1888 C. H. SPURGEON. Autograph Letter Regarding the Hop Picker's Union and Quoting "Hold the Fort."

Lovely single page autograph letter by C. H. Spurgeon on his characteristic printed letterhead. Entirely in his hand and boldly autographed.

Spurgeon seems to have had a special affinity for the "Hop Pickers Mission." Each year, at harvest time, people from Ireland, rural England, Wales, and even the Continent would flock to the hop fields around London. A Mr. Kendon saw it as an opportunity to participate in the Great Commission in the most efficient way possible; the poor, often irreligious, were coming all to one place, from around the world, and they would have nothing to do in the evenings and benefit from some material support like shelter, water, food, etc., Thus was born the mission. Spurgeon apparently took a liking to the innovative, simple idea and promoted it regularly in his Sword & the Trowel. He reported their work and testimonies in 1878, 1879, 1880, and nearly each year afterward.

Additionally, I love the little, in quotes, nod to the hymn, "Hold the Fort." 

"September 12, 1888

Dear Friend,

Thank you heartily for the Hop Pickers Mission. Harrold has gone for holiday. I hope to be off in Nov. but must "hold the fort" till then. 

Yours very gratefully,
C. H. Spurgeon"

It is addressed to W. H. R., which must be someone associated with the Mission. And "Harrold" is Joseph Harrold. Harrold was perhaps Spurgeon's dearest friend and his personal aide. When dying in France, Harrold was at his side. Moving to the window, Harrold, to his dying day continued to maintain that he saw in a cloudless sky a company of angels looking toward Spurgeon's room, as though waiting to welcome him to his eternal home. Spurgeon died only moments later. 

Harrold would go on to assist Spurgeon's wife in the production of the important 4 volume folio edition of the Autobiography of C. H. Spurgeon, published by Passmore & Alabaster the year after Spurgeon's death.