/U) 
 
 
 
 METROPO) JTAN TABERNACLE 
 
tihvaxy of Che trheoiogical ^eminarj? 
 
 PRINCETON • NEW JERSEY 
 
 
 
 .3^] 
 
 > 
 
 BV 4160 
 
 .P38 
 
 A66 
 
 1888 
 
 Pastors 
 
 ' college 
 
 (London) 
 
 Annual paper 
 
 concerning the 
 
 Lord' s 
 
 work 
 
 in 
 
 connection 
 
v^ 
 
 London, Pastors" colleqe 
 
 ANNUAL PAPE^^^* 
 
 CONCERNING 
 
 THE LORD'S WORK 
 
 IN CONNECTION WITH 
 
 THE PASTOBS' COLLEGE 
 
 NEWINGTON, LONDON. 
 1887-88. 
 
 Printed for the College by 
 ALABASTER, PASSMORE, AND SONS, FANN STREET, E.G. 
 
COLLEGE BUSINESS OFFICERS. 
 
 C. H. SPURGEON, " Westwood," Beulah Hill, Upper Norwood, S.E. 
 
 "i^ice-it^resident. 
 
 J. A. SPURGEON, White Horse Road, Croydon. 
 
 ^ijustees in whom the D^i^opeiity is vested. 
 
 THE PASTORS AND DEACONS OF THE CHURCH AT THE 
 METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE. 
 Mr. William P. Olney, 9, The Paragon, New Kent Road, S.E. 
 Mr. Joseph Passmore, 4, Paternoster Buildings, E.G. 
 Mr. W. C. MURRELL, I, Angel Park Gardens, S.W. 
 Mr. T. H. Olney, 9, Falcon Street, Aldersgate Street, E.G. 
 Mr. W. Payne, 350, Kennington Road, S.E. 
 Mr. B. W. Carr, 60, Josephine Avenue, Brixton Hill, S.W. 
 Mr. C. F. Allison, 7, Eccleston Square, S.W. 
 Mr. H. Smith, 159, Clapham Road, S.W. 
 Mr. J. Stiff, 197, Clapham Road, S.W. 
 Mr. J. Buswell, 20, Stockwell Park Road, S.W. 
 Mr. W. HiGGS, Sussex Lodge, Binfield Road, Clapham, S.W. 
 
 i^inancial (fommittee. 
 
 C. H. SPURGEON. I W. C. MURRELL. 
 
 J. A. SPURGEON. I J. PASSMORE. 
 
 J. BUSWELL. 
 
 Solicitor, and ^ectietatitj fotf Students' i^^pplications. 
 
 Mr. T. C. PAGE, 92, Newington Butts, S.E. 
 
 ^ecj^etary. 
 
 Mr. H. HIBBERT, Metropolitan Tabernacle. 
 
 Tlie woi-k of the College has for many years been adopted by the Church 
 at the Tabernacle as its own. The accounts are examined with the ac- 
 counts of the Church by auditors chosen by the Church, and are read and 
 passed at the Annual Church- Meeting in the beginnittg of the year. 
 
^ Jeto Math from tijt f mi^ent. 
 
 DURING another year we have diligently laboured on in the 
 Pastors' College, and have found pleasure in the labour. The 
 Lord has been mindful of us, and has accepted and prospered our work. 
 It is more easy to think out and deliver twenty lectures, than to write one 
 Report. The fact is, there is nothing to write about so long as all goes 
 smoothly, tutors are in health, students are in sound working order, 
 funds come in regularly, and openings are found for men when their 
 term is over. This has been our happy portion throughout the year. 
 Everything has gone well with us, and we can only say, " Bless the 
 Lord " ; and with hearty thanks assure our generous donors that we 
 were never more attached to our College enterprise, and never more 
 hopeful as to its results. 
 
 Yet we may, and even feel that we must, say that our staff of workers 
 is a singularly able one. The Vice-president looks after the whole 
 institution with a sleepless eye, and in a thousand ways, mentionable 
 and unmentionable, keeps the Uttle band in good marching order. He 
 has to administer fatherly discipline and brotherly advice ; and he does 
 both with wonderful wisdom and patience. Mr. Gracey is graceful, accom- 
 plished, affectionate, commanding. All the men love and admire him, 
 and they are right in so doing, for he lays himself out for their benefit, 
 and he has something worth laying out. Our old friend, Mr. Fergusson, 
 is all on fire with the desire to push on his young friends, and put into 
 them an intense fervour for their holy work. Mr. Marchant is the third 
 of the trio, and contributes his large information and deep experience to 
 the common treasury. What these brethren have been to us during the 
 last few months, and for many long years before, it is not in the power 
 of our pen to write. Happily, whatever brawls disturb the street, we 
 dwell in peace at home — yes, and much more than peace, for we are of 
 one heart and of one soul. It is a mercy to have these leaders in their 
 places, and able to fill them. We praise our God who has provided 
 such admirable fellow-helpers. The grand old veteran. Rev. George 
 Rogers, is yet flourishing, and his occasional presence always brings with 
 it a gracious influence. 
 
 Mr. Cheshire most ably pursues his scientific lecturing, showing to his 
 willing auditors that Nature is full of instruction, and that it supports the 
 teaching of the Word of the Lord, so far as the material can corroborate 
 the spiritual. Mr. Richardson perseveres with his voice-training, and 
 many have been the improvements which he has produced in the speech 
 and delivery of our young divines. He is a great acquisition to our 
 staff. He aims at giving personal attention to each man in his own 
 important department. 
 
 Mr. Johnson does not come into the College proper, but he steadily 
 works on among the young men who seek education in the evening, and 
 thus prepares valuable raw material for further development in the 
 higher classes. This part of our work does not command such numbers 
 of men as it used to do : but we trust the day will yet come when these 
 golden opportunities will be eagerly seized upon. Any young man who 
 
desires to serve the Lord, but feels a lack of education, can attend these 
 classes without making any payment, and so can obtain valuable in- 
 struction. Associations of young men, aiming rather at amusement 
 than instruction, may command approval during the present feverish 
 hour ; but, in the long run, games of chance, and billiards, and all the 
 favourites now so popular, will be found to be unprofitable to the mind, 
 and sorry things to be provided by the church for the advantage of her 
 sons. Then, we trust, the return to solid mental food will be enthusiastic 
 and abiding. 
 
 Of students, we have had no lack. If we thought it wise to take 
 them, we might increase the number four-fold. The quality of our 
 present men is high ; above the average, and something more. No 
 fellows could work more steadily, or show greater interest in their work. 
 A fine tone and spirit have pervaded the whole body, and in adherence 
 to the truth no man has wavered. Nothing has given us greater 
 satisfaction than to see clear apprehension of truth, and firm grip of it 
 in all the brethren. Very greatly have they been strengthened by those 
 assaults upon the faith which apparently might have driven them from 
 their standing. With nothing to bind them to the old orthodox faith 
 but their own convictions, inwrought by the Spirit of God, they have 
 been firm as the mountains about Jerusalem. Young men are young: 
 men, and there are faults, of course, in us all; but if we never had 
 more trial of patience than we have had this year from our students, we 
 should go singing all the way to heaven. A holy and prayerful spirit 
 has been dominant among us, and this has produced honest plodding 
 at the studies. 
 
 Vacancies in our churches are comparatively few, but we have our 
 fair share of applications for men ; so that twelve have settled over 
 pastorates in England. Feeling that the world is our parish, and not 
 the narrow territory of the United Kingdom, we rejoice that so many 
 representatives of the Pastors' College are working abroad. We have 
 added to this number, during the year, six men, two of whom have gone 
 to the United States, one to China, one to the Congo, another to St, 
 Helena, and the sixth to Port Stanley, Falkland Islands. 
 
 It is an honour to have a good detachment of men in the Mission 
 field. Our reports from them are very hopeful. They are a solid, 
 resolute, reliable body of men, and are working on in downright earnest. 
 Names most dear to their brethren are among them. May precious hfe be 
 spared, health be granted, and the divine blessing be abundantly bestowed I 
 
 We believe that our brethren in Australia, Tasmania, and New 
 Zealand are proving themselves the men for the place and the time. 
 We question if any body of ministers is doing more than they are to 
 extend the kingdom of our Lord Jesus. The same may be said of our 
 workers in South Africa. These Colonial pioneers complain greatly of 
 the want of a Colonial Society to aid them. The Congregationalists do 
 much for these rising empires, and the Baptists do nothing. It is 
 certainly a sad oversight, or a sad penury, which prevents any 
 denomination from nursing the young churches which are formed in 
 new settlements by the members who have left the old house at home. 
 
We have been able, in several cases, to pay the passage money of the out- 
 going minister, but we have no funds for anything beyond : we wish we had. 
 
 In the States and Canada our numerous brethren are distinguished by 
 real work and success. Many of them have been the pioneers of the 
 advancing hosts which are subduing the West to civilization, and to 
 church life. We think of those who were once our boys, who are now 
 fathers in Israel, and the tears stand in our eyes. 
 
 Our Evangelists have done splendid service to the churches of Christ 
 during another year. Messrs. FuUerton and Smith are our Moody and 
 Sankey; and we do not use the name playfully, for they are in all respects 
 worthy to rank with those two servants of the Lord. Immense crowds 
 usually gather about them. Their testimony is clear gospel, cleansed 
 from all sensationalism and novelty of doctrine. We have given no de- 
 tailed account of their work this year; it is before the world. We have 
 given space to the less known brethren of our staff. 
 
