DR. PAGE-ROBERTS.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.']
SIR,--With your approval, I beg permission to say with what lively satisfaction I have read " X.'s " letter in your paper of the 8th inst. As one of the very earliest members who attended St. Peter's, Vere Street, after the appointment of Dr. Page- Roberts, and as a regular worshipper there for many years
subsequently, I can testify to the influence his teaching had upon one member at least of his congregation. I owe him a debt of gratitude for help and instruction which I cannot adequately express. His sermons, as was once said to me, were "moral shower-baths " ; he made you want to be in love with all that was pure and of good report. And then his teaching was so helpful in practical matters of everyday life ; matters so many preachers never deal with at all. Further, his sermons were so interesting, the attention was riveted with the first few sentences ; it was seldom allowed to flag, and when the beauti- fully distinct, incisive voice ceased, you were left with something definite to think about and ponder. There was, too, a subtle sense of humour, admirably exercised, and never malicious, which added greatly to the attractiveness of the preacher. Dr. Page-Roberts's influence with young men was very remarkable ; he seemed to understand their minds, their difficulties, their outlook upon questions of religion and morals, with the happiest intuition. I once got into talk with a young fellow after an evening service at St. Peter's, who, in reply to my question whether he often attendea there, said " I was never much of a churchgoer, but I came in here by mere chance some months ago, and I have found if you have once heard that man preach, you want to hear him again." And I am sure he expressed the feeling of very many besides himself. He certainly did that of
P.S.—I have written the above in the past tense as it refers to Dr. Page-Roberts's ministry in London. Happily he still survives as "X." states, in unabated vigour.
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