Ten years in S. George's Mission : being an account of its origin, progress, and works of charity

a I E) R.AFLY

OF THE
UN IVE.RSITY
or ILLI NOIS

INTERIOR OF S. PETER S CHURCH.

TEN YEARS

S. GEORGE'S MISSION

BEING AN ACCOUNT

ORIGIN, PROGRESS, AND WORKS OF MERCY.

REV. C. K LOWDER, M.A.,

IXCUJIBF.NT f)F S. PETER'S, I.OXDOX DOCKS, AND SUPERIor, OF THE MIRSIOX.

LONDON :

G. J. PALMER, 32, LITTLE QUEEN STREET.

J. H. & JAS. PARKER, 377, STRAND.

MASTERS & CO., ALDERSGATE ST., & NEW BOND ST.

J. T. HATES, LYALL PLACE.

1867.

TO

MY LOVING AND TRUE FELLOW WOKKEKS

CLEBQY, SISTERS, AND LAY HELPERS,

AND TO THE FAITHFUL FRIENDS AND BENEFACTORS OF

S. GEORGE'S MISSION,

BY WHOSE PRAYERS AND ALMS OUR WORKS OF MERCY HAVE
HITHERTO UNDER GOD BEEN SUSTAINED,

^}pB giccount

OF TEN YEARS OF ABUNDANT BLESSING AMID MANY TRIALS,

IS THANKFULLY DEDICATED

BY THE WRITER.

TEN YEAES IN S. GEORGE'S MISSION.

CHAPTER I.

THE OEIGIN AND COMMENCEMENT OF THE MISSION.

" Five Years in S. George's Mission " was written
in 1861, in deference to the wishes of friends, as well
as of strangers, who desired to have some more
connected account of the Mission than had heen fur-
nished in the Annual Eeports. It was also hoped
that such a history might enlarge the sphere of our
friends and subscribers, by creating a more extended
acquaintance and sympathy with our objects. Both
these ends were fully realized, and the interest created
and fostered by this little publication was most grati-
fying to those engaged in the work.

Five years have now however by God's mercy been
doubled, and the anticipations of those years far more
than doubled, so that not only the fact of the " Five
Years " being out of print, but the wishes of a larger

B

S THE OEIGIN AND

circle of friends and the rapid development of our
work demand a new edition in the shape of the
present " Ten Years." As the early history and plan
of the Mission are still new to a great many, it has
been thought better to incorporate or adapt the
original matter rather than, taking for granted an
acquaintance with our earlier work, to commence
with the last period of five years. It is hoped that
our old friends, with whom so much in the present
account is already familiar will excuse this repetition,
for the sake of enlisting new help and interest and
providing a more complete history of the Mission
from its commencement. These last years also have
been so full of blessing and pregnant with such
happy results, that we may trust, if we can only suc-
ceed in conveying to others some of the enthusiasm
which we have felt ourselves, that all our readers,
whether old or new friends, will find matter of in-
terest in these pages.

There are a few personal matters which the writer
thinks it well to mention here, as they may help to
show how the Missionary idea developed in this his-
tory first grew in his mind. These may help to give
a more real and lifelike character to the account, and
being once explained, need not interrupt its future
course. He remembers well as Curate of a country
town in Gloucestershire, in 1851, reading one even-
ing by the fireside the account of the farewell of the
Incumbent of S. Paul and S. Barnabas, the touching
words which he spoke and the sad leave-taking of his

- uiuc Z ■

\ I

COMAIEXCEIIENT OF THE MISSION. 6

much-loving flock. The whole history was not to be
read carelessly or reflected upon without many burn-
ing thoughts. Those which arose in his mind were
of deep sorrow for the parish which had lost so de-
voted a priest, of prayer that his place might be sup-
plied by one w^ho would faithfully carry on his work,
and of ai'dent longing that if it was God's will he
might be permitted to take a part, however humble,
in aiding such an object. He felt that in his own
parish he had reached the end of his tether, after
nearly six years of parochial labour he could not
induce his vicar to move further in advance, and S.
Barnabas offered a most inviting field for more con-
genial work. Here the experiment of winning the
poor to the Catholic faith by Catholic teaching and
services was being successfully tried and proved the
soundness of the system which Mr. Bennett origi-
nated in that parish, and which by a remarkable
Providence was, in spite of all opposition, maintained
and perpetuated. Five years however in S. Barnabas
only proved what might be done among the poor in
London, and gave time to reflect on how much more
remained to be accomplished. In another way God
seemed to be teaching him the way to do it, for it
happened that while in France in 1854, he was pre-
sented by a friend with the full and interesting life of
S. Vincent de Paul written by M. Abelly. The sad
condition of the French Church in the 16th cen-
tury, and the wonderful influence of the institutions
founded by that great saint in reforming abuses and

B 2

4 THE ORIGIN AND

rekindling the zeal of the Priesthood, made a deep
impression on his mind. The wise mingling of
means for relieving the spiritual and temporal wants
of the people, the various associations of religious
persons under rules of different degrees of strict-
ness, according to their several vocations and the
objects to which they were devoted, and the deep
Avisdom which sought out the root of so much evil
in the unspiritual lives of the Clergy, and provided
means for its remedy, all this was well calculated to
impress those who seriously reflected on the present
state of our own Church and people, and honestly
sought for some remedy. The religious state of the
masses of our population, the appalling vices which
prevail in our large towns, and especially in the
teeming districts of the metropolis, the increasing
tendency of the peoj^le to mass together multiplying
and intensifying the evil, and the unsatisfactory cha-
racter of the attempts hitherto made to meet it, were
enough to make us gladly profit by the experience of
those who had successfully struggled against similar
difficulties.

It happened also that he was at this time brought
into connexion with other Clergy, impressed like him-
self with a deep sense of these evils, and looking in a
similar direction for their remedy. They all felt that
the ordinary parochial equipment, a rector and curate,
or perhaps a solitary incumbent, provided for thou-
sands of perishing souls, was most sadly inadequate ;
that, in the presence of such utter destitution, it was

COMMENCEMENT OF THE MISSION. 5

simply childish to act as if the Church were recog-
nized as the Mother of the people, She must assume a
missionary character, and by religious association and
a new adaptation of Catholic practice to the altered cir-
cumstances of the 19th century, and the peculiar
wants of the English character, endeavour with fresh
life and energy to stem the prevailing tide of sin and
indifference.

In prayer and mutual conference they considered
these plans, and resolved to seek some sphere in which
to bring them to the test of experience. At first little
more was contemplated than a preaching mission, for
they had all their own parochial duties, and the time
they could devote to such an object was necessarily
very limited. Before, however, they had set them-
selves to seek such a sphere, one was providentially
offered. The Eector of S. George's-in-the-East, at
that time personally unknown to the whole society,
heard of the wish expressed by its members, through a
neighbouring incumbent to whom it had been casually
mentioned by a lay friend, and gladly welcomed the
idea. S. George's-in-the-East, since, alas, notorious in
the annals of newspaper history, was to them, as
well as to the world in general, a terra incognita. It was
therefore with great interest that the report of one
of the Society despatched on a voyage of discovery was
received. It opened the way for the first missionary
operations, and on Ash Wednesday, 1856, the present
writer and a friend were sent to commence the Mis-
sion in this new country. The spot chosen for our

6 THE ORIGIN AND

first attempt was a workshoxD at the end of a small
court in Eatcliffe Highway, where a Sunday School
had been held. Here we preached and prayed with
a few persons gathered together by some handbills
circulated in the parish. This was continued for
about a fortnight, two going down three times in the
week. From enquiries which were then made it was
found that the usual attendants at these services for
the most part belonged to the Parish Church, and as
in such an extensive parish the room seemed too near
the Church, it was resolved to seek a more distant
spot for our operations. This was soon found in one
of the most miserable alleys of the parish, near the
river, and a new beginning was made the same
evening. No sooner, however, had the hymn com-
menced, than a violent opposition displayed itself on
the part of the Irish who swarmed in the alley, and
who on the first evening interrupted and almost frus-
trated all attempts at preaching by their clamour
and violence, many dangerous missiles flying at our
heads, and frequent attacks on the door and ourselves
overpowering our exhortations and prayers. This
was continued with more or less energy for another
fortnight, when we were left to fulfil our work in
peace. But as we became better acquainted with the
district and more interested in its spiritual condition,
we felt that it would be hopeless to expect any per-
manent good from such desultory attempts unsus-
tained by a more regular and local agency.

Accordingly it was resolved to offer the Rector of

COMMENCEMENT OF THE MISSION. 7

the Parish the assistance of a Missionary Curate
residing amongst the poor, and devoting himself to
their spiritual welfare. To show how moderate our
expectations at that time were, we almost doubted
whether we could raise £100 a year for such a pur-
pose. However, the venture was made, and a Clergy-
man of some experience in missionary work was
chosen and approved by the Eector. His self-denying
habits of life, and remarkable powers of influencing
those with whom he was brought into contact, gave
good prospects of future success. A house was taken
in the very centre of the district in which the services
had been latterly held, and not far from the spot
itself. It was well adapted for the purpose, and had
a garden large enough for a temporary Church.

It was at this time that the Eector anticipating the
growth of the Mission invited the writer of these pages
to take charge of the whole work. After much prayer
and deliberation it was detennined that he should ac-
cept the charge, full of difficulty and trial as it even
then appeared. But God's Hand had already been
manifested in our commencement, and we did not
doubt that His Holy Spirit would guide and protect us
still.

In July, 1856, we took possession of our Mission
House in Calvert Street, in a portion of the parish
near the River and Thames Tunnel, cut off from the
rest by the Docks, and forming with an adjoining
portion of Wapping and Shadwell an island. The
district, now that of S. Peter's, contains 6,300 souls, of

8 THE ORIGIN AND

whom perhaps a third are Irish Koman Catholics. We
at once opened a room in the House with the license
of the Bishop of London, for daily prayers and fre-
quent preaching, and here was gradually gathered a
little congregation. A small choir of boys was formed,
and classes were held for instruction in the Bible, and
preparation for Holy Communion. Even then we
were not left free from disturbance, and generally one
was left in charge of the door, while the other con-
ducted the service. However, a begining was made,
and our bell daily witnessed for God in a district which
knew little of prayer or the blessings of the Gospel.
We also commenced an Evening Sunday School, and
preached from the steps of the Parish Church on
Sunday afternoons.

During the same time we were collecting money
and making arangements for erecting a temporary
iron chapel in the garden attached to the house, which
after some delay was commenced on the 27th of
October, and in exactly a month's time was completed,
being dedicated on the Thursday before Advent.

The Church being now open for Divine Service,
and able to accommodate nearly 200 persons, the Mis-
sion began its work in a definite manner. It was
a cheering sight to behold the Church frequently
thronged on Sunday evenings, and often with atten-
dances of 40 or 50 during the week. We began with
a Celebration of the Holy Eucharist on Sunday, and
the usual Morning and Evening Prayers and Ser-
mons, and a service especially for our Sunday School

COMMENCEMENT OF THE MISSION. 9

children in the afternoon, consisting of some Hymns
and Canticles, catechising, and a short metrical Litany,
besides week-day services.

We were joined at this time by one or two laymen,
candidates for Holy Orders, who assisted us in visiting,
taught in the Sunday School, and attended to the
Church. Two ladies had alsojoined us in the begin-
ning of the Mission, and opened a small school at their
lodgings, and acted as District Visitors. In the
spring, however, of 1857 another lady who had
already been engaged in works of charity at the head
of a Religious House, offered her services to the Mis-
sion, which were gladly accepted, and another house
was taken near Calvert Street, where she was soon
joined by others, and the Sisterhood commenced in a
more regular way, opening a day school for girls,
taking one or two into the house to be trained for ser-
vice and visiting the sick and poor. The good effects
of the work commenced were already beginning to
manifest themselves, in the earnestness of many about
their salvation, in the devotion of those who were pre-
sented for Confirmation at S. George's, nearly, all of
whom became Communicants, in the number of chil-
dren brought to be baptized, and the increase of
Sunday scholars.

About the same time also, another opening for Mis-
sion work in the Parish presented itself. A Church in
Wellclose Square, in the western part of S. George's
(Calvert Street being in the south-east), built in 1690
for the Danes living in this part of the Metropolis,

10 THE OEIGIN AND

afterwards used by Boatswain Smith, and latterly by
the British and Foreign Sailors' Society, was vacant.
The favourable position of the Church in the middle
of a large and open square, the opportunity for en-
larging our sphere of operations in so important a
direction, and the prospect of an increased number of
Clergy to help us, induced us to take advantage of
the opening, and secure the Church for the services
of the Church of England. We accordingly resolved
on renting it of the Trustees, and after some neces-
sary repairs and alterations service was commenced
in it in Lent, and it was formally opened soon after
Easter. A Mission House was now opened in Well-
close Square, and a small school attached to it in a
loft, kindly lent.for the purpose by a neighbour. We
obtained also the services of a schoolmaster in Cal-
vert Street, and a boys' school was commenced in the
Mission House.

The Mission then was regularly at work in two
districts of the Parish, both having two Clergymen in
immediate charge of them, and the other appliances
of missionary work growing up around each centre.
Scarcely, however, had the second Mission District
got fairly into work, than it was found both a disad-
vantage and expense to form two separate houses for
the Clergy, and a change was made in September by
which the Clergy were united in Wellclose Square,
the Sisters moving into the Mission House in Calvert
Street, and the schools into the former house of the
Sisterhood. Under this arrangement, with some

COMMENCEMENT OF THE MISSION. 11

changes made necessary from the increase and de-
velopement of the schools, the Mission was conducted
up to the consecration of S. Peter's.

And yet although our work seemed so happily
opening before us, and taking a more settled shape,,
our heaviest internal trial was soon to fall. This was
no less than the loss of the Clergy specially attached
to the Church in Wellclose Square. One of them,,
whose special charge it was, had appeared, and indeed
proved himself singularly fitted for the work, by
energy, kindness of manner, and earnest devotion,,
which had Avon the hearts! of very many ; the other
had been connected with the Mission from the com-
mencement. It, however, pleased God to deprive us
of them both, so that at the very time when help and
active assistance were more than ever required, one
was left to meet all the difficulties, and undertake the
whole burden of the two Mission Chapels, with the
various works in connexion. By God's mercy, how-
ever, at first temporary and then permanent help was
provided, and the services were maintained with their
former frequency.

u

CHAPTER II.

s. george's-in-the-east, its population, and the

LEADING FEATURES OF ITS CHARACTER.

We must now give some description of the sphere
of our operations.