 Messrs. Burnham and Harmer have gone out singly, and to smaller 
 audiences have testified the same Gospel with delightful results. We 
 are far from wishing to make tables of results, but we feel assured that 
 no agency for winning souls has been more largely blest than their 
 evangelistic labour. 
 
 Mr. Eyres has been aided by us in a Children's Mission, which has 
 been a great blessing in many places. He has now left us for Mission 
 work in China. God bless him ! 
 
 Messrs. Mateer and Parker, after going round the world preaching 
 and singing Christ, have parted company. Mr. Mateer will be glad of 
 a pastorate ; Mr. Parker is working through America. 
 
 Mr. Carter, Mr. Tait, and Mr. Hill have also worked this year under 
 our Evangelistic flag, and will probably come more distinctly into our 
 working ranks. Mr. Chamberlain has rendered memorable help in 
 sacred song. Altogether, the labours of our Evangelists are a theme for 
 grateful song, and a stimulus to the more fervent offering of the prayer 
 that the Lord may send more labourers into his harvest. Judging that 
 it would interest our subscribers to see what two of our workers are doing, 
 we asked Mr. Burnham and Mr. Harmer to write accounts of their work, 
 and these will be found further on. 
 
 From the commencement of the College we have gone upon the lines 
 ofdefinitedoctrine, and we have left no question as to what that doctrine 
 is. In the case of every man admitted to the College, a belief in sound 
 doctrine has been a chief requisite. In other ways our witness is clear 
 enough, and leaves no excuse for men dishonest enough to creep in 
 among us, and steal an education from those whose doctrines they detest. 
 The Weekly Sermon has spoken more than two thousand times, and 
 its voice has not been yea and nay, but one unvarying testimony to the 
 great fundamentals of the old orthodox faith. So far as has been in the 
 power of mortal man, the doctrines of grace and the grand teaching of the 
 cross have been inculcated by us incessantly in the pulpit and by the 
 the press, in the church and in the College. Our hope and belief was 
 that the ministers who went forth from the Pastors' College would remain 
 true to the faith once delivered to the saints. The torrents of error 
 
■which are now rushing around the foundations of the Church are so 
 tremendous, that we could not expect every man to stand. Among so 
 many, there would unavoidably be a few who would be carried off their 
 feet, and here and there one who would joyfully commit himself to the 
 current because he had always been wavering. The testing time came ; 
 we will not repeat the details so well known by our friends ; but when 
 the crisis was past, we found ourselves rejoicing that the vast majority of 
 our brethren were not only firm, but enthusiastic in their attachment to 
 the old truth. It was heart-breaking work to find a few in heart and 
 speech bitterly opposed ; but this we could bear more easily than to 
 find good men and true siding with those whose errors they disavowed. 
 They desired to be in fellowship with those whose wanderings they 
 deplored. Of course this meant that they would sooner part from the 
 orthodox many than quit the heterodox few, though they would greatly 
 have preferred that the alternative had never been proposed to them. 
 These brethren we conceive to be following a very wrong course in this 
 matter ; but it is a great comfort to us to hope and believe that they are 
 themselves preaching the gospel, and earnest in their hope that others 
 will be brought back to do the same. Still, our Conference roll has been 
 shortened ; but we can hardly tell how much ; for even up to the hour 
 of writing brethren are returning to us. In a little while the mists will 
 roll away, we shall know each other better, and be knit together in a 
 surer union than ever. 
 
 To us it was an imperative necessity that we should have no fellow- 
 ship with Universalists and other parties of the New School of doctrine ; 
 and at a painful cost deliverance has been wrought for those in our 
 Conference who cannot side with the false doctrine. The bolder 
 utterances and firmer faith of those who remain true believers in the 
 Vicarious Sacrifice make up a grand set-off against the loss which we 
 have sustained. Henceforth we have one faith as well as one Lord 
 and one baptism. A sense of freedom from an alien element restores a 
 confidence in each other which was beginning to depart from us. What 
 we need is a new anointing from on high. Oh, that we may receive it 
 during the Conference gatherings of this year ! Come, Holy Spirit, and 
 baptize us anew into thyself, and into fire ! 
 
 Friends will be glad to know that, in the matter of funds, we have been 
 safely carried through another year. He who called us to this work has 
 supplied us, and will supply us in all necessaries even unto the end. 
 Many of our largest helpers have gone to their rest, and we shall be right 
 glad if others will take their places. A few in great bitterness of 
 controversy have withdrawn their support, and have sent in little doses 
 of wormwood and gall instead of silver and gold. We acknowledge 
 their right to do as they think right ; but we shall not feel bound to close 
 our doors because we have lost their favours. What we have done is 
 better judged of by the Lord than by them. Already we have had 
 ample proof that all losses will be doubly made up. The Lord has 
 willing servants where we little look for them. He may find for this 
 school of the prophets some Obadiah, who will care for the prophets of 
 the Lord, or some "great woman " like the Shunammite of old, who will 
 
look tenderly upon the Lord's cause and foster it. Assuredly, to help 
 young preachers to study the Scriptures and become more efificient 
 ministers, is one of the noblest works that ever moved the heart of man. 
 We do not make preachers, that is the work of the Holy Spirit alone ; 
 we only try to aid those whom the Lord has already called. To this our 
 life is devoted, and we therefore have no hesitation in asking others to 
 devote their substance to so good an object. 
 
 WITH more than usual satisfaction I can report upon the past 
 session's studies. The health of the men has been good and 
 the average of work higher. A devout spirit prevails in the College, 
 and all, with varied talents, are animated with one desire, faithfully to 
 avail themselves of the opportunities afforded them, to prepare for their 
 great and glorious calling as preachers of the Gospel of the Grace of 
 God. There is nothing new to report. No new truths are taught, and 
 the old ones are as dear as ever ; and our methods of teaching, though 
 varied to meet each batch of men admitted, are yet substantially the 
 same. The " spirit of the age" is not substituted by us forthe Spirit 
 of God; and, so far as I can judge, the young men are not anxious for us 
 to make this change. No spray of the blighting waves of " modern 
 thought " has beaten over our ramparts to the injury of our students, 
 and we desire to be spared its withering influence. In the old strength we 
 march to the old strains of praisea long the old paths, and enter animated 
 with the old hopes, upon another year. 
 
 JAMES A. SPURGEON. 
 
 r. imag^^ §^t^oxl 
 
 IT is with very great thankfulness I once more write an Annual 
 Report. Generally speaking, the past has been a year of " patient 
 continuance in well doing." It will be cheering to the many friends of 
 the College in this and other lands to know that it is in a thoroughly 
 healthy and vigorous condition, and fulfilling well the purpose for which 
 it was at first founded. If any change has taken place, it has been a 
 renewing of its youth in the spirit of prayer, in zeal for the conversion 
 of souls, in attachment to the vital truths of the Gospel, and in 
 Evangelistic and pioneering work in many directions. It is satisfactory 
 also to say that these aims and qualifications in our brethren have been 
 met by an answering goodwill and appreciation on the part of the churches. 
 As brethren have been ready to " settle," open doors have been 
 found for them through the spontaneous choice of the churches 
 exercising their freedom and independence. Not the slightest solicita- 
 tion or appeal has been used to obtain invitations to preach. Deacons 
 and churches have first come to us, and in this spontaneous goodwill 
 
of our free churches, we make our glory and boast. It is our continual 
 effort, as a College, to deserve this confidence of the churches better ; 
 and I can freely testify to the laborious industry of the students to equip 
 themselves as worthy candidates for the responsible office of the pastorate. 
 During the year I resumed my course of Lectures on Systematic 
 Theology, besides using the admirable handbook of Dr. Hodge in a 
 separate class. Other classes have been engaged in the study of 
 Homiletics, Church History, and Trench's Synonyms of the Greek 
 Testament. In the Greek Testament itself our subjects have been the 
 Epistles to the Galatians and Ephesians, the Acts of the Apostles, and the 
 Gospel according to John. In Classics the senior men have been reading 
 Sophocles' CEdipus Tyrannus, the Xlllth Book of the IHad, Plato's 
 Phaedo, the Vlth Book of the Annals of Tacitus. Cicero's ist Oration 
 against Catiline, and Augustine's De Doctrina Christiana. In Hebrew 
 we have had selected sections from Genesis, Joshua, Isaiah, the Psalms, 
 and minor Prophets. The Discussion Class, comprising the whole 
 College, in which a great variety of topics is handled, has been doing 
 good service in training the brethren in debate and in ready impromptu 
 speech. I cannot conclude without mentioning the great regularity of 
 attendance and conscientious diligence which have been maintained 
 during the year. The spirit of cordiality and unanimity prevailing 
 throughout the College, and uniting all in one great purpose, has made 
 the work as pleasant as it is, full of promise for the future, and of 
 assurance for the present that the gracious Spirit of God is dwelling in 
 our midst. 
 
 DAVID GRACEY. 
 
 JT is my part to take the whole of the men on Friday afternoons, and 
 then our plan is to expound Scripture, lecture upon a topic useful to 
 the pastorate or the pulpit, give the sketch of some great worker, or a 
 reading from some eminent author. We spend two very happy hours 
 together, and get over a good deal of ground in a year. 
 
