Chapter 90: Work and Progress in 1873

Chapter 90.
Work And Progress In 1873

Dr. Matthews—Wesleyans—Colportage—The Orphanage—A Holiday in Sussex—Testimonial to Mr. Rogers—At Bradford—Mr. W. J. Orsman—College Buildings—"Signs of the Times"—Evangelical Alliance—Ill-Health—Edinburgh—Missionaries for India.

Although Spurgeon was at this time only in his fortieth year, he had laboured in London during half his lifetime; and the growth of his popularity and far-reaching influence had been shown by the development of one great enterprise after another, which had for its object the relief of the needy, the enlightenment of the ignorant, or the bringing into the Gospel fold those who were out of the way. The man as he stood up Sunday after Sunday to give his message to the multitude was still an enigma to the outer world, while he was also something of a phenomenon to many within the Church. When visiting London in the early part of this year Dr. Matthews looked on the preacher at the Metropolitan Tabernacle with wonder and admiration. It was seen that he fervently believed with all his soul the truths he preached, while he was troubled with "none of those lurking doubts, that semi-scepticism, which so often paralyses the pulpit in our day." On the contrary, he was heard to proclaim continually "without abatement, mincing, or softening," the truths which Paul, Augustine, and Calvin preached before him. The result was too striking to be explained away. After taking careful note of the preacher, Dr. Matthews added, "He is a living refutation of the statement so often and confidently made, that the preacher of our day who stays in what are called 'the old ruts of theology,' and who takes no stock in the modern 'progressive ideas,' has lost his hold upon the people, and proves, beyond all gainsaying, that, even in this age of Darwins and Huxleys and Mills, the most popular pulpit orator is not he who panders to their love of excitement, novelty, or rhetoric, but he who thunders forth with ceaseless reiteration those grand old truisms which even in this day of new theologies are still the best things left upon the earth." In the early part of August a visit was paid to Eastbourne on behalf of the chapel in Ceylon Place, which was encumbered with a debt it was desirable to clear off. The preacher, being in a cheerful mood, gave one of his racy talks on bazaars, chapel debts, and some other matters. At this time he showed a strong liking for Wesleyans on account of their warm-heartedness and diligence in service. The Wesleyans had the fire, Baptists had the water; to have both combined was the way to get the steam up.

"We must have a warm-hearted people, and a people of practical common-sense, everybody doing something, and then there will be a great deal done. A simple gospel is a thing that is wanted. There is so much nowadays of decorations, of ornamental crosses and of hanging up flowers; but we do not want it. A celebrated artist painted a picture of the Lord's Supper, and in the foreground he put a beautiful vase and some fruit splendidly painted. People came to look at the picture, and they said, 'What splendid vases! What magnificent fruit!' The painter said, 'I wanted people to admire the loving Lord and Saviour. These things I put in as accessories, not to take off the attention from the grand central figure.' So he painted them out. There is a great deal that is pretty and ornamental in religious worship which I should like to see painted out. I have heard of a preacher who desired to stand behind the Master's chair, so that not so much as a little finger of his own should be seen. May we have such preaching, and as a people may wo have such a doctrine as may spread throughout the land."

It was in August of this year that Spurgeon lost by death the steadfast friend of his youth and later years—Cornelius Elven, of Bury St. Edmunds. A giant in stature, he laboured throughout his long life in the town of his birth, and was generally regarded as a model of pastoral industry and Christian aggressiveness. Spurgeon loved him till the end as a father in the faith. When he had visited Waterbeach about thirty years previously, Elven's discernment told him that a great genius had arisen in the English pulpit. The death about the same time, through a fall from his horse, of Dr.

