Chapter 41: A Thanksgiving Meeting
Chapter 41.
A Thanksgiving Meeting
Meeting in the unfinished Tabernacle—Letters to Mr. T. W. Medhurst—Strict Baptist Objectors-Visits to the Provinces and to Scotland—Preaching in a Barn.
On Tuesday, August 21, 1860, Mr. Apsley Pellatt presided at a great meeting in the only half-finished Tabernacle, "for the purpose of offering up devout thanksgiving for the success of. the undertaking, and making an attempt to raise the remainder of the required funds so as to open the place free from debt." The chairman referred to the old times of John Bunyan and Rowland Hill, to the progress made in relation to religious liberty; and, as one of a different denomination from the pastor's, he wished him all possible success. Mr. Spurgeon made some characteristic allusions to certain of his friends who were present, especially to Dr. Campbell, and to Hugh Allen, who was then rector of St. George the Martyr, Southwark. Mr. Spurgeon himself was in good spirits, and concerning the building itself he said:—
"If my unbaptised brethren on the platform were to fall through the floor, they would find themselves in the baptistery. There is no water in it now, but whoever of you want, in obedience to your Master's command, to be immersed, I shall be glad to be your humble servant. I believe the acoustic arrangements of the building are excellent, though I do not think the science of acoustics is understood. I have heard people say that the building is not so large as they expected it would be, but that just shows that it is excellently proportioned. It is so big that it would hold two chapels like the tabernacle in Moorfields. I do not care a single farthing about the exterior: I will have no towers, for they are only for show. The building is magnificent without being gaudy, and it shows neither extravagance nor meanness." The young pastor vent on to describe other parts of the building, and expressed the hope that, following in the wake of his predecessors, he might be spared to minister for fifty years in the chapel. He added that he should feel like "a guilty sneaking sinner" if the chapel had a debt upon it when he preached his first sermon from its pulpit, for the Scripture said, "Owe no man anything." A hope was also expressed that the rector of St. George's would accept an invitation to preach in the building. The rector made a short speech, and was followed by Dr. Campbell, who, as one of the London ministers who at first had some misgivings about Spurgeon, had at last came round to be his most enthusiastic advocate. The doctor said:—
"I sat in perfect astonishment as I listened to the record of the facts as set forth by the treasurer, and thought of the young man, Mr. Spurgeon, coming to London from the country, unnoticed and unknown. I thought of the historian who says of one who went down to Egypt, 'God was with him.' Now, Mr. Spurgeon came here, and God has been with him. The work is a mighty one. I came with Mr. Spurgeon and saw this gigantic edifice some three or four months ago, and was filled with amazement. I had never seen such a structure before, and rejoice that I live in the period when such a one has been brought into being."
After wishing that the pastor might be spared to labour in the chapel for fifty or sixty years, Dr. Campbell had to make a confession to the effect that he had once suspected that the young preacher from Waterbeach was an upstart. He had even declared that Spurgeon should never preach in the pulpit at Moorfields, but he was now proud to see him there on the occasion of his annual visit on account of the City Mission. Others, such as the Revs. Jonathan George and William Arthur, also gave addresses, and the people then inspected the building. In the evening Mr. Spurgeon gave an account of his Continental tour, and the subscriptions amounted to £1,050. On Thursday, September 6, a visit was paid to Holyhead, two sermons being preached in a large marquee erected for the occasion at great expense. About five thousand persons were present at each service, while on a great platform were a large number of ministers, as well as of the nobility and gentry of the neighbourhood. The admission was by ticket, ranging from 3s. 6d. to 6d., the proceeds being devoted to a new chapel at Newry, the foundation-stone of which was laid by Mr. Spurgeon after the evening service. This service was partly in Welsh, and a contemporary account says that a prayer offered by a minister from Denbigh "seemed to electrify all present." An historical sketch of the rise and progress of the Baptist denomination in Holyhead was read, and an address was delivered by Mr. Spurgeon, who also laid the stone. In the autumn of this year Mr. Spurgeon lost, by death, his old friend Dr. Alexander Fletcher, whose funeral took place in Abney Park Cemetery on October 8. On Lord Mayor's day, 1860, another good friend also passed away in the person of Alderman Wire, who two years before had been installed Lord Mayor of London, and who had taken the chair at the evening meeting on the occasion of laying the stone of the Metropolitan Tabernacle.