 After the class is over, my duty is to hear the men's accounts of 
 where they have preached, and where they are asked to settle; also to 
 hear of destitute localities where the gospel is needed, and of efforts 
 which are commenced for taking the Word of the Lord to them. When 
 I have seen from a dozen to twenty brethren in succession, and heard 
 their desires, aspirations, and discouragements, I sometimes feel that a 
 long morning's preparation, two hours' lecturing, and two hours' private 
 advice, take as much out of a man as he can spare for one day. Never- 
 theless, the labour is most pleasant, since everybody is hearty, and all 
 are anxious to do what is best for the glory of God. In this spirit the 
 joy of the Lord is our strength. 
 
ANOTHER year of College work is closed. Again is come the 
 time for asking such questions as — What work has been done ? 
 How has it been done ? And what is its aim ? The nature of 
 the work in my department may be judged by the following list of its 
 studies : — I. English, its Grammar, its Composition written and spoken ; 
 and EngUsh History. 2. Philosophy, including Logic and Metaphysics. 
 3. Ethics, as taught by Butler and Wayland. 4. Scripture Knowledge, 
 as taught in Angus's Hand-Book of the Bible. The most of this comes 
 in at the first stage of a man's College course, and means hard grinding 
 for him at a time when his habits of study are not yet formed. Yet to 
 this grinding he owes his future. 
 
 How has the work been done ? Well and faithfully in each branch, and 
 by every man in my different classes. Thoroughness, enthusiasm, and 
 steadiness have been with us all the year round ; and we are pleased to 
 have this opportunity of publicly awarding to all a meed of well-earned 
 praise. No year has passed over us more suggestive of future usefulness 
 in the vineyard of Christ. 
 
 A NOTABLE POINT. 
 
 A coming struggle in the Church of God is often foreshadowed in 
 the College Class-room of the theological student. It was said that 
 the Reformation in Europe made its first appearance in the monk's cell 
 and amid the throes of Luther's soul. In the churches of these lands 
 there is a struggle fast approaching, a struggle between the Holy Gospel 
 of Jesus Christ and the ravings and dreams of the new theology ; and 
 tremors of it have already made themselves felt in every College 
 throughout the country, giving rise to searchings of heart among 
 students preparing for the sacred office of the ministry. Of course 
 Satan would delight to remove from the true faith every professed 
 teacher of the Word of the Uving God. He craftily begins early with 
 the schools of the prophets, and he does so with all such schools. Our 
 College in this respect in not an exception. 
 
 Perhaps it might relieve the monotony of our Report to mention the 
 effect of the Down-grade controversy on the religious life of the 
 thoughtful student, so far as we have observed it. 
 
 It has created an intense desire for efficiency in preaching the Old 
 Gospel. 
 
 The rough handling which its wholly inspired and eternal truths have 
 received from the would-be leaders of religious thought, has provoked 
 among the students a strong desire, in every way, to understand and 
 fathom their meaning, that they may more perfectly expound them unto 
 perishing men. They have resolved to know what this Gospel really is, 
 and to what it leads. To accomplish this, the men subject almost every 
 syllable of the sacred text and context wherein these reviled truths are 
 set forth to a crucial criticism, and with this result — they stand out 
 before their minds with such clearness of definition as to deepen their 
 
former belief in their divine origin and complete inspiration. They 
 rise from the task of examination, conscious of having in their pos- 
 session a heritage of holy facts, and a wealth of spiritual doctrine. They 
 rejoice in mountains of eternal verity, compared with which the New 
 Theology is as the land of mist and marsh. 
 
 The noise of the Down-grade battle has led our students to seek for 
 increased assurance and certainty in preaching the Gospel. This they 
 seek to attain by subjecting the vilified truths of revelation to another 
 kind of test, namely, that of discovering the results of preaching them 
 to the people — preaching them in their purity, separated from every 
 trick and wile of the New School. They watch anxiously to see 
 whether these truths do indeed turn men from sin to God. A con- 
 version is a corroboration of the doctrines which they preach. They 
 compare notes with brethren long out in the field, and celebrated as 
 soul-winners. They examine for themselves the outcome of the work 
 of these men, to see what fruit the tree of the gospel is bearing. They 
 are amazed at the vigour and freshness of spiritual life which prevail 
 among those who feed upon sound doctrine ; and they are glad as they 
 see the solidity of their piety, and their firmness in the faith. Doctrines 
 which build up such men are not to be despised. They rejoice in the 
 purified lives of notorious sinners converted to God, they look hopefully 
 upon those who crowd the enquiry-rooms of their spheres of labour. 
 To the Student's question — " How do you account for these results ? " 
 the invariable response in every case is — " By simply preaching those 
 truths, nothing but those truths, and all of those truths that are now 
 spurned and cast out by the New Theology." If its apostles could witness 
 the recoil expressed in look, word, and act of these young men, as 
 they contrast with all this gracious result the empty benches of the 
 modern synagogues, they might learn that their vain-glorious boasts are 
 not quite so universally received as they suppose. We wish they could 
 see the abhorrence on the countenance of these young men after com- 
 paring the results of the gospel of free and sovereign grace with the 
 philosophical tinkering and tailoring of the Broad School. We feel 
 certain they would not be quite so sure that the ball is at their feet, or 
 the game so nearly won. 
 
 The coming struggle is increasing among our students an intenser 
 spirit of consecration to the person of the Lord Jesus. The almost 
 blasphemous utterances against the name of Jesus, and the coarse 
 liberties of expression towards his sacred person, which are common in 
 these days, shock the devout, and urge them to intense resolve to wipe 
 away the dishonour. In our simplicity we believe Jesus to be the same 
 yesterday, to-day, and for ever, and our students are of the same mind. 
 To them there appears no change in their Redeemer. They believe him 
 still to be God and man, and on his sacred substitutionary work they 
 rest their hopes of their personal salvation, and that of their hearers. 
 When they hear of a preacher saying, " I will never preach the doctrine 
 of the shambles, the dogma of the butcher's slab," they first grow 
 indignant, and next they determine to cleave to their Lord and Master 
 with a tenderer love than ever. They remember the agony of Gethsemane, 
 
and the sufferings of Calvary, where the Lord of glory poured out his 
 soul an offering for sin, and they loathe the teaching which makes light 
 of the punishment of sin, and Christ's bearing of it in the sinner's stead. 
 For the life of them they cannot think, as do the New Theologians, 
 that to believe and preach that Jesus bore the sins of men, and that his 
 righteousness is imputed to believers, is " unjust or immoral." We 
 would say to these revilers of the doctrine of salvation by substitution : 
 Be not deceived, your fallacies have utterly failed, so far as we have 
 observed, to alter or disturb by one atom, in one single student, the 
 solemn convictions of his soul with regard to his Lord's atoning work. No, 
 the enemies of the old faith do not succeed : all godly students and 
 ministers feel their love fanned to a greater heat by the efforts made to 
 lower the glory of the cross. The audacious advances of false teachers 
 have called upon them to close up their ranks around the person of 
 their divine Saviour. They have done so with firmness and enthusiasm. 
 Opposition has made the Master and his service even more sacred in 
 their eyes, so that each longs to be a devotee of Christ. As the offence 
 of the cross has not ceased, neither has enthusiastic attachment to it 
 come to an end 
 
 The coming struggle is increasing the conviction that, unaided by the 
 methods of the New Theology, the Gospel, as taught by Christ and the 
 Apostles, is, in every way, adequate to cope with and cure all the ills of 
 the souls of fallen men. The New School teaches that God's Gospel is 
 becoming antiquated. They declare that, single-handed, it is incapable of 
 attracting the masses, and that it has failed, when left to itself, to satisfy 
 the needs of the present hour. To assist, improve, and put vigour into 
 this paralyzed Gospel of the Almighty, new methods of aiding it are 
 suggested. We feel ashamed to mention them, because of their frivolity, 
 or worse. It seems as if the church were borrowing from the theatre its 
 masks and buskins ; from the music-hall, its songs and comic recitations; 
 from the tavern, its billiards and games of chance; and from the casino, 
 its dances, posturings, and tableaux vivants. We have heard so many 
 things of this sort that we often say — What next? and What next? 
 
 It is a sickening story : for very shame we will go no further into 
 detail. The New Religion comes to us in the cast-off clothes of the 
 world's mummers, propping itself up with silly amusements, and courting 
 popularity by pandering to the cravings of an age which loves entertain- 
 ments, and thirsts after novelties. 
 
 Once more do we wish the apostles of the New Theology could mark 
 the loathing and disgust with which true men regard this substitute for 
 spiritual religion. They ask — Can any Gospel be made attractive and 
 effective, far less the Gospel of God's grace, by being allied with the 
 frothy levity of the free-and-easy, the instruments of the gambler, and 
 the paint and millinery of the green room ? They wonderingly ask : 
 Did such artifices ever win a soul for Jesus ? Are they winning them 
 now? Will such rubbish ever save a soul, even with eternity to do it in? 
 Their manliness, their common sense, and their piety, come to their aid. 
 They turn their backs on the flippant invention, and refuse to preach a 
 Gospel which depends for attractions upon the puppets of a show. 
 
12 
 
 Doubly dear, in their esteem, has this terrible sight made the grand old 
 Gospel of Jesus with " its artless unencumbered plan " — Believe and 
 Live. And as they look upon its grand provision for the helpless 
 sinner, they bow their hearts before it, and denounce all others as vanities 
 and lies. 
 