Samuel Wilberforce, Bishop of Winchester, had the effect of reviving the memory of the attack on the popular preacher which had been made in the House of Lords on a memorable occasion already referred to. All parties naturally regretted the sad accident which had suddenly ended the career of an able man; but, at the same time, when far-gone fanatics reminded Spurgeon that the gout from which he suffered came as a judgment on account of his intolerance, false teaching, and so on, he did not overstep the bounds of charity when he asked such censors to account for this calamity. At the annual meeting of the Colportage Association Mr. Spurgeon ventured to express the opinion that the reports concerning the extensive circulation of pernicious literature were exaggerated; and, by way of proving his assertion, he pointed to the insignificant-looking shops in which the poisonous garbage was for the most part sold. In taking such a view of the matter the preacher, it is to be feared, was altogether mistaken. A better-informed onlooker very truly wrote: "We fear that a more careful investigation of the matter would have speedily convinced him how utterly fallacious is such a test, as the conditions under which the trade is mainly carried on not only render palatial buildings unnecessary, but absolutely worthless. It is a fact, with which those behind the scenes are well acquainted, that the profits of a vile illustrated broadsheet, which is issued from an office that would appear to largely partake of its unwholesome-ness, enable the proprietor to maintain a princely private ménage, and live in a style that, to the majority of Baptist ministers, and even religious publishers, would seem little short of incredible." The Stockwell Orphanage continued to prosper, and at the annual meeting or festival the President again explained the origin of the institution, and recounted some incidents which had not been told in quite the same way before. He related how some years before he had written an article for The Sword and the Trowel, which was accompanied by an engraving representing Arnold, the Swiss patriot, thrusting himself like a wedge into the Austrian army. The engraving was so badly executed that few persons could understand what it meant; but it turned out to be one of the best engravings he ever saw, for, in order to find out what it meant, people read the article who might not otherwise have done so. Amongst others, a "female Plymouth Brother" read it, and she conceived from it the idea that she had found a person who could carry out the project of her life—the establishment of an orphanage. Hence, Mrs. Hillyard's letter saying that she would place twenty thousand pounds at his disposal for such a purpose.

There were parts of the southern counties which seemed always greatly to refresh the preacher when he was able to get about in genial weather. In August of this year he made one of these favourite tours, and The Sussex Daily News remarked:—

"Mr. Spurgeon is spending his summer holiday in a way which his friend and admirer, Mr. Ruskin, would be sure to approve. A gentleman having placed his carriage at the preacher's service, the two are travelling from place to place in Kent, viewing its scenery and conversing with its people; and there being plenty of room for another, Mr. Spurgeon has taken with him the hard-working secretary of one of the home mission societies, whom he knew to be much in need of a rest. There could not be a nicer or more sensible way of spending a holiday. A story is told of a gentleman who, having boasted that he had travelled far to see a celebrated landscape on the Continent, was put to the blush by being compelled to own that he had never visited a scene of superior loveliness to be seen upon his own estate, and near which he had spent the greater part of his life. The error of this individual is one of which too many are guilty. Admiration, like charity, should begin at home, and in travelling, as Mr. Spurgeon is doing, through one of our own counties, the English pleasure-seeker might find pure sources of information and amusement such as he would, perhaps, fail to find in distant lands." At this time Mr. George Rogers, the Principal of the Pastors' College, had been engaged during sixteen years in the work. He was seventy-five years of age, and had been married fifty years. The President, the other tutors, and the past and present students, thought they ought to offer the veteran some token of their regard, and accordingly, on Friday, August 29, they presented Mr. Rogers with a gold watch and his wife with a silver tea-urn. Mr. Spurgeon was apparently overflowing with gratitude and bonhomie. He offered prayer and then said:—

"We have met for a special purpose. Mr. Rogers has been married fifty years, and it is right that we should celebrate 'golden weddings.' We congratulate ourselves on his being still so full of vigour, and that we ever met him. (Turning to Mr. Rogers) 'I cannot imagine what I should have done without you. We started together with a one-horse chaise and now we have an express train; and the only accidents that have occurred were because certain heretics would cross the line and were smashed. There were some who talked about annihilation and you annihilated them.' Mr. Rogers has been a regular Joab, for he has smitten the enemies of the king. No man has done more work for the College, and yet no one has wanted to see me so little, or talked so little, or bothered me so little. He has pleased me by doing as he liked. I think we must have been created together, but I was kept back for a time, and when we coalesced we were of the same mind, though, of course, he was more boyish, and he always had a larkishness about him, so that it was my work to sober him. He has always spoken with firmness, calmness, and confidence. When once the funds failed, and I contemplated the sale of my carriage to keep the work going, he would not hear of it, but ceased to draw his salary until the necessary funds came in. My wife describes him as 'a grand man,' and says he will be sure to remember the College when he gets to heaven, and I fancy he will sometimes get down to the gate to see whether a student is coming. But if prayer can keep him alive he sha'n't go yet." The members of the London Baptist Association assembled on October 7 in the handsome chapel which they had been the means of erecting in York Road, Battersea. Mr. Spurgeon took part in the discussion on "The Pastor in the Pulpit." During the following week he was at Bradford, preaching in connection with the opening services of Sion Jubilee Chapel. The services took place in St. George's Hall, the Rev. J. P. Chown taking part. As the chapel was not in debt, about one hundred and twenty-five pounds of the collection was given to the Stockwell Orphanage. The crowds attracted were, as usual, overwhelming, especially in the evening. Thus "the crush in the galleries was so great that at one time before the commencement of the service there were symptoms of a disturbance." This extra service was got through, despite frequent indisposition, during the early autumn of this year.

