Chapter 24: James Grant And Other Friends

Chapter 24.
James Grant And Other Friends The Morning Advertiser defends Mr. Spurgeon—James Grant's early Life—A general Criticism—Jubilee Services at Stambourne—Exeter Hall and New Park Street Chapel—An unfulfilled Prophecy.

The late Mr. James Grant was one of Mr. Spurgeon's earliest friends in London; and as editor of The Morning Advertiser, which, at that time ranked next to The Times among the daily papers of the metropolis, he was able to exercise a powerful and widespread influence. Mr. Grant's journal was probably the first newspaper which cordially recognised the abilities of the young pastor, or which undertook to offer him advice under the name of impartial criticism. As the veteran editor's name may several times occur in the course of the life-story which still remains to be told, a few facts about him will enable the reader the better to understand why he so closely identified himself with the cause which Mr. Spurgeon had at heart.

James Grant was a native of Elgin in Scotland, and he was quite thirty years the senior of the pastor at New Park Street, for whom he at once contracted a strong liking because they were agreed in theology. Mr. Grant commenced to write for London papers as early as 1820, and seven years later he and a relative successfully founded The Elgin Courier. In 1833 he removed to London, and became connected with The Morning Chronicle at or about the same time that Charles Dickens was on the staff. In the following year, or in the year of Mr. Spurgeon's birth, Mr. Grant accepted an appointment at the office of The Morning Advertiser, and there he remained until he retired more than a third of a century later. In 1850 the paper was permanently enlarged to a double sheet, and Mr. Grant became editor. In this sphere the young Scotsman became an indefatigable worker, and the result was that the journal vastly improved its position, so that the chief more than held his own, notwithstanding the efforts which were made by a noisy section of the Licensed Victuallers' Society, to whom the paper belonged, to displace him.

Mr. Grant's family belonged to the Scotch Secession Church; but like his younger friend, the preacher at New Park Street Chapel, he embraced the views of the Baptists in early life. He attended the chapel at John Street, Bedford Row, where James Harington Evans and the Hon. Baptist Noel successively ministered. At one time Mr. Grant was editor and proprietor of The Metropolitan Magazine, the publication price of which, sixty years ago, was the old-fashioned one of three shillings and sixpence a month. In addition to all, he contrived to write a number of books, which alone seem to be almost sufficient for a life's work. A critic like Thomas T. Lynch would make some stinging remarks, when retaliating for the part taken by The Morning Advertiser in "The Rivulet" controversy, comparisons being drawn between Grant's religious professions and certain characteristics of the Licensed Victuallers' paper which he conducted. Others looked at the matter in a somewhat different light. Thus, one authority declared that much might be said about the advantages which had resulted from such an editor's connection with The Morning Advertiser. "The presence of such a man at the head of such a journal is an affair of unspeakable moment, in consequence of the immense influence which he exercises for good by the insertion of religious matter, in which respect The Advertiser is a wonder unto many, as it often furnishes reports of important religious services which the religious journals themselves overlook."

Such was James Grant, journalist and Christian teacher, who at the time of Mr. Spurgeon's coming to London was in the prime of his days and at the height of his success in life, after some years of anxiety in regard to the progress of the journal he edited. When the sudden transformation scene at New Park Street occurred, the news did not travel with leaden feet to the well-known office in Fleet Street; the lynx-eyed newspaper had intelligence of what was going on, and the editor-in-chief himself walked to New Park Street to learn for himself what the attraction was which drew together a greater crowd than could get into the lately nearly empty chapel. The Morning Advertiser gave its opinion of the preacher—of course, favourable on the whole; and then some months later, when the first volume of sermons appeared, there was a return to the subject, thus:—

