On Tuesday evening, May 6th, 1884, a few friends of Pastor C. H. Spurgeon met at the residence of Mr. W.C. Murrell, one of the deacons of the Metropolitan Tabernacle Church, to consult as to the best means of inaugurating a Jubilee Testimonial, to be presented to Mr. Spurgeon on his fiftieth birthday, June 19th. Pastor J. A. Spurgeon presided, and explained the object of the meeting, and after speeches by Messrs. Murrell, Carr, T. H. Olney, Stiff, and other gentlemen, promises amounting to £1000 were made as the beginning of the Testimonial Fund. It has been arranged that on June 18th the members of the church and congregation will, by themselves, celebrate their Pastor’s Jubilee at a meeting in the Tabernacle, and that on the actual birthday, June 19th, a public meeting will be held in the same place under the presidency of the Earl of Shaftesbury, K.G. At that gathering the amount subscribed will be presented to Mr. Spurgeon, who has already indicated the manner in which some portion of it will be expended. About £1000 will be required to pay for the Jubilee House—now in course of erection—at the back of the Tabernacle, and a part will probably be allotted to the Almshouses and Colportage Association, while Mr. Spurgeon is anxious also that help should be given to the Building Fund of the new Tabernacle which is being built at Auckland, New Zealand, for his son Thomas, who is now on his way to England on a visit to his parents. It may be mentioned that, at the Annual Session of the Baptist Union held in London last week, a resolution was unanimously passed, expressing the esteem and affection of the ministers and delegates for Mr. Spurgeon, and their fervent prayer that still larger blessings may rest on his manifold labours, and still richer peace and joy refresh his heart. Friends in other lands also intend to have a share in the Jubilee celebration. The Baptists of Philadelphia have resolved to present a tangible token of their regard for the preacher whose sermons they have so long read, and Doctors Wayland, Weston, Griffith, Hoyt, and Peddie are on the committee, which is empowered to invite the co-operation of ministers and laymen of other denominations. It is expected that Chicago and the districts around will also have a share in the Testimonial.
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