It was in 1873 that the present Mr. William J. Orsman received a windfall for his philanthropic work in Golden Lane. One day, when I called at Helensburgh House, I found Mr. Spurgeon alone in his study, and was asked to prepare a special account of Mr. Orsman's mission for The Sword and the Trowel. This was done at once, and the article was illustrated with several engravings. The editor added a short note of his own at the end, in which he intimated that he knew of no similar service in London which was conducted with so much wisdom, and which was so permanently useful. The result was that an unknown friend, a reader of the magazine, sent Mr. Orsman a bank-note for one thousand pounds, and that became the nucleus of the fund for erecting the present Costers' Hall. The 14th of October was a high day at the Tabernacle both with pastor and with people; for it was then that the memorial-stone of the present College building was laid. Mr. Spurgeon himself performed the ceremony, arriving in time for the prayer-meeting at seven o'clock a.m. Up to this date the classes of the College had been held beneath the great chapel, but this had become so darkened by the erection of new buildings that gas had generally to be burned even during the daytime. The Sunday-school was also hampered for want of additional class-rooms, which the College building would supply, while one part of the house was to be allotted to the Colportage Association. The friends who now assembled were enthusiastic in the work; for the pastor wished them to regard the new enterprise as a memorial of his twenty years' work in London. The cost appears to have been about five thousand pounds, and it was desired to have sufficient money sunk in an investment to pay the rates in perpetuity. A sum of four hundred and twenty-five pounds towards this object was announced as given on the day of the stone-laying. The general building fund received one gift of three thousand pounds from a lady, who desired that it should be in part a memorial of her late husband; and another friend gave one thousand pounds. A large contribution also came from the Baptists of America, which country was described as the Goshen of the denomination. In the course of the brief address he gave at the stone-laying, Mr. Spurgeon said that it was some twenty years since he had been first summoned from his quiet country village to preach his first sermon in Park Street Chapel. Many reminiscences were given of early days in Cambridgeshire and the Fens, rounds of laughter being excited when, as has been already shown, the preacher rebuked a grey-headed pastor for incivility to "the boy," in return winning the appreciated distinction of being called "the sauciest dog that ever barked in a pulpit."

Spurgeon appears to have been too ailing to attend the autumnal session of the Baptist Union at Nottingham under the presidency of Dr. Underhill. Had it been otherwise, he might possibly have been the guest of Canon Morse, Vicar of Nottingham, who entertained two ministers. The reading of the accounts of the meetings yielded great satisfaction, however; but, on the other hand, it was just at this time that the death of Dr. Candlish of Edinburgh occurred. This distinguished preacher and theologian had been an old and valued friend of Spurgeon's; and, born in 1807, he commenced work in his first pastorate some six years before the latter was born. A controversy on Infant Baptism and its effects arose at this time; but it could hardly serve any good purpose to enter fully into particulars. The dispute was originated by Spurgeon's discourse on "The Signs of the Times," and by an address on Ritualism in the Church by Dr. Landels at Nottingham. The former felt aggrieved by an adverse criticism in the paper edited by his old friend, Mr. James Clarke, and especially by some questions which in some cases were probably too readily understood as positive statements. In his sermon Spurgeon had represented the ordinance as applied to children to be superstition founded on Romanism, the more pernicious because people went away with the idea that the child received some benefit from the rite. Mr. Clarke's comment was as follows:—

"It is unnecessary to say more of this than that it is utterly unworthy of Mr. Spurgeon. As to the fact, we would refer to the history of the Congregationalists, the Wesleyans, and the Presbyterians in England, Scotland, and America for its complete disproof. As for the theory, we maintain that the recognition of the infants born in Christian households as Christians has not the remotest tendency to breed Popery. What right has Mr. Spurgeon to point with his finger at those of whom Christ said that 'of such is the kingdom of heaven,' and call them unregenerate? And does Mr. Spurgeon think that only the regenerate are saved? Does he, then, actually believe that departed infants, baptised or unbaptised, are eternally tormented in hell? If he does, we would rather accept all the absurdities of Popery than so monstrous and excruciating a belief. We beg to turn the tables on Mr. Spurgeon. It is the exaggeration of the importance of baptism which is apt to produce superstition and idolatry. A parson and a few deacons investigate the spiritual state of a young man or woman, question and cross-question, and peer and pry, pronounce him or her in the odour of sanctity, and permit immersion. Is not the subject of this ceremony extremely apt to think that some mystic rite has been performed on his or her person, and to trust in it rather than in Christ for salvation?" This was plain speaking on the Pædobaptist side; but when it was suggested that possibly Spurgeon believed in the condemnation of infants, he insisted that those who thought so were mistaken. The discussion waxed warm, the pastor of the Tabernacle had many ardent sympathisers and defenders; but their conclusions were not allowed to go forth unchallenged by such as held more moderate views. Thus a well-known leading Baptist minister at the West-End of London wrote:—

