SPURGEON-LIDD0N-PARKER. An American Estimate.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2242, 20 November 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

SPURGEON-LIDDON-PARKER. An American Estimate.

Ax Amrnican clergyman gave his impressions in tho Congregationalist cf thiee preachers — S'purgenn, Canon Liddou, and Dr Parker. Mr Spurgoon's earnestness if} wonderful. It is enthusiastic, tri'^aiphant. lie talks like a man in absolute sympathy tvith God. Every word has tho ling of victory iv if. He ii a mighty leader, moving on with spiinging . top to tho gicatest ti.umph this world '•hall ever know. Canon Liddou preached afc Sf\ Paul's. The older and silent reverence here wrie in marked contmbt with tho confusion and coughing" and bustling 1 at Spurgeon'h Church, The Canon appeared in white gowu, which seemed quite in harmony with his pure and btMuti ful face. Ho is ■very 11311(1801110, and has a remarkably fine voiei 1 , which rings through the great cathcdial like tho notes of a bugle among the mountains of Killavnoy. Bui the echoes borne back from the lofty dome and the deep recesses somewhat disturb the -effect. X)r. Parker is a massive man. He makes

you think of all the great walls and old cistles you have seen. His voice is like the 101 l of thunder and deep calling unto deep And just when you wish it was not so awfully solemn there comes into it a sweet tone like tho warbling of birds in the mountains, and the music of ;\ brook in a deep foiest. There is in it a wonderful faculty for materialising a thought. When in his prayer ho alludfd to the sorrowing woi Id as a " weary little world, a swinging tomb with the winds moaning and sublmig around it," you could hoar the wailing and sobbiug in the voices. Rio makes no effoit to win sympathy oi attention, but stands up in the meatness of hia stiongth and proclaims his thoughts, whilo tho audience— more than halt of whom arc men— bend forward in rapt attention. He is quite demonstrative and somewhat explosive, and strikes the Bible with clenched fist or open pvlm, or with both hands, just as he happens to think it deserves it, or the sentiment justifies it. or the audience needs it. At all events the audience gets well shaken up and the Bible well pounded down. These throe great English preachers are iaprosentativ. r es of distinct classes and tendencio?. Spnrgcou has risen up among the people, and standing in the thick of the conflict of their everyday life, he speaks iv tones which fa'l like dew unon the tender grass. His message finds its own justification with the "hidden man of the heart." He holds up Christ, and rests upon the promise that the Crucified One will draw all men unto him. Canon Liddon is of that race who have come with stately 3tep down the long corridors of time, passing through the aisles of the great cathedrals, and gathering culture and refining aud polishing and poetizing, until religion is almost reduced to music, sentiment and the silent, breathless beauty of painting and sculpture. Joseph Parker is a concentration of the mighty tnoughts of the age, gathering them from all quarters and pouring them luck upon the multitude in new forms, fashioned in the white'heat of an inteu?ely active mind, and clothed with the bea'ity of J the genius of expression.