Chapter 88: At Work Again

Chapter 88.
At Work Again

Recovery of Health—Account of the Continental Tour—Spurgeon dines with the Baptist Fundees—The Ninth Conference—An Offer from America—A Philanthropist's Wedding.

At the opening of the year 1873 Mr. Spurgeon sufficiently recovered his health to take the pulpit services at the Tabernacle. Meanwhile the loss of old friends by death continued; for within a short period Dr. Haycroft, Dr. Guthrie, and the Hon. Baptist Noel passed away; and later in the year these were followed by the able theologian, John Howard Hinton, who for many years held the pastorate at Devonshire Square Chapel. On a very cold night—Tuesday, January 28—a large congregation assembled at the Tabernacle to have some account of the Continental tour. The pastor assured his audience that to him lecturing was the severest of all toil. He never looked forward to it without pain, never began it without hesitation, and never finished it without thinking he was a fool to attempt it, and should be a greater fool to attempt it again. The tour had been made in wet weather; and "six weeks of pain and anguish" at Cannes had caused him to forget many things which had been stored up in his mind for future use; and beyond that, he had found that his memory failed him in a way it had never done before. He again confessed that he took very little interest in the Continental picture-galleries. He had seen the Virgin Mary depicted so many times that he did not know what she was like; but he had been greatly struck by a picture of Napoleon I. in hell, the object of the artist being to set forth the detestable character of war. The success of the evangelistic efforts of the Waldenses and the Wesleyans, the singing of English hymns in the Colosseum, where also he preached—these things were of more interest to him than pictures and statuary. An account of Pompeii was given, the whole being illustrated with dissolving views.

It was at the beginning of this year that Mr. Charlesworth, the master of the Stockwell Orphanage, was baptised. When he was appointed to his responsible position Mr. Charlesworth was an Independent, and it is a striking proof of Spurgeon's catholicity that he should have engaged the services of one Pædobaptist for the College, of another for the Orphanage. "The circumstance shows the breadth of his nature," remarked the new organ of the Baptist denomination, which had just commenced its career. "No one would ever be likely to suspect him of holding his principles lightly, and the explanation is obviously found, therefore, in the fact that he sought out the men best adapted for the posts to be filled, and imposed in the selection the one all-important test."

Early in March I attended the annual gathering, at the Guildhall Tavern, of the Baptist Fundees, which is strictly confined to members. As a social meeting this is usually a pleasant occasion; for a number of leading ministers, as well as messengers from their churches, are always at the table. Those who were present will remember how during the hour before dinner all were conversing tête-à-tête in different parts of the room, when a hum of satisfaction seemed to run round, caused by the unexpected appearance of Mr. Spurgeon. He looked somewhat pale and worn, but was otherwise in good spirits, and at once consented to take the chair when requested to do so. According to custom from time immemorial, the chairman at this dinner has to propose the health of the reigning sovereign, and this the great preacher did very gracefully, explaining that the regard of Nonconformists for the Queen was that of real appreciation. He then went on to remind the more elderly of the Fundees how differently the throne was filled in the bygone days some of them were able to remember. To the chairman the most pleasing fact was, however, that £2,766 had been distributed during 1872, and he did not like any balance to be lying at the bank while poor ministers were in need. On the afternoon of March 12 he preached at the opening of the present Dr. James Spurgeon's chapel at Croydon. Though difficult, the pioneer work had been abundantly successful. At the outset "the ground was occupied by clergymen of the most pronounced type of High Churchism. Not one of them unites with Dissenters in City Mission work, or even in the Bible Society. They had monopolised nearly the entire educational field, and their School Board formed a liturgy to be used in the schools." The ninth conference of the Pastors' College opened on the last day of March; and in reference to the week's meetings The Baptist said: "The men as a body have not lost an iota of their early enthusiasm. They love their alma mater, they love their work, they love their President, and still believe in preaching, the morphic influence of books having manifestly exerted little influence over them." The Monday evening meeting took place at Vernon Chapel, Pentonville; and, as the College building was not yet reared, the Tuesday morning meeting was at Walworth Road Chapel. Though the President was thought to be looking well, he was not in the best of spirits. The subject of the address from the chair was "Encouragements in Pastoral Work." A contrast was drawn between the romance of early days and the more prosaic earnestness of the present. What a difference there was between then and now. A good deal of the romance had gone. Then they were to be shepherds, who would sit and pipe, and the sheep would answer readily to the call; but now the crook had to be used, perhaps more often than the pipe. The romance had partly gone under the sense of reality. Though the will was as strong, was the will the same? The late Dr. Duncan once said that when he first read Berkeley's book, he was nearly carried away by it, and he was soon after effectually cured of Berkeleyism by knocking his nose against a bed-post. The daydream had vanished, and youthful conceit had gone with it. Then they had heard of pastors who had failed, but it was not likely that they would. If coaches were overturned or horses ran away it must be the fault of the driver; but they? Yet now they knew that they were much the same as other people. Human nature remained the same, members were the same, deacons were the same, and pastors were the same too. Then as to sermonising. It was so easy to prepare sermons then, as well it might be when all the texts were in the Bible, and they had only used some half-dozen. Besides, there were the books they had read—the sermons of others; they could not borrow now as when the memory was young and good!

