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IN SPURGEON'S TABERNACLE
NO CHOIR, ORGAN, NOR BRASS HORN.
Quaint Old Castles - Mountain and Lake Scenery Lucerne - Venice, Milam and the Apls - Prohibition in Europe.
Correspondence of The News.
Venice, Italy, July 4 - The fame of Rev. C. H. Spurgeon is world-wide. His published sermons are very popular in America. Before leaving London I had the extreme please of listening one Sabbath day to a discourse from him in his own church - the Tabernacle. With a complimentary ticket from my landlord and under his direction, I took a cab, and after a three miles ride south and across the Thames I reached the church in time, and by a side entrance secured a good seat where I could see and hear distinctly. The seating capacity of the church is immense, holding comfortably over 7000 people. There are two large galleries, one above the other and extending all around and even behind the pulpit, which is high up and even with the first gallery. As usual the church was full, many being unable to get seats. Soon a heavy-set man with a large head, black hair and a full beard, dressed neatly in black.
COMMENCED THE SERVICES
it was Mr. Spurgeon. The large pulpit in which he stood and the altar place, was crowded with his more ardent followers. There was no choir nor organ nor brass horn. The whole audience arose and sang together under the leadership of one man standing in the pulpit. I have heard church music, but never before did I hear such a swell of praise go up from so many thousand voices. Mr. Spurgeon is a plain, earnest, Christian orator, with much pathos and fuction. His articulation is faultless, his voice as clear as the tones of a bell. He is at no loss for language the right word being used in the right place every time. His sermon on this occasion was a powerful appeal for men and women to become practical Christians. Tears came to many eyes, and I believe every one went away resolved to lead a purer life. I will add that, although a Baptist Mr. Spurgeon advocates open communion; and on the above occasion invited all professed Christians to attend.
THE COMMUNION SERVICE.
The American Exhibition in London is a stupendous failure and a farce. Its chief attraction is the entertainment given by Buffalo Bill with his Indians and pitching mustangs. They draw a crowd every day it is true, but America is exhibited as occupying a very low plane amog educated people.
Well, here I am in Venice, a glorious city in the sea. It is the sea all around and all through it. There is only from one to two feet tide water and it is this tide, bringing in every day the pure water of the Adriatic and carrying out much of the filth, which, added to the sea breezes, makes it one of the healthiest cities of the world. Strange to say, there are no horses nor carriages in Venice. From the railroad depot our party stepped into a gondola, and, and gondola standing at each end of the boat, they soon landed us opon the steps of the Grand Hotel. But I must go back a little. And first let it be observed that
RAILROADS HAVE PENETRATED
every part of Europe. The Alps and the Appenines are no longer serious obstructions. If the railroad cannot easily get around, it goes under and through them. The St. Gotherd tunnel alone is nine miles and one-quarter in length. In twenty-four hours I was across the North Sea from England, through Belguim and at Cologne in Germany. The next day was a delightful one spent in steamboat ride up the Rhine. Reader, if you every visit Europe let me entreat you to sail up the Rhine, and with a field glass study the quaint old castles, whose walls are still standing, renowned each "in story and in song," and take in the sublime scenery all around you. For mountain and lake scenery combined I have seen nothing as yet which can equal that at Lucerne, in Switzerland. The mountains are close by, and tower among the clouds, the tops of many of them being as yet covered with snow. Often and for hours white clouds hang in festoons or
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