"About twelve months ago, when Mr. Spurgeon was preaching in Exeter Hall to the most densely crowded audiences that ever assembled within the walls of that spacious place, we called especial attention to his qualities as a preacher and as a theologian. We pointed out freely, but in the spirit of sincere friendship, what we conceived to be his faults, and expressed not only a hope but a belief that, as he was so young a man—not having then reached his majority—he would, with the lapse of time, which generally matures the judgment as well as mellows the mind, get rid, in a great measure, if not wholly, of what we then specified as defects. It gives us great gratification to say that, having heard him recently in his own chapel in New Park Street, Southwark, we discern a decided improvement, both as regards his matter and manner. Not that there is any change in Mr. Spurgeon's doctrinal views, or in his mode of illustrating, enforcing, and applying them, but that there is less of the pugnacious quality about him when grappling with the views of those from whom he differs. He does not speak so often with asperity of other preachers of the Gospel, whom he conceived—and we must say, in the main, rightly—to be unfaithful to their high calling. There is, too, a marked and gratifying improvement in Mr. Spurgeon as regards the manner of his pulpit appearances. He was always profoundly earnest in his appeals to the conscience of the unconverted, and spoke with an emphasis which showed how deeply he felt when dwelling on the joys and sorrows, the hopes and fears, of believers. And yet, strange to say, there was at times associated with this a seeming irreverence which we know frequently caused much pain to some of his greatest friends and admirers. In this respect also, we are happy to say, we can discern a decided amendment. Still, truth compels us to add that there is room for yet greater improvement, both in his matter and manner. We see something of a spirit which we cannot commend in the preface to this volume. There is a lack, too, of good taste in many parts of the volume itself. More charity of feeling and gentleness of expression are yet wanting, and may be attained without any deficiency in the faithfulness with which he advocates and enforces the distinguishing doctrines of the Gospel. It were well, too, that he should be especially careful to avoid the very semblance of irreverence when engaged in the most solemn and responsible work which a human being was ever delegated to perform—namely, the proclamation of mercy from heaven to fallen man, regarded in conjunction with the awful consequences to those who reject the message. We would, with great earnestness, urge on Mr. Spurgeon the propriety of studiously avoiding the use of expressions calculated to excite a smile, or to make hearers think lightly of the purpose for which they are met together. There is no inconsiderable number of such expressions in the volume before us, which, to the eyes of all who have right views of the sacred mission of the pulpit, must be exceedingly painful to witness.

"We point out these defects in the preaching of Mr. Spurgeon with all the greater freedom, because he is, in various respects, an uncommon man. Never, since the days of George Whitefield, has any minister of religion acquired so great a reputation as this Baptist preacher in so short a time. Here is a mere youth—a perfect stripling, only twenty-one years of age—incomparably the most popular preacher of the day. There is no man within Her Majesty's dominions who could draw such immense audiences, and none who, in his happier efforts, can so completely enthral the attention and delight the minds of his hearers. Some of his appeals to the conscience, some of his remonstrances with the careless, constitute specimens of a very high order of oratorical power. When pronouncing the doom of those who live and die in a state of impenitence, he makes the vast congregation quail and quake in their seats. He places their awful destiny in such vivid colours before their eyes that they almost imagine they are already in the regions of darkness and despair. In his preface he tells us that such has been the impressions produced by some of his sermons, that he has ascertained upwards of twenty cases of conversion as the result of one discourse; to say nothing of those instances of a saving change wrought on his hearers which will be unknown until the world to come has made its important and unexpected revelations.

"When this able and eloquent preacher first made his appearance in the horizon of the religious world, and dazzled the masses in the metropolis by his brilliancy, we were afraid that he might either get intoxicated by the large draughts of popularity which he had daily to drink, or that he would not be able, owing to the want of variety, to sustain the reputation he had so suddenly acquired. Neither result has happened. Whatever may be his defects, either as a man or as a preacher of the Gospel, it is due to him to state that he has not been spoiled by public applause. Constitutionally, he has no small amount of self-esteem; but so far from its growing with its daily extending fame, he appears to be more humble and more subdued than when he first burst on our astonished gaze.

"With regard, again, to our further fear that his excellence as a preacher would not be sustained, the event has, we rejoice to say, no less agreeably proved the groundlessness of our apprehensions; here is no falling off whatever. On the contrary, he is, in some respects, improving with the lapse of time. We fancy we can see his striking originality to greater advantage than at first. There is no sameness in his sermons. The variety of his matter—not, of course, as regards his doctrines, but as relates to his expositions, illustrations, and applications of Divine truth—is as great as ever." This was intended to be generous, and at the same time impartial, and the preacher recognised in Mr. Grant a friend who would stand by him in an emergency. Mr. Spurgeon was now supposed to be established in the world; his following was greater than ever. But while the pastor at New Park Street was living down detraction and gathering to himself new friends, the time was fast coming when allies on the Press who would stand by him would be of the utmost service.

About this time appeared "The Baptist Confession of Faith; with Scripture Proofs, adopted by the Ministers and Messengers of the General Assembly which met in London in 1689; with a Preface by the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon." The young pastor regarded this "Confession" as a most admirable summary of what the Fathers of the denomination had believed, and he thought that while it was calculated to confirm faith in those who came after, it was really a body of divinity in small compass which would be of great service in controversy, especially to young people and the less-informed classes generally. To the end of his days Mr. Spurgeon set a high value on this little work.

