Evenings from Home.

Observer, Volume 2, Issue 29, 2 April 1881, Page 304

Evenings from Home.

No B.— At Beresford Street Chapel. It lias been my lot at one time and another to sit under a good many Congregationalist parsons, and I am distinctly of the opinion that this particular sect can boast a larger number of fairly capable preachers than any other amongst the non-conformists. The head centre of Congregationalism is the Westminister Chapel in London. Next to Spurgeon's Tabernacle this is the largest place of worship in the metropolis, and those -who have been there will not readily forget its simple grandeur. Unfortunately the Congregationalists have no Spurgeon. Their "bright and shining lights," the Rev. Samuel Martin and Dr. Raleigh are — or perhaps I ought to say were, for I believe they have both laid down the burden of life — clover cultivated men, wielding great influence with their respective flocks, but lacking altogether that vigorous living eloquence which makes Spurgeon such a power in London. Bercsford-street chapel is a plain but fresh and cheerfully fitted up building, neither so large nor so handsome as Pitt-street but somewhat similar. The congregation on the evening of my visit appeared to consist principally of leading tradesmen and their families, with here and there a sprinkling of the lower strata. The swell members of the community (if there are any) do not attend two services. Possibly they think they are not so much in need of religious consolation as their poorer brethren. The parson or pastor as he is usually called. Mr. Robertson is an insignificant looking man apparently about five and thirty. At first I didn't think much of him, but directly he began to speak it was evident that appearances were misleading. His opening prayer consisted of a few well chosen and neatly constructed sentences, spoken with great fluency and less hackneyed in substance than is usual with such compositions. The prayer was followed by a hymn sung with delightful heartiness by both choir and congregation. I don't think the choir is anything very remarkable, but as the worshippers come to join in the singing and not to listen to it, this doesn't much matter. The reading of scripture was rendered interesting by running comments on the part of the pastor, who explained any passage which seemed to require elucidation. 1 his is a regular custom amongst the Congregationlists, and a very capital custom too. The poorer and less educated members of a church must constantly be hearing bits which they don't understand, but which a few words would make clear to them. Moreover, there are lots of verses in the Bible which, although unsuitable as texts for lengthened homilies are yet capable of considerable amplification. After another hymn and prayer came the sermon. Mr. Robertson's method of preaching is peculiar. If I may use such an expression he " hob-nobs " with his congregation, addressing them in a familiar and colloquial manner. It is more like a father talking sound practical common sense to his children than a parson rating a lot of miserable sinners. No doubt the style has its advantages. There is none of that hateful superiority apparent which makes some preachers so obnoxious. You feel at once that the speaker is in the same boat that you are, and that he knows it. Mr. Robertson is anecdotal too. His discourse was garnished with several stories, and as they were well told and to the point, I rather liked them. The quality the sermon lacked was eloquence. Mr. Robertson may, as his friends assert, possess this power at times, but on this occasion there was certainly no evidence of it. The sermon was sound, earnest, and full of home truths, but it lacked force. The Philistine.