 The coming struggle is fostering among our students a spirit of com- 
 plete reliance on the Holy Spirit's help for true success. The utter 
 failure of all these new methods to attract or retain men within the 
 reach of the Gospel, their utter failure to keep up in the Church a 
 healthy Christianity, and to furnish a continuous stream of fresh blood 
 in the form of new converts, is manifest to all. Although managed and 
 administered by men of solid learning, splendid ability, and consum- 
 mate tact, this new Gospel and these wretched methods do not succeed. 
 AVhat then ? We who do not possess the mental might of these new 
 Theologians, what shall we do ? We are thrown back on this question — 
 Arethese new methods and these administrative abilities the chief sources 
 of ministerial strength ? We believe that there is no power for good in 
 them at all. A voice from heaven tells us, "Not by might, nor by 
 power, but my Spirit, saith the Lord." Are precious talents of mind 
 to be despised ? Far from it : let them be put in their proper place, and 
 let them become ministering angels in the saving of men. But the 
 Holy Spirit is the cause of prosperity throughout the Church of God in 
 all its spiritual work. Natural gifts are but his tools. The Spirit in 
 the minister of God imparts to him that spiritual life and fulness which 
 make him to pour forth from his soul rivers of living water, which 
 flood with abiding life and endless fruitfulness the entire area of his 
 ministry. The Spirit working with him gives unction to his words and 
 fire to his heart for his altar service ; but it is the Holy Spirit who is 
 the true source and fountain of it all, and to him must it all be ascribed. 
 That we are driven to trust more in him than ever, is a blessed result 
 from a very evil condition of things, and unto God be all the glory ! 
 
 A. FERGUSSON. 
 
13 
 
 X. ^mt^jimh §^t^oxi 
 
 DURING the past year, the ordinary course of study has been 
 pursued in the classes under my care. The results have, I think, 
 been quite up to the average. Perhaps, lately, we have had rather an 
 unusual amount of sickness, the sudden changes of the winter trying 
 some of the brethren severely. 
 
 The usual elementary work in Latin and Greek has been done in the 
 junior classes. Two or more books of Euclid have been read by many 
 of the students, while others are proceeding with Book I. In Greek, 
 Xenophon's Anabasis, Lucian's Dialogues, the Gospel by Mark, with the 
 Epistle to the Philippians, and the First Epistle of John, have furnished 
 subjects for different classes. In Latin, Eutropius, Cnesar, Nepos, and 
 Virgil's Bucolics and ^neid have been studied. Arnold's Greek and 
 Latin Exercises have also been translated. I think somewhat more 
 ground than usual has been covered by the classical studies of the year, 
 and the work has been, for the most part, carefully and conscientiously 
 performed. To me, personally, the toil of the year has been heavier 
 than usual, and while it has been a pleasant relief to the care which 
 God has suffered to come to me in my home, I cannot but thankfully 
 acknowledge the kindness and tender sympathy of the brethren during 
 a period of sore trial. The Lord remember it to each for good in the 
 day of his own adversity. 
 
 Whatever departures there may be outside the College from the faith 
 generally received among us, I very gladly bear my testimony to the 
 conviction that within the Institution we are of one heart and of one 
 mind. I do not know of a single student who has shown any sympathy 
 at any time with what is regarded as the New Theology. On the other 
 hand, very hearty have been the prayers for the President throughout 
 this controversy. The solemn conviction that some such action as that 
 which he has taken was absolutely necessary, while general among us from 
 the first, has evidently deepened in intensity as the discussion has pro- 
 ceeded. May God overrule the whole of this grave discussion for good 
 throughout all the Churches, and even in the world beyond ! 
 
 F. G. MARCHANT. 
 
14 
 
 C^B^^m'^ 
 
 OUR work during the past year has been continued upon the old 
 lines. Our object is to utilize the facts made known by science 
 as illustrations of spiritual truth, so that the parables of nature may 
 be ever ready at the preacher's hand. I have personally received much 
 encouragement by many of the brethren, now away in their pastorates, 
 stating how valuable they have found our work to be to them in their 
 pulpit ministrations. 
 
 During our study of God's working in nature, there often comes the 
 deep hush, born of reverence, as we realize how inexpressibly grand 
 are the revelations of measureless power and infinite understanding, 
 which even the visible universe can bring home to us. Thus we often 
 realize with David that though the stars are silent, yet, to the spiritual 
 man, their voice has gone out into all the earth ; and further, that though 
 science may by some be accounted destructive of the foundation of 
 our faith, and the propagator of a soul-withering materialism, yet, when 
 accompanied by the true wisdom, she is but the revealer of the delightful 
 truth that " He is not far from every one of us," and that " in him we 
 live, and move, and have our being." In this use of science have we not 
 the example of our Lord and King, the prince of teachers ? For he 
 brought before his hearers such science as they could realize ; and made 
 the budding lily^ and the growing corn, exponents of truths concerning 
 his kingdom. 
 
 This year has embraced a physiological course, in which we have been 
 greatly helped by the acquisition of Marshall's large and admirable 
 diagrams, which have been purchased out of my annual grant towards 
 maintaining our apparatus in efficient condition. To these have been 
 added illustrations in the way of simple dissections. 
 
 Light, heat, and sound have occupied a good deal of our time. We 
 have now added to our lantern a very excellent polariscope, which will 
 not only be of extreme value in bringing before the class those most 
 fascinating experiments in connection with the polarization of light, but will 
 be of general service in giving to the brethren an opportunity of re- 
 peating these experiments before public gatherings. For this purpose 
 the magic lantern, which has intentionally a very portable form, has 
 been a long time in use, and now to this the polariscope will give 
 novelty and variety, without adding much to its weight in transit. I 
 shall be glad to hear from brethren who could avail themselves of the 
 assistance which I thus suggest. 
 
 During the year we have also acquired a pseudoscope, which, by 
 reversing the shadows of any object under observation, gives a totally 
 wrong impression of its form, e.^a^. the inside of a saucer appears the 
 outside, the outside of a spoon the inside, and so on, showing that our 
 knowledge of form depends not only on the eye, but on judgment, the 
 latter requiring educating ; and so, to me, appearing to explain the curious 
 
15 
 
 fact of the blind man when restored to sight seeing men "as trees 
 walking." The microscope is, as heretofore, used during the tea hour on 
 Friday, and, as an instrument of education, is of no small service, while 
 the pleasure which it gives is abundantly evident. 
 
 Our attendance is good, and the interest in our work remains 
 unabated. 
 
 v. CHESHIRE. 
 
 OUR past year's work has been steady, and much progress has been 
 made in each department of study. The young men have shown 
 a very laudable desire to profit by the lectures given, and thus to fit 
 themselves for more efficient service for the Master. Many of them are 
 engaged in Evangelistic work, and several desire eventually to enter the 
 Ministry. 
 
 I am glad to be able to testify that they are all in deep sympathy with 
 our Pastor in his defence of the Truth ; that they are earnest Bible 
 students, praying for the anointing of the Holy Spirit ; and intensely 
 desirous of winning souls for Christ. 
 
 Much attention has been given to the study of Theology and Mental 
 Science. 
 
 The Elementary Greek Class has studied the "Initia Gn-eca," and 
 the Advanced Class has also been reading John's Gospel. 
 
 Lectures have been given on the History and Literature of the 
 " Age of Anne." 
 
 In English Grammar, Etymology has been specially treated. 
 
 In Roman History, the period studied has been from the Punic Wars 
 to the death of Caesar. 
 
 Good work has also been done in the Shorthand Class. 
 
 SAMUEL JOHNSON. 
 
i6 
 
 (^dlt^t Womt §i^iim0 ^otitt^. 
 
 By C. H. SPURGEON. 
 
 IT struck me that it would be a double blessing if the students set to 
 work to visit the dwellers in our neighbourhood — they would bless 
 themselves and those they visited. Accordingly, the brethren organized 
 themselves, mapped out the district, and proceeded in couples to visit 
 the whole region, house by house. Mr, Rumsey became the Secretary, 
 and the brethren became the visitors. Furnished with sermons, they 
 went forth at such hours as their incessant studies left open for such 
 holy service; and the result has been to themselves, at least, most 
 beneficial. Some did little more than leave the sermon at first, but in 
 many cases they grew bolder on each occasion, and we doubt not that 
 this year they will all manage personal conversations with readiness. To 
 some this is an art only to be acquired by practice. In every instance 
 the visitation has been instructive to the visitor. Now the men see what 
 they will have to deal with as pastors. Visiting will not henceforth be 
 strange work to them. Their love for souls has been stirred up. They 
 are learning how to speak to individuals about their souls ; they are 
 acquiring a hunger for conversions. God will bless this humble effort 
 to themselves. 
 
 As to the persons visited, there can be no doubt that many of them 
 have come to the Tabernacle services as the result of the invitations, 
 and it will be seen in days to come how many have heard the Word of 
 the Lord to their eternal salvation. The Secretary of the movement 
 deserves special commendation : he did his work well. He will make a 
 fine organizer in his future career. Here is his report : — 
 
 " It is with heartfelt thankfulness to God that we here present the 
 First Annual Report in connection with our work of Home Visitation. 
 Thankfulness, because of the great privilege afforded us in thus being 
 permitted to sow beside all waters. Thankfulness also, because of the 
 evident blessing which has attended our sowing. The importance of 
 the work to which we have put our hands cannot be over-estimated. 
 When we think for a moment of the teeming masses around us, living 
 in utter neglect of God, in open violation of his laws, and regardless of 
 their souls' eternal welfare, our work assumes an aspect of the gravest 
 importance. Many of these are the souls for whom Christ died. Yet 
 how are they to be reached ? They do not come to God's house ; 
 there is but one way left, we must go to them. With this thought in 
 our minds, we have gone forth, bearing the precious word of eternal 
 life, seeking by all possible means to commend the gospel of the grace 
 of God. Our plan of working has been simple, yet efficient. 
 