The parish of S. George's-in-the-East was originally
formed out of the old parish of Stepney, hounded by
Wapping on the south and part of the west. White-
chapel on part of the west and north, districts of
Stepney on part of the north, and Shadwell on the
east. The population of the entire parish is nearly
50,000, of which the four ecclesiastical districts of
Christ Church, S. Mary, S. Matthew's, and S. Peter's
contain about 29,000. The two Mission districts of
S. Saviour and S. John's contain about 9,000 more,
leaving 12,000 to the charge of the Rector and Clergy
of the parish church. At the time the Mission was
commenced only two of these ecclesiastical districts
had been formed, so that about 30,000 souls were
committed to the pastoral care of the rector, his

s. george's-in-the-east. 13

curate, and one other clergyman. Within the boun-
daries of this immense parish lies the greater portion
of the London Docks. Ratcliff Highway, so notori-
ous for deeds of violence, scenes of debauchery, and
flagrant vice, runs right through, and is chiefly con-
tained within it. Its population is for the most part
connected with the docks or river, it abounds in lodg-
ing houses for sailors, public houses, dancing and
concert rooms, and various low places of amusement ;
brothels swarm in it, and their wretched inmates ai-e
pennitted to flaunt their sin and finery, and ply their
hateful trade openly by day and night without let or
hindrance in the most public thoroughfares. There
are also large sugar refineries which employ a great
number of Germans, so that the population of S.
George's is perhaps as mixed as any in the world.
Foreign sailors from every countr}% Greeks, Malays,
Chinese, Lascars, Dutch, Portuguese, French, Aus-
trians, may be encountered everywhere, the Irish
may be numbered by thousands.

The mixture and recklessness of vice, the unblush-
ing effrontery with which it is carried on, when the
lowest of every country combine to add their quota to
the already overflowing stock, can scarcely be con-
ceived. Public opinion against it there is next to
none ; the parochial authorities are either too care-
less or too much interested in its continuance to
suppress it ; some are publicans, at whose houses
these wretched girls congregate, and publicans, it
must be remembered, actually employ such girls to

14 S. GEORGES-IN-THE-EAST.

entrap tlie sailors ; in fact, to some houses, a staff of
prostitutes is a necessary part of the stock in trade,
and instances could be adduced in which brothels
have been attached to the public houses, or rented
by their owners.

Such is the publican interest, long the strongest in
the parish, so much so that for years one at least of
the Churchwardens was a publican, another parochial
•officer is notoriously living in incest, another vestry-
man was lately the owner of houses of ill-fame.
Some are slopsellers, or dealers in various articles of
sailors' clothing ; the parish abounds in coffee shops,
refreshment rooms, shooting galleries, photograph
rooms, and such like appendages of a sailor popula-
tion. The protection afforded by the police in other
districts of London is here veiy much curtailed ; they
are in fact afraid to interfere in disturbances where the
knife is so readily used, and with characters so des-
perate, and in part unwilling to offend the publicans.

On one occasion a sailor, who had been fighting
with a fellow sailor, in an adjoining lodging house,
and had stabbed him in the affray, escaped by the
back wall into the kitchen of the Mission House, to
the extreme terror of an old servant, and in the cellar
for some time kept a body of police and others at bay,
until they at last secured his knife. At midnight,
when the public houses are closed, the quarrels,
fights, and disturbances are such a matter of course,
that none can hope for a night's rest until they are
inured by habit. There are frequent fights between

s. geoege's-in-the-east. 15

foreign and English sailors, about tlie girls with
whom they are keeping company, and it is not un-
o,ommon to see most desperate encounters between
the girls themselves, kicking, tearing one another's
hair, and biting, as they roll together in the streets,
a crowd standing around, and instead of interfering
encouraging the combatants. They are obliged to
madden themselves with drink, or they could not ply
their hateful trade with all its disgusting circum-
stances.

Then again, the poverty of the parish is very great.
Besides the shopkeepers who have been already men-
tioned, there are a large number of small trades-
people, costermongers, persons engaged about the
docks, lightermen, watermen, coalwhippers, dock
labourers, shipwrights, coopers, &c., who in the win-
ter or when the easterly winds prevent the shipping
from getting up the Channel, are for w^eeks, some-
times months, without work, and unable to support
their families, their clothes, their furniture, their
bedding, all pawned, they lie on bare beds, or on
the floor, only kept warm by being huddled together
in one close unventilated room. During the frost of
1861 the distress was appalling, the crowds who daily
besieged the Thames Police Court clamouring for
relief were largely reinforced from the courts and
alleys of this large parish. The distress of course is
greatly augmented by improvident habits, and the
curse of drunkenness, which prevents the labourer
from bringing home to his starving family a moiety

16 s. geoege's-in-the-east.

of his earnings, and makes the mothers themselves,
instead of thrifty careful housewives, noisy, gossiping,
useless slatterns.

In the midst of such scenes of sin and misery the
children are brought up, the school of too many the
streets, abounding in temptation, echoing with pro-
fane and disgusting language, and forming a very
atmosphere of vice ; their examples at home a
drunken father and mother, with brothers and sisters
already deep in sin, and abroad thieves and prosti-
tutes a little older than themselves. Thus are they
early taught to 'thieve, to swear, to be bold and im-
modest in their manners and talk, and so to fall in
with sins which they behold in others at the most
precocious age.

This is no exaggerated description of the whole of
this parish, for it has few redeeming features, scarce
any residents of education and respectability to foster
a better spirit, for nearly every person of this stamp
has given up his residence in the parish, that his
children may not be contaminated by such sights and
sounds, unless we except a few professional persons
whose ties confine them to the spot. The Church
had little influence, for though the Rector had for
years consistently fulfilled his duties in the Church
itself, yet it required no common energy and san-
guine temperament, alone, or with the help of a
curate frequently changing, to gird himself for the
missionary work outside. The Parish Church is a
large handsome classical structure, erected in the

s. george's-in-the-east. 1 7

beginning of the last century, filled with monstrous
pews, and tall erections called reading desk and
pulpit, most ill-adapted to Christian worship, and
specially to the wants of the poor. When the former
Hector wished the Mission work to commence in and
around the Parish Church, it seemed hopeless to bring
the poor into such abe-pewed building. The schools,
though enjoying a liberal endowment, yet being in the
hands of lay trustees, were permitted to go on in
their mediocrity, and though founded with many pri-
vileges by an earnest member of the Church, yet
exercise little religious influence on the children, or
through them on their parents. A small Sunday
School was attached to the Parish Church, and an In-
fant School of about seventy children founded by a
parishioner as a mark of respect to the Eector. There
was also a proprietary chapel which has since been
consecrated, with an ecclesiastical district attached,
under the name of S. Matthew, and which has good
schools in connexion with it. This was the whole re-
ligious machinery of the Church brought to bear upon
30,000 souls at the time of the commencement of S.
George's Mission.

The district around Calvert Street, which was
specially the sphere of their first missionary labours,
contains probably the poorest portion of the parish,
and with the exception of a small portion of St.
Saviour's, the worst houses and closest alleys. This
was doubtless the reason that in the time of the late
visitation of Cholera this district suffered more in

c

18 s. geokge's-in-the-east.

proportion than any other in London. Being also
immediately surrounded by the docks and near
the river, it is chiefly inhabited by those who work on
the river. There are large soap and rice manufac-
tories, the former very offensive to the organs of
smell, though not so injurious to health as a large
manufactory of manure in a dustyard, which though
frequently attacked, especially in the late outbreak of
cholera, as very dangerous to health has only just been
abolished.

S. Saviour's Mission District embraces a small por-
tion of Wellclose Square, and a portion of S. George's
to the north of this, bordering upon Whitechapel.

19

CHAPTER III.

OUR MISSION WORK, ITS PRINCIPLES AND HOW THEY
HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT.

Let us now explain what we have understood "by
Mission work, and how we have endeavoured to carry
it on in these destitute districts of our great metro-
polis. The great object, then, of all Missionary
enterprize is the saving of souls. In spite of the far
greater attraction and popularity of general schemes
of benevolence, of attempts to brighten the surface of
society by plans of amusement or social recreation, of
physical exercise or domestic economy, by friendly
meetings of the poor, by lectures, concerts, or tea
meetings, however praiseworthy and useful such
schemes are in their proper place, and not lost sight
of in our own Mission work, yet we have ever felt that
our great object must be to save souls. Such plans as
these, if allowed too great a prominence, if used as
anything but subsidiary to a far higher object, are apt
to secularize both priest and people, to lower the

c 2

20 OUR MISSION WORK.

religious connexion which should subsist between
them, and so to defeat the great purpose which they
were originally intended to serve. Such schemes are
so much easier, and to human nature so much more
agreeable than the more painful work of gaining
souls, that there is always great danger lest the
Clergy, forgetting their proper vocation, should sink
to the level of merely agreeable members of society.

Nor, to go a step higher, did we feel our object
gained merely in bringing people to Church, in induc-
ing large numbers to make some outward profession
of religion without a real change of heart and life, we
have indeed seen around us such miserable examples
of the blasphemy and profanity of those who made a
profession of religion, that we should have been suf-
liciently warned against the delusion of such profession
even had we ever been misled by it.

Again ; we believed that though it were a much
more difficult work to win souls to Christ in the
sorrowful ways of true repentance, and in the fruits of
penitential discipline, to build them up and train them
in the whole faith of the Catholic Church, and in the
duties of the Christian life, yet that thus only were we
fulfilling our special obligations as Missionary Priests
of the Church, thus only were we feeding our flock in
the rich pastures of their Christian inheritance, thus
only enabling them to contend against the manifold
trials and persecutions amidst which they lived, to be
a w^itness for the faith in a wicked and perverse gene-
ration, and thus to be truly missionaries themselves

OUR MISSION WOIIK. 21

in bringing other souls to Christ. We were engaged
in a great undertaking, the laying on a surer founda-
tion the missionary work of the Church at home. To
raise this foundation requires time, and patience, and
faith ; it must he built up, stone upon stone, like a
breakwater, where a vast amount of labour must be
spent on that which will never appear till the Judg-
ment Day, and where after these stones have been
carefully laid they must be strongly cemented together
until they can be left to buffet against the angry
storms and waves of the ocean. It is difficult to des-
cribe the amount of prejudice, unbelief, and wicked
opposition, which must be patiently encountered in
laying such a foundation soundly and securely.

And now to speak of the means by which we have
endeavoured to attain this great object. Our first
anxiety has been to convince men of sin, to bring home
the guilt and heinousness of all sin in God's sight to
the consciences of our people. In sermons, in the
open air and in Church, in tracts, in classes, and in
private conferences, this has been our great aim.
The love of God making sin what it is, and alone giv-
ing hopes of pardon through the precious Blood of
Jesus Christ, has been one of our chief topics. When
the soul is touched with contrition, and anxious to
make her peace with God we invariably recommend
Sacramental Confession. We have reason to be most
thankful that this has been our practice from the be-
ginning. With the many instances we could adduce
of God's blessing abundantly poured out and con-

22 OUR MISSION WOEK.

stantly following tliis Holy Ordinance of the Church,
we should be most unfaithful to our vows, and act
most cruelly towards the souls committed to us if we
had ever allowed any outward opposition to wrest this
most powerful weapon against the enemy of souls
from our hands. When we see how all earnest de-
nominations of Christians, such as the Wesleyans,
and all who hold more or less with their views of
conversion, feel the need of some ordinance answering
to special Confession, it is a matter of wonder that
any w^ho are acquainted with the difficulty of dealing
with souls, especially in the most trying of all times,
their reconciliation with their Heavenly Father, or who
have experienced, as surely they must, how defective
all other conversion is, how unreal, deceptive, and
fitful, for the most part, and at the best how imperfect
in leading to the higher gifts of God's grace ; it is
wonderful that any who have seen all this should yet
swell the popular clamour of the ungodly against the
Blessed Ordinance of Confession and Absolution.

The soul, thus reconciled, is naturally led to seek
increase of spiritual life and grace in the other sacra-
mental gifts of the Church. The Classes for Confir-
mation, which generally continue for three or four
months of every year, previous to the opportunities
afforded for Confirmation in neighbouring Churches,
are most useful in giving occasion for closer spiritual
intercourse, in supplying to both old and young that
instruction in the Faith which has been so generally
neglected, and in gradually cherishing the devotion

OUK MISSION "WORK. S3

and earnestness which may best fit the candidate for
the reception of God's Holy Spirit. These Classes
have been a most interesting part of our work, we
have generally presented about sixty Candidates every
year to the Bishop, most of these have become Com-
municants, and though some may have fallen away or
been lost sight of by their removal from the district,
yet the chief part of our present body of Communi-
cants consists of those who have been prepared by us
for their Confirmation and First Communion. Very
many of our Confirmed have been persons of riper
years, some in old age, who, either through neglect,
ignorance, or schismatic teaching, having passed by
earlier opportunities, have now for the first time
learnt to value this Sacramental Eite both for its own
sake and as a step to Holy Communion. Some also
have been quite young, under the usual age, and it is
a great comfort to see our young Communicants
brought up from their earliest age in the true faith,
and imbibing from the first a deep reverence and love
for the Blessed Sacrament, in the freshness of their
innocence giving their hearts to God, and walking in
His holy ways.

The Classes for Confirmation naturally commence,
and according to the time afforded, carry on instruc-
tion for the Holy Communion. To this end much
cai-e and attention are expended, and Communicant
Classes are continued throughout the greater part of
the year. They give opportunity for frequent personal
intercourse, for speaking to the Communicants of all

24 oui; MISSION work.

things generally interesting to the Mission, in which
their prayers or co-operation are desired, in helping
those who are unable to read much themselves in their
devotional preparation, and in drawing out in full
detail the manifold blessings and graces which flow
from the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. Thus,
while the Holy Communion is made the central Act
of Worship, while our people are taught to regard It
as the most necessary and important part of their
religious privileges and duties, there is the less fear
that with these various safeguards of discipline and
instruction, they should approach the Holy Altar un-
worthily. They are exhorted indeed much and fre-
quently on the duty of Sacramental Communion, but
it is rather that they should at once prepare themselves
with the help of the Classes, and the instruction of
the Clergy, than thatjthey should presume to come
untaught or unprepared to so holy a Sacrament.

That which we teach in sermons and other instruc-
tions we endeavour to carry out in the ritual and daily
practice of the Church. In the chapel of the Good
Shepherd, where the near residence of the Sisterhood
supplied Communicants, we had the privilege of a
daily Celebration. In the other Chapel we have
always had three, and since the outbreak of cholera
daily Celebrations. The ritual was, from our slender
resources, of a humble character, when compared with
that of other Churches where Catholic practices pre-
vail ; and yet our object was to make it, whether choral
or plain, of as solemn and devotional a type as possible,

OUlt MISSION WORK. 25

that our people might learn not only by oral instruc-
tion, but from all the outward associations of this
solemn service to worship their Blessed Lord present
in His own appointed Sacrament with reverence and
devotion, and to communicate at this Heavenly Feast
with recollection and earnestness.

