Our larger histories are contained through the individual life. Brent Harding (my maternal 2nd great-grandfather), a seemingly obscure 19th century Baptist pastor living in Breckenridge, Michigan, penned his autobiography at the turn of the century several years before his passing. Harding, originally from Chesham, England, recounts one of these larger histories, this particular one originating in 1866-67 England where the closing of the Deptford shipyards led to mass unemployment and bread riots. It is in this setting that the celebrated Baptist preacher of the time, Charles Spurgeon, paid the stricken town a visit. In 1866-7 the shipyard at Deptford, England closed-up and thousands of men were thrown out of employment. The suffering were so intense that there was bread riots- stores barricaded, closed-up, that these hungry men might not steal enough food to keep their loved ones from starvation [1]. Six months before when prosperity was there among the people arrangements were made for Rev[erend] C. H. Spurgeon to come and preach in behalf of the building fund of the large Baptist Church.[2] At the time appointed Mr. Spurgeon came. Six months before there was no thoughts of bread riots and suffering. The people sang, Praise to God. The scripture was read and then came the announcement. Mr. Spurgeon said, “When the arrangement were made for the services today, none of us knew the hunger and suffering now here. The arrangements were made for me to preach the word and an offering was to be taken in behalf of the building fund. We will carry out the program as then arranged. You give as large and liberal contribution as you can for the building fund and I will give my check for an equal amount for distribution among your poor and needy people.” The response was so large and liberal that Mr. Spurgeon’s check over drew his bank account one-thousand pounds on $5,000. The London papers made this known and in less than a week it is said Mr. Spurgeon received for his own personal use 100 thousand pounds. One day soon after Mr. Spurgeon rec[eived] a check for 25,000 pounds to found an orphan asylum signed a sister in Christ.[3] Mr. Spurgeon refused to start a work like that with less than $100,000 thousand pounds. In a little while the money came and the orphan home is a perpetual witness to the power of God wrought out in the life of man. NOTES 1. This event is well documented. See, "The distress in London, particularly in Deptford, Greenwich, and Poplar", "Deptford Bread Riot 1867", "Today in London's radical past: A Bread riot in Deptford, 1867". 2. English author and Baptist pastor, Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) was known during his time for his moving and sometimes controversial sermons. Still known today as the "Prince of Preachers," his daily devotions and sermons remain in print and are celebrated as "classics". Also see The Spurgeon Center in Kansas, Missouri. 3. Harding here writes of the founding of the Stockwell Orphanage whose building operated until the Second World War. The "sister in Christ" Harding refers to is Anne Hillyard, a widow who donated £20,000 to Spurgeon for its founding. See, "Spurgeon's Orphanage: How One Woman Changed the World". The organization today continues as Spurgeons Children's Charity. It can be argued that this story was very personal for Harding, who was orphaned at eleven years old. See Blog Post, "They Endeavored To Do What Good They Could".
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John A. StempienJohn A. Stempien maintains the blog and website, Family Munro and is the co-editor of The Liberty Hyde Bailey Gardener's Companion. He lives in west Michigan with his family. Archives
June 2024
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