 "In apostolic order, our brethren have gone forth in pairs, and have thus 
 mutually encouraged each other in the work. This method was adopted 
 on account of the immorality which abounds in some of the districts 
 visited. We are glad to report that cases of direct opposition have 
 been but few. The greatest difficulty with which our brethren have to- 
 
17 
 
 contend, is the stolid indifference of the people to divine things. 
 Nevertheless, again and again, their hearts have been cheered by the 
 warm welcome given, and the readiness with which the sermons were 
 received. All the brethren report concerning these sermons, that they 
 were gladly accepted, and the people seemed grateful for them. The 
 mention of our beloved President's name obtained, in many cases, a 
 ready hearing for the brethren. There is abundant evidence to show 
 that in the hearts of the common people the name of our President is 
 revered and treasured. During the year, our brethren have worked 
 47 districts, visited 2,121 houses, 3,777 families, and distributed 4,027 
 sermons. 
 
 ** In addition to the general work undertaken, special efforts have been 
 put forth. The public-houses have not been forgotten. It is cheering 
 to note from the reports of the brethren concerning this special work, 
 that they received uniform kindness from the landlords, who not only 
 tolerated them, but expressed their pleasure at their visits ; whilst among 
 the customers before the bar, they found many who readily received the 
 books. To the sick and infirm, some of our brethren have been able to 
 minister consolation, and frequent opportunities have been afforded for 
 the reading of the Scriptures and prayer. Our President gave us a 
 liberal supply of sermons, in an attractive book form, most suitable for 
 distribution. Inside the covers of these books is to be found a kindly 
 word to the reader, and a hearty invitation to attend the Tabernacle 
 services. Thus the seed of the kingdom finds its way into the hands and 
 homes, and we trust, into the hearts of the people, to whom we pray it may 
 prove a blessing. The benefit is by no means confined to those who 
 are visited. The visitor himself derives much good. Experience gained 
 by intercourse with a vast variety of characters and disposition is most 
 valuable ; a knowledge of human nature is thus obtained which could 
 be acquired nowhere else. In this work are to be found the means 
 whereby the servant of God may qualify himself for the highest of all 
 callings, viz., a soul-winner for his Master. The brethren regret that 
 College duties leave them so little time for the work. Nevertheless, they 
 are willing to do what they can. In closing this brief account of our 
 work, we make one request : ' Brethren, pray for us.' In humble 
 dependence upon the Holy Spirit, our brethren go forth, bearing the 
 precious seed, fully accepting the divine assurance, that presently they 
 shall return rejoicing, -bringing their sheaves with them." 
 
i8 
 
 ituj^re^^ion;^ cf ont toija ^k% \mt left t^t 
 
 IT would be as difficult to prevent a child from talking about his 
 happy home, or a soldier from speaking of his gallant regiment, as 
 to deter one who has just said farewell to the Pastors' College from 
 referring to his Alma Mater. As one who but a day or two since 
 left the dear old place, my mind naturally reverts to her walls, and my 
 lingering thought here finds an utterance. I think no student ever 
 forgets the first day of College life. The hopes and fears, the aspira- 
 tions and the wonderings as to the future, added to the novelty of the 
 whole experience, go to impress it indeUbly upon the mind. Personally 
 I may say, that lessons of humility and of determination were learned on 
 that day, and on many succeeding ones. Somehow or other, those 
 powers which I had mentally invested with some degree of importance 
 assumed smaller proportions as the days passed by ; and I discovered 
 that I was even as other men : possibly less than most — certainly not 
 more. To-day I thank God for the discovery, and I believe that it was 
 the prophecy of any progress I may have made since. 
 
 As students, we all found on entering the Pastors' College, that if we 
 desired idleness we had certainly turned our steps in the wrong direction. 
 The various classes afforded full scope for untiring energies and 
 indomitable perseverance. The matter ever urged even upon the 
 most advanced was, " Not as though I had already attained, either 
 were already perfect ; but I follow after." Yes, we had plenty of 
 real hard study, whether in the classes for Logic and Metaphysics 
 with Professor Fergusson, or under Professor Marchant with Caesar and 
 Xenophon, or taking our loftier flights in the pleasures of Tacitus and 
 Plato, not forgetting Theology, Greek Testament, and Hebrew, with 
 Principal Gracey. I do not think we minded the toil ; and if then we 
 were not so grateful for it all as we should have been, I believe we are 
 now becoming more thankful every day. 
 
 However, we sometimes felt fagged out towards the end of the week, 
 but a few helpful words from the Vice-President and a bracing talk from 
 the President on the Friday afternoon, coupled with the College prayer- 
 meeting in the evening, nerved us for further struggle. Those occasions 
 have often been the means of renewing our strength and of relieving the 
 weighted wings of our spirits. Is it the experience of most students? 
 I know not whether it is so or not ; but, sometimes, I have been in 
 danger of forgetting the great end of my student life : in the study 
 itself there have been times when the keen edge of my spiritual life has 
 seemed turned and blunted, when the constant association with books 
 and themes, bearing directly or indirectly upon religious matters, has 
 appeared to dull and deaden the soul's sensibilities to the influence of 
 spiritual things. At such times the stirring words of the President and 
 
19 
 
 the prayers of the evening meeting have often been used to bring the 
 Master of our spirits near, and I have entered into the meaning of those 
 words : — 
 
 " We touch Ilim in life's throng and press, 
 And wc are whole again," 
 
 Reviewing the past, my heart is filled with gratitude for all the help 
 I. have received in my spiritual life, by my association with the Pastors' 
 College. It might have been otherwise had there not been every 
 incentive towards a holier walk and a fuller consecration to the 
 service of Christ. One often feels that the Christ of the Schools is not 
 the same as He who sat at Samaria's well, and who suffered on Calvary ; 
 that sometimes the Rose of Sharon seems marred and crushed by the 
 rough hands of polemic gladiators ; but to-day I remember with joy the 
 wise counsels to guard jealously our personal piety by communion and 
 study of Scripture, and I think also of the opportunities for preaching 
 the Gospel, when ofttimes the Divine presence was felt, ay, and known 
 too, by the hearts of hearers touched and lives transformed. 
 
 In all our studies the tutors appealed to the highest possible motives. 
 We were not urged to our work on the ground of scholastic attainments, 
 but from the loftier motive of equipment for the ministry of Christ, and 
 usefulness in his Kingdom. Thus were we helped in our inner lives, 
 and the Saviour became more real to us than he might otherwise have 
 been, 
 
 I presume it is quite a pardonable offence, but we always considered 
 our tutors the very best in the world ; and it is only truth to say that all 
 the present students hold precisely the same view. Of course the three 
 tutors differ in temperament, which it is only reasonable to expect, since 
 they represent the three countries of the United Kingdom ; but they 
 are grand men ; and how far their teaching and characters have gone 
 to mould the thought and life and ministry of the students who have 
 passed under their influence, who can say ? 
 
 And so in their classes, and under the instructions of Professor 
 Cheshire in Science, and Professor Richardson in Elocution, my time 
 has passed. These four happy years have sped, forming a bright and 
 glad retrospect, leaving me thankful for the real, hearty brotherhood 
 that has ever existed amongst us as students, and for the love which made 
 us all one. This has ever been characteristic of the men of our 
 College, and it is hoped and believed that the time will never come 
 when the ties of a common salvation and of a conquering cause will be 
 less binding than they are to-day. 
 
 And now, in anticipating my future work, for which the college course 
 has so greatly helped me, I thank Heaven that the pathway leading to 
 the active service of our Lord has been so cheery and so sunlit as the 
 past student years have proved ; and I ask your prayers for what has 
 been to so many a very gate of Heaven, the Pastors' College. 
 
ifengrii^tit 
 
 BY J. BURNHAM. 
 
 CONCERNING God's gifts to the church, Paul writes, "He gave 
 some apostles ; and some prophets ; and some evangelists ; and 
 some pastors and teachers." There is evidently a distinct line of service 
 for the evangelist ; and he takes too much for granted who supposes 
 that the pastoral office includes the evangelistic. That there are men 
 who combine in themselves the qualifications for both pastor and 
 evangelist, is beyond dispute ; but these are the exception, not the 
 rule. This distinct qualification Paul recognized in Timothy, and 
 hence charged him, "Do the work of an evangelist." This same charge 
 was thrust upon me, ten years ago, in a rather strange way. I had 
 spent three years in very happy work in a rural pastorate in Somerset ; 
 loving both my work and my flock. Suddenly prostrated, as the result of 
 overwork, reason threatened to forsake her throne. The physician 
 ordered immediate cessation from study, and six months' rest. Mrs. 
 Spurgeon heard of this, and wrote one of her sweet, cheery letters, in 
 which, with remarkable prescience, she foretold my future : " Don't be 
 discouraged because unable to interpret God's dealings ; it may be by 
 this means he is opening before you a wider sphere of usefulness." 
 
 Feeling it would be unjust to the little church to hold on officially 
 when incapacitated for work, I at once resigned, not knowing where 
 next a door would open. 
 