From the frequency of our Celebrations it is of
course necessary to give some special advice as to fre-
quency of communion, while, therefore, we encourage
our Communicants to be present as often as possible
at the Holy Sacrifice, and always on Sundays and
Festivals, we do not recommend them at first to receive
more frequently than once a month and on great
Festivals, trusting that by God's grace they will be
gradually led to seek their Lord more constantly in
this Blessed Sacrament. As the service for the Holy
Communion, especially when made the great Act of
Worship, necessarily presupposes more intense de-
votion and recollection of mind in the worshippers, we
endeavour to supply the want which is naturally felt
by uneducated minds, by the practice of common medi-
tations on the chief mysteries of the Faith, lessons
as it were on meditation, and food for their souls in
the service of the Church. Such common meditations
are especially of use in solemn seasons like Lent or
Advent, in Passion or Holy Week they are more fre-
quent, and longer ones are used on Good Friday.
Thanksgiving after Holy Communion as well as Pre-
paration for It, is specially recommended, and Com-
municants are encouraged to remain a short time in

56 OUR MISSION WOEK.

Church for this purpose. It is very gratifying to
witness the reverence and devotion of our worshippers,
and to know how many devoutly appreciate the
hlessings they enjoy in the constant Celebrations of
the Holy Eucharist.

Thus, from a very small beginning, for we had
scarce one or two Communicants at first, we have now
by God's grace about 200, and though this may seem
a small number in comparison with churches which
count their Communicants by hundreds, yet it must
be remembered that nearly all of these with the ex-
ception of the Sisters and our own immediate staff,
have been brought in, instructed, and trained with
great care and pains, with much prayer and exhortation.
Many also of our Communicants have been sent out
into the world, not only from amongst the penitents
in the House of Mercy, or the children in the Indus-
trial School, but from those living in the District.
Some are at sea or in foreign countries, some in other
parts of London, some in service or in the country,
some we see or hear of from time to time, others only
at very long intervals, or not at all ; and though we
cannot presume that all are living so religiously as we
could desire, yet we have frequent evidence that the
good seed sown has not been lost, but is bringing
forth good fruit. When souls have once been really
brought to Christ, though in time of temptation they
may fall away, yet in afflictions and sorrows they do
not forget the love of Him in Whom they have believed.
We have also had great cause for thankfulness in the

OUK MISSION WOEK. .^7

steclfast faith and p)*eseverance of our Communicants.
None but those who have lived among such a popula-
tion as that of S. George's, can conceive the amount
of opposition and persecution with which our faithful
have had to contend. The young in their own families
from ungodly parents and relations, parents from their
children, or their neighbours, many left single-handed
to contend against -whole courts or alleys of irreligious
or schismatics.

Another means of binding together our Communi-
cants besides that of classes has been the establish-
ment of a Confraternity called that of the Good
Shepherd. It combines the objects of the Confra-
ternity of the Blessed Sacrament, viz., the honour of
our Blessed Lord in the Sacrament of His Body and
Blood, with those of the Association for the Unity of
Christendom and of Intercessory Prayer for the Con-
version of Sinners. The Eules are few and simple,
such as that all members should endeavour to be pre-
sent at the Holy Eucharist on Sundays and Festivals,
should communicate at least once a month and at the
Greater Festivals, and should pray daily for the
Clergy and Sisters, the Unity of Christendom, and
the Conversion of Sinners. There are meetings once
a month, when the rules are always read, the subjects
of special intercession and an address on some ob-
jects of special interest given, and new members
admitted. There are about 50 members at present.

Another Confraternity has also been lately com-
menced for the young women Communicants of S.

28 OUE MISSION WORK.

Peter's, called the Guild of S. Katharine, the ohjects
of which are their own spiritual advancement and
mutual encouragement against the temptations and
trials in which they are placed at home, at work, or
in service, and specially that they may assist in draw-
ing their companions and workfellows to God. A
great ohject in both these Confraternities is to infuse
a missionary spirit into our people, that they may feel
their own interest in drawing others to the services
and instructions of the Church, and thus help the
Clergy and Sisters in many cases where they are
unable to succeed in saving souls.

In the commencement of the Mission we used often
to preach in the open air as a means of gaining the
attention of those who could not be otherwise in-
duced to hearken to God's message. During two or
three summers this was continued every Sunday in
both districts altei*nately. For the most part the ser-
mons were heard with great attention, especially by the
large number collected in Wellclose Square, although
in one or two instances we met with considerable
opj)osition ; on one occasion, having made the at-
tempt in a very bad quarter, where there are a great
number of Irish and a large sprinkling of thieves and
bad characters, the attack became so violent that we
were obliged to beat a retreat, and it required some
generalship and knowledge of the alleys and passages
to bring off our forces, consisting of the choir boys
and others, who had been singing the hymns.

We may mention here an occasion, which was seized

OUR MISSION WORK. 29

for an open-air sermon, in the sudden death of some
workmen in a large sewer near Calvert Street. The
sewer was of bad construction, and the foul air had
been collected to so great an extent that out of seven
men who went down two were killed. On the Sunday
after, notice having been given of the sermon, a large
number of people was collected, among them the sur-
vivors, and the widow and family of one killed. The
congregation was too large for the spot itself of the
accident, and so after singing some hymns through the
streets, the Dies IrcB and a portion of the Litany, the
sermon was preached just outside the Mission Chapel,
and a large number followed into the Chapel afterwards
and joined in prayer.

The occurrence also of special days such as Good
Friday has been taken advantage of, and warnings
given against its desecration. One Good Friday such
a sermon was preached on Tower Hill, and some of
the hymns for the season sung. These sermons,
however, are rather fitted for special occasions thafi
for ordinary use, they were useful in the first instance
in gaining notice for the Mission, and in making an
impression on important occasions followed up as
they often were by tracts written for the purpose.
The object of the Mission, however, was not to keep
up a continual excitement, but to work on steadily in
breaking up the fallow ground, sowing the good seed,
watering and nursing the tender plant, and praying
earnestly for God's grace upon the increase. It was
not to be expected that a population like that of S.

30 OUR MISSION WORK.

George's so sunk in sin, could at once be brought ta
God and converted to the Faith ; it is a work of
patient persevering toil, in which every means must
be carefully used, many disappointments calmly
borne, and failure made stepping-stones for future
success. The conversion of masses is not in the or-
dinary way of God's providence, but the fruit of such
miraculous outpourings as that of the Day of Pente-
cost, and even then we must rather recur to the
patience with which our Blessed Lord in His Hidden
Life of thirty years, in his last three years of ministry
apparently unfruitful, and above all, in the agony of
the Passion and Sacrifice of His Death, laid the foun-
dation of His Church, ascribing rather to this the
wonderful conversion on the day of Pentecost, and
the subsequent ingathering of the Gentiles, than
merely to S. Peter's sermon or the eloquence of S.
Paul.

While, then, we readily availed ourselves of any
special circumstances that might give us occasion to
l^reach the Gospel to larger numbers of people, we
felt that our proper work lay rather in the constant
services of the Church, the frequent preaching, the
Classes for Confirmation and Holy Communion, the
care of the schools, catechising and instructing the
children, and such like means of bringing home the
truths of the Gospel, the witness of the Church, and
her sacramental blessings to individual souls. This
has been the special object which we have kept before
our minds, the characteristic feature of our Mission,
" if by any means I might save some."

OUE MISSION WORK. 31

This point has been so ably drawn out in a sermon
preached at one of our anniversaries by the Rev. H.
P. Liddon, and since published, that we need not now
dwell upon it more fully.

As respects the services of the Mission Chapels
we have already mentioned that there was for years a
daily celebration of the Holy Eucharist in the Chapel
of the Good Shepherd, in Calvert Street, in S. Sa-
viour's thrice a week, andMatins daily, while Evensong
Avas said in both Chapels daily at 8 p.m. Litany was
said on Wednesdays and Fridays at 12.15. Sermons
were preached on Wednesday and Friday evenings,
and on Eves. During Advent and Lent courses of
sermons, sometimes by other Clergy were preached,,
and Confirmation, Communicant, and other classes
were held on some appointed evenings, either before
or after service. On Sundays there were Celebra-
tions at 8 a.m. ; Morning Prayer, Litany, and Ser-
mons at 11 ; services for the children of the Schools
at 3.30 p.m., and occasionally Baptisms ; and Even-
ing Prayer with Sermons at 7. After this there
were sometimes Bible classes for those who wished
to attend. We had good congregations on Sunday
evenings, and on the evenings of the week betw^een
twenty and fifty attendants in each Chapel. Our fre-
quent services, while they gave opportunities to many
for constant attendance on the services of the Church,
and were a special blessing to the old or uneducated,
W'ho were little, or perhaps not at all, able to read for
themselves, as well as to those who in crowded rooms

32 OUR MISSION WORK.

surrounded by their families, have little quiet for
prayer or meditation, also gave those whose occupa-
tions are uncertain, such as sailors, or men engaged
on the river, the chance of occasionally attending the
services. These have always been choral, and we
endeavoured to make them as hearty and devotional
as possible by simple melodies and hymn tunes. The
JETymnal Noted forms the groundwork of our hymnody,
but the Appendix used at 8. Alban's and containing a
greater variety of hymns is also adoj)ted as more
suitable for missionary purposes. The music of our
services is undoubtedly a great help in comforting
and cheering the hearts of poor people, who find in
the prayers and praises of God's House a happy
refuge from their worldly cares and anxieties ; and,
in the instructions and exhortations given them, en-
couragement to persevere faithfully under their many
trials and difficulties.

That these sacramental gifts and ordinances, and
the various services and instructions of the Church
have been blessed to very many, we have abundant
testimony in their changed lives and conversation ;
to find those who before never thought of religion, or
mentioned God's Name except profanely, now con-
stant in their attendance upon His worship, and
reverently joining in it ; to hear the expressions of
gratitude with which numbers speak of the blessings
they derive from the Church, who before never knew
what it was to enter a church, or perhaps only two or
three times a year ; to go into their homes and see

UU1{ MISSION WORK. 33

the change which a year or two has wrought in their
habits and conduct ; these comforts amid many dis-
•couragements may well strengthen our hands to per-
severe in the blessed work which God has entrusted
to us.

Of course the greater portion of this Missionary
work has been continued in S. Peter's, for though we
have now a consecrated Church in a regularly con-
stituted district, yet for many years the work before
us must be of a Missionary character ; indeed in the
best organized London parish, there must still be a
vast amount of Missionary work among the shifting
and changing population, as well as among the many
souls still rejecting the voice of God's message.

84

CHAPTER IV.

THB MISSION HOUSE ITS LIFE AND DISCIPLINE.

The Mission House is, of course, the centre of
Mission work ; the priests and their helpers, whether
Sisters or lay helpers, are the soul of the Mission,
Of the Sisters we shall say something hy-and-hye ;
we must now speak of the Clergy House. The idea
of the Priests of the Mission living together in com-
munity was of the very essence of the Mission. It
was a first object to bring the influence of religious
association to bear upon the sin and wickedness of
this great Parish.

The advantage of the Clergy being linked together
in all the details of their daily life, and especially in
prayer and constant intercourse, must be evident to
all. The mutual sympathy and counsel, and the
greater unanimity and consistency of purpose with
which all work together, make it most desirable to
carry out, wherever practicable, this important feature
of missionary organization. The Mission House has

THE MISSION HOUSE. 35

also been a centre of operation, where some one of
the Clergy might always be found, where friends
interested in the work could at any time be received ;
those of the district who needed to consult the
Clergy spiritually could always call : those, who from
time to time came to help us in our Night Schools or
any other work, could rest and refresh themselves,
and where plans could be discussed either generally
at our meals, or more formally in regular conclave.
Here also we are able to invite the young men and
boys of our Choir to tea on Sundays, which helps to
keep up a pleasant connexion with them at a very-
important period of their lives.

The teachers, organist, and other lay helpers in the
Mission live with us, and together form one religious
community. It is, of course, impossible to maintain
a very strict rule among those who are engaged in so
much active work, but we endeavour, according to
our opportunities, to keep a moderate religious rule
for the household. The following is a slight sketch
of our daily life : — The first bell for rising is rung at
6.30 ; we say Prime in the Oratory at 7 ; Matins is
said at S. Peter's and S. Saviour's at 7.30 ; the cele-
bration of the Holy Eucharist follows. After break-
fast, which is followed by Terce, the Clergy and
teachers go to their respective work, some in school,
some in the study or district. Sext is said at 12.46
immediately before dinner, when the household are
again assembled, and on Fridays and fast days some
book, such as the Lives of the Saints or Ecclesiastical-

D 2-

3d the mission house.

History, is read at table. After dinner rest, letters,
visiting, or school work, as the case may be, and then
tea at 5.30 p.m. After tea, choir practice, classes,
reading or visiting again until Evensong at 8 p.m.
After service the Clergy are often engaged in classes,
hearing confessions or attending to special cases.
Supper is at 9.15, followed by Compline, when those
who have finished their work retire to their rooms.
It is wished that all should be in bed at 11 p.m.,
when the gas is put out, but of course in the case of
the Clergy, much of whose work is late in the even-
ing with those who cannot come to them at any other
time, it is impossible to form absolutely this rule.
Special seasons, such as Advent or Lent, especially
just before Christmas or Easter, or the other great
Festivals, when many confessions are to be heard,
before Confirmations, or in times of great sickness,
such as the late season of cholera, necessarily cause
irregularity in hours of meals, sleep, &c. In an
active Order the rules of the House must yield to
the necessities of spiritual duties. We desire our
people to know that we are always at their service in
time of need, and though we endeavour to appoint
special times for confessions, instructions, or other
matters, yet they may come at all times, even in the
middle of the night in case of sickness or urgent
call.

The amount of active duty required of the Superior
and other Clergy has hitherto been a bar to the
adoption of a stricter or more monastic rule. There

THE MISSION HOUSE. 37

is no question that the time is now come for the
development of religious Orders in the English
Church, and gladly would we co-operate in such a
movement ; but it Avould not be right to sacrifice our
present work for even so great a prospective advan-
tage as the establishment of a monastery, while the
Clergy of the Mission are not able to devote that
attention to the spiritual training of the individuals
which is necessary for the well-being of a religious
community. In the meantime we do what we can
in making our Mission House, as well as our other
religious houses, a witness for God and His Church,
and a means of promoting His honour and glory,
believing that if it be God's will that we should have
the privilege of bearing our part in the restoration of
Eeligious Orders for men, He will point out the
means by which we may best effect it.

We should be veiy glad to receive amongst us
candidates for Holy Orders, or other laymen able to
contribute their share of household expenses, who
might help in our schools, &c., and thus gain an ac-
quaintance with missionary work. Receiving a bare
maintenance ourselves, we are not able to offer a
larger income to others, nor could we suppose that
those whose hearts w^ere moved to undertake such a
work, would be influenced by such considerations,
but any who felt it a privilege to join in such labours
as our own, would meet with a hearty welcome in the
Mission House, and we would hope with much sym-
pathy and congenial feeling. Some friends have

38 THE MISSION HOUSE.

given us .temporary hel^), or by exchange of duties,
have enabled us to get a change of air, which is of
such importance to those working for any time in a
district like our own.

