THE AUCKLAND TABERNACLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9324, 29 March 1889, Page 5

THE AUCKLAND TABERNACLE

public welcome to the rev. CHARLES SPURGEON. A reception soiree took place last evening l at the Tabernacle, in order to give a public welcome to the Rev. Charles Spurgeon, who is making a brief visit to Auckland. The welcome was not confined to the Tabernacle congregation, there being on the platform ministers of the various denominations, so that the gathering had a representative character. There were about a thousand persons present. The outer circle of the rostrum was tastefully decorated with flowers, &c. On the front of the gallery opposite was the word " Welcome, '* in largo characters. The Rev. Thomas Spurgeon presided, and introduced the guest of the evening, " his big brother," who he said " was preferred before him, for he was before him." Ho trusted v fchab his brother was but the forerunner of his father. (Cheers). They owed his presence here to indisposition. He had been suffering a good deal from insomnia, but rest ancl the sea voyage had largely restored him to his usual health. The clock facing him as he spoke reminded him that that was the gift of his brother and the Greenwich Baptist Church. It kept good time, which was more than he could say for some of his congregation. They were also indebted to him for obtaining for them the handsome soiree service which they now possessed. He had welcomed his brother privately ; he would now call upon the secretary of the church to do so publicly in the name of the Church. Mr. S. H. Matthews, in a few appropriate sentences, welcomed Mr. Charles Spurgeon to the Tabernacle and to Auckland, on behalf of the Church, and expressed the hope uhat the change of scene might lead to his perfect restoration to health, so that he might be useful while in the colonies, and useful on his return to his people. The Rev. J. D. Gilmore, of the Ponsonby Baptist Church, and an old student of Spurgeon's Pastor's College, London, expressed his gratification at seeing Mr. C. Spurgeon again, and gave him an Irish welcome—"Cead Mille Failthe." He had received n*uch kindness from Mr Thomas Spurgeon, and welcomed the guest of the evening as his brother's brother. The Rev. J. S. Hiia (Anglican), as President) of the Young Men's Christian Association, desired to tender his welcome. Mr. Spurgeon had been known as an earnest and successful evangelist, especially among young inon. He welcomed him not only for his own sake, or his father's, but for his grandfather's. (Laughter.) It had boen his privilege while labouring in Islington, London, to come into contact with the father of Mr. C. Haddon Spurgeon, who laboured ministerially hard by. Many of the young men of Mr. Spurgeon's Bible class cordially co-operated with him in mission work ; and Mr. Spurgeon, though too old for active mission work, sympathised with and co-operated in his work. But ho welcomed Mr. C. Spurgeon for his father's sake—the worthy father of worthy sons, a man who preached the old Gospel and walked in the old jmths, pointing men to tho Redeemer of the world.

The Rev. Mr. Salter (Wesleyan) apologised for the absence of his brethren, who would havo been happy bo bo present, but wore obliged to bo at an ordination service that evening. On behalf of the denomination ho represented ho desired to give a hearty welcome to Mr. Spurgoon. When he hoard of the accident to his respected father at Men tone his hope was that he would require a sea voyage to recuperate, and that the colonies would have the favour of a visit from him.

Rev. G. B. Monro (Presbyterian) spoko on behalf of his denomination. He said a warm friendship had always subsisted between the Presbyterians and Baptists. There was no minister ever visited Scotland who was more welcome than Mr. C. H. Spurgeon. Mr. Monro described his visit to the Metropolitan Tabernacle, with four other Presbyterian students, and said onohad only to hear him givo out a hymn to understand tho magnetic influence he wielded over the thousands gathered together in that vast building. He welcomed the son, but lie hoped to see the father yet in the colonics. As it was, ho was the preacher of Christendom, and his writings were known over the civilised world.

The Rev. A. J. Smith (Primitive Methodist) spoke briefly. Mr. C. H. Spurgeon had always been a warm friend of the Primitive Methodists, and they reciprocated the good feeling. When he visited the Metropolitan Tabernacle he lost his friend who accompanied him there in the crowd trying to get in, and he had never seon him since. (Laughter.) On behalf of his peoplo ho welcomed Mr. C. Spurgeon to Auckland.

A letter of apology was road from tlio Rev. B. L. Thomas (Congregationalist), who was unable to be present through indisposition. Its terms were so kindly and courteous that the chairman read it to the meeting, and it was received with manifestations of applause. On Mr. (J. Sturgeon rising to reply, "lie was received with warm applause. He stated that he had never expected to be among them —to see that clock, which was still true to Greenwich, or to havo a cup of tea out of that soiree service. It was a pleasure to him to see their beautiful city and harbour. .lie referred at length to the " Down Grade," and the part his father had borne in it, and hoped that no considerations of policy, opinion, or sordid motives would ever make them swerve one hair's breadth from the old truths of the Old Gospel. His father, ho was glad was recovering from his accident. His mother, notwithstanding her feeble health, was pursuing her works of usefulness, and every department of work in connection with the Metropolitan Tabernacle was progressing. Money for the Stockwell Orphanage, with its 500 boys and girls, was pouring in from all quarters, and the Pastor's College was in full swing. During his stay in Auckland ho desired to make himself useful as far as possible, though he had been suffering from insomnia of late, and that they knew was a distressing complaint. Ho thanked the speakers for the kind things said, and the audience for their hearty welcome. The proceedings closed with the doxology and the benediction by the chairman. It was announced that Mr. C. Spur goon would occupy the Tabernacle pulpit on Sunday evening, give an address in the Ponsonby Baptist Church, and give a lecture in the Tabernacle in aid of the Baptist missions, of which particulars will be duly advertised.