 Of a naturally restless disposition, inactivity became burdensome. 
 As soon as strength would permit, and knowing what ministerial isola- 
 tion meant, I began visiting brethren in country places, and holding 
 special services. At first, these took the form of "Evenings of Sacred 
 Song," interspersed with brief gospel addresses ; but they soon grew into 
 more distinctly evangelistic services, and were blest beyond my most 
 sanguine expectations. Tidings of the work reached Mr, Spurgeon, 
 and at the following College Conference (1878), when I was fully 
 restored to health, and seeking another settlement, he embodied Mrs. 
 Spurgeon's prophecy in the charge of Paul to Timothy, " Do the work 
 of an evangelist." After a fortnight's consideration and prayer over 
 the matter, 1 accepted the charge, and have had abundant proof, since 
 then, that the step was divinely ordered. 
 
 Now, for the information of kind friends and supporters, I am asked 
 for a short report. 
 
 TEN YEARS OF EVANGELISTIC WORK 
 
 is a big texffor a brief sketch, and I feel considerable difficulty in 
 attempting the task ; the difficulty is not what to say, but what to leave 
 unsaid. As one result of long and varied experience, I would first bear 
 unfaltering testimony to the 
 
 SOLE SUFFICIENCY OF THE GOSPEL 
 
 for this kind of work; tlie gospel, as received, believed, and handed 
 down to us by our fathers. Here is a noteworthy fact, and a splendid 
 tribute to the power and sufficiency of the old-fashioned gospel. Men 
 who have nearly emptied their chapels by speculative theology, and feel 
 
that tlicy have lost their hold of the people, when they desire special ser- 
 vices in order to recover lost ground, invariably (I was about to say, 
 <' instinctively" — perhaps so !) seek the liclp of those who abide by the 
 old lines of thouglit and expression, rather than that of men of so-ealled 
 "modern thought." Tiiis unintentional tribute we gratefully accept, 
 fully persuaded, from experience and observation, that nothing beneath 
 the sun will meet man's deepest need as the gospel will. We would say 
 of it as David said of Goliath's sword, "There is none like that, give 
 it me." This is 
 
 THE GOSPEL FOR THE AGED. 
 
 True, there are Acry few conversions among the grey-headed ; but, 
 blessed be God, we are not without witnesses to the power of the gospel 
 on men who have passed their " three-score years and teu." 
 
 On one occasion, resting a few days with a farmer friend, on the 
 Cotswold Hills, I yielded to his entreaty for an open-air service in the 
 eveniug. Tidings went round the hay-fields, and a goodly number 
 gathered on the Green. Next morning the ftirmer came in, leaving with 
 me his old shepherd, in great distress, for a little counsel and prayer. 
 I asked, " How long have you been so distressed? " He replied, " Do 
 yon remember, sir, having a service on the Green, about six weeks ago? 
 What I heard then very much troubled me, and caused me many rest- 
 less nights ; but I kept it all to myself. Last night, sir, the word so 
 broke my heart, I have not slept all night ; I could not keep quiet any 
 longer ; so, in the hay-field I told master all about it this morning." 
 
 " What are you troubled about, shepherd ? " 
 
 " I want to know whether you think God can save an old sinner like 
 I am, who has forgotten him all these years ? " 
 
 " It matters little what / thinlc, shepherd ; let us see what God says 
 (turning to Heb. vii. 25) : ' He is able also to save them to the utter- 
 most that come unto God by him ' ; ' /o the uttermost,' shepherd ; that 
 means the oldest, as well as the vilest, sinner." Then came an excuse 
 rather common in rural districts: "I haven't had any education, and 
 I can't understand these things like learned peoiile can." I replied, 
 "If 'tis a question of scholarship, then it is about time you com- 
 menced your education ! No, no, shepherd ; thousands have gone to 
 heaven with no more education than you have ; and thousands are 
 going to-day, who can no more read or write their names than you 
 can " (Here the old man's face lit up with hope, and I proceeded). 
 "The matter is very simple. You go to yonder shop, and day by day 
 get goods, putting off payment till you are deep in debt. Passing your 
 door some weeks later, I observe you standing there with a very dis- 
 tressed look, and ask the meaning of it. Drawing from your pocket a 
 bill, you exclaim, 'Here's a bill from Brown's for £10, aud I have not 
 lOd. with which to pay it ! ' Producing a receipted account, I say, 
 ' Cheer up, shepherd ! T heard of your trouble, and have called and 
 2Hikl the debt for you.'' AVould you not be glad ? " 
 
 "Indeed, I should, sir." 
 
 " And how much education would you need in order to trust me ? " 
 
 *' Why I could trust you without any education ! Couldn't I ? " 
 
" Just so, shepherd : you and I are the debtors ; but Jesus paid the 
 debt for us." Turning to Isaiah, I read, 'Be was wounded for ow 
 transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities : the chastisement of 
 mir peace was upon him ; and with Ids stripes ive are healed.' Are not 
 you glad he has^^/^ ihc debt for you, shepherd ?" 
 
 Poor old man ! on his knees he went, and thanked God for making 
 it so plain to an old sinner. Then, hurrying to the fields, he took his 
 master with a grip of the hand, as the great tears chased each other 
 down his cheeks, exclaiming, "Master, master, I've found the Saviour, 
 after all these years ! " 
 
 " How is the shepherd getting on ? " I asked of the farmer, when I 
 called two years later. He replied, you would not ask if you were to 
 hear the dear old man pray. It's too far from chapel for the poor people 
 to go twice a day, so I gather them into my kitchen on Sunday evenings. 
 I can't preach, but I read them one of Spurgeon's sermons, and the 
 shepherd invariably helps by oflFering prayer in the service." 
 
 Glad as we are of such results, and we could mention similar ones, 
 ours is especially 
 
 THE GOSPEL FOR THE YOUNG. 
 
 Their minds have not become warped by prejudice and sin ; they 
 are, therefore, more ready to accept, with unquestioning iiiith, the simple 
 message of mercy. We had pleasing proof of this, only last week. A 
 child listened eagerly to the message from Acts x. 43 : on her return, 
 she told her mother all she could remember ; and that so accurately, that 
 the mother, who had long been under soul-concern, grasped the truth, 
 rejoiced in liberty, and sent next evening the following request : — " A 
 mother desires you to join her in praise to God that she has found the 
 Saviour." 
 
 Some time since, a little girl furnished me with a text for an address, 
 which has been greatly used of God. She had long attended the 
 Sunday-school, and was now in the senior class. She became deeply 
 convinced of her need of a Saviour. The pastor and I sought to help 
 her by reference to the many "great and precious promises"; but she 
 could not claim them, and went home broken-hearted. Next day,, 
 turning again to the texts we had pointed out, she was enabled, then 
 and there, to believe them for herself, and found "joy and peace 
 through believing." This came to our knowledge during the afternoon ;. 
 hence we were not a little surprised to find her again among the 
 enquirers in the evening. "Annie: I thought you had found the 
 Saviour ? " said the pastor. " Yes, Mr. Smith," she replied, " so I have ! 
 but I wanted just to tell you how happy I am." The pastor invited 
 her to call at the manse and see him for further talk, as he wished now 
 to speak to the anxious. Suddenly recalling himself, as she was leaving, 
 he said, " One minute, Annie ; can you tell us how you lost your 
 burden ? it may help some of these who are troubled, as you were last 
 evening." Simple, but rich in suggestiveness, was her brief reply : — 
 " Please, sir, I went straight to the cross with my burden, and left it 
 there, and came away free ! " 
 
 During special services in Yorkshire, a dear child, under nine years 
 
of age, yielded her heart to the Saviour. Many people looked some- 
 what coldly and suspiciously on one of such tender years professinpj to 
 be saved ; but her subsequent Hie proved the genuineness of her con- 
 version. Five years later, at work in Yorkshire, I was summoned from 
 the West to the East Eiding ; the dear child was " going home," and 
 repeatedly expressed a wish to see mo. After her glad greeting, I 
 asked, " Are you in much pain, Lizzie ? " " Yes," she replied, "a great 
 deal at times ; but Jesus is with me in it all. When I was first taken 
 ill, I was scarcely conscious of pain for days, so sweet was the sense of 
 rest I enjoyed in the Saviour's embrace." I turned to Revelation, and 
 read to her of heaven : " Is it not beautiful, Lizzie ? " " Yes," she 
 said, "but it would not be heaven without Jesus." "Why not? All 
 this is delightful ! Streets of gold, walls of jasper, gates of pearl ! " 
 "Yes," she replied, "m the lights "What do you mean?" I asked. 
 " Read the next verse," said the child, " and you will find my meaning 
 — ' ike Lamb is the light thereof' " Sweet commentary on tlie Master's 
 words, "Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and 
 hast revealed them unto babes : even so, Father ; for so it seemed good 
 in thy sight." 
 
 We rejoice in the abundant proof that ours is 
 
 THE GOSPEL FOR THE VILEST. 
 
 Last September, in an open-air service among the hop-pickers, I told 
 the following incident : — There dwelt a man in this neighbourhood who 
 spent nearly all his money in drink. Scarcely ever was he sober when he had 
 a penny to take him inside a public-house. His home was a " little hell 
 upon earth"; his wife went out "charing" to keep the wolf from the 
 door ; and the children were in rags, and half-starved. Four years ago 
 this evening that man, sober because penniless, listened as I spoke on 
 John iii. 16. Deep conviction seized him ; he took to his heels to try 
 to escape from the thoughts that haunted him. Finding this in vain, 
 and ashamed to go home to his poor wife in this mood, he turned into 
 a waggon-lodge a mile from here ; and, behind a waggon, fell on his 
 knees, crying to God for mercy. There he wrestled for two hours, till the 
 light broke in ; he cast himself upon the Saviour, and found peace. Not 
 long after, his wife was brought to the Saviour, too ; their home is now 
 a " little paradise," and children, well-fed and well-clad, attend the 
 Sunday-school. 
 
