Life of Charles Haddon Spurgeon,: The world's great preacher

by Russell H. Conwell

In publishing the life of the late CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON, the publishers feel a peculiar pleasure and believe themselves especially fortunate in having secured the Rev. Russell H. Conwell, D.D., LL.D., pastor at The Temple, of Philadelphia, to prepare the work. There are many reasons why the popular preacher, who might justly be called the Spurgeon of America, should in this way pay a loving tribute to the memory of his great English ecclesiastical brother, and why such a book must have an absorbing interest for all readers. Foremost among these might be considered his personal acquaintance with the great divine of gigantic efforts and wonderful achievements, and the deep study he has ever given to his popular brother preacher’s life and the measure of its successes.As a fellow-preacher of the Gospel, he knew better than any layman how to interpret the hidden springs of success to count the cost of Herculean efforts made, and better, understand the great man’s life-work in all its thousands of minute details which he, as an intimate personal friend had the opportunity to observe.Like Spurgeon, he has the power to earn and raise large sums of money, but he devotes every dollar beyond a reasonable living expense to the cause he has so much at heart. His remarkable line of work, also, in many ways corresponds with that of Spurgeon,The similarity in the work of the English Spurgeon and the American Conwell has often been commented upon by press and people. Spurgeon made, and Conwell is making, a complete sacrifice of talents, time and health to the one aim in life-the salvation of souls. Each commenced life a poor boy, and had an early life fraught with discouragements and temptations.The author’s grand work for the Grace Baptist Church, of Philadelphia, has justly distinguished him as the greatest preacher of his denomination in this country. He was a student at Yale College, and graduated in the Law Department of Albany University and was admitted to the New York bar in 1865. His health not permitting the practice of law, he began as traveling correspondent of the Boston Traveler and the New York Tribune, during which his constant companion and warmest friend was Bayard Taylor, with who he traveled all over the world, and obtained distinction as a journalist.In addition to the pastorate of a church which has one of the most remarkable houses of worship in the world, open every hour of every day and night in the year, and is never untenanted, Dr. Conwell is the head of Temple College, connected with the church fostered by him, which is for the free education of working-men and women in the classic collegiate branches, with fourteen professors, a preparatory department that sends pupils to Yale, Harvard and Amherst, and giving itself decrees equal to those of Princeton. He is the head of the Samaritan Hospital, also an outgrowth of his personal effort and example, which is doing incalculable good in Philadelphia.In addition. to his church work, Dr. Conwell lectures all over the United States, to large and delighted audiences.He is also a prolific author, The most important of his works are a ” Life of Garfield,” which he wrote at the home of the martyred President, in Mentor; “Why and How the Chinese Immigrate,” the material for which he gathered in the Chinese Empire Life of Hon. James G. Blaine,” Life of Bayard Taylor,” and “Acres of Diamonds,” each of which has been appreciatively read by thousands of readers in this and other countries.

Genres: Biography

616 pages, Hardcover

First published November 10, 2007

About the author

Russell Herman Conwell was a Baptist minister, philanthropist, lawyer, and writer best remembered as the founder of Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and for his inspirational lecture, Acres of Diamonds.

Reviews

[Brandon H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Mr Spurgeon, as we have said, was often rude, and affected none of the ways of the schools of oratory extant in his day, but he could so speak as to cause the hearts of those who heard him to rise or sink, to fill many eyes with tears, to pull down the stubborn sinners' heads, and to send forth to the noblest deeds of self-sacrifice a host of effective workers, who when they first came under the spell of his speech were cruel to man, and rebellious against God. He was a well-directed thunder-bolt, whose course to the spectator seemed zig-zag and erratic, yet who always cleft the rock at the selected mark. Judging by the results, he was one of the greatest orators that ever lived, not exceeded by Luther, Wesley, or Webster." - Russell H. Conwell

I decided to read this book because I heard that there were stories within that many other biographies of Spurgeon have omitted. I haven't read an overwhelming amount of Spurgeon biographies so I'm not sure how accurate that is but I did learn some new things about this "Prince of Preachers."