Some other contrasts were drawn, and it was shown that preaching was about as hard as any work beneath the sun, comparable even to the Egyptian brick-making when straw was withheld, unless the Spirit of God lent His aid. It was added that the work might grow monotonous:—"The road of a minister's life is sometimes as hard and monotonous as a typical road in Holland, where you may walk the first mile and see three hundred and fifty-two poplar trees, exactly similar and cheerless-looking, all in a row; and walk the second and find three hundred and fifty-three of precisely the same sort; and the third mile to find three hundred and fifty-four, the road seemingly going on as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be. So in the conscientious pastor's life. Monday has its row of poplar trees; Tuesday has its row; Wednesday has its row; the same people to be seen, the same plaints to be patiently listened to, the same calls to be made, the same routine to be passed through; and one's spirits will grow heavy and one's heart faint unless one specially feel that God is near—ever near—and that the work is His." As regarded encouragements, notwithstanding Deacon Grumper, these were to be found in the world, in the Word, and in the course of Providence.

Mr. Spurgeon's Library At Westwood

Mr. Duncan presided at the supper on the Wednesday evening, when the usual collection was made. The usual statement regarding the College and its work was also given; while an answer was also given to the question, "How do you judge of the men?" "As best I can," replied Mr. Spurgeon. In some cases six months were allowed to pass before the application for admission was answered, and that tried the men's mettle. Then each man must have preached for two years, and that cut off a large number. Ministers' recommendations, as a rule, were of little use; for too often they recommended a man into the College just as they would do into the police service, merely to do a kindness. It was well to look well at a man; for while it might not always do to judge by appearances, there were appearances about which there was no doubt. Thus one young fellow came who, according to his own account, had read everything; and when told that he knew too much for such a college and would not be wanted, he replied, "If you pass me by you will miss one of the finest opportunities you ever had." Not long afterwards this candidate was in the dock of one of the police-courts. There was another who came forward and said, "Oh, sir, I believe I'm called to the Lord's work." "How so?" "Well, I was put to the grocery; but I could not stand that—the hours were too long. I then became a clerk, and afterwards travelled on commission; but as this did not answer, my friends put me into business." "Well, and what then?" "Why, the business did not answer, and so you see, sir, the Lord has hedged my way up to the work of the ministry." Of course he was not accepted.