 A little girl listened to this narrative, and, on her retarn, began to 
 repeat it to her father. He listened to the prattling tongue till unable 
 longer to contain himself; then, falling on his knees, he cried, " God, 
 that's me ! " 
 
 The next evening he came to tell me of this, and to bear testimony 
 to God's faithfulness to him. 
 
 In one place I visited, a rather morose, unapproachable sort of man 
 listened, evening after evening. Suspecting that God was at work with 
 him, I called at his shop on Saturday, and found him in a very 
 miserable mood ; he had not slept for several nights, and was looking ill 
 for want of that sleep he was positively afraid to take. I invited him 
 to come to the Sunday-morning prayer-meeting, and commence the 
 
24 
 
 day in right earnest with us. " Come to a seven o'clock Sunday-morning 
 meeting ! " said he : " I never did such a thing in my life ! Whatever would 
 the people say ? Already they are beginning to talk, because I have 
 been each evening to the services." I challenged the roan : " What 
 do you care wiiat people say ? But three weeks ago you were staggering 
 through this place drunk, and using language that proclaimed you a child 
 of wrath ; is it a fact that you are ashamed lest men should think you 
 are seeking to turn to God, and mend your ways ? " This was too 
 much for him ; he repHed, " I don't care what they say." "Then you 
 had better come to the i^rayer-meeting, or /shall think you do ; so, in 
 either case, you'll be in the same fix ! Moreover, you don't know what 
 a blessing God has in store for you I It may be the meeting-place 
 between the Father and the prodigal." The tear started, as he exclaimed, 
 " I hope so, for I'm tired of this ! " He came, and in that morning 
 meeting found Christ. At the close of the day, with a beaming face, he 
 gripped my hand, saying : " I never had such a Sunday in all my life ! " 
 Three weeks later, at the College Conference, the minister said, "You 
 should have heard our friend Thomas last night ; during a lull in the 
 prayer-meeting, to the astonishment of us all, he began to pray. Before 
 many sentences, he broke down abruptly, thus : ' Lord, I can't pray 
 yet ; I'm only three weeks old. Amen I ' " 
 
 A man and his wife had lived a very wretched life. More than once 
 (and only a day or two prior to my visit) she had jumped out of the 
 bed-room window, to escape his violence. On the first evening of our 
 mission, I suggested to the Christians that they should each fix upon 
 somebody as a special subject for prayer. It afterwards transpired that 
 several hearts at once, without (human) pre-arrangement, fixed on this 
 man. Next evening he was at the service, and the following evening 
 his wife with him. They continued to come, and a week later his wife 
 called on me to come and see her husband. I found him leaning upon 
 the table, by his untouched meal. "Not at work?" I asked. "No, 
 sir, I can't work, my sins trouble me so." "And have you taken no 
 breakfost ? " " No, sir, I feel more like choking ! and I haven't slept 
 all night; I'm afraid to go to sleep; my sins are constantly before me." 
 I found congenial work in pointing him to the Saviour, but left him 
 still broken-hearted. A few days later I called, and found him, not 
 jubilant, but calmly resting on Christ. After a brief interview, I was 
 rising from prayer, Avhen he broke out in earnest thanksgiving ; and 
 soon he was praying, in endearing terms, for his wife : " God, bless 
 my darling ivife ; save her, too ! " It was many years since the poor 
 woman had heard such music from his lips, and it broke her heart. 
 Bursting into tears, she began crying to God for mercy. Presently faith 
 began to bud and grow : " God, save me, too ! Dear Saviour, I ivant 
 to trust thee ! " and, ere long it was, "0 Saviour, I can trust thee ! I 
 DO trust thee ! Blessed be thy name, thou hast saved me, too ! " Not 
 long since I heard from them from Australia ; they were associated 
 with the Wesleyan Church, the nearest place of worship, and he 
 a local preacher on their "plan." It is a great joy to us when any find 
 Christ, but a peculiar joy when 
 
25 
 THEY IN TURN BECOME SOUL-WINNERS. 
 
 In the midst of an address I was once interrupted by a fine, intelligent 
 yonng man, a Board-school teacher, up till then a follower of Brad- 
 laugh, who rose tremblingly before a company of some five hundred of 
 his fellow-townsmen, and, with a beseeching look, that haunts my 
 memory still, said, " Sir, will you please pray for me ? " I stopped 
 my address, and could not help saying, before I prayed, " Young man, 
 thou art not far from the kingdom of God." Soon after his conversion, 
 his abilities were turned to good account, and he became an acceptable 
 local preacher, then passed through college, and is now in the ministry. 
 
 Though wearied, and late in my arrival in Yorkshire, one Saturday, 
 I could not resist the temptation of going to the prayer-meeting. 
 It was one of the heartiest prayer-meetings I was ever in ; but, with 
 one exception save the pastor and myself, all the pleaders were sisters. 
 A gracious work was manifest from the very commencement of the 
 Mission. A number of young men, of which that little church was 
 sadly deficient till then, were brought to the Saviour, and the good 
 pastor's hands thereby considerably sti'cngthened. Among these was a 
 bright young man, also a Board-school teacher, full of promise. Soon 
 he began preaching ; has since passed through Manchester College, and 
 in Lancashire to-day he is a useful young minister, of whom (if I mistake 
 not) we shall yet hear great things. 
 
 There is an important feature in the Evangelist's work that must 
 not be overlooked. Whilst often useful in gathering under the influence 
 of the gospel those who are comparative strangers to the message, it is 
 pre-eminently successful in bringing the pastor's work to full fruition. 
 In very many cases the Evangelist is the "Reaper" in the field. A 
 long season of earnest toil has been expended in turning the soil, casting 
 in, and watering the seed. By-and-by the "fields are white unto 
 harvest," and the Master, placing the sickle in the reaper's hand, bids 
 him go forth and "gather iu the sheaves." And herein is that saying 
 true, " One soweth, and another reapeth." Thus, "both he that 
 Eoweth, and he that reapeth, may rejoice together." 
 
 I have been greatly cheered by the 
 
 ABIDING CHARACTER OF TUE WORK 
 
 in most places. Writing me lately, a minister said, referring to a 
 baptism on the previous Sunday, " You w'ill be pleased to know that 
 this makes forty-three members we have received into the church, who 
 trace their conversion to your visit of three years ago." 
 
 An East-end pastor recently observed, " We saw but three cases of 
 conversion whilst you were with us ; but have since received into 
 fellowship ten who trace their decision to those services." Last month 
 I paid a flying visit to a scene of former labours ; and the sweetest 
 music I then heard, was, " You will be thankful to know that all the 
 friends who found the Saviour, when you were here, are holding w'ell on 
 their way, and walking consistently." Yes, very thankful to hear it. 
 "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth," 
 
26 
 
 ^bangelfetii: Moxk 
 
 By a. a. Harmer. 
 
 IN reporting upon another year's work, one has mingled feelings of 
 joy and sorrow ; joy for all that has been done, sorrow that the all 
 is so little. "Do the work of an Evangelist," is still a command heard 
 and obeyed by a few. It is still needful that there be " some Evangelists 
 and some Pastors," and the Evangelist devoutly hopes that those churches 
 Avhich do not recognize this as a scriptural command will never invite him 
 to work in their midst. The command is from God, and the Evangelist 
 receives his commission from the hands of the King. It means loss of 
 home comforts, much weary travelling, a great strain upon the health ; 
 but it also means a joyful work, the joy of harvest, bringing in the 
 sheaves, and shouting the glad song of harvest home. It is something 
 to be able to help the Pastor, who all the long year or years has been 
 sowing the good seed, and who now, during the visit of the Evangelist, 
 reaps and rejoices with joy unspeakable. " Behold, the days come, saith 
 the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader 
 of grapes him that soweth seed ; and the mountains shall drop sweet 
 wine, and all the hills shall melt " — a beautiful picture of the Pastor and 
 Evangelist working in the same field ; it means a double crop, barren 
 hill-sides brought under cultivation, and difficulties swept away : " And 
 all the hills shall melt." May all his servants know this joy ! 
 
 In commencing work last April, I visited Totnes for the second time, 
 and letters that I have had from Pastors and converts tell of blessings 
 received. From South Devon I went up to Birmingham, and it was a 
 /lard, hard time ; but with the help of a band of workers I went out 
 into the market-place, and preached and sang in the open-air, but always 
 invited the people in for a closing meeting. By these means we drew in 
 the outcasts and wretched. We have reason to thank God that one poor 
 girl was taken from the streets, and placed in a comfortable home. 
 
 With the help of Mr. Chamberlain, whose services are always greatly 
 valued, I held a Mission in the new chapel at Thornton Heath : this led 
 to continued services whilst Pastor J. W. Harrald was at Mentone. It was 
 a happy time, and a good work was done among the young : the Pastor 
 is helped in his work there by a splendid band of teachers and workers. 
 The church at Beulah chapel has a bright prospect. Again, with the help 
 of dear friend Chamberlain, I went in September to Bradford, — that busy, 
 smoky place, where one ever hears the rattle of machinery and *' the 
 clang of the wooden shoon." The people loved the singing of the gospel, 
 and many were charmed by its sound, and led to the Saviour's feet. It 
 was here we met dear Mr. Wood, of Tetley Street, so bright and merry 
 in his work, who, from the midst of the people he loved so well, went 
 right into the presence of his Master, to hear the " Well-done, good and 
 faithful servant." 
 