But although we liave lost many opportunities of
usefulness in times past from the lack of fellow
labourers ready and willing to cast in their lot amongst
us, yet our longer experience tends only the more to
convince us that a community of Clergy is the only
satisfactory means of coping with the difficulties of
missionary work in our large towns, and we have now
reason to hope that this drawback will no iongei-
exist. Of course we cannot offer the warldly attrac-
tions, which a pretty and conveniently situated parish,
a picturesque parsonage, a well restored church, taste-
ful, airy schools, and pleasant society, so abundantly
afford, but we can show a work to be done for God,
a sphere of usefulness daily enlarging, a sound foun-
dation laid in the love and devotion of many souls
brought to God in the faith of His Holy Church, and
openings many and promising, only needing earnest
and zealous missionaries willing to make some sacri-
fice for Christ's sake, to enter in and take possession
in the Name of their Divine Lord and Master.

59

CHAPTER V.

THE MISSION [sisters THEIR LIFE AND WORKS OK

MERCY

Fifteen years ago there was but one Sisterhood
within the bosom of the Church of England. But
now on every side, wherever the Catholic faith is being
freely and fully taught, religious communities of
women are witnessing to the life and vigour which
have been rekindled amongst us. In Oxford, where
the " Church movement " began, and where the zeal
of the parochial clergy has borne ample testimony to
the reality of the teaching revived in the University,
we find many communities of Sisters engaged in works
of charity, daily witnesses to our candidates for Holy
Orders of the blessing which they might derive from
such help in their future ministry. In London where
the power of the same teaching was soon set to con-
front boldly the power of the world in its strongholds,
there are now ten or eleven Sisterhoods engaged in
parochial, missionary, or other charitable works ;

40 THE MISSION SISTERS.

while even those who do not profess the Catholic
faith have learnt the value of religious association
among women, and are already trying whether it can
be carried out apart from the discipline, Avhicli has
hitherto been its stay and support. The future^
then, of Sisterhoods is no longer a matter of doubt
so far as their existence in the Church of England is
concerned, though we have yet much to learn in their
internal organization and adaptation to the wants of
the present day.

It was an early cherished hope that if God blessed
S. George's Mission, He would be pleased to send
us Sisters to help us in our work ; that our hope
should have been so soon realized Avas a matter of
deep and earnest gratitude. Let us first speak of the
constitution and objects of our Sisterhood, and then
of the works of mercy in which the Sisters are en-

The Sisters, then, are ladies who desire to devote
their whole lives to God's service. In our case their
work is missionary, i.e. in the presence of the great
spiritual destitution of large and populous parishes,
they desire to aid the parochial and missionary Clergy
in all works of mercy and charity to the bodies and
souls of God's people; which may fitly be entrusted
to women. The Society consists of the Warden, the
Chaplain, the Mother Superior, the Confirmed, Pro-
bationer, and Lay Sisters. The Probationer Sisters
are those who after a visit of some months' duration
in the Sisterhood, during which time they live and

THE MISSION SISTERS. 41

■work with the Sisters, and under the same rules of
discipline, desire to be admitted on probation. After
they have completed two years of probation and desire
to devote themselves altogether to a Sister's life, they
are confirmed. The Lay or Serving Sisters are those
of a lower rank of life, who fulfil the household
duties or attend to assigned departments with the
penitents or children of the Industrial School. These
have a longer probation than the other Sisters. One
of the Confirmed Sisters is appointed Superior, hav-
ing the government of the community under the
Warden, committed to her charge, and the assign-
ment of the several duties of the Sisters in the various
Houses and works of mercy which are attached tcv
the Mission. The Mother House or head quarters of
the Sisterhood, as we have already said, is the Mission
Home in Calvert Street, whence the Sisters go forth
to their several works, such as the House of Mercy
at Hendon, the Convalescent Home at Seaford, or the
duties in adjoining parishes to which they have been
invited by the Parish Clergy. Besides these there
are Associate Sisters, i.e. ladies living in the world,
who have domestic or other ties which prevent their
entire devotion to a Sister's life, and yet are able to
spend some time every year in the Sisterhood, and
outside these again there are the Associates of the
House, or those who undertake to collect money, or
interest their friends for the works of the Sisterhood
or of the Mission generally, and daily pray for God's
blessing upon them. The whole Society is governed

42 THE MISSION SISTEKS.

by its own statutes regulating the admission and con-
firmation of Sisters, the appointment of Warden,
Mother Superior, the meetings of the Chapter, &c.,
and there are Rules of Life laid down for the observ-
ance of all members of the Community. These have
been submitted to the Bishop of the Diocese, v/ho has
for some time kindly promised to afford the Sister-
hood such counsel as a Visitor would, and has ex-
pressed his sympathy with the work undertaken by
its members, and who it is now hoped will shortly be-
come formally Visitor.

The Sisters attend the Daily Celebration of the
Holy Eucharist in S. Peter's, and say the Day Hours
of the Church in their own Oratory, where they also
spend some time daily in meditation. At home one
of the Sisters has special charge of the Girls' School,
and another of the Infants' ; others teach in the school,
and all visit in the district, having special portions
assigned to them. In these they give all help in their
power both to the souls and bodies of the poor, by
inducing them to attend the services of the Church,
or the classes for instruction ; to bring their children
to be baptised, and send them to school ; they give
them medicine and orders for food, advise them in
times of difiSculty or distress, try to find places for
them or their children, get them admission into the
hospitals, or find them nurses in sickness, in fact, do
any act of Christian kindness in their power. The
Sisters also visit in the workhouse, and frequently in
the London Hospital the sick from our own Districts.

THE MISSION SISTERS. 43

The Mission Home is a house of resort for all in any
trouble or distress ; and relief, in food, &c., is given
daily at a fixed hour.

Some winters ago, when the frost caused such griev-
ous distress in this part of London, especially about
the River and Docks, families in ordinary times exist-
ing on the barest necessaries, were reduced to abso-
lute starvation. Though the writer of these pages
was absent at the time, through ill health, yet the
other Clergy and Sisters were indefatigable in their
exertions, in examining into, and supplying the wants
of those starving around them. Day by day, both
Mission Houses were beset by numbers of applicants,
whose cases were patiently entered into, and, when
necessary, inquiries were made in their own houses,
and relief afforded. Special funds were kindly en-
trusted to the Mission for this purpose, in answer to
a letter in some of the papers, and carefully dispensed
by those who knew well the district, among a large
proportion of the applicants ; and how much more
fitly than by a Police Magistrate, overwhelmed by
such a hungry and clamorous mob as beset the neigh-
bouring Court, whose real wants it was impossible
that he should investigate, while he must give to the
most noisy and persevering. At this crisis, bread,
soup, tea, coals, flannel, &c., were largely dispensed
by the Clergy and Sisters, and in such a pressure the
advantage of an agency on the spot, living and con-
tinually working amongst the poor, was very evident.
The great value of the Sisters' services in the late

44 THE MISSION SISTEES.

visitation of Cholera will be more fully described
hereafter. We ask for presents of old clothes, which
the Sisters sell at reduced prices or give away, the
f. former method reducing the chance of their being so
i' readily pawned. Want of clothes is a great hindrance
to coming to Church, and is one reason that many
more come in the winter than in the summer, when
the poverty of their clothes is not so much observed,
as they come through the streets in the dark. All
kinds of clothing are acceptable, even the oldest and the
gayest, for the latter can be cut up and used in various
ways. An attempt was made some time ago to give
shirt work to poor women in connexion with a Society
for taking Army Contracts, and later still, on a
smaller scale, through the kind assistance of a Visitor
of the Metropolitan Eelicf Association, but we have
never yet succeeded in carrying on this work in the
same admirable manner in which the Eev. R. Gregory
of S. Mary's, Lambeth, has been enabled to do. We
thought at one time of renting some houses, and let-
ting them out again to the poor, in order to give them
the opportunity of more convenient rooms at a mode-
rate rent, merely intending to cover our own expenses,
and we took one house with this view ; by the infor-
mation, however, which the Sisters were able to afford
to the excellent Society, of which Dr. Greenhill, of
Hastings, is the indefatigable Secretary, now success-
fully at work for the purpose of improving the dwell-
ings of the poor, their committee has purchased the
freehold or leases of several streets and adjoining

\

THE MISSION SISTERS. 45

houses in our district, so that the ohject we contem-
plated is now being carried out without any anxiety on
our part.

It is in fact a happy tendency in such communities
as that of the Mission Clergy, or the Sisterhood, to
draw around them other benevolent and useful as-
sociations, and thus we may hope, if God blesses our
Avork, that the Mission may be the means of benefit-
ting the poor of this and other Parishes in many
other ways, scarcely or not at all contemplated at
present. Already the Sisterhood is listening to
urgent application for help in neighbouring parishes,
and thus we may hope that with God's blessing it may
not only be able to work for S. George's Parish, but
in any parish in the East of London which may in-
vite its aid : indeed, the constitution of the society
expressly provides for its members undertaking Mis-
sionary work, in any parish where the Incumbent or
Head of a Mission may need their services, so that if
God will, the foundation has been laid of a Mission-
ai-y Sisterhood which needs only funds and members
to make it commensurate with the Missionary wants
of the Church of England. It should be added that
the Community supports itself, each Sister contribut-
ing according to her means, and those who have
larger means assisting those who have smaller, no
difference being of course made in their manner of
living on this account. The Sisters also maintain the
Girls' and Infants' Schools, both in Calvert Sti^eet

46 THE MISSION SISTERS.

and Wellclose Square, and the industrial children in
their own House.

Our great need at the present time is a large in-
crease in the number of Sisters. Work for women is
growing on every side ; we want hearts willing and
ready to enter upon it. It is often said that our re-
dundant female population has nothing to do. Surely
in the crying needs of our great cities there is abun-
dant scope for their energies. What nobler sphere
can ladies, young or middle aged, who are not bound
by special domestic ties, and are willing to give up
worldly ease and happiness for the love of God, have
than the service of Him in increased opportunities of
devotion, and the succour of their distressed fellow
creatures ? They may not only do a vast amount of
good themselves, but their education and powers of
influence will be most helpful in directing the work
of others of a lower social condition than themselves.
The influence of one -well-educated and well-trained
Sister may be indefinitely increased in giving a cha-
racter to the work of others, who only need such a
guide to be most useful. There are also many in a
middle class who have been influenced by the Catholic
teaching which is being imparted now in so many
parishes, who under good direction would make valu-
able Sisters, but who are partly deterred by the want
of a special sphere for their religious energies, and a
fit direction of them by those better qualified to train
themv These as well as a lower class still, would
provide us with admirable teachers for our schools,.

THE MISSION SISTERS. 47

nurses for our Hospitals and sick in their own homes,
and helps in training the elder children in domestic
service. The Church with her great work before her,
must hold out loving arms to embrace all these her
devoted children, and assign them their proper sphere
in the great object of Christian love. The writer of
these pages, as Superior of S. George's Mission, will
be glad to communicate with all, of whatever class of
life, who may be willing either for a certain time in
each year, or entirely to devote themselves to God's
service in a Sisterhood, whether able to support them-
selves or not, and will undertake to provide them with
suitable work under proper guidance. At the same
time he will be glad to hear from those who would be
willing as Associates to help the Sisterhood and Mis-
sion by their prayers and alms, and who would value
the privilege of common, intercessory prayer and of
being permitted to make a Retreat every year in one
of the Religious Houses or occasionally to spend there
a day of devotion.

But another great want is a House for the Sister-
hood which is now living in hired houses ill-adapted
for their own work, and specially for the children of
the Industrial School, who are too much scattered
for the maintenance of good discipline. It is proposed
to commence at once a Building Fund for the Com-
munity.

48

CHAPTER. VI.

OUR CHILDREN HOLY BAPTISM SCHOOLS INSTRUCTiOX

IN THE FAITH.

We now come to speak of some of the special works
in which both Clergy and Sisters are engaged, and
this brings us in the first place to a very interesting
part of our Mission Work. We have always regarded
as one of our chief objects and our most promising
labour the training up the rising generation in the
true faith of the Church and in the sincere love of
God and their Saviour Jesus Christ. We begin from
the very first. A chief duty of Clergy, Sisters, and
Teachers, is to bring the children to Holy Baptism.
When we first came into the parish we found a very
large number of children of various ages, as well as of
adults, unbaptized, and even after baptizing 1,200, as
we have now done, yet from the increase of the popu-
lation, the influx of strangers, and the ignorance and
prejudice of dissenting and ungodly parents, much
more remains to be done. In the difficulty of finding

OUR CHILDREN. 49

suitable godparents we have great comfort in looking
to the Sisters, and other members of our body to un-
dertake this charitable office, and thus very many have
been baptized who for want of sponsors might have
died without this necessary Sacrament. Many adults,
children, and young people of an age to answer for
themselves, have also been prepared by the Clergy
and Sisters and then baptized. This service is in-
variably used in the presence of the congregation, who
are thus reminded of their own baptismal vows, have
the privilege of joining in prayer for the newly
baptized, and are the more stirred up to bring to the
Font any of their own family or acquaintance hitherto
unregeneraie. It forms also a very fitting part of the
children's service, who are specially interested in a
ceremony which they can so well understand, witness-
ing it may be the baptism of their own infant brothers
or sisters, and learning to take a deeper interest in
bringing their own relations to this blessed Sa-
crament.

