The Rev. C. Spurgeon.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3317, 24 September 1889, Page 2

The Rev. C. Spurgeon.

The London correspondent of the Dnnedin "Star" writes:—You will probably remember the sensational paragraphs that got into the papers a little while ago anent one of the sons of the great Spurgeon, who had been out on a visit to his brother in Auckland, The somewhat spicy items by enterprising but somewhat unveracious pressmen accused the young Baptist parson of carrying on a very pronounced flirtation with a lady on hoard the homeward-bound ship] We have most of us done something in the flirtation way when at sea, Some have preferred tho more "spooning" form of the game, while others have gone in for what is generally known !.as " intellectual flirtation," which means reading poetry together, W. arguments on every subject under ih« sun, and a good deal of sitting together, A mora innocent form.of enjoyment were hard of discovery, Mr Spurgeon, senior, would not seem to deny that his son is human, and has done what everyone else does on board steamers —if fortunate; but he strongly denies that there was " anything wrong."' In lug own review this month he observes; -." Our. son ha 3 had to bear the' ills of ex-

'iteration and falsehood through tlii mineraiisi! of reporters to create a sensational paragraph ; but no onj who knows him has »vcr suipected him of acting in tho manner mctitiouLHi, fur less ofn wioug." As to hissecond Bon, tho Baptist minister in Aujkland, Mr Spnrgeon eays ;—"Wo arc not without grave trial in the illhealth of our second He has bem so depressed that ho has felt lie mist seek a change, Ho has dona grid service' during the year of his sojourn in Auckland.' May the Lord restore his health and make him a still greater blessing somowhere else." Ptoplo will doubtless sympathise with both father and 6on, Aboard ship scandal is about as unscrtiplona a thing as thero is in the world. Most have at somo timo nr oilier suffered therefrom,