Mr. Spurgeon always showed great regard for those who passed through the Pastors' College, and he seems to have harboured peculiar affection for those who had been the earliest of his students. He kept up a correspondence to the last with his "first student," Mr. T. W. Medhurst, a friend who has made several contributions to this biography. In sending the enclosed Mr. Medhurst remarks:—"Here is a characteristic letter, showing his yearning desire for the spread of the Gospel, and the increase of the Lord's kingdom in the villages:—
"'Clapham, 1860.
"'My dear Medhurst,—Your kind letters always do me good. I have had nothing but joy in you, and such joy that it takes away many of my bitters. Tour grateful recollections of the very little which I did for you come like a refreshing breeze on a sultry day.
"'Allow me to suggest the establishment of Baptist churches in villages around Coleraine, to be supplied by lay, alias local, preachers.
"'I am labouring to increase our stations, and have seen great success. We have Maiden, Beddington, Cheam, Staines, New Court, Dockhead, Brentwood, and Grosvenor Street. In two of these there are now rising churches. My own opinion is that if there are only eight or nine in a village, they should be formed into a church, and set to work to increase and multiply.
"'There were, in 1653, Baptist churches in Waterford, Clonmel, Kilkenny, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Wexford, Carrickfergus, and Kerry. Where are these now? Could they not be recommenced, if only in small rooms or cottages? It is a solemn thing to lose one church: it is like blotting out a tribe from Israel. See to it, brother Medhurst. Try to be the Oncken of Ireland. God bless you and yours.—Yours very truly, "C. H. Spurgeon.'"
Mr. Medhurst further remarks:—"Possibly, at one period of his life, Mr. Spurgeon may have had the thought of forming a distinct body, not separate from the Baptist denomination, but a body of men within the denomination who should be 'set for the defence of the Gospel,' as he believed and taught the 'truth is in Jesus.' Here is an extract from a letter written to me on my removal to Glasgow from Coleraine, Ireland, which seems to hint in this direction:—
"'My dear Medhurst,—I hope ever to see all our Churches perfectly one in heart. The time approaches for the formation of a distinct body or confederation, and to have two large interests in Glasgow will be noble indeed if they agree in one.
"'We had such a meeting last night. The Lord is with the College. We only want faith, and that is growing. We will fill the nation with the Gospel, and then send our armies out the wide world over. Big words, but written in faith in a great God. God bless you and yours.—Yours ever lovingly, "'C. H. Spurgeon.'
"The following note, on my leaving Glasgow for Portsmouth, is characteristic:—
"'Clapham, S.W., August 2, 1869.
"'My dear Friend,—I suppose you maun be flittin', but it's nae weel for Glasgie. God be wi' ye.
"'C. H. Spurgeon.'" On Monday, December 5, another meeting was held in the schoolroom of Islington Chapel, Upper Street, at which Mr. Spurgeon presided, and at which the progress of the Tabernacle was reported. The pastor showed that he should not like the chapel to have a debt, because it would not do to have it said that they had had to borrow the money. "But do not imagine that because you subscribe now, you will not have to do so hereafter, because you will be most mightily mistaken," remarked the chairman. "Other things will occupy attention which, if we were in debt, we should not be able to perform. You are all aware that I have undertaken to prepare a few young men for the ministry; but I hope, when the chapel is paid for, to raise the present number to a hundred. I believe I have a call in this matter. I am not to bring out scholars, but rough thunder men that can preach and be understood. I have often felt that there is a lack of these men—men who suit the people and speak to them in their own language." At that time over £6,000 had to be subscribed. "I intend to be a beggar to-night," said Mr. Spurgeon; "a beggar as bold as brass. It is a matter that will only occur once in my life, and I therefore feel like the man who said, when he was doomed to be hanged, 'It's only once, and I should like it done thoroughly well.'" The Strict Baptists still affected to look with misgiving on the pastor at New Park Street. One of the first of those who went forth from the Pastors' College to accept a pastorate was the late Benjamin Davies, of South Street Chapel, Greenwich, a man who was held in great esteem, and one who regarded Mr. Spurgeon with great affection. Davies had a friend at Leicester who belonged to the straitest section, of which James Wells was a leader, and this friend had been recommended to read the published sermon on "God's Sovereignty and Man's Responsibility," if he wished to have doubt removed respecting Spurgeon's orthodoxy. The sermon was procured and carefully read, but it failed to yield satisfaction. The Christian brother wished there was more in it than there was, so that he could have spoken better of it. "He certainly has the form of the doctrine of sovereign grace in it, and as much of the power of it as any intelligent mind might attain and be altogether carnal." In other days the writer had known as much about this grace as the preacher, but was, at the same time, "as dead in sin as a stone is to natural or animal life." Hence it followed, "if Mr. Spurgeon has no better testimony to the power of sovereign grace in his own soul than he has given in that sermon, I believe it is quite possible that he may be like King Saul, have another heart, but not a new one." The hope was charitably expressed that Mr. Spurgeon would not "go over to Popery," while the method of his conversion seems to the writer to be unscriptural. There still remained a section therefore who would not accept the Gospel as preached at New Park Street, or who would not admit that the preacher really understood the matter in his heart.