It was at this time that Spurgeon had an offer to be taken through the United States on a lecturing tour, and it was of a more extraordinary kind than had ever before been made to any eminent man. Here is his own statement as given at the Metropolitan Tabernacle:—

"I will just tell you one little thing which happened to me this afternoon. I had a letter from a gentleman well known in America, giving me this offer—twenty-five thousand dollars for twenty-five lectures—that is, two hundred pounds for each lecture. On these terms the twenty-five nights would give me five thousand pounds, and in a hundred nights I should have twenty thousand pounds. Besides this, I should he allowed to lecture for as many nights as I chose, so that I might in the course of a year be worth forty thousand pounds, and no doubt the persons who undertake this would earn ten times the amount. I have nothing to do but to leave you for a year and come home with twenty thousand or forty thousand pounds, while if I stay here I shall have nothing like that. What do you suppose was my answer to this offer? I wrote, 'If you were to multiply that offer by one hundred times and again a hundred times, I should feel it as easy to decline as I do now, when I say I cannot cross the ocean to lecture upon any subject whatever. I am a minister of the Gospel and never lectured for money, and do not intend to do so now; and if my people cannot support me, it is a pity.' Some people would say, 'Why not go over to America and get the money to build the College?' I shall not do so, because I would not do one thing to degrade myself nor disgrace you. I shall not make any appeal to another country to do what you can and ought to do. There are two brothers here to-night who have received offers from America. Each man can lecture as well as preach, and there is no harm in their having five hundred pounds and a month's holiday. If I were in their position I should do the same thing, but as I am I cannot leave you. I cannot leave the College nor the Orphanage, not if my house were filled with silver and gold from top to bottom.... If I went to America... I should go, not to preach the Gospel, but to lecture, and I cannot do that, not for the National Debt." By this decision and self-sacrifice he could not do otherwise than win for himself golden opinions, and this seems to have been the case especially in America. The English preacher's old friend, The Watchman and Reflector, expressed the wish that all ministers in the United States would take a similar view of the sanctity of their calling; but so far was that from being the case that there were popular ministers who seemed to misread the divine commission as "Go and lecture all nations." Hence what was intended to be a purely sacred calling was, with many, a calling of a semi-sacred character. It was even reported that a popular Boston preacher had earned twenty-five thousand dollars in a single season by lecturing; but it was not surprising to find such a man asking why greater numbers did not attend the preaching of the Gospel. "The tendency has been very strong of late in this direction among preachers," it was added. "It is one of the many evil influences that have come from the eminent and commanding ministry of the Plymouth pulpit. Would that the equally eminent and far more salutary power of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London might be felt, moulding our rising ministry into the opposite type."

During the spring meetings of the denomination in April, 1873, the great missionary sermon by Spurgeon at Westbourne Grove Chapel on the last evening of the month was a chief attraction. As was usual on such occasions, the crowd mustered in strong force, and large numbers were unable to obtain admission. The portion of Scripture read—St. Mat 5:1-20—was expounded in the preacher's best style, while the discourse which followed was so far a missionary discourse that it showed missionary service to be a necessary element of church life. "With reference both to the morning and the evening sermons, we have heard but one expression of satisfaction and delight," it was remarked; "and we doubt not that by their means the missionary spirit has been greatly strengthened, and that the brethren present will henceforth work in this good cause more heartily and lovingly than ever."

One extract from this memorable sermon may be given. In showing that it was not necessary to be a preacher in order to exercise Christian influence he said:—