"Who will venture to doubt that the manifest high religious character of our Pædo-baptist Nonconformists is quite equal to that of Baptists in general? Our brethren do not ignore Scriptural authority, but at the worst are in error in their interpretation of it on this subject. And when I hear our noble-hearted Spurgeon impulsively asserting that we Baptists only can fairly and fully meet the dogmas of Popery, I demur to it altogether.... Who were the men who fought its battles (i.e., Protestantism) and assured its triumphs? Not Baptists, assuredly! Were the Lollards and all their fellows Baptists? Were the chief Waldenses and Albigenses Baptists? Is it quite clear that Wickliffe and Huss were Baptists? Were the first translators of the Scriptures Baptists? All the holy army of martyrs Baptists? Luther, Melancthon, Zwingle, and the immortal Calvin Baptists? Were the Puritan Fathers and the holy Nonconformists all Baptists? Shall we put John Knox and the faithful Covenanters as only half-and-half Protestants? The Henrys—Philip and Matthew—the latter of whom is Mr. Spurgeon's favourite commentator, were they Baptists? And yet these men were as genuine Protestants as either Dr. Landels or Mr. Spurgeon himself. Take many of the Evangelical clergy of the day, whether Episcopal, Lutheran, or of the Reformed Churches, and to suppose they are unfitted for doing warfare with the Pope or his dogmas is simply absurd. I do wish, therefore, that a little more candour and less invective, a little more charity and less declamation, might distinguish our Baptist brethren in the war now pending on Ritualism and its results." The pastor gave an encouraging address to the members of the Country Mission, which held its annual meeting at the Tabernacle on October 24. The object of this association is still to carry on aggressive Christian work in country places, as well as to assist weak causes by sending preachers free of expense to places that need them. It was also in the autumn of this year that the Jubilee Singers from the Southern States of America were attracting some notice in the United Kingdom. When they appeared at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in the summer the singing of these coloured vocalists so pleased the pastor and all who were present, that they were promised the use of the great building after their return from their Scotch tour. The meeting of the Evangelical Alliance in New York in the autumn of this year was a notable occurrence; it was regarded as an Œcumenical gathering, such as had assembled in the great capitals on five occasions successively. The names of many of the leading preachers and theologians of the world were down in the programme. Yet perhaps the most remarkable feature of the reunion was the absence of Spurgeon; but, notwithstanding, one prominent doctor of divinity, who is still living, was so charmed with all he saw in the "United States, both in the pulpit and out of it, that his glowing accounts and prophecies of the happy things which were coming to pass in the future excited no little interest, among his extensive following. Desirous that Spurgeon's absence should not be misunderstood, and above all that it should not damp the ardour of those who were promoting the objects of the Alliance, an American denominational paper published an article which would have the effect of scattering the mists of misapprehension:—

"It has been urged as a reason why Baptists should be chary of regard for the Alliance that Mr. Spurgeon was censured by the executive for speaking his mind concerning the Evangelical clergy of the Church of England, and that in consequence he withdrew himself from the society. It is perfectly true that a coterie of sensitive Evangelicals did move one of the secretaries to write to Mr. Spurgeon, complaining of his denunciations to their inconsistency in denying baptismal regeneration, while subscribing willingly and ex animo to the statement 'that the Book of Common Prayer containeth in it nothing contrary to the Word of God.' Mr. Spurgeon did withdraw. It was a most happy blunder. The movers in this business did not know what they were fatuously doing when they wrote that letter. It made a sturdy Nonconformist of Mr. Spurgeon, and secured his powerful voice for the platform of the Liberation Society. His downright and uncompromising anti-State Churchism dates from that time. It also bound him more closely to his own denomination. He became a better Baptist when he became more deeply sensible of the mischiefs caused by a State Church. With heart and soul he has thrown himself into every denominational movement, and the last nine or ten years have witnessed a grand advance of the Baptists of London and the suburbs. Although, however, Mr. Spurgeon could not but withdraw from the Alliance, his sympathy with its objects remained intact, and his secession was not imitated by others. His case was peculiar. He had been treated with marked attention by the Evangelical party. Even bishops and high dignitaries of the Church had joined in these attentions. He was in their eyes the beau idéal of a 'religious Dissenter,' a good and able man who wouldn't meddle with politics! and different from his brethren in that particular. This fond delusion was shattered when he preached his famous sermon on Baptismal Regeneration. Their disappointment was hard for them to bear, and hence sprung up the feeling which found vent, amongst other channels, in the fussy letter of the Alliance official."