"A Graduate of the London University" also published "Who and What is the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon? A Voice from one of the Colleges." This brochure consists of a dialogue between two students, the object being to show what such observers thought of the preacher of whom all London seemed to be talking. Written with some power, this was regarded as a generous tribute to Mr. Spurgeon's worth and far-reaching influence. On Tuesday, May 27, of this year, Mr. Spurgeon visited the scenes of his childhood at Stambourne, where he preached in celebration of the jubilee of his grandfather. The text was Isa 46:4—"Even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you. I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you." In a contemporary newspaper account this interesting festival is thus described:—

"On Sunday week a large concourse assembled, by public invitation, at the Hill Farm, Stambourne, to celebrate the Jubilee of the Rev. James Spurgeon, who has just attained the forty-sixth year of his ministry in this village, as pastor of the Independent Chapel. Considerable preparations had been made, and there were probably from fifteen hundred to two thousand persons present at the services. The public duties were conducted by members of Mr. Spurgeon's family; the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon, of London, being the preacher, assisted by his younger brother (a student) and his father in leading the devotions of the meeting. Many of the surrounding ministers of churches, with their congregations, came from great distances to testify their respect for the venerable pastor of Stambourne meeting. The devotional exercises and the sermons, on the whole, were suitable to the occasion. The collections were liberal. In the course of his sermon the preacher animadverted very severely on the Rev. Thomas Binney's book, "On Making the best of both Worlds," which he denounced as a specimen of the 'new heretical theology.' At the close a minister rose up and protested against Mr. Spurgeon's remarks on Mr. Binney. A general state of confusion ensued in the congregation. Some clapped, some shouted 'Hear, hear,' others cried, 'Turn him out.' The reverend gentleman, however, persisted in defending Mr. Binney, and explained that the design of Mr. Binney's book was to prove and illustrate the Scriptural doctrine that 'Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.' He said, 'I charge Mr. Spurgeon with having uttered a public falsehood.' In reply, Mr. Spurgeon denounced the speaker for wishing to gain public notoriety by means of his popularity; and in his subsequent prayer at the close of this painful scene, he petitioned that the Lord would forgive him for the sin he had committed, and make him sensible of the wrong he had done in not having first gone privately and reproved him, according to the Scriptural rule."

Meanwhile, the continued interest which the young pastor took in Sunday-school work became manifest from time to time. Mr. Cutler, the superintendent of the Sunday-school, and Mr. Kimber, the secretary, resigned their offices, and on a summer evening, after the week-night service, we find Mr. Spurgeon presenting them "with tokens of affection and grateful remembrances of their past services," in the names of the teachers. A suitable address was given, after which the one was presented with a timepiece, while the other received a gift of books. The enlarged chapel at New Park Street did not suffice for the requirements of the congregation, and thus the experiment was made of using the chapel in the morning, and of hiring Exeter Hall for the vast crowd which regularly gathered to hear Mr. Spurgeon in the evening of each Sunday. The second series of services in the great hall was commenced on June 8, the sermon being founded on Heb 7:25—"Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them." The new arrangement did not answer according to expectation, not that the crowds, which partially blocked the thoroughfare of the Strand, showed any falling off, but the proprietors of Exeter Hall itself were not willing that the building should be used exclusively by a representative of one denomination. It was now that the preacher had his views misrepresented as being "profane," "blasphemous," and even "diabolical," and he directed people to the "Confession of Faith" if they wished to see what his sentiments really were. Meanwhile, a visitor thus describes a service in the Hall and the scene outside. This really relates to a later series of services, but it is so characteristic of one and all of these memorable occasions, that I give it in this place:—

"A few Sundays since I went, with some friends, to hear him at Exeter Hall. As it was an impromptu visit, we were unprovided with tickets, so had to wait in the Strand from the time of our arrival at the Hall, ten o'clock, to that fixed for the opening of the doors, half-past ten. During this period it amused us to notice that not one omnibus passed by, whether from the East or from the West, which did not stop to deposit one or more persons at Exeter Hall. One omnibus debarked its whole freight of passengers there. The hall was crowded to suffocation. Indeed, I know nothing to compare with the way in which the people were wedged together but the packing of figs in a drum. Yet, despite the heat and exceeding discomfort many must have felt from their position—for a vast number had to stand all the time—I was rejoiced to observe the decorum and devotional aspect of all. The auditory was composed mainly of men—young men—one-tenth part only were women, I should say; and to hear, as one stood in the crowd, the loving, honouring way in which all were speaking of him, the good they said he was effecting, was really a blessed gratification." To many observers there was nothing lasting in all this; Spurgeon was only one of those passing phenomena which, like shooting stars, brilliant for the moment, would soon be lost sight of and forgotten. How often was a similar prophecy made during these days! "Will his popularity last?" was asked by one and another, and one then popular journal somewhat later in the year gave this reply to the question:—

"Will his popularity last? We more than doubt it. It stands on no firm basis. Thousands who now go to hear him only go through curiosity. Men are very much like sheep; one goes through a hedge, then another, and another, at last... the whole flock rushes madly forward. This has been a good deal the case with Mr. Spurgeon's congregation, but the current will soon turn and leave him; and as to those who have gone from a slightly different, if not better, motive, it is hardly likely he will retain them long. There is one excuse for Mr. Spurgeon, he is very young—only twenty-two. When he shall be a few years older... he will wish that much of his earlier career and strange utterances may be forgotten."