of
fered and accepted the pastorate of small
Baptist chapel at Waterbeach where his
predecessor had been paid e5 quarter His
precocitv was remarkable: contemporary
portraits represent him as a round-faced lad
OF jovial aspect, already possessed of that
dramatic manner and racy and idiomatic
diction which remain with him almost un-
altered to this day. When he was IS wears
old he was invited to preach the anniver-
sary sermons for a neighbOring octogen-
arian minister who had never seen him.
Young Spurgeon was told on the Sunday
morning that his astonished senior was f'none
the better for seeing him, and the old man,
thinking the anniversary would be spoilt,
gave expression to his irritation thus:
Tut, tut. pretty kettle of fish: bows
going up and down the country preaching
before their mothers milk is well out of
their mouths +"
At the end of the service, as young Spur
Eeon was coming down from the pulpit the
DID minister gave him a smart, playful slap.
exclaiming "You are the sauciest dog that
ever barked in pulpit"
SpurEeOn Called to London
The Baptist cause at New Park street.
Southwark, in London, was on the decline.
Suddenly the deacons heard that Mr.. Spur
geOn was the man for them, and that he was
sulGIlUL lToti SuubDinH III the country. 80
IN 1885 Mr. SpurgeOn was called thither
In less than three months the congregation,
erStwhile but a mere handful, grew too
large for the place. Pending engagements
Mr.. SpUrgeon moved to Exeter Hall, where
his preaching became more famous than
ever, and il was only his sound common
sense which saved the boy-for he was moth
ing more-from being eaten up with vanity
New Park Street Chapel, though much
enlarged, was still too small for the
crowds that came to hear him
preach, so Mr. Spurgeon secured
the music hall in Surrey Gardens, capa-
ole Of holding more than 10000 people
To hear Spurgeon became a craze: society
people In their carriages went to the music
hall Sunday after Sunday; politicians of
high rank Joined the crowds; the Lord Chief
Justice (CampbelD also; and it MAS ru-
mored that the Queen intended hearing the
young pastor
1t was at the Surrey Music Hall that
dreadful panic was caused by false alarm
OF fire. Some 4 900 worshipers were in the
galleries-three in number, rising one
above the other, access TO which was gained
by four circular staircases of stone con-
structed in the towers which fanked each
corner of the building. The service had
only lasted a quarter of an hour when the
cry was raised. Seven persons were
trampled to death and many injured.
Tho Tabernacle Built for Him
In 1861 the Metropolitan Tabernacle, of
which Sir Morton Peto had laid the stone,
was opened free Of debt, the members then
enrolled numbering 1,17S There was no
other warming apparatus than the pulpit
as was whimsically said at the time. From
that time Mr. Spurgeon has retained his
mastery over the masses, and the tabernacle
services form one Of the sights Mr.. Spur
geon saws: 81 hate oratory. 1 come down
as low as l can. High-hying and fine Ian
guage seem 10 me wicked when souls are
perishing." He candidlv avows that many
who preach in Latin English" are not
worth hearing.
Nh Spurgeon occupies unique position
as author as well as preacher. Ever since
the first week in 1855 his sermons have been
published the average circulation being
10000 week. These sermons are taken
down in shorthand as they are always ex-
tempore utterances. They are translated
into variety Of languages published and
republlshed in many magazines. l
HIS physique was not that of the ideal |
man OF brain and immense energy, for Spur
geon possessed the latter in marvellous de- |