During November Spurgeon was in a very ailing state of health, and was accordingly unable to keep many of his engagements, including several at the Tabernacle. There was one reunion more particularly at which he would have liked to be present—the opening soirée of Regent's Park College, on Friday, the 21st day of the month. Dr. Angus, the students, and friends, who mustered in strong force on the inclement winter night, were naturally much disappointed at not hearing the great preacher give an address to the students; but they were hardly more sorry than the preacher himself. He always seemed to enjoy the opportunity of stirring up the enthusiasm of those who were studying for the ministry; and when on this occasion his letter was read, intimating that he was reluctantly compelled to stay at home through serious indisposition, a strong feeling of sympathy must have been awakened. Though one body of students missed this address, a characteristic letter, showing the writer's solicitude for students as a class, was penned about this time and sent to Mr. A. H. Stote, a Pastors' College man, who was settled at Logansport, Indiana. Mr. Spurgeon wrote:—

"I feel sure, my beloved brother, that your growing experience must have endeared to you the Gospel of the grace of God. I feel more and more every day that nothing but salvation by grace will ever bring me to heaven, and therefore I desire more and more explicitly to teach the grand truths of electing love, covenant security, justification by faith, effectual calling, and immutable faithfulness. Love to souls as it burns in our own hearts will also lead us to preach a free as well as a full salvation, and so we shall be saved at once from the baseness of those who have no doctrine, and from the bitterness of those to whom creed is everything. The happy via media of a balanced ministry we have aimed at, and succeeding years confirm us in the correctness of our views. I pray you in these evil days be firm, close, and decided in your testimony for the truth as it is in Jesus; nothing else will keep us clear of the blood of men's souls. May the Holy Ghost anoint you anew for the struggle which lies before you. By the love which has long existed between us, I beseech you be faithful unto death. I reach my hand across the flood to grasp you lovingly, and my heart goes with the word. The Lord bless thee, my brother, and keep thee and lift up the light of His countenance upon thee and give thee peace. I pray you, dear, brother, do not look upon these lines as mere official writing. I love you in my heart; accept that love and the hearty greetings of all our brotherhood at home. Remember us in your prayers, especially remember me. By the memory of happy days in the past, when we looked each other in the face, do not forget us, and, far more, do not forget your allegiance to our common Lord." From the first the sermons as published weekly had been chiefly those which were preached on Sunday mornings; but a desire was expressed by a number of friends to have at least a selection from the discourses which were given on Sunday and Thursday evenings. The opinion was that, on the whole, these were quite equal to any that the preacher ever gave, although in some respects those of Sunday evening differed from the sermons of the morning by being more especially addressed to the multitude. To satisfy the want, the volume "Types and Emblems" was issued. The issue of "The Interpreter" was also continued in monthly parts; but, on account of Mr. Spurgeon's determination not to write prayers, this aid for family worship was never so successful as he had hoped it would be.

While such works as these were accomplished, a determined effort was made to maintain The Sword and the Trowel at a high standard of value and interest. How pleased the editor was when any friend whose opinion was entitled to respect told him that the current number was up to the mark! Then the candour of the Chief himself when speaking of the quality of any articles was always trustworthy. If he commended a writer he never spoke in the language of mere compliment. If he said, "You are unequal," or "That is not up to the mark," there was no doubt about the necessity of making some extra effort. Thus persons who worked with him had the advantage of knowing at all times where they were and what satisfaction they were giving.

Perhaps the President of the College was never happier than when it fell to his lot to bid God-speed to men who were about to depart for the foreign mission field. Such an occasion was Monday, December 1, when Messrs. Charles Brown, son of a late elder, and Robert Spurgeon, a distant relation of his own, took their leave for India. One student of promise was also at Edinburgh, studying medicine for service in the foreign mission-field. It was at this time that Spurgeon declared that his life was crowded with incident; while, at the same time, it was full of trouble and difficulty, toil and trial. The difficulty and trial were explained by many incidents in the history of the Stockwell Orphanage. Thus in the last month of this year the treasury of the Stockwell Orphanage had a surplus of only three pounds after all expenses were paid. The general expenditure was then altogether about ten or twelve pounds a day, or about a third of what it is at present. Since that time the girls' houses have been erected, thus more than doubling the accommodation.