REV. THOMAS SPURGEON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9496, 27 April 1894, Page 6

REV. THOMAS SPURGEON.

[FROM our OWN correspondent.] London, March 24. Last Wednesday evening an interesting ! ceremony— to New Zealanders, especially to Aucklanders as well as to Londoners, took Iplace at the Metropolitan Tabernacle. The occasion was the election of a permanent pastor of that congregation in succession to the late lamented Charles H. Spurgeon, the preacher of world-wide fame. Although it was known beforehand to an absolute certainty that Mr. Thomas Spurgeon, the son of the late pastor would be elected to fill the vacant place, it was also known that there would be opposition to this choice. It was understood that out of a total voting strength of nearly 3000 some 800 or 900 members of the congregation were adverse to Mr. Spurgeon's appointment. Some seem merely to have advocated delay in order to see whether somebody might " turn up" that they would prefer to Mr. Spnrgeon. Others are warm, supporters of Dr. G. T. Pierson, the American Presbyterian preacher, who temporarily filled the pastorate. Dr. Pierson, however, seems to have stated explicitly that he had not renounced his Presbyterian views— had been rumoured that he had not the slightest intention of renouncing or modifying them, and that he favoured the election of Mr. Thomas Spurgeon. As his principles rendered him ineligible as a candidate, it ought to have been supposed that this ended the matter so far as he was concerned. But such was not the case. Some of the younger members of the congregation remained devoted to his cause, and refused to relinquish the hope that he might yet be persuaded to suit his views to those of the Tabernacle. They accordingly contended strenuously for further delay. It was in fact a sheer fight again3t time in their case. On the other hand the Tabernacle officebearers, who number about 50, were all but unanimous in favouring the immediate appointment of Mr. Spurgeon. It was pointed out that Mr. Spurgeon had especial claims to consideration even apart from the fact of being the favourite " sou Tom " of his famous father.

Mr. Spurgeon being in his 38th year was just the right age for entrance upon such a task. He was young, and yet had had efficient experience. It was while he was engaged in business as a wood engraver that he felt an urgent call to the ministry. He obeyed the call, and entered the Pastors' College, leaving it to assume the pastorate of the Auckland Tabernacle, New Zealand. He had come from that distant colony last year at the invitation of the Metropolitan Tabernacle congregation to undertake a term of service "with a view to the pastorate," as was expressly stated in the invitation. He had nearly completed that term, and had proved himself tne " right man in the right place." For this and other reasons his appointment to the permannent pastorate was strongly advocated. Only three comparatively young men represented the opposition to this course as spokesmen. HJiey practically confined themselves mainly to urging the advisableness of waiting a little longpr ; and to deprecating any needless precipitation in an important matter. Their references to the possibility still in their opinion existent, of securing Dr. Pierson, were tolerably plain. However, they could not carry the meeting with them, and the result of the vote was the election of the Rev. Thomas Spnrgeon by the large majority of 2027 out of 2676 available votes. Of these, some 300 were not recorded at all, so the ad verse votes actually given were under 400. This is as near an approach to unanimity as could reasonably be expected in the circumstance?, and Mr. Spurgeon may well be congratulated on the result, which will doubtless be very gratifying to the many friends he has left behind him in Auckland and New Zealand generally. -