 In writing this report, incidents crowd in so that one can scarcely put 
 them in order ; but I must mention just a few. At South Bermondsey, 
 during a service, I asked for requests for prayer. A woman, who had 
 
27 
 
 been brought in the evening before, rose, and with much emotion, 
 said, "Pray for my husband, he oj(ght to give his heart to God, 
 he viiist give his heart to God, because we both promised our dying 
 child that we would meet her in heaven." In the vestry we knelt in 
 prayer with husband and wife, when he surrendered his heart to Christ: 
 they are now both members of the church. 
 
 The Evangelist is thrown amongst various classes, and can tell of 
 work among sailors, soldiers, and miners ; the latter class not the least 
 interesting because their work is underground. When in the Sheffield 
 district, I was invited to go down into a pit to see the men at "snap" 
 time, and have some talk with them. I accepted the invitation, but 
 when I arrived at a pit bank, I was sorry for it. I found the way down 
 into the pit painful : please make your own application. I found the 
 way down into the pit rapid, 300 feet in 30 seconds. I found the way 
 down into the pit dark : the application is evident. When we arrived 
 at the bottom of the pit, they clothed me in a big overcoat and gave 
 me a safety-lamp, with these instructions : " Keep your head doum and 
 your light straight." I found, by painful experience, what this meant : 
 the great boulders overhead reminded me, and being careless with my 
 light, it went out : again make your own application. " Keep your head 
 down, and your light straight." I was much struck with the ponies that 
 drew the " tubs " of coal ; when they came to a narrow pass, they quite 
 naturally fell upon their knees, and crawled through. I enquired, 
 " Is it not very difficult to train them to this ?" " Oh no, we just fasten 
 a rope to their fore legs, and pull when they are to go upon their knees, 
 and down they go." Again the application is evident. If sinners will not 
 come to their knees, the Lord sometimes binds them with a great trouble, 
 or loss, or bereavement, and thus, in the darkness of sorrow, pulls them 
 to their knees. 
 
 If space permitted, I should like to tell of my second visit to Orpington, 
 where I had the valuable help of Messrs. Allison and Vinson, and Pastor 
 Scilley. It was a joyful time, and many decided for Christ; but, best of 
 all, we were assured that not one of the converts of last year had 
 fallen. The services at Long Buckby were to us all a blessed season, 
 the closing meeting was a time to be remembered ; many of the converts 
 were young men, and will, we trust, prove to be good workers. 
 
 The work of the Evangelist is not all success : there are Pastors 
 and Churches which don't seem to understand us ; these of course never 
 invite us the second time. I have just commenced at Totnes for the 
 third time ; Mr. Chamberlain will join me in a few days ; the friends are 
 praying for and expecting a great blessing. 
 
 May I remind friends that the funds of the Society of Evangelists are 
 sometimes a source of anxiety to our President? This ought not to be ; 
 on the contrary, if the Churches visited would only do their share, our 
 President would be able to send out several more Evangelists. We 
 thank God for another year's work, and take courage, believing that 
 there is a joyful time before us. " They shall build the waste cities, 
 and inhabit them ; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine 
 thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them." 
 
28 
 
 fa^toB' %olltQt ^otuiy^ 0f itottgi^Iid^. 
 
 THROUGH the " Notes," month by month, in the Sivord and 
 Trcnvel, we have kept our friends informed concerning the 
 movements of our College Evangelists. It is, therefore, only necessary 
 here to give a list of the places in which our brethren have held special 
 services since our last Annual Report. 
 
 Messrs. Fullerton and Smith, during the past year, have visited 
 Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, St. Albans, Bury St. Edmund's, 
 Stowmarket, Wisbech, Taunton, Weymouth, St. Helier's (Jersey), 
 Cambridge, The Metropolitan Tabernacle, Reading, Pontypridd, 
 Abercarne, Sutton (Surrey), Ampthill, Sutton (Yorkshire), Rotherham, 
 Down Lodge Hall, Wandsworth, Putney, and Northcote Road, 
 Wandsworth Common. From every place we have received most 
 gratifying testimonies of the blessing that has accompanied and followed 
 the Evangelists' labours. 
 
 Mr. BuRNHAM has related for us some of the incidents that he has 
 met with in his services, so that we need only mention here that, since 
 the last Conference, he has conducted evangelistic meetings at Milton 
 (Oxfordshire), Fivehead, Frampton Mansell (Gloucestershire), Kent 
 (among the hop-pickers), Cranford, Milton (Northamptonshire), 
 Blisworth, Wellington (Shropshire), Winslow, St. Ives, Chalford, 
 Frampton Mansell (second visit during the year), Southend-on-Sea, 
 Chester, Towcester, and Chesham. 
 
 Mr. Harmer has also written an account of his work, which appears 
 on another page. His missions during the past year have been held at 
 Totnes, Plymouth, Birmingham, Brentwood, Higham Hill, Rickmans- 
 worth, Thornton Heath, Bradford, South Bermondsey, Stroud, Parnell 
 Road, Old Ford, Orpington, Modbury, Newton Abbot, Redditch, Long 
 Buckby, Plumstead, and Totnes (closing the year at the same place as 
 he commenced it). 
 
 In addition to these brethren who are wholly supported from the 
 Evangelists' Fund, partial assistance has been rendered to Mr. Eyres, 
 who has now gone to China, in connection with the China Inland 
 Mission ; to Mr. Parker, who is evangelizing in the United States ; to 
 Mr. Mateer, who, since his return from Australia with Mr. Parker, has 
 conducted special services in various places with much acceptance, and 
 who desires to settle down to pastoral work, if the Lord shall open the 
 way ; to Mr. Hill, who has been much blessed in evangelistic and 
 Gospel Temperance work in London ; and to Mr. Snell, who is 
 seeking to raise a Baptist Church in Guernsey. Mr. E. A. Carter 
 has also been added to the number of brethren partially dependent 
 upon our funds. 
 
 There are abundant opportunities of service for all these Evangelists ; 
 and if our means were increased, we could employ even more well- 
 qualified brethren, both at home and abroad. 
 
DURING the thirty-two years of our existence as a school of the 
 prophets, seven hundred and sixty-two men, exclusive of those 
 at present studying with us, have been received into the College, " of 
 whom the greater part remain unto this day ; but some (sixty-one) have 
 fallen asleep." Making all deductions, there are now in the work of 
 the Lord, in some department or other of useful service, more than six 
 hundred brethren. Of these, five hundred and sixty-eight are in our 
 own denomination as Pastors, Missionaries, and Evangelists. They 
 may be thus summarized : — 
 
 Number of brethren who have been educated in the College ... ... 762 
 
 ,, now in our ranks as Pastors, Missionaries, and Evangelists 568 
 „ without Pastorates, but regularly engaged in tlie work of 
 
 the Lord ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 21 
 
 „ not now engaged in the work, but useful in secular callings 26 
 
 „ Educated for other Denominations ... ... ... ... 2 
 
 „ Dead — (Pastors, 54; Students, 7) 61 
 
 „ Permanently Invalided ... ... ... ... ... ... 10 
 
 ,, Names removed from the List for various reasons, such as 
 
 joining other Denominations, &c. ... ... ,., 74 
 
 FOJ?Af OF BEQUEST. 
 
 I Give ajid Bequeath the sum of _ 
 
 pounds sterling., to be paid out of that part of my personal estate which 
 may by law be giveji with effect for charitable purposes, to be paid to the 
 Treasurer for the time being of the Pastors' College, Metropolita7i 
 Tabernacle, Newington, Surrey, and his receipt shall be a sufficie?it 
 discharge for the said legacy ; and this legacy, 7vhen received by such 
 Treasurer to be applied for the general purposes of the College. 
 
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32 
 
 PRELIMINARY INFORMATION. 
 
 Pastors' College, 
 
 Temple Street, Newington, 
 London, S.E/ 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 In answer to your enquiries as to the Pastors' College, the 
 following information may be of service : — 
 
 The object of this institution is to give further instruction to those who 
 have already proved themselves to be efficient preachers ; young men 
 who wish to be " made into ministers," but have never preached, are 
 therefore quite ineligible. As we cannot attempt so large a work as the 
 training of men for all denominations, we confine ourselves to such as 
 are connected with those believers called Baptists. Applicants must 
 therefore be baptized persons. None are eligible but believers in the 
 Lord Jesus, members of Christian churches, men of known character 
 and of earnest spirit. Such men, holding what are popularly styled 
 Calvinistic views, and having been more or less constantly engaged in 
 preaching and other evangelistic work for two or more years, are admitted 
 upon showing satisfactory testimonials. Want of education and poverty 
 are no obstacles ; but every one must contribute to the expenses if able 
 to do so. Single men are preferred ; and, as a rule, in the cases of 
 married men, their wives and families must be provided for apart from 
 the College funds. The time of remaining in College is ordinarily two 
 years, but it may be increased to three or even four years at the discretion 
 of the President, where brethren would evidently profit by a longer term: 
 the longer term is growingly preferred. The course of study varies 
 according to each case. 
 
 Should it happen that upon reading this paper you perceive that you 
 are disqualified, it will be best not to apply again, as the rules are fixed, 
 and exceptions are very rarely entertained. If, on the other hand, this 
 information encourages you to apply, all further communications should 
 be addressed to Mr. Thomas Page, 92, Newington Butts, London, S.E., 
 who will send you a list of questions to be answered. 
 
 Stamps for replies should in all cases be enclosed if an answer is 
 expected. 
 
 Yours very truly, 
 
 C. H. SPURGEON.