A Lady’s Sketch of Spurgeon.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 189, 24 June 1873, Page 6

A Lady’s Sketch of Spurgeon.

A square, florid fac ', stout figure, a tine, keen eye, a natural, decided manner,very impressive. A strong, clear voice of much dramatic power, and a way of walking the pulpit like Father Taylor. His sermon was on “ Small Temptations,” and he illustrated it by facts and examples taken from real life, pointing out several of his congregation, and calling them by name, win hj original proceeding seemed to find favour with his people. He used no notes, hut talked rather than preached ; and, leaning over the railing urged, argued, prayed, and sang with a hearty eloquence, very offertive, and decidedly refreshing after High Church mummery abroad, and drowsy Unitarianism at home. Now and tnen he stopped to give directions for the comfort of his flock in a free-and-easy manner which called up irresistible smiles on the faces of strangers. “Mrs Flacker, you’d better take that child into the ante-room : he’s tired,” “ Come this way, friends : there’s plenty of room.” “ Open all the windows, Manning; it’s very warm.” And when a sad sort of cry interrupted him he looked') down at an old woman shaking with epilepsy, and mildly remarked, “ Don’t he troubled, brethren : our sister is subject to fits,” and preached tranquilly on. For two hours he held that great gathering, in spite of heat, discomfort, and other afflictions of the flesh, and ended by saying, in a paternal way—“ Now remember what I've said through the week, ami next Sunday show me that I haven’t talked in vain." He read a list of meetings for every night in the week. —From “ Shawl Straps," hy Louisa M. Alcott.