But were we to remain content with their Baptism,
we should be involving these little ones in responsibi-
lities, without providing an adequate means for their
fulfilment of them. Our schools, therefore, in which the
children of Jesus Christ are trained up in His faith and
fear, are a natural consequence of our care in their
initiation. We have already spoken of a small Infant
School under the Bector of S. George's, in one of the
Mission districts. This he placed under our manage-
ment, and from this small beginning of 70 children,

E

60 OUR CHILDREN.

we have gradually increased our numbers until we
have numbered more than 700 and with better school
buildings should number many more. Our Boys'
School, first commenced in a room of the Mission
House has, after one other change, been carried on for
several years in the former Infant School in Old
Gravel Lane. It was started in Calvert Street, under
a Master who, having been ordained Deacon, after-
wards joined the Central African Mission under
Bishop Mackenzie. For a short time it was under
inspection, but the Committee of Council has refused
further aid from Government, until we provide larger
and more convenient School Buildings. We have
had as many as 200 names on the books, but the
schoolroom is inconveniently crowded with an attend-
ance of 120. The Girls' School has been removed
from the house adjoining the Sisters' to houses oppo-
site, and the Infant School to the Old Mission
Chapel. For all these, however, we need larger and
more suitable buildings, the Infant School being no
exception, for though the space of the former Chapel
is sufficient, yet the roof and parts of the building are
now beginning to perish, and must either be re-
paired at considerable expense or give place to a new
building. In Wellclose Square our Schools are also
in the rooms of dwelling houses, the Boys' in our for-
mer Mission House, the Girls in an adjoining one now
occupied by the Sisters, and the Infants' in a large
ioft behind. These three schools all sprung from a
mixed school which was commenced, in the loft just

UUIL CHILDEEX. yl

mentioned, by a very energetic teacher, but which
grew so large that it was necessary to divide it into
three. Besides these six schools for the poorer chil-
dren we have also a school at the Working Men's
Club, commenced more recently by the active Secre-
tary, for those boys whose parents are able to make a
higher payment than in the ordinary schools. This,
though small at present, will, we hope, gradually in-
crease, as we should be very thankful to provide a
better religious education for the class of small shop-
keepers and tradesmen earning larger wages. This
school provides a more advanced education, but in the
others we do not attempt anything beyond a good
elementary English education ; reading, writing, and
arithmetic, with some instruction in histoiy, geo-
graphy, grammar, and music, being the subjects
embraced, but the principal attention being always
paid to the religious and moral training. The teach-
ing in school is not all, this is carried out and enforced
by the services and catechising of the Church. On
Sundays, the children assemble for school at 10, or
10.15, when they have a short instruction on the ser-
vices of the day by their teachers, and they come into
Church immediately after Matins, for the celebration
of the Holy Eucharist. Thus they are early taught
the obligation of this the great service of the Church,
and surely our grand Liturgy, when accompanied by
solemn music, an impressive Ritual, the Responses,
Creed, Sanctus, and Gloria in Excelsis, sung to the
Plain Song of the Church, in which all, even chil-

62 OUK CHILDREN.

dren, may readily join, with hymns interspersed in
the Service, bringing out the great mysteries of the
Blessed Sacrament, is more full of teaching and more
readily understood by children than Matins and Even-
song, which, even when duly chanted, and made as
lively and hearty as possible, require more intelligent
attention, especially in the Psalms and Lessons, than
can bo expected from the children of our schools.
Whereas, in the celebration of the Blessed Sacrament,
even when unable to understand distinctly each de-
tail, their minds are impressed with the grand outline
of the service, and fall into the common acts of wor-
ship to our Blessed Lord, here mysteriously present,
which is offered by the whole congregation. The
sermon also at this service being commonly a plain
and practical exposition of the Gospel for the Sunday,
is more likely to interest and instruct them. This,
however, is not their whole religious instruction in
Church. In the afternoon we have a special service
for the children. The Litany is first sung and then
a hymn, after which they are catechised not merely
by one or two classes at a time, but an endeavour is
made, and not we trust without success, to enlist the
attention of the whole schools, even of the very
youngest children, who will say their Creed and
Lord's Prayer, and answer some very elementary
questions, even when unable to understand the in-
struction addressed to the older ones.

Our great endeavour is to draw the affections of
the young towards holy things; the Hymns, Canticles^

OUR CHILDREN. 53

and Litany which they sing with much spirit and
understanding, tend to enliven the services and
cause them to be considered a privilege, indeed, we
have some difficulty in restraining the anxiety of
children to come to Church on Sunday evenings,
after they have already attended once or twice before.
They are also taught very carefully in School and in
Church the fundamental doctrines of the faith. We
do not make religious instruction a mere acquaintance
with certain historical facts of the Old Testament, or
a repeating of the Catechism by rote, but the faith is
taught them diligently in all its details, and in a lov-
ing and reverent spirit, as an exercise of their own
faith and love, so building them up from their very
earliest days, that they may be guarded against the
heresy and unbelief by which they are surrounded.
Especially is our Blessed Lord's Incarnation taught
them in doctrine, in histoiy, by hymns, pictures, de-
scriptions, and every other means which may make
His life and sufferings here upon earth real and in-
teresting to them, and draw out their most tender
and reverent affections towards Him in His earthly
ministiy. And thus is the foundation laid of a lively
faith in the sacramental gifts and blessings of the
Church which flow so richly from this central act of
Divine Love.

It is indeed refreshing, in these days of heresy
and schism, to hear from the loving and unquestion-
ing lips of Christ's little ones, those great truths of
our Redemption, which are so often held doubtfully

64 OUR CHILDEEX.

and hesitatingly, if not openly denied and blasphemed.
When we find in our Confirmation Classes the igno-
rance of many who have had other teaching, of the
simplest truths of Christianity, and compare them
with those who have regularly attended our own
schools, we have great cause of thankfulness that these
children have so early imbibed the Christian faith.

Perhaps some of the most touching scenes con-
nected with the late visitation of cholera were con-
nected with our children. One was a most promising
girl, who had been taught from her earliest days in
the Infant School, and then in due time had gone
into the Girls' School, where she had gradually won
her way to the top. Her mother was a widow, who
had lost her husband very suddenly in cholera during
the visitation of twelve years ago ; she had also lost
a son a few months ago, drowned in crossing the river
from his work. Esther, therefore, could only be
spared occasionally for school during the latter
months of her life, but at home was quite the right
hand of her poor paralytic mother. She was con-
firmed at Stepney by the Bishop Coadjutor of Edin-
burgh, then acting for the Bishop of London, in May
last, and received her first Communion on Whitsun-
day. Her little nephew, a boy of about three years
old, was first taken, and lay for several days before
his death in a bed in the best room of the house,
watched over by his mother, whose husband had gone
to the United States and was expected shortly to send
for her and her children. Her brother, a lad of six-

OUR CHILDEEX. 55

teen was next taken, and laid upon a bed above, the
symptoms rapidly aggravated, and then Esther followed,
being laid upon a bed next to him ; so that there were
three lying dangerously ill in the poor widow's house,
her only remaining son being imbecile from frequently
recurring fits. Esther was just able to make her con-
fession, but physically unable to receive the Blessed
Sacrament, happily, however, she had received It in
Church the Sunday before. In spite of all the care
and attention which were paid to her in conjunction
with her brother, who lay by her side, the poor girl
died, her brother unconscious of his great loss. It
was very touching to witness the grief of her school-
fellows, the more, that even her dearest companions
were not allowed to be with her or follow her to the
grave. On the day of her funeral, which chanced to
be that on which so many were sorrowing over the loss
of John Mason Neale, her sister was burying in one
grave her infant, while the poor mother was accom-
panying Esther to her grave, leaving at home her
son, just hanging on the thread of life, and needing
every care and attention of the watchful nurses who
were with him, lest his life might silently ebb away.
By God's mercy and providence he after a long ill-
ness gradually recovered, and after a change of three
weeks in the Convalescent Hospital at Seaford, re-
turned fresh and strong to his work. It was, indeed,
a happy office to be permitted to commit to the ground
one of whose future happiness there was such a
blessed assurance, and yet there was needs sadness

56 OUR CHILDREN.

in losing one of those lilies from our garden, whose
sweet fragrance was delighting all who passed hy.

A word or two may be added of two others of our
children. Their elder sister, about 18 years old, was
first taken and removed to the Cholera Ward and
died; a younger one, well and fresh on the Sunday,
indeed after the service in Church, coming up with
]ier usual childish affection to one of the Mission
Clergy, who passed near her mother's house to
tell of her sister's illness, was taken ill herself on
the Tuesday, and removed to the same ward as that
in which her sister died. The mother was following
the elder one to the grave when the youngest was
taken ill, and laid on her bed at home, when the same
priest, called in by a neighbour, felt it his duty to
carry her off in his arms to the ward, where she was
laid in the next bed to her sister, and yet both so ill
that for a long time they were unconscious of each
other's nearness, and on those beds both died, the
elder one just able to say the Lord's Prayer with the
priest.

As one of the Clergy in the dusk of the evening
was making his round in the Cholera Ward of the
London Hospital, he was surprised to be addressed
by name by a little child whom he had not recognized,
but who proved to be a girl from S. Saviour's school.
The affection of the children towards the Clergy and
Sisters is very pleasing, both in school and in the
streets. The children of S. Saviour's often delight
to run a long way to meet the Sister who is coming

OUR CHILDKEN. 0/

to teach them, and think it a great privilege to be al-
lowed to accompany her to or from school. During
the riots in the Parish Church, when the Mission
Clergy assisted the Rector in his time of need, and
were themselves in considerable danger from the mob,
while returning from the Church to the Mission
House, we generally found on our way home a little
girl from the school trotting close by our side, as
though to protect us from the violence of the people,
who were pressing and shouting around us. She
would take up her position near the Church, and often
wait a long time until we appeared, and if we did not
recognize her before, we soon heard a little voice by
our side addressing us by name to show that she was
near. This child, a wild little thing, living in an un-
favourable atmosphere at home, was afterwards taken
into S. Stephen's Home and sent out to service,
where she has been doing well.

While speaking of our schools we must not forget
the good influence which they exercise on the parents.
The care and attention which the children receive in
school are a ready passport to the hearts of the parents,
and many an opening has thus been made for us,
where otherwise we might have found great difficulty
in gaining admittance. The attendance of the chil-
dren at school always forms a good occasion for a visit,
and the children themselves an interesting subject of
conversation. We have found also how many lessons
are carried home by the children from school, and
how many rough and careless fathers unapproachable

68 OUE CHILDREN.

in other ways, will take their little ones upon their
knees to hear them repeat their Creed or the hymns
which they sing at home to the great satisfaction of
their parents.

Our Annual Festival in the country is always
anticipated throughout the year with great delight,
and forms an opportunity for much kindly and
pleasant intercourse between the Clergy and Sisters
and the children. Sometimes they are taken by vans
or railroad into the Forest or to Kichmond, once or
twice to Hampstead Heath ; this year the day was fixed
and the arrangement almost made, when the cholera
broke in upon our plans of pleasure, and the season
was too far advanced afterwards to carry out our pro-
ject. AVe hope that some who read these pages may
be disposed to help us to make some amends by a
more festive celebration next year.

At the Anniversaries of the Mission the children's
service is a very striking feature. S. Saviour's Church
has been often thronged with the schools on these oc-
casions. This year at the Anniversary of S. Saviour's
in May, we marched from the Chapel of the Good
Shepherd to S. Peter's Church, yet unfinished, the
Clergy and Choir in surplices, the children with their
banners, and singing some favourite hymns. The
effect was very striking, both in the streets and the
yet unfinished nave. They were catechised by one
of the Clergy from the steps of a ladder.

Of course we are not without many disappointments
in those who leave us after their school time is over,

OUR CHTLDREX. 59

though the Choir and Evening School with the
boys, and the Industrial School with the girls, are
not without their good effect in still retaining
some hold over them. In such a neighbourhood
as this, however, there are the greatest temptations
for the young in idle and dissolute companions of both
sexes, and in the penny theatres, public houses, and
other places of amusement. Still, though many are
drawn away from us for a time, the first impressions
are not entirely effaced, and the early lessons of the
faith once received into pure and innocent hearts,
though forgotten or despised for a time, bear their
fruits afterwards in seasons of calmer reflection.

Evening schools have not been carried on with that
success which we have observed in other parishes.
The Sisters found that it was often a doubtful advan-
tage to bring girls out after dark or dismiss them in
a body late in the evening, and we have never yet
had a sufficiently strong staff of teachers for our lads.
Our best night school at present is that connected^
with the Working Men's Club, in which many adults
are gaining the first elements of learning, but we
shall gratefully welcome any volunteers who will help
us in providing for the boys, who having more lately
left school are still in need of instruction.

GO

CHAPTER VII.

s. Stephen's home and industrial school — the

CARE OF THE YOUNG AND INNOCENT.

It seems a natural transition to pass from the
care of our children in school, and the thought of
them in their own homes or in the streets, to their
training in the Industrial School.

Now it has often heen objected against the Peniten-
tiary movement, the work is of those who are striving
to rescue the very lowest and most abject of the fallen
Avomen and girls of our streets — that those who are
taking such pains and spending so much money in
endeavours to save these wretched ones are forgetting
the much higher claims of the pure and innocent.
" Why," it is said " lavish so much care, and make
such sacrifices, for those who have already yielded to
temptation, and so deeply grieved the Holy Spirit of
God, when there are thousands of children of honest
and industrious parents who want your help, and
would gladly welcome it, to rescue them from the

8. STEPHEN'S HOME AND INDUSTKIAL SCHOOL. 61

poverty and temptation by which they are surrounded ?
Why subject yourselves to the disappointments which
by your own confession are continually frustrating
your best efforts for the fallen, when you may bestow
your labour and devotion on so far more hopeful
soil?"

These, indeed, are weighty and powerful objections,
and in a merely utilitarian point of view unanswerable,
but God's " ways are not as our ways, nor His thoughts
as our thoughts." If He left us to choose and decide
our own work, to weigh carefully with calm and even-
handed prudence what experience and the circum-
stances of the case would lead us to do for Him, how
much we should devote to His service, how much
refuse, and where we can be most practically useful to
Him, then these objections might influence us. But
to work for God, is to give ourselves to Him, to open
our hearts to the voice of His Holy Spirit, and to
follow His call in faith, as Abraham " went forth not
knowing whither he went." To suppose that our
weak and finite minds can decide what we can best do
for God is wretched presumption. Let us only be
too thankful if He will permit us the privilege of un-
dertaking any, the most unpromising work for Him.

But as a matter of fact we find that the more diffi-
cult work includes and opens the way to the easier.
The zeal and devotion which are not daunted by the
apparent difficulties of more heroic undertakings, find
repose and comfort in the more promising. Can we
doubt that it was God's voice which, through the holy

62 S. STEPHEN S HOME AND INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.

advocate of the Penitentiary cause (so early taken from
his Apostolic labours in South Africa) summoned the
daughters of the English Church to devote them-
selves to the merciful work of recovering their fallen
sisters who lay in the very mire and filth of sinful
pollution ? And was it not the spirit which was then
evoked, and the self-devotion then newly aroused,
which sent forth our Sisters to the Crimea, and
gave proof that the truly Catholic traditions of
love and self-sacrifice were not lost amongst our-
selves, but that there were Christian women who
counted not their lives dear unto them, if so they might
win Christ, while ministering to the sick and wounded
of His family ? Nor has this spirit died since, the
most flourishing Sisterhood now existing amongst us,
was the first fruits of Bishop Armstrong's earnest ap-
peals for the rescue of the fallen, and yet while it has
never relaxed, but rather increased, its care for these,
it has been permitted by God's blessing to stretch out
its arms far and wide in ministering to the pure and
innocent, orphans, widows, and strangers, in many
other works and houses of charity.

And such in a humbler way has been the case with
ourselves, the circumstances of the district as well as
other private reasons, were an evident call to us to
undertake at once the Penitentiary work, and yet, if
the Sisters had been left to choose, they would have
preferred commencing with the Industrial School.
Indeed, in a very humble way it was commenced
before the Refuge, two or three girls were taken into

s. Stephen's home and industrial school. 63

their house to be trained for service, though it was not
developed to its present extent until later. While
the Eefuge was in Calvert Street, it of course could
not be enlarged, as it would have been undesirable to
mix the two classes together, and when the Peniten-
tiary was opened in the country, there were no funds
for increased expenditure. Still the Sisters were
able to keep a few for household work, and in various
ways, as pressing cases presented themselves, the
numbers were increased to ten or twelve. And how
could the Clergy or Sisters go out on their daily visits
among the poor without meeting with very many
pressing cases ? Young girls perhaps still in the
school, or just out of it, living in the greatest peril,
with a drunken father who might at any moment cast
his child adrift ; an idle, unfeeling step-mother, who
would send her out to place to nurse a child she could
scarce carry, and be a drudge in a house to a large
family, and if she came home worn out or was sent
away because it was too much for her, would tell her,
*' Then you may get your living on the streets." Some
already in workshops, factories, even dustyards, where
they shrank from the contamination to which they
were exposed and gladly sought a shelter under the
wing of a loving and religious House. Some were
admitted for their very importunity, because they
prayed so earnestly to be saved from the danger and
■\yretchedness in which they were at home ; another,
whose temper often made it difficult to keep her,
would say that if she were sent out she was sure to be

64 S. STEPHENS HOME AND INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.

tempted on to the streets. Another had lost her
mother, and during her father's absence at work
would get the meals for her brothers, who were thieves
themselves, and would bring home their companions
with them. Another was in danger of temptation
from her own father, from whom her mother was sepa-
rated. Others have been starving at home, or driven
from home by aunts or other relations who had under-
taken to keep them, or must have gone to the work-
house if we had not admitted them.

