Charles Haddon Spurgeon, "Prince Of Preachers," ...

Charles Haddon Spurgeon, "Prince of Preachers," preached his last sermon at the Tabernacle in London on June 7, 1891.

Years before, his ministry had almost come to an early end. His congregation had grown so large they had to erect this special building to accommodate the crowds who came to hear him. While it was being built he rented a hall in Surrey Gardens. A 22-year-old man, he had already been preaching five years at the time. An overflow crowd filled the Surrey Garden hall. As he prayed aloud, malicious pranksters yelled, "Fire," and shouted that the balcony was about to collapse. In a panic, people surged toward the exits. Seven people were trampled to death and dozens more taken to hospital badly injured.

Spurgeon collapsed in horror. He had to be carried from the pulpit and fell into such deep depression that he later said he doubted anyone had ever passed as close to madness and yet escaped with sanity intact. http://www.gospelcom.net/chi/DAILYF/daily.php