Besides the amazing stories I read, I also enjoyed the illustrations, photographs, and the musty smell, which often companies old books. (On his side note, I even found a hair in the book which got me wondering who it belonged to. Was it from somebody in 1892? The year this book was published ).

The topics covered within ranged from Spurgeon's childhood and his early education to his early religious experiences, the history of his church, his preaching ministry, his healing ministry, his sundry charitable organizations, Mrs Spurgeon's work, life at home, his critics, and his passing. I think my favorite chapter was on his healing ministry, something I hadn't heard much about.

I can't give it a 5 star rating because, as much as I enjoyed it, it did feel a bit redundant at times. So, I think this book would have benefited from some further editing. For example, the two chapters on Mrs. Spurgeon's ministry could have been pruned down into one as the second one dragged on and on. However, it was written in the same year of Spurgeon's death and I highly suspect that the editing business has changed a bit since 1892 (This edition has 492 pages).


Here are some more quotes -

"That afternoon having to preach at a village station, I walk slowly in a meditating frame of mind, over Midsummer Common, to the little wooden bridge which leads to Chesterton, and in the midst of the Common I was startled by what seemed to me to be a loud voice, but which may have been a singular illusion; whatever it was, the impression it made on my mind was most vivid; I seemed very distinctly to hear the words, 'Seekest thou great things for thyself, seek them not!' This led me to look at my position from a different point of view, and to challenge my motives and intentions." - C.H. Spurgeon (79)

"Religious work became with him a positive passion, inspiring all his thought and the objective of his entire ambition. He was bright, active, and at times very witty. His fun was exuberant, natural, and contagious. He was often seen running races with the children, rolling the hoop for their amusement, and performing feats and youthful athletics to the surprise and admiration of the boys whose souls he desired to win to the Lord Jesus Christ." (102)

"He had a broad charity for denominational differences, and maintained a most intimate friendship with persons of other creeds, and with high officials in the Church of England itself. 'Like priest, like people.' The members of his church were very like him in their strong adherence to their denominational belief, but we're also very liberal, fraternal, generous, and kind-hearted toward the members of any other Christian Church." (165)

"The writer once, when a correspondent for a prominent American newspaper, asked him the direct question, whether he believed all persons could be healed by the use of sincere prayer by persons who believed in Christ and whose lives were righteous. He announced that his experience in the matter had been quite extended, but that he needed to look very much further before he would be able to answer such a question without reservation. Yet, no man probably, in England or in America, in this century, has ever healed so many people as did Mr Spurgeon, although he was not himself a physician and never wrote prescriptions. He felt that there was an unexplainable mystery about the whole matter. Yet, He asserted that there was some power connected with prayer which ought to be used when persons were in pain and could be relieved by it." (173)

On Spurgeon's marriage to Susie:

"Had he married a silly woman, who would have regarded him as the perfection of sainthood, or a devotee of fashion, who would have discouraged him with her corrections, he could never have attained the eminence which he reached. Had he allied himself with a wife who was less pious and sincere, or would not have maintained her hold upon the affections and esteem of his congregation, she would have served to injure his reputation and undermine many of the spiritual buildings he was able to construct.

"But she worked with him, prayed with him, believed in him, and affectionately loved him through those many years of his work. The thought of her coming, even when he was absent from home, was to him a subtle rest of spirit. He could travel many days and preach several times a day, finding rest in the thought that at home she was hourly praying for him, and was awaiting him with a welcome he could anticipate with a sense of divine peace." (234)

"When his assailants spoke of him with sad falsehoods, and when friends forsook or betrayed, there was always one who stood like a shield between him and the arrows of wickedness, quenching their fiery darts most easily with the shield of domestic love." (235)