While we were still struggling between the fear of
increasing our expenses and the pressing claims for
admission, an opportunity seemed to offer by which
we might admit more cases, and at the same time
find some provision for them. The master of a large
factory in which sewing machines were employed,
offered to take some of our girls and give them work
either at the machines or in some other department.
On the strength of this prospect, we admitted several
new cases, and for some months eight or ten girls
went every morning under the charge of an older
person to the factory in the city, returning every
evening. One or two were already able to work at the
machines, and younger ones were earning small wages
in the making up of mantles, &c., but the work proved
too fluctuating to ensure a regular support for those
employed, and we were obliged to give it up. It was,
however, far easier to increase our numbers, than to
reduce them, and so it was determined to try to
maintain them still. One or two younger children

S. STEPHEN S HOME AND INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL. 65

were received on the promise of parents to pay for
them, and though the promise has often been broken,
yet our hearts were not hard enough to send the little
ones away. Others are paid for by friends interested
about them, so that from various reasons the numbers
soon increased to upwards of thirty.

The Home in Calvert Street being too small, it
became a question between taking another house in
the neighbourhood, or removing the Industrial School
altogether. At this juncture the Sisters came forward
themselves, and undertook to rent a house adjoining
the House of Mercy at Hendon, where the Industrial
School was long carried on under the name of S.
Stephen's Home, having been opened on S. Stephen's
Day. The Mission is free from all liability with
regard to the rent, &c., and special contributions have
been made for the maintenance of some of the chil-
dren, which it is hoped will in time remove that
liability, though in the meantime funds are needed
for this purpose, and friends are invited to make
special contributions, or to undertake either singly, or
with the help of others, to maintain one or more of
the children.

This removal into the country at first seemed of
great advantage to the children in a moral and physi-
cal point of view. It withdrew them from many
temptations near home, and improved their bodily
health. It was very pleasing to see the little ones in
health and strength enjoying the pure air of the
country, so different from the stifling atmosphere of

66 s. Stephen's home and industrial school.

their homes, and to find them under the care of a
Sister, who devoted her whole attention to their
religious and secular instruction, growing in Christian
grace. Some were trained in household work, the
kitchen or laundry, and the elder ones, most of whom
are Communicants, and nearer the age of service, were
brought up in Calvert Street, where they did the
household work for the Sisterhood. They were, as
now, under the spiritual charge of the Chaplain, and
attended the daily services in the Chapel at Hendon.

In the present acknowledged dearth of good ser-
vants we may hope that we are doing a good work
not only to the girls themselves, but to society, in
training them thus early in those religious principles
and industrious habits, which are most likely to pro-
duce honest and faithful servants.

S. Stephen's Home was continued at Hendon for
about five years, and as far as the religious and moral
training was concerned prospered greatly. Whether,
however, from defective drainage or other causes, one
or two severe outbreaks of contagious disease in-
duced a consideration as to the removal of the chil-
dren into the country being really so beneficial as
was at first expected, especially as it was remarked
that the elder girls in Calvert Street were much
healthier than those at Hendon. In the pressure
also of work and the small staff of Sisters to accom-
plish it, there was found to be an economy of expense
and management in concentrating the establishment
in London, and consequently the House at Hendon

s. Stephen's home and industrial school. 67

lias been given up and the Industrial school is now
carried on in Calvert Street. All the children living
near the Sisters are being taught in the School and
learning their household duties and needlework on
the spot.

Altogether this has proved a very successful and
encouraging feature of our Mission work, not that
•even this is without disappointments, but the cheer-
ing aspect decidedly preponderates, and would lead
one to desire the opportunity of enlarging the sphere
of our operations very materially. One of the first
inmates, indeed one whom the Mother Superior
had begun to train before her connexion with S.
George's, is now being educated as a National
School-mistress, and promises to make the influences
of her education felt in herself and others most benefi-
cially ; her sister, after being in service where she
gained a good character, is now admitted on probation
as a lay or serving Sister. Four sisters from one
family have succeeded each other in the Home,
and all manifest the effects of their training, for
though with many faults and difl'erences of character,
yet the one bond which has seemed to attach them
by God's mercy to the truth, and has enabled one or
two of them to overcome many dangerous tempta-
tions, has been their attachment to the Church and
the Home of their early training. Four other sisters,
orphans, have been admitted ; one is now in service,
another shows signs of ability which will probably fit
lier for a teacher, the other two are promising chil-

F 2

68 s. Stephen's home and industrial school.

dren still under training. Of two girls whose natural
deformity was a bar to their admission to other
homes one is now nearly first hand in a shop of
ecclesiastical embroidery, another is an Infant School-
mistress in the country. Another of our children is
a pupil teacher likewise in the country, and always
comes back with pleasure in her holidays to spend
part of her time at the Home. Others are doing
well in service, from whom the Clergy and Sisters
frequently receive letters full of affection and interest
in the progress of the Church, and often of anxiety to
know whether their parents, brothers, sisters, or for-
mer companions are persevering in their religious
duties. One of these on leaving her place was asked
by her mistress, in token of her regard for her, what
present she liked best, a dress or any other gift :
knowing that her mistress was a good artist she
asked her to paint a crucifixion, such as she had seen
her paint before, that she might have the pleasure of
presenting it to S. Peter's Church. Some are at
work in the neighbourhood, and for these the Guild
of S. Katharine is found useful in keeping them sted-
fast to their old associations and interests.

69

CHAPTER VIII.

THE CHOIE THE BAND — WOEKIXG MEN's CLUB.

Our girls are not our only care ; we do not forget
that our boys as they leave school need much anxious
solicitude. We have at present no Industrial School
for them though we much need it, and it is one of
those long hoped-for additions to our Mission which
will doubtless come in God's good time. A plan for
forming a Home for boys on the model of the Shoe-
black Brigade, but with different employment, such
as fulfilling the duties of messengers at railway sta-
tions, offices, &G., has long been considered but never
yet put into execution ; a little encouragement in the
■way of guarantee of first expenses would be the
means of starting it.

In the mean time we do what we can. The Choir
is a great help in keeping together many who have
left school and want an additional tie to the Church,
and of course this tie being a religious one is the
best of all ; the daily as well as Sunday services, the

70 WORKING men's CLUB.

Sunday tea at tlie Club and Clergy House, excursions,
and various privileges belonging to the Choir all
help to form an esprit de corps amongst them and
attach them to the Church. The younger boys have
a small reward in the way of marks for attendance, —
the attendance of the seniors is purely voluntary.

The Choir, however, does not meet all cases, there
are many who have not quite the religious spirit for
Church services over whom we are anxious to main-
tain some hold. Our means of doing this has been
the establishment of a drum and fife band. It was
commenced two or three years ago through the kind-
ness of a Priest who was helping us at the time, the
Rev. H. J. Morse, who provided the instruments, and
so gave the matter a fair start. Though taken up
warmly at first by many of the lads it was not sus-
tained with sufficient spirit in S. Peter's District, and
accordingly last year a fresh start was made in Wel-
close Square. Here, through the fostering care of
the Curate of S. Saviour's, the energy of the School-
master, and the active interest of a member of our
congregation, the band has flourished greatly. A
concert and entertainment given in the neighbouring
school-room of S. Mark's, with the kind sanction of
the Incumbent went off very successfully, the spirit
of the members has been well maintained, and the
members have so increased that they are forming a
Eeading Room and Club of their own, and hope soon
to add some brass instruments to their present fifes
and drums. The religious object is not lost sight of,

WORKING men's CLUB. 71

as candidates for confirmation are being supplied
from the members of the classes at S. Saviour's.

But we have to provide for a yet larger class than
is embraced by the Choir or Band, for that, viz., of
our working lads and men in general ; these want
social as well as religious attractions and help to
withdraw them from the temptations which meet
them on every side. We soon found that the public
house was so formidable an enemy that it must be
attacked not only from such an elevated position as
the Church affords, but that such smaller w^orks as
Clubs and Bands must be advanced acjainst it.

In our early days we had frequently contemplated
the establishment of Beading Booms for working
men, but it was quite impossible amid the many more
directly religious works pressing upon us to undertake
such an institution ourselves. Help came when it
was least expected, and in a manner specially encou-
raging, because it was a still further evidence to us
of the mercy of our God in bringing good out of
evil.

At the time when the Parish Church was closed
after the first outbreak of the riots, the mob, disap-
pointed in their weekly opportunity of profane
violence, made some attempts on the Mission Chapels.
This brought us several offers of help from strangers
living in a distant part of London. One of these,
seeing our danger from the mob soon over, transferred
his services to the Parish Church, and was then more
than ever impi-essed with the necessity of doing

72 WOKKING men's CLUB.

something to win the working classes of the parish to
the side of order and religion. He accordingly pro-
posed to us to open an Institute for them, which
should provide the newspaper and periodical literature
of the day, lectures, classes, and opportunities of ra-
tional amusement, such as chess, draughts, &c. This
was first commenced and carried on during the winter
in our Boys' Schoolroom, and although the arrange-
ments were not so satisfactory as we could desire, yet
a very fair begining was made. At any rate, the
promoter felt encouraged to enlarge very considerably
his original plan, and to secure more convenient
premises. A good house next to the Mission House
was taken, the founder moving into it himself as
resident honorary secretary, a very attractive pro-
gramme of lectures, classes, and other advantages,
was put forth, and the new season opened under very
favourable auspices. Reading Rooms for two classes
with varying payments were opened, a smoking and
conversation room, in which coffee was provided at
cost price, a circulating library, and a separate room
for boys. Classes in reading, writing, and arithmetic
were carried on, as well as in singing, French, and
drawing ; for the latter some casts were kindly pre-
sented by Mr. Ruskin ; many presents of books were
also made for the library, and several very excellent
teachers connected with the Working Man's College
in Great Ormond Street kindly gave their services.

A large number of members soon joined, indeed,
during one year about 400 were admitted, though only

WORKING men's CLUB. 73

a small proportion could be regarded as regular
attendants. The Eev. F. D. Maurice gave the opening
lecture, on the objects and advantages of the Insti-
tute, and lectures were continued once or twice a
month by various friends, the present Archbishop
of Dublin and the Dean of Westminster, Eev. T.
J. Kowsell, Thomas Hughes, J. M. Ludlow,
Parker Snow, and Spenser Nottingham, Esqs., &c.,
&G. It was very gratifying to observe the intelligent
interest with which these lectures were attended and
listened to by the working men, and to find the good
spirit which prevailed amongst the members thus
brought into close connexion with each other night
after night in the Reading Rooms and Classes. The
existence and success of the Institute plainly proved
how little the real working men of the parish sympa-
thized with the abettors of the disturbances in the
Parish Church, for had they done so, the very name
of this Institute would have been a bar to its success,
whereas, on the contrary, not only did it flourish in
spite of any such prejudice, but a few feeble attempts
made to interrupt one or two of its lectures elicited a
great amount of good feeling on the part of the mem-
bers, and exposed the weakness of the opposition.

Although at times many difficulties had to be en-
countered, arising from the resignation of the honorary
secretary, and the difficulty of supplying his place ;
from the want of funds to meet the first outlay ; and
various other causes incidental to the commencement
of a new institution ; yet we had great reason to be

74 WOEKING men's CLUB.

thankful for the happy issue of our endeavours, and
we made a new start with very favourahle prospects.
A member of the Guild of S. Alban kindly volunteered
his services as resident honorary secretary, a tea
meeting, to celebrate the commencement of the season,
was held in our largest room which was quite filled,
and avery hearty spirit was displayed, showing the good
effects already produced by the Institute, in uniting
its members in good fellowship among themselves as
well as with the Clergy and Committee who had in-
terested themselves in the work.

Still, even with these encouragements, we found
that the maintenance of a large House for the Club
was more than we could afford, and though by making
a portion available for the teachers and of the Mis-
sion we tried to get over the financial difficulty, yet
it evidently seemed necessary to carry it on more
economically. Added to this, we found that being in
a prominent position in a square, it had not the same
parochial character we could desire, nor did it seem
to be a means of drawing its members to the Church ;
they got to be on good terms with the Clergy, but
that was all. When then our second honorary se-
cretary resigned and a new offer of help was made
there were many cogent reasons for transferring the
Club to S. Peter's District and commencing anew in
smaller premises. We were most fortunate at this
time in securing the help of a young layman who
has given himself most devotedly to the object, made
the Club his home, its members his friends and com-

WOEKING men's CLUB. 75

panions, their interests his o^vn, in fact lived in and
for the Club. The consequence has been that the
Club has never so thoroughly fulfilled its end as now.
It has been conducted on Catholic principles without
disguise ; not that all the members are even Church-
men, but all understand what the principles of the
Club are and that the Church provides them with
the social and intellectual advantages which they
here enjoy. The Clergy, without interfering with
their freedom or amusements, look in occasionally
and chat with the members ; they preside at the
social entertainments which are given every Tuesday
in the Schoolroom ; they give lectures, readings, or
any other help they can, and though comic songs or
readings often draw down the applause of the meet-
ings yet their presence checks anything unseemly.

We are now settled in a very suitable house oppo-
site S. Peter's Church, which was opened in Novem-
ber, providing a good Reading Room, Bagatelle Room,
Library, Lavatory, &c., with Schoolroom for the Upper
School, which is carried on by the Secretary in the
same House, there are also bedrooms for himself and
one of the Clergy. The Season of 1866-7 has just
opened, the Benediction of the new House having
been given by the Clergy, a supper of the members
took place the following night, Avhen speeches and
songs enlivened the evening, and a hearty spirit
was manifested, which bids fair to make the Club a
success. A large Lighterman's Union, for the bene-
fit of its members, holds its weekly meetings for

76 WORKING men's CLUB.

payment at the Club, thus withdrawing its members
from the bane of such Clubs, viz., the Public House,
and bringing them more into contact with the Clergy,
an acquaintance which we may hope to improve with
so large and influential body of working men in our
neighbourhood ; while the Penny Bank for the small
savings of our people is also conducted here by the
kind exertions of a layman who has long helped us
in this way.

