Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

9 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

THE APPALLING TRAGEDY IN SOUTH…

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PORTMADOC.

RHYL.

RKV E. HERBER EVANS AT Tfll…

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

RKV E. HERBER EVANS AT Tfll TABERNACLE. Mr Spurgeon's Tabernacle is situated in ington Causeway, and a short run by rail iro1 i Ludgate Hill to the Elephant and Castle Stattf will bring you nearly to its doors. The history 1 c Mr Spu ryeon' s efforts in procuring the wherewith ? to build it is so well known, and the building itse is so familiar to numbers of your readers that detailed account of the one or the other is scarcel requisite now. After threading your way frd the station through a few narrow streets you fi yourself opposite the Tabernacle, and the first id pression it gives you is not likely to be a vel favourable one. A vast square front rising darfc with a portico supported by massive pillars, open courtyard and some plain iron railings. T roof rising from the walls in a peculiar shap dome very suggestive of a large dish-cover. Rl1 ning along each side are narrow passages with dool ways and steps leading some down into the lectul rooms under the chapel, others leading into chapel itself. Everything massive and gauut huge. Making your way into the interior of t chapel all is changed, the sensation of vastness rej mains of course, but the heaviness, the barene^ is entirely gone. Looking from the platform J° see below you the..floor of the chapel, a ft' passages running the whole length of it the mainder of the space utilised, not an inch of pe room lost—folding seats in the passages themselv Running all round the building are two galleri one above the other, resting on iron pillars, lig, and airy-looking, painted white, pickfed out 1 gold. The dish-cover that looked so hideous fro the outside is now seen to be a ceiling all ventilating apparatus in one, and very well it f alfi its mission; on the hottest days the Tabernacle cool. When I reached the chapel last Surd' morning, about half past ten, the door had not y* been opened for the admission of the public, b being in possession of a ticket I was admitted at side entrance. After taking a seat on a benc running along the gang-way of the lower gallel close to the platform I had a little time to lo" about me. The first thing that struck me aft' getting accustomed to the size of the place W the organisation and system displayed in arrant ing for the comfort of the congregation. TO morning service begins at eleven, and at ten ti doors are opened for pewliolders and those who hl1 "passes." The pew-owners, of course, take pO session of their seats. Theholders of passes are seat along the passages on the floor, and along tJ gangways of the gallaries. When the fingers 1 the clock point to about eight minutes of the he the holders of "passes" are shown into the n* occupied seats nearest to them. At five minutj to the hour all the doors of the floor are opened the people are allowed to stream in for a minute' two, then the doors are closed. The doors of tJ galleries are open and closed in the same way. T chapel that at five minutes to the hour was 0 about a fourth part filled with a scattered congr gation when the clock begins to strike is dens packed, every nook and corner filled by an attetf tive, silent throng of some seven thousand soul* I was aroused from my occupation of surveyi^H the throng by hearing the three words "Let1* pray uttered in a voice I knew very well. There looking as much at home and speaking naturally as if he were in the old pulpit 1 Salem," stood Mr Herber Evans. After utt d ing a few sentences of earnest prayer, he proceed to announce the number of the hymn to be saol The readiness in which the people in the far- nooks of the galleries turned to the page enough to prove that the clear, musical voice plainly heard. After reading the- hymn throng a thin, pale-faced man got up and came to > Evans' side at the front of the platform, and col menced a well-known tune. At the third or fot note the whole congregation joined in. y effect was sublime. No organ, no choir, but l' heartfelt singing of praise. Then came the r ing of a portion of the Scripture, another hytfj after that Mr Evans prayed again at greater leu*? than at first, and, if possible, with more impo sioned earnestness. Another hymn was announ by Mr Evans and read by one of the deacons, r afterwards communicated to the congregation contents of a telegram received from Mr Spurge (who is travelling in Scotland for the benefit of health), stating that he was deriving much beiol rom "rest." Mr Evans then rose commenced his sermon. At th^ commeu" ment Mr Evans did not seem quite' at; owing no doubt to the rail in the platform-ff. being too low for him to lean on. Very soon became accustomed to that, and then proceed with all that natural eloquence and power so Wf known in Wales. At first the congregate listened in rather an apathetic way, the 11". fanning themselves and the gentlemen admirj! their finger-Eails. Before Mr Evans had b speaking a few minutes the apathy vanished, ere lie had reached the end of his introduction, had his audience, metaphorically, hanging on ™ lips. • Now and again after an affecting anec there was scarcely a dry eye in the chapel. ",11 Mr Evans told the touching tale of the farmer's lad praying for his father, the fat'1' who was listening to him whilst he thought b far away when he painted in vivid sentence t conquered father kneeling by the side of the prol ing son, and the tearful submission of the scofS? master, several hard-v'saged men in the pe^, my side actually sobbed aloud. It was indeed^ sight once seen never to be forgotten. The se*' upturned faces from the floor, rows of faces f the galleries all rivetted, white and tear-stain upon the speaker. One of the remembrances, my life will be the soft sigh that rose from t congregation when the sermon ended, and smiles as each turned to the face of his friend find there the same pleased look. j The service in the evening was very similar, chapel more crowded than even in the mordi Until then I never could understand the rage Sankey's hymns, or rather tunes. They al^ seemed to me jinglingly pretty, but after hearJ "Stand up, stand up for Jesus," sang by seven thousand or so voices at the Tabernacteuj shall always feel a greater respect for them, t Evans seemed to be more at home in the even1 and preached a sermon, if possible, more effee4 than that of the morning. t We have heard many called the" we! Spurgeon," but after the appearance of a J preacher able to fill Spurgeon's place in Spurge0 ( Tabernacle to the more than satisfaction Spurgeon's people, I should imagine the title only be given now to the one person wh°j entitled to wear it. The compliment is at best: invidious one, and in my opinion Mr lief Evans does not require borrowed plumes to add j the honour of his name. Mixing in the crowd going out, I heard nothing but satisfaction t remarks of praise, such as "A splendid speake^ One of the most beautiful sermons I have e* heard," &c. To my idea, knowing how his cO" gregation idolise Mr Spurgeon, a remark madetll one of the elders to another that" perltapS f, sermon might not read as well as Mr S but really it was grand," is very suggestive. one of Spurgeon's people compares a maO. favourably as this with him, praise can no fur go. I

DISBANDING OF THE RESERVES.

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THE FATAL BOAT ACCIDENT.

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