The Surrey Theatre (1860)



ON Saturday night the meeting of converts and fellow- labourers in the gospel, usually held at 48, Great Marlborough-street, was adjourned to Hanover-square Rooms—the large room was nearly full. The first hour was spent in prayer and praise, after which—

Mr RADCLIFFE said: We are not to have Exeter Hall to­morrow evening. The proprietors, or managers, of that place refuse to let us have it again. But a building almost as large, if not quite, has been secured, namely the Surrey Theatre, and I believe that the effect of the shutting against us of Exeter Hall will prove gloriously for the furtherance of the gospel in this city. Thanks be unto God that when we are rolled away from one place, another is provided.

And now, what the devil would love to do is to create ill-will and unkindness between brethren. He would like us to say sharp things, unkind things, against those who have shut us out of Exeter Hall. May the Lord keep us from so doing; and enable us to go on in love, faithfully performing our duty, assured that the Lord will open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing.

Mr Radcliffe and Weaver spoke with reference to the duct of the conversation with the anxious after preaching, which they considered so important a part of their work.

These addresses, together with Mr. Radcliffe's address at Exeter Hall (which we deem well worthy the attention of all Christians interested in the present work of God), will be published at the office of The Revival as early as possible after the meeting at Hanover-square Rooms on Saturday (15th inst.), the addresses at which will be included.

On Sunday night a large crowd awaited the opening of the doors of Surrey Theatre, which was very soon densely packed, with an audience the great majority of whom were really of the class sought after. Exeter Hall is so completely associated in the public mind with religious things, that the outlying multitude could hardly more be looked for there than at any of the ordinary places of public worship, whereas they crowd to a popular theatre whoever be the preacher.

We felt, and we believe it was a general conviction, that God gave a marked token for good on Sunday evening. We hesitate not to say that we have never heard the gospel more gloriously proclaimed and that without an objectionable expression, which could not, we are free to allow, have been said of the previous Sunday night meeting at Exeter Hall.

During the meeting for conversation which followed, we met ourselves with more than one of the King's enemies with the arrow in his soul.

A poor fellow who hadn't been, he said, in a place of worship since he was a child, who never prayed, remained deeply con­vinced; after some conversation, on his knees he sought mercy and obtained it. An experienced Christian brother who saw him at the close of the meeting expressed himself to the effect that he had never seen a more striking instance of God's con­verting power. A young man engaged in business in Regents Street was met with on the previous Sunday evening at Exeter Hall in a state of great despondency and distress and was there pointed to the Lamb of God, and that night found Him his Sin-bearer. On this evening, with a shining face, he was telling to sinners around what a dear Saviour he had found. "Here I am," said he, "directing them to Jesus, and here's one," speaking of a young man standing beside him, "who has just found Him."

"I'll go home," said a rough-looking, poor man, as he took up his hat to leave after we had spoken to him, "go home and pray, and try to believe." Many, we are told, realized joy.

From the 'Revival Newspaper', Volume III, page 189.


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