Happily the removal of the Club from Wellclose
Square has not deprived the members of S. Saviour's
of the advantage of such a means of reunion, as the
zealous Curate of the district, aided l)y the same lay
member of his congregation who has done so much
for the Band, has established a promising Institute
in his own district, but more immediately among the
poor than Wellclose Square. It was a great privilege
to be allowed on the same day to bless the new House
of S. Peter's Club, and to preside at the inaugurating
entertainment of S. Saviour's, and it is hoped that a
wholesome emulation between the members of both
Clubs will tend to their efficiency and success.

CHAPTEE. IX.

THE HOUSE OF MEECY AT HENDON THE COMMENCE-
MENT AND PEOGRESS OF OUE PENTTENTIAET WOEK.

We have delayed the description of our House of
Mercy to this point not for strictness of order in
j)oint of time, but because this is a special work and
should not assume a prominence over the more
ordinary portions of Mission Work. Yet what
work of mercy would more naturally suggest itself
to our minds on first acquaintance with the sin
of this part of London, than a refuge for those whom
we daily saw falling victims to its misery ? Accord-
ingly the removal of the Sisters to Calvert Street in
1857 gave the opportunity for providing a home for
many of these poor outcasts, and the foundation was
thus laid of the present House of Mercy at Hendon.
Our beginning, however, was a very humble one, a
few were admitted in the first instance, then the
numbers rose to a dozen, and at last we managed,
though not without great inconvenience, to house fif-

78 HOUSE OF MEECY.

teen or sixteen. They were nearly all girls from the
district, from the Highway, or adjoining streets,
amongst whom the news of this refuge soon spread.
Some came of themselves to ask admission, of others
the Sisters heard in their visits among the poor, others
were drawn by the open-air preaching, which was often
made the means of publishing abroad the opening of
the Kefuge.

On one occasion a murder was committed just out-
side the Church in Wellclose Square on a Sunday
evening in September. Two foreigners had been
fighting about one of these poor girls, and one was
stabbed in the affray. Sermons in the open air and
€hurch were advertised, and a large crowd collected,
a large proportion being men, many sailors, and some
prostitutes. On a subsequent occasion, a girl who
lived in a court near the square committed suicide by
throwing herself into the Docks, a sermon was like-
wise preached in the open air to a similar congre-
gation, and some of the girls were induced to attend
the service in Church ; one who seemed touched by
what she heard, and was listening to a lady urging her
to leave her wretched life, was carried off by her com-
panions in sin. Another, however, was so influenced
that she soon after applied herself at the Clergy
House late one night to be admitted to the Refuge.
Two friends of hers had been admitted a short time
before, and now of these three two went into service,
one of whom afterwards married, and the third, though
she went back into the world, we heard was dying in

HOUSE OF MEKCY. 79

a penitent state of mind in her native town in the
country.

The good effects of the discipline and religious in-
struction of the House soon began to tell on the in-
mates, there they first heard words of kind and affec-
tionate warning or reproof; there the love of God to
sinners was first set forth to many, and that practically
in the love shown by those who devoted themselves to
their recovery. The daily prayers and services of the
Church in which they also participated, had a very
happy effect in calming those violent tempers which
they had so long freely indulged. For at first these
were their great difficulty, they had been accustomed
to such rough and violent usage from the sailors, and
to quarrel so fiercely with one another, that it was
long before they could bear any restraint. It is
scarcely possible to describe the violent outbursts of
passion with which the Sisters have had to contend,
the frantic rage into which the poor girls at first lashed
themselves at some trival remark or fancied unkind-
ness of their companions. On one occasion, after the
removal of the Refuge into the country, one who had
frequently given way to her temper before, suddenly
rushed into the class room where the others were at
work, with a knife, which she was hardly restrained
from driving into a companion who had offended her,
and so frantic did she appear, that even after she
had been confined to her room and the girls were as-
sembled for prayer on Good Friday in the Chapel,
there seemed quite a sense of terror amongst them,

80 HOUSE OF MERCY AT SUTTON.

lest she should again escape and appear in the same
violent state. After this girl had returned to her old
life, she was so wretched that she was found by the
police on the banks of the River, intending to drown
herself, and as she expressed her deep shame at re-
turning by herself to those who had before witnessed
her violent passions, she was brought back by a police-
man and again admitted on assurances of her sincere
repentance ; and yet again she gave way and left us,
nor have we heard anything of her since. But even
of such cases we are not without hope, as in many we
have found that the pains taken with them have not
been wasted, but have borne fruit either in inducing
them to seek another home, or leave their former life
and get work to support themselves, or, as in the case
above mentioned, have brought them to God in sick-
ness.

But we have a little anticipated the progress of
events. After a few months' trial it was found that
the confinement of a house in London, without a
garden, was too much for them, especially so near
their old haunts, where they were continually exposed
to temptations from their former associates, who con-
gregated in the street, and calling them by name
urged them to return to their sin. It was resolved,
therefore, to move into the country, and after some
difficulty a house was taken at Sutton in Surrey, and
occupied at Midsummer, 1858. The Mother House,
or head quarters of the Sisterhood still remained in
Calvert Street, where the chief work of the Sisters in

HOUSE OF MERCY AT SUTTON. 81

visiting, teaching in the schools, &c., was carried on,
two or three taking it in turns to go down into the
country.

The benefit of this change was soon apparent in the
girls themselves, in their better order, happier tone of
mind, more cheerful obedience, and improved health.
It was indeed a cheering sight, after leaving the sad
scenes of Ratcliff Highway, where these very girls
were once carrying on their guilty traffic, with their
uncovered heads, streaming ribbons, and gaudy
dresses, to behold them *' sitting and clothed and in
a right mind," as they listened to religious instruction,
or were occupied with their needlework in the class-
room ; to find them industriously employed in the
laundry, the kitchen, or other household work ; or to
seethem in their hours of recreation, walking happily
together in the garden, and enjoying the sight of the
flowers and trees, and the calm soothing air of the
country which some of them had never known, and
but few since the days of their innocence and child-
hood ; or better still to join with them in theirprayers
and hymns in the little Chapel where their hearts
seemed indeed to join with their voices in tlie praises
of that good God Whom they once blasphemed, but
Whom they were now learning to love ; or to look at
the attentive faces and often streaming eyes with
which they listened to words of warning or exhortation
to assurances of a Saviour's mercy, and calls to repen-
tance and faith in a Saviour's Blood.

Here, then, our Penitentiary work began to assume

G

82 HOUSE OF MEECY AT HENDON.

a more settled cliaracter, the Sisters became gradually
trained to the difficult undertaking, the girls learnt
to submit to the loving yet firm discipline under
which they were placed, and the rough tempers
became gradually softened. This was a work of time
and patience and of much earnest prayer.

Many reasons however made it undesirable that we
should eventually continue in these premises. The
buildings and offices were small, and not sufficiently
compact for the effectual supervision of the inmates.
The laundry was not nearly large enough for our own
Avashing, much less for an amount of work which
might help to support the House. These and other
circumstances determined us in seeking new premises.
For a description of them as well as of the opening of
the Institution, and for some account of its manage-
ment, we will quote at large from our Eeport of
1860.

*' After much difficulty our premises at Hendon
were met with and taken on a lease of twenty years.
They are situated on a high and healthy spot three
miles beyond Hempstead. The old buildings were
originally Almshouses, to which had been added
schoolrooms and dormitories, and the whole occupied
by the children belonging to the Workhouse of the
Parish. The former portion, by throwing down
ceilings and partitions, we have now converted into a
Washhouse, Drying Chambers heated by hot air^
ironing, sorting, packing rooms, &c. ; a part, formerly
the Master's House, forms a kitchen, scullery, and

HOUSE OF MEECT AT HENDON. 83

parlour, -with dormitories for probationers, infirmary,
housekeeper's room, etc., while the newer portion
contains a large and airy Classroom, Chapel, Chap-
lain's rooms, and above these a Common room and
bed rooms for the Sisters, and dormitories for peni-
tents. The whole is surrounded by a garden for
recreation and kitchen garden, high trees, fences, &c.
The various alterations having been commenced in
April, were sufliciently completed to enable the house
to be opened on June 21st, 1860. The j)roceedings
of the day commenced with a Celebration of the Holy
Eucharist, at which the Sisters were present at 7 a.m.,
the Chapel being licensed by the Bishop of London.
Other Celebrations followed, at which the visitors of
the day were present, and soon after eleven a pro-
cession was formed for the Dedication Service, which
consisted of Psalms and Hymns, and appropriate
Prayers for God's blessing on the various parts of the*
work, and of the buildings through which the pro-
cession passed. It was a very interesting sight to
behold the party assembled in the courtyard adjoining
the laundry, consisting of Clergy and Choristers,
followed by the Sisters of the Mission, reinforced by
others engaged in kindred works of Mercy at Clewer
and Highgate, with the children of the Industrial
School, whom rescued early from the temptations
around them, it is our object to train in such princi-
ples, as may save them from the sins which provide so
many subjects for our Penitentiaries. Having sung
the Hymn *• Jerusalem the Golden," the congregation

G 2

84 HOUSE OF MEKCY AT HENDON.

entered the Chapel where the last Celebration com-
menced, after which, the Litany and some more hymns
having been sung in the large Classroom, a very im-
pressive and eloquent sermon was preached by the
then Very Rev. the Dean of Westminster, now Arch-
bishop of Dublin. The visitors then adjourned to
inspect the buildings and laundry arrangements, after
which upwards of 100 sat down to luncheon, when
speeches were made by Col. Moorsom the Chairman,
the Eev. B. King, the Clergy of the Mission, R. Brett,
Esq., and other friends, and the proceedings of the
day, which were of a very gratifying character, thus
happily terminated.

" We may perhaps fitly follow up this account of the
opening of the new House of Mercy, with a few details
of our penitentiary work. And first we may be thank-
ful for a very marked improvement in the order and
discipline of the House during the past year. The
first year or fifteen months at Sutton was a time of
much difficulty and anxiety in reducing to order so
many untrained and violent tempers, and as might be
expected many were lost in the attempt, some leaving
of their own accord, or even running away, while
others were dismissed for continued bad conduct ;
indeed our experience of the first year led us to dread
the return of the spring and early summer, which had
tempted so many to leave us. During the past year
(1859-60), however, the religious training, and affec-
tionate yet firm discipline perseveringly employed,
have begun to exert a more sensible influence for good

HOUSE OF MERCY AT HEXDON. 85

upon our inmates, the proportion who have left us is
remarkably diminished, and the behaviour of those in
the House very much improved. Thirteen were con-
firmed on S. Peter's Day, a few days after they had
been removed to Hendon, of whom two just gone into
service have received their First Communion, and the
others are preparing for It, and of these and others
we have good hopes that during the coming year they
will go forth again into the world as trustworthy and
useful servants.

" The Penitentiary now taking a wider aim and
scope than formerly, we receive all applicants from the
East of London as probationers, so far as our room
allows, and when the house is full we endeavour to
procure them admission into other Homes. After six
weeks or two months of good behaviour they are for-
mally received with a religious service, and then are
considered among the regular inmates of the House.
After a sufficient term of trial they are prepared for
Confirmation, most being unconfirmed, and subse-
quently for Holy Communion, and on going into
service they are sent forth with special prayers and
blessings."

The present routine of the House is as follows
(1866) :—

6.30 Eise.

7. Private prayer.

7.10 Breakfast.

7.30 Prayers in Chapel.

8 Industrial work.

86 HOUSE OF MERCY AT HENDON.

12.15 Midday Prayers in Chapel.

12.30 Dinner.

1 Industrial work.

4.30 Tea.

5 Work.

7 Bible Class and Eeading.

8 Last Service in Chapel and Pri-

vate Prayers.

Times of recreation are found at intervals in the
day, and longer on Sundays, Festivals, and Saturdays.
Silence is maintained during certain times, at others
conversation is allowed. The Chaplain, spends three
or four days in each week in the House.

" However, the principles with which the work was
commenced, of a deep and religious training, have
more and more developed themselves ; our object is
not merely to withdraw the sinner for a short time
from temptation, trusting to her natural strength to
help her out of it afterwards, but to bring her to a true
and sincere repentance, to revive lost grace, and by
prayer and constant religious influence, the super-
intendence not of mere paid matrons, but devoted
religious women, with frequent spiritual advice and
aid, and sacramental gifts, to confirm and establish
the spiritual life, until, by Divine blessing, the peni-
tent be enabled to go out again into the world, and
stand stedfastly against the temptations by which she
has hitherto fallen. Such are the principles on which
the House has been founded and carried on, the fruits
of which we are already reaping among the present

HOUSE OF MEECY AT HENDOX. 87

inmates, and more sensibly among those whom we are
now begining to send forth into service.

" The conveniences of our new House have enabled
us to increase very considerably the industrial work,
which consists chiefly in washing. Not only is the
washing for the Mission House done at Hendon, as at
Sutton, but we are now taking in a large amount of
other washing, that of a large hotel, and a boys' school,
beside that of private families, from which we may
expect to clear an income of from £200 to £300 per
annum towards the expenses of the Penitentiary."

To this account may now be added our gratitude to
Almighty God Who has permitted us to carry on so
important a work uninterruptedly for six more years.
When we first opened our Kefuge in Calvert Street,
we little realized the great responsibility which we
had undertaken, or imagined that it would so soon be
developed into our large Institution at Hendon.

The increase of our laundry work which has now
become an important department, has naturally added
to the responsibility and anxiety of the Sisters who
superintend it ; it involves also considerable expenses
in carriage, but the profit derived is a great help in
maintaining the House.

And now to English readers some account must be
given of the practical results of our Penitentiary la-
bours. In the very outset we must deprecate the
idea of great results being expected at any time from
such work. Of all works of mercy this requires the
greateat faith, patience, and perseverance, many and

88 HOUSE OF MERCY AT HENDON.

grievous are the disappointments for which we must
be prepared, thankful we must learn to be for very
partial success. If, indeed, we only sought to draw
as many poor girls as possible for a time out of their
sinful life, to salve over the ulcerous wounds, and to
restore them again in seeming health to the world, we
might boast of greater results, but as our work goes
far deeper than this, it meets with many more obsta-
cles. It must not be supposed that because many
have left unsatisfactorily, before their time of proba"
tion was expired, that therefore all our care has been
wasted upon them, in many such cases we have found
that the instruction has not been lost, they have
either returned to friends, sought refuge in other
Penitentiaries, or got into service ; or even if they
have fallen back into sin, yet they have never had the
heart to continue in it, but have again sought to es-
cape, either with us or in some other way. It must
also be remembered that in very few cases compara-
tively have these girls been under any previous dis-
cipline. We take them at once from the streets, we
admit all we can without distinction, and those who
know the East of London know the character of its
prostitutes, so far more hardened and degraded,
rough and undisciplined than from other districts,
that societies for the rescue of fallen women refuse to
admit them into their refuges from inability tomanage
or control their tempers. With all these difficulties,
and keeping in mind the frequent changes incident to
the establishment of this House, we are thankful to

HOUSE OF MERCY AT HENDON. 89

know that many are now living respectable lives, and
to believe that many more whom we have sent forth
and yet have not heard of for some years, have been
reclaimed through the instrumentality of this work.

