A GREAT BAPTIST.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 187, 2 May 1908, Page 11

A GREAT BAPTIST.

i THE REV. ARCHIBALD BROWN. Tho Rev. Archibald Brown was subjected to i tho usual interview on his recent appoint-. ; "nient to the solo pastorship'of tho Baptist 'M .' [ Metropolitan Tabernacle, London. From an 1 interesting recital of . opinions and'difficulties ' " 1 wo learn that Mr. Brown believes extension of travelling with week-end tickets to. be ono : of the cleverest tactics of the devil for many ( a long day. "People think of Sunday," ho ... said' in'., a 'recent interview,'. "the first ; day.of J tho week, not as the Lord's-Day at all, but ' as a day thrown in, the glorious Lord's Day ■ ' ■ being thrown away.- There'is not a Bcasido resort, but is tho. worse for it. Thoiworld. ' has gone'mad in its pleasure-seeking. - -Tho existence of a place of worship might, even ■ '■ remain unknown." ' ' '.'A'.new: chapel-.has . been' constructed .ia : ■" ■ connection with tho Metrbpolitan>Tabernaclo:. . to seat 3000 persons,-and on a Sunday evening there may bo something" like 2400 prosent." As a preacher, Mr. Brown defines 1113 •• ? aim is to bqcomo a"faithful expositor-o£ Scripture. Etliics, social questions and politics lie regards as' being-quite' out' of' placo in tho pulpit., "If T were to announce that ! would preach on the Suffragist'movement,":: " ■ he said,' "the police would be needed to keen, the crowd in'order." ; He thinks tho world.'" 'V" is so far from getting hotter that it is has- • tening on to tho final, apostasy; and ho i. thinks that tho Church's duty is . to :seek .to .'f .' '' save 'people 1 -from the wreck.' One'encourag-.: ing sign'which he thankfully welcomes is tho increased attendance .at the week-night ser-> vices,'which, are now hold in the Tabernacle." ' Mr. Brown, who is''well' on -in" years,-; con-' fessed to having indulged in ono day-drenr.i of_ mature' age, and that has been that ho, ' might-.bp able to turn aside from .the crowded v -highway, of. life. . His longing has been for ' .quiet" seclusion in some; country ■' cottago,: 7 j'.J ; ■where he could be occupied in. reading his Biblo and in meditation. ' Such possible ro- ; tiroment has prospectively charmed him for years past; and the sudden -call to the Metropolitan 'Tabernacle- canio as . a shock:' ; He was'actually longing to realise this cap- : "y tivating day-dream; when ho was asked to . *. take the co-pastorato 1 under Mr. • Thomas . ; " Spurgeon; -.and the -call ' was accepted be- , cause it was believed to be the will of God.Mr. Brown told how ho had hoped that Mr. . . Spurgeon ;. would return" from abroad, ■ and that the .two' together might-do- tho work' ' withbutvthe burden y pressing hoavily ■ o:i 'either. In consequence of Mr. Spurgeon's -resignation," however, thero has como the call for tho.assistant pastor to take tho undivided pastorate. This unanimous call of an assem- ..." bly,. composed of 1200 Church' members', who were: ontnusiastic in the matter, • ho" regards as ."next door to a miracle:" Tho fond daydream has had to bo relinquished to enter . . upon a huge work. - ?