"Do not let us imagine that to salt the world it is necessary that we should preach. It is necessary that those of us who can should, but to think that those of you who cannot preach are therefore prevented from blessing mankind would be a grave error. Far from it. I believe the very best of preaching is done at home. Conversions are often wrought by the example of the converted; and the best ministry, mark you, would fail if it were not backed up by the godly example of the church. I am certain that the most eloquent minister, even with the Spirit of God upon him, could hardly expect to see conversions if his hearers could say, 'Tour church belies your doctrine; the practical result of your teaching is sin and unholiness; you are not successful in producing good works in Christians, and therefore your testimony is not to be received.' No; the example of the Christian is necessary to the ministry, and apart from the ministry it is in itself a potent ministry for good. Who shall tell the effect which godly men have in the city or the village where they dwell? The tone of morality has been raised in this country—history can be my witness—by the presence of one earnest church. What Whitefield and Wesley did by the revival of their period for common morality returns can tell you, and they are obliged to bear witness. A languid church, and you very soon have low morals; but the presence of Christianity in a country prevents the gross transgressions which accompany idolatry. Yes; and every Christian man lifts up the tone of his household; if others are not Christians, yet they cannot go to the same excess of riot in the presence of the Christian." This discourse, given in the preacher's best manner, and when he was apparently in his happiest mood, represented one of those great occasions when a profound and lasting impression was produced. Magnificent as it was, such a sermon was a complete contrast to the master efforts of great preachers of preceding years. As has been already shown, those venerable leaders struck the best judges as men who laboured to less profit when they had to make what was supposed to be their greatest effort. They preached to produce effect; Spurgeon's one aim was to say something which would tend more than anything else to advance the cause. Carried away, as it were, with his enthusiasm, he seemed to speak with the fervency and eloquence of one inspired. The tact and readiness with which he adapted himself to surrounding circumstances would also be characteristic. He would be happier on a great missionary occasion, when he was surrounded by a crowd of those who could influence others; but when the theme was less congenial, and when less enthusiasm was in the air, the occasion might be none the less striking and educational.

Thus, in preaching at the opening of a chapel about this time, he enlarged on the text, "Thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin;" and after drawing an analogy between the old Dispensation sacrifices and that of Christ, he went on to show that the punish-merit of sin was simple justice. Indeed, that truth was so patent, that men who were the greatest sinners were often the greatest cowards when the time of trouble came, and the most hardened blasphemer and infidel was the most full of apprehension if he had but a slight pain. On Tuesday, June 17, there took place at the Metropolitan Tabernacle a marriage ceremony which was generally regarded as being one of the most singular scenes which had ever taken place in the great building. The bridegroom was a well-known philanthropist, and the congregation consisted of some three thousand persons, for the chief part poor people who had been sent from Stepney, a choir of working lads, all decorated with rosettes, and a ragged-school boys' band, which occupied the outer steps of the building. The time inside the building was whiled away by the singing of a selection of pieces, and the wedding party arrived some minutes before eleven o'clock. They occupied seats on the lower platform, Lord Radstock being present to conduct the religious part of the service. "Still the bride came not," says a contemporary chronicler, "though half-past eleven had struck and quarter to twelve had been sounded, everybody fearing, meanwhile, that the delay would render the marriage impossible—for that day at least." The young lady appeared at last, however, and the registrar, "with commendable celerity," got through his part of the contract, the religious part of the service being continued for another hour. A large number of the poor people then adjourned to Clapham Common, where, beneath a large tent, a feast in honour of the marriage was provided for them. At midsummer of this year a visit was paid to Tunbridge and Tunbridge Wells, sermons being given on behalf of a new chapel. About the same time Mr. W. H. Brearley, of Detroit, made one more endeavour to induce Spurgeon to visit America to undertake a lecturing tour, and this was the answer:—

"Dear Sir,—I must decline your courteous offer, not because I doubt your good faith, or desire higher terms, but simply because I do nothing in the lecturing way for money. I am a preacher of the Gospel, and believe that the people among whom I minister ought to support me, and then have a right to my time; consequently I never add to my income by lecturing. I have an offer of twenty-five thousand dollars for twenty-five lectures in your country, and for more on similar terms; but I cannot accept it, nor could I if the offer were multiplied a hundred times. My income is not such that I can despise money; my people could not remunerate me in four years at the rate offered for twenty-five nights; but my work engrosses me and I cannot leave it, especially to enrich myself. Moreover, I am no lecturer, and do not want to be. I honour those who can do it well, but I cannot, and am quite content not to do it; for I have enough of other work, and work more directly bearing on my life's aim.—With many thanks, yours very truly, "C. H. Spurgeon."