Welcome back to another episode of five minutes in church history. On this episode we are on location in a fascinating place, the scriptorium.

This is located right in Orlando, the scriptorium. Central Florida is known for its amusement parks.

Well, this is an amusement park for Bible geeks, for church history geeks.

So I think we've come to the right place here at the

scriptorium. We're going to start with Charles Hadn's Spurgeon. Spurgeon is no

stranger to five minutes in church history. We talk about him almost as much as we can.

And what I am holding in my hand right now is an actual letter from Spurgeon. In fact, I'm looking

at a good half dozen or so letters. Some of them are in

Spurgeon's classic royal purple ink. So if you want to, why don't you get a fountain pen and try to get some purple ink and you too can write like

Spurgeon although I must say he's got quite a flowing hand so you'll have to

practice. Well and one of these, he writes very simply,

I am better.

Must have not been feeling well prior to this,

but he's on the mend.

So he says, I am better. Can walk a quarter of a mile, hope to preach twice

tomorrow. Well, there's a preacher for you. As soon as they're better, they're back in the pulpit. Not once, but twice.

Well, actually, the bulk of these letters that I'm looking at are

concerning Spurgeon's orphanage and these letters also says, I owe you many things.

And so one of these letters he says, I owe you many thanks for your very kind gift to the orphanage. And then he says, and for your good advice.

However, I know not how to follow. Well, I'm intrigued. There are other letters that just reference gifts and

then there's this short note who was written on September 12, 1890, and it just

simply says, dear sir, alas, the child is dead.

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