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CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON LIBRARY
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS) won the bid for a precious piece of Baptist history and tremendous theological resource, The Charles H. Spurgeon Collection, sold by William Jewell College (WJC), Liberty, Mo. Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2006.
“We are thrilled with this acquisition,” said MBTS President R. Philip Roberts, “The Spurgeon library is a jewel for research and recognition of one of the Baptist and Christian world’s more effective proclaimers of the truth of Christ. Midwestern is honored to be its guardian.”
WJC had housed the Spurgeon's private library for approximately 100 years. The Charles H. Spurgeon Collection was acquired by WJC after the Missouri Baptist General Association (now Missouri Baptist Convention) announced that it was available for purchase in London for 500 pounds during the sessions in 1905. Afterward, the Collection was sent on the S.S. Cuban on December 19, 1905 to New Orleans, La., then to Kansas City, Mo. by the Illinois Central Railroad.
Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892) was one of the most prominent English Baptist pastors of the 19th century. Representing the subject areas of literature, theology, travel, biography, science, hymnody, history and humor, with religion being the largest category, the Collection features great Christian writers and has more than 6,000 volumes including many personal works.
In honor of this acquisition – highlighted at the board of trustees annual meeting – and Spurgeon himself, the trustees approved a recommendation to establish the Charles Haddon Spurgeon Chair of Biblical Preaching to ensure the utilization and promotion of the newly-acquired collection.
The Collection costing $400,000 was paid for out of the Seminary’s reserves. While an additional $200,000 will be needed to fully restore the collection, Midwestern received a matching gift of $50,000 to begin the process. Portions of the Collection are on display in MBTS’ existing library, while the remaining parts are currently housed in a climate controlled library annex for classification, cataloguing and restoration.
To learn how you can contribute, contact the MBTS
Institutional Advancement office at 816-414-3720
OR toll-free at 877-414-3720.
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