It was at this time that Mr. Spurgeon consented to become joint-editor of The Baptist Magazine, the other editors being Messrs. Daniel Katterns and Samuel Manning, the one pastor at Hackney and the other at Frome. In days when no Baptist newspaper existed, the monthly denominational organ had been successfully conducted by Mr. William Groser, who was born in 1791 and died in 1856. In the number for January, 1861, Mr. Spurgeon had a characteristic article on Charity, in which Gurnall's saying was quoted—"Love goes ever armed with zeal, and draws the dagger against all opposers of truth." With the Metropolitan Tabernacle approaching completion and with no signs visible of their pastor's popularity declining, the congregation at New Park Street saw a great future before them. Though only twenty-five years of age, Spurgeon was now very commonly spoken of in newspapers as "the great preacher of the age." The Bookseller notified the fact that six millions of his sermons had been sold in six years; and, in addition to those read in English on both sides of the Atlantic, there were translations into French, Welsh, Dutch, German, and Swedish. "For a preacher to produce a sermon every week for publication is something wonderful," remarked The Wesleyan Times: "for those sermons to sell by thousands and even by tens of thousands is more wonderful still. When such remarkable facts come before us, we must note them."
Flying visits to the provinces were still made on week-days, and vast crowds were attracted. Towards the end of January, 1861, services were conducted at Sunderland, Stockton-on-Tees, and York. Leeds was visited on February 12, the service being in the Town Hall, when the tickets of admission ranged from a shilling to half-a-crown. A sum of £50 was given to the Tabernacle fund. On the following day, and under similar conditions, services were held in the United Methodist Free Church, when the Wesleyans were delighted with the preacher's account of his own conversion in the Methodist Chapel at Colchester.
Meanwhile enthusiastic meetings were held in London, from time to time, in order to raise the funds which were needed to clear the new Tabernacle from debt. One of these meetings came off on the day after Christmas Day, when Mr. W. G. Haynes lectured on Alpine Rambles, Mr. Spurgeon following with the subject of Southwark in the Olden Time. "The interval was occupied with music and various other amusements." On New Year's Day, 1861, Mr. W. Roupell, M.P., took the chair, when nearly £1,000 was collected. The chairman spoke as an earnest philanthropist. In the following year, as all the world knows, there came a melancholy sequel to such apparently enthusiastic utterances. On Monday, February 4, a number of friends assembled in the Tabernacle itself, when £4,000 still needed to be raised, and when Mr. Spurgeon repeated what he had often said before, that he would not preach on a Sunday in the new building until all the money needed was either given or promised. If the funds were not forthcoming, the new and completed chapel would stand unused, while the congregation would still have to assemble at Exeter Hall and New Park Street, suffering all of the inconveniences with which experience had made them familiar. Early in March a circular was issued to notify that the building was nearly completed, and that only £3,000 was then needed to complete all payments. It was believed that this amount would be raised by a bazaar, and by the gifts of friends at the opening services. In the early part of March, Mr. Spurgeon undertook a northern tour, preaching at Preston, Carlisle, and Newcastle, then proceeding to Scotland, services being held at Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth, Dundee, Montrose, and Aberdeen. We find this tour described in one journal as "quite a triumphal march." At Edinburgh services were held at the Music Hall and the Assembly Hall. A number of Havelock's men were then at the Castle, and these were specially invited by the preacher to be present. "About one hundred attended, and allusions were made to their late commander and to their services in India."
Concerning the services in the Scottish commercial metropolis, The Glasgow Examiner said:—
"On some former visits we heard, among the captious people of very refined taste, of odd sayings and unwarrantable eccentricities, and very offensive sayings for ears polite; but, on this occasion, not a syllable of such criticism has been heard. The newspapers have been either silent or complimentary, and the people who listened to the discourses are entirely agreed about their gravity, soundness, and vast importance. The matter of the various discourses was such as to disappoint the envious, the fastidious, the critical; but those who went to find occasion against the manner or matter of the preacher could find nothing on which to lay hold." The same journal gave a view of Spurgeon as a worker, and of his treatment by the Americans:—
"Some of his discourses have passed rapidly through many editions. Some volumes of his sermons sold in America to the extent of 250,000 copies; but, since his famous letter against slavery, matters have taken such a turn as to give a melancholy view of the power of slavery. He has been burned in effigy in every slave-holding State. His sermons have been publicly burned as unfit to be read in a State founded on the principle that all men are free and equal; and, what is most marvellous of all, the sale of his sermons has been completely stopped! Such is slavery in America at this hour, and it is not wonderful that a nation that tolerates such outrage on free opinion should be in trouble and about to explode. As much was got from the sale of his works in America (for though some will not believe it, he found honest publishers there) as went far to support his twenty-five students; but that source of revenue has been dried up, and these young men must be otherwise supported."
According to The Morning Journal of Glasgow, more than half the clergy of the city were present at the services at the City Hall and at the Queen's Rooms. "A Glasgow magistrate" gave a glowing account of the services in The British Standard, quoting the couplet in regard to the preacher's style—
"Though deep, yet clear; though gentle, yet not dull;
Strong without rage; without o'erflowing full."
At Aberdeen 5,000 tickets, ranging from a shilling to half-a-crown each, were sold long before the preacher entered the town.
Mrs. Spurgeon accompanied her husband on this tour, and Sunday, March 10, was passed at the manse of John Anderson, the pastor of Helensburgh. Mr. Spurgeon preached twice in the Free Church; and in addition conducted another service in the manse garden, which is very beautifully situated on rising ground. There was a very large congregation, and the preacher addressed them from a table according to the example, which he ever admired, of Wesley and Whitefield. All the people in Helensburgh had not the discernment of their minister, Mr. Anderson, however; for one old Scotchwoman, who was accompanied by a younger friend, was far from satisfied. "I ne'er did hear sic a mountebank performance," she exclaimed at the conclusion of the service; and when the preacher came down and offered to shake hands, while passing, neither of them would countenance that civility. Nevertheless, after she became converted, the younger of the two hearers learned to admire the great preacher very greatly for his work's sake, and when he died she mourned for him as for a brother. On one or two occasions she communicated by letter with Mr. Spurgeon, and she treasures certain notes of acknowledgment which came in reply. If Mr. Anderson had lived, he would have been able to give some striking reminiscences of this and other visits. On one occasion the two took a drive to Loch Lomond, and while this was greatly enjoyed by the London pastor, he gave his more elderly Scotch friend ample evidence of the way in which he could choose a text, and then arrange the divisions and chief ideas which were suggested. The preacher continued to meet with adventures, the details of which were more or less amusing. In May, 1861, a London correspondent told an anecdote relating to something which happened at Tring, in Hertfordshire, while Mr. Spurgeon was staying there. The people wished him to address them, but no building was available:—
"A Nonconformist minister was first applied to for the loan of his chapel, but returned an indignant refusal. An application to the vicar for the use of the parish church met with a similar response. An open-air meeting in the existing state of the weather was out of the question; and, there being no room in the village sufficiently large to accommodate a quarter of the expected audience, it began to be feared that the whole affair would drop through, more especially as Mr. Spurgeon had to leave for town by an early train on the following morning. In this dilemma a small farmer in the neighbourhood offered the use of a large barn, which was gladly accepted. An extemporaneous pulpit was hastily constructed, and long before the hour appointed every corner of the place was crowded with expectant listeners. On entering the pulpit Mr. Spurgeon informed his congregation that, although he had been only asked to give one sermon, it was his intention to deliver two. After a long and brilliant discourse in his own peculiarly forcible and impressive style, he paused for a few minutes, and then proceeded:—'And now for sermon number two—a plain practical sermon. Our friend who gave us the use of this building is a poor man. When I saw him this morning he wore a coat all in tatters; his shirt absolutely grinned at me through the holes. Let us show our appreciation of his kindness by buying him a new suit of clothes.' The suggestion was immediately adopted, and in the course of a few minutes some £10 or £12 were collected. On his return to London Mr. Spurgeon related the circumstance to some of his congregation, who testified their appreciation of the respect paid to their pastor by subscribing a further sum of £20 for the benefit of the Hertfordshire farmer." At the end of March, 1861, the Metropolitan Tabernacle was completed, so that the pastor and his people now entered on a new era of usefulness.