Besides these a large number have stayed for a
shorter time, but either from not being able to bear
the discipline, or other causes, have left, and though
for the most part we have been unable to trace them,
yet we have reason to hope that some proportion have
been benefitted by their temporary sojourn.

But beyond the actual blessing derived by the in-
mates themselves, we must not forget the blessing to
those who have been permitted to assist in this Avork,
in teaching them the power of sin, and deepening in
them the love, tenderness, and compassion wdth which
itmust be approached. Again, in our Mission work this
has been a great opportunity of bearing witness against
the prevailing corruption of the parish, and of showing
that those who warn others against it, do so not only
in W'Ord but in deed, by devoting their time and
strength to the recovery of its unhappy victims. Our
Penitentiary work was also the means, if not of bring-
ing into existence, yet of considerably extending the
sphere of an Association for the Suppression of Vice
and Immorality in the East of London, which w^orked
with good effect for some time in closing brothels, and
endeavoured to lessen the outward exhibition of
those sins which disgrace the thoroughfares of this
portion of the Metropolis.

Another and by no means unimportant effect of the

90 HOUSE OF MERCY AT HENDON.

existence of the House at Hendon is this, that being
specially open for girls from the East of London, and
primarily taking them from the Highway, Commer-
cial Road, and our own immediate neighbourhood ; it
is a powerful witness among the girls themselves
against their own sin. When they find one of their
companions whom they had been accustomed to meet
day by day in their sinful haunts, suddenly disappear-
ing, and they hear that she has left her dreadful life,
it is a powerful warning addressed to themselves. Why
should they not also seek refuge in the same way
from the miseries which they all feel so acutely,
though they have not all the strength to extricate
themselves from the wretched tangle which is wrapped
round them ?

91

CHAPTER X.

s. Peter's church and district.

Havixg thus sketched in outline the leading points
of our Mission History, we now arrive at a point
when, as was ever hoped from the commencement,
Mission work gives place in some measure to the
more regular organization of the Parochial system.
We say in some measure, because the work of the
Church in districts like this, so extensive, so degraded
by the corruptions of past ages of neglect, with a
population frequently changing, must always be to a
great extent Missionary ; still the title of S. Peter's
District suggests the actual organization of an Eccle-
siastical Parish with a duly appointed Incumbent, a
regular endowment, and the accompaniments of a
settled ministry.

It is now five years since a munificent gift of a
site for a Church in Old Gravel Lane was presented
to the Mission, and a fund was immediately com-
menced for building purposes. At that time, how-

99 s. Peter's church and district.

ever, it seemed more desirable to purchase S.
Saviour's Church in Wellclose Square, and to form
our first Ecclesiastical District around it. After some
negotiations had been opened with the trustees, who
were willing to sell, it was found that the Danish
Government objected to the sale, and an important
portion of the proposed district was assigned to S.
Paul's, Dock Street, thus precluding the possibility
of arranging a suitable district around S. Saviour's.
A friend w^ho had generously promised £1,000 towards
the purchase of S. Saviour's, kindly allowed it to be
devoted for the proposed Church in Old Gravel Lane,
and another promise of £500 being made, with other
smaller gifts, the prospect of accomplishing our
object became gradually more distinct. Grants also
were promised by the Diocesan Church Building
Society, the Bishop's Fund, and the Incorporated
Society, so that at length a sufficient sum was col-
lected to warrant the commencement. A Building
Committee was formed and the contract for the
foundations being taken, the work was begun in
April, 1865. The foundations, from the nature of
the ground, were expensive, it was however deter-
mined to persevere, the building contract was entered
upon, and the walls began to rise from the ground.

The following description of the laying of the
Foundation Stone is taken from our Ninth Annual
Report. " It was deferred till the Octave of S. Peter's
Day. A long procession of Clergy and Choristers,
with banners, and a Cross bearer at their head, pro-

s. Peter's church and district. 93

ceeded from the ChaxDel of the Good Shepherd in
Calvert Street (singing appropriate hymns) to the
site, where a large nmnber of friends and parishioners
were assembled. A Service consisting of Psalms and
Antiphons was then commenced. The blessing of
the stone was performed by the Rev. J. L. Eoss,
Eector of the Parish, and the Earl of Powis laid it
according to due form. An address was given by the
Eev. C. F. Lowder, and the procession returned to
the Mission Chapel. The order and respectful
behaviour of the people in the streets was much
remarked by those who remembered the riotous mob
of former days.

" Lord Lyttelton, as President of the Working
Men's Club, immediately proceeded to award the
prizes won at the Flower Show, and then about 1^0
friends sat down to luncheon under a tent on the
ground. Speeches were made by the Earl of Powis,
who expressed his great interest in the work which
had been carried on by the Mission — an interest the
sincerity of which was manifested on the following
day by a contribution of £100 towards the Church ;
and by the Eector of the Parish who made a very
hearty and telling address, in which he expressed his
own most hearty sympathy in the progress of the
Mission, and conveyed the same feelings from the
Bishop. Other speeches and toasts followed, and
then the company for the most part adjourned to the
Schoolroom to see the very interesting exhibition of
plants, vegetables, and flowers, grown in the neigh-

94 s. tetee's church and disteict.

bouring houses and cottages by the working people of
the district."

The building of the Church went on steadily, but
not so rapidly as we desired, and it became evident
as the Autumn advanced that we should not get it
covered in, as we had hoped, before Christmas. For-
tunately for the works, the winter was very mild, so
that scarcely any damage was done by the frost, and
nothing occurred to stop the progress of the building.
The roof was finally fixed in April, and on the occa-
sion of the Ninth Anniversary of S. Saviour's, Well-
close Square, which was kept on May 2nd, we held
our children's service in the yet unfinished building.
A procession of Clergy, Choir and Schools was formed
in Calvert Street, and the nave full of children and
their banners presented a very interesting sight,
and it was cheering to hear the new walls echoing
with hymns and litany. The writer, though often
driven to strange expedients for a pulpit in the streets,
for the first time catechised from the rounds of a
ladder.

The roof being fixed, every exertion was made to get
the Church ready for the day of Consecration, which
was now fixed by the Bishop for the day after S.
Peter's Day. Much, however, remained to be done,
and an unexpected difficulty arose in a settlement
which at one time caused some apprehension from
its effect on the south pillars. When this was reme-
died all haste was made in laying the floor, and
though a small portion of the tiles was not completed,

• S. PETERS CHUECH AND DISTPdCT. 9^

and the jDanels of the Altar as well as the Cross over
it were not gilt on the day itself, yet nothing essential
was wanting to show the general effect and character
of this beautiful Church, which was generally admired
by all present on that occasion or who have since seen
it. The simplicity yet grandeur of its outline, the
warmth and richness of its colour, the height of its
pitch, the dignity and elevation of the altar marking
it as the prominent feature, and the solidity of the
whole work give it an originality and effect which
commend it to all, and help to inspire those who
enter it with feelings of reverence for the Presence of
Him whose House it evidently is.

Before, however, we enter upon the account of the
Consecration Day, we must needs take farewell of our
former Chapel of the Good Shepherd, in which for
nearly ten years we had been permitted to worship,
and instruct our people in the Faith of Christ's Holy
Church. Many happy and interesting associations
clung round this Iron Chapel, plain and unpretend-
ing in its exterior, yet bright and cheerful within^
especially when at Easter or Christmas Festivals, its
altar was decked in its white vestments, its chancel
was well lighted, and flowers and wreaths lent their
beauty and fragrance, while a devout and faithful
band of worshippers filled the body of the Chapel.
Many had learnt dearly to cherish this little taber-
nacle of the Lord's Presence, where they had first
learnt to know and love Him in theBlessedEucharistic
Feast, and though we could not but rejoice to ex-

96 s. Peter's church and district.

change it for such a Church as S. Peter's, yet some
have said even after the consecration, with tears in
their eyes, that they could not feel quite the same for
S. Peter's as for the Chapel of the Good Shepherd,
where their first religious impressions had been formed.
It was here also that so many of our children had
been baptized, so many prepared for their Confirma-
tion and first Communion, so many made their first
Confession, that neither priest nor people could re-
member without emotion that our last Communion,
our last Eucharistic Worship, our last prayers were
so soon to be offered up in these walls, which, though
not consecrated by the Bishop's blessing were hallowed
by many prayers and thanksgivings. It was on S.
John Baptist's Day that the last service was held, S.
John Baptist himself, the greatest of the ancient
prophets, and yet the least in the New Dispensation,
standing between the old and new Covenants. Some
of our communicants, anxious to keep a remembrance
of the Iron Chapel, asked that we should have a
photograph taken, accordingly the Choir assembled
on an early morning of the week, in order that the
last procession might be photographed with a view
of the interior ; these are now sold to help the fund
which the communicants themselves have com-
menced, to provide the Eucharistic Vestments for
the Clergy.

The day of Consecration, however, was of course
a festive day in the district. Streamers were hung
across Old Gravel Lane with appropriate texts, and

s. Peter's chuech and distkict. 07

the neighbourhood of the church was gay with flags,
the Schools lined the way, and the Clergy received the
Bishop at the School-room, in which he robed, and
then followed the long procession of Clergy and Choir
chanting the Veni Creator up the nave into the chancel.
The prayers of Consecration having been offered by
the Bishop and the procession having passed round
the Church chanting Psalm xxiv., ]\Iatins was sung
and the Eucharistic office commenced by the Bishop,
who preached a very earnest and impressive sermon
from the text of Genesis iv. 9, containing Cain's reply
to God, " Am I my brother's keeper '?" The offer-
tories during the day amounted to iJ400.

After the service in Church about 300 friends sat
down to luncheon in the former Chapel of the Good
Shepherd, which is used as a Schoolroom. The Earl
of Powis was in the Chair supported by the Bishop,
Lord Lyttelton, H. Barnett, Esq. M.P., the Bishop
Designate of Nelson, Archdeacon Sandford, the Eec-
tor of the Parish, Mrs. Gladstone, &c., S:c. After the
usual toast of Church and Queen, the Bishop's health
was proposed by Mr. Barnett and heartily received by
the large and influential company. The Bishop in
reply proposed the writer's health in very kind and
handsome terms, making the most liberal allowance
for points of difference, and hailing the Mission as one
great means of drawing the sympathies of the wealthier
and more influential residents in the West of London
to their poorer brethren in the East. In like manner
he said that none could think of the self-denying

H

98 s. Peter's church A^'D district.

labours of the Sisters without taking shame to them-
selves in their comparative ease and luxury. The
Bishop's words were received with great enthusiasm,
and will long be remembered as among the most
cheering of the many happy recollections of this
l)right day. The Kector, Lord Lyttelton, the Bishop
Designate of Nelson, and other speakers followed,
after which the company for the most part adjourned,
as on the occasion of laying the First Stone, to the
Boys' Schoolroom, when Lord Lyttelton opened the
Tlower Show, and declared the prizes for the best
plants. Next came a tea to the Communicants and
-Choir, with an address from some of the Clergy, and
then Evensong in the now consecrated Church of S.
Peter's, which was a very hearty service with proces-
sional hymns and an excellent sermon by the Rev.
C. C. Grafton. On Sunday the sermons were
preached by the Eev. Luke Rivington and the Eev.
W. J. Butler, Vicar of Wantage, the latter in the
evening to a large congregation. Sermons were also
preached throughout the Octave, and thus the work
at S. Peter's was duly inaugurated, and being com-
mended to God's blessing was left to fulfil the great
ends for which it was undertaken. The Services are
on Sunday the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at 7,
8, and 11.15, Matins at 10.30, the Litany and Cate-
chising at 3.30, and Evensong at 7. The daily Ser-
vices are Holy Eucharist at 8 a.m., Matins at 7.30,
and Evensong at 8. The Litany is said at 12 on
Wednesdays and Fridays, when the children are also

s. tetee's chukch and district. 99

catechised. There are Communion and Confirma-
tion Classes on appointed evenings in the week, and
Sermons on Fridays, and Festivals and their Eves.

The following is a short architectural description
of the Church.

St. Peter's is in the style of the later First Pointed
Gothic, heing faced externally with yellow stock
bricks, relieved with stone dressings ; and internally
with red bricks, having bands and patterns of black
bricks. The columns of the main arches are of bhie
Pennant stone. The plan consists of a lofty nave,
68 feet by 27 fe£t, with clerestory lights. It is at
present four bays in length ; the three western have
north and south aisles 10 feet wide. The west walls
are temporary, with provision for an extension, and a
north-west tower and slated spire. Eastward of the
nave are transepts north and south, connected with it
by lofty arches piercing the clerestory. The chancel
is 35 feet long by 23 feet wide, with two trefoiled
windows in the east end, surmounted by a shafted
wheel window about IT^eet in diameter.

The chapel on the south side of the chancel is
35 feet by 16 feet, with an open high pitched span
roof, having a three-light east window and large
quatrefoil side lights. The organ chamber is on the
north side of the chancel. There is a lower and
upper sacristy, connected by an internal stone stair-
case. In the transept gables are cusped wheel win-
dows, the other windows are mostly single lights with
trefoiled heads. The floors are laid with encaustic

H 2

100 s. Peter's ckukch and disteict.

tiles in patterns. The chancel will be fitted with
returned oak stalls. The altar is of carved and
pierced panels, gilt. It is intended eventually ta
erect a reredos formed of alabaster and other marbles,
with a sculpture of the Crucifixion.

It is hoped also to fill the windows with stained
glass, to sculpture the capitals of the columns, the
corbels, &c., and to erect a rood screen, and screens
around the chancel. The architect was F. H. Pownall,
Esq., and the builder a parishioner, Mr. F. H. Dud-
ley.

The District of S. Peter's as now arranged by the
Ecclesiastical Commission, is almost an Island, in-
deed, if it included a portion of Wapping on the
south it would be entirely so, as the London Docks
form the entire northern and western boundaries, and
the River the eastern and part of the southern. It
contains about 6,000 souls living in S. George's
parish, and 1,000 in Shadwell. It needs immediately
a Clergy House in order that the Clergy may reside
upon the spot, for the more the w^ork in this district
has developed, the more inconvenient it has been for
the Clergy and teachers who live in Wellclose Square,
as was especially found in the time of Cholera, when
it has happened that returning late at night, after a
fatiguing day to get some food and sleep, the priest
found a summons awaiting him to return to a distant
house in the lower part of S. Peter's District, in the
very neighbourhood of that he had just been visiting,
but where he had not been found when the messen-

S. PETEFt's CHUUCH AND DISTEICT. 101

ger started to the Clergy House in search of him.
School-huildings also must follow in order to provide
for our children, and then as soon as we have made
these provisions we must begin some new Mission
work ibr the easternmost portion of our Island, with
which our spiritual connexion has only just com-
menced, and where there is a large field for Mission-
ary labour among a very poor and ungodly population,
which needs every kind of religious machinery to
bring them to God and the Church.

102

CHAPTER XI.

THE CHOLERA OF 1866.

The Consecration of S. Peter's was just over, the
Octave services had been brought to a happy termi-
nation, the Clergy and Sisters were planning! the
usual Summer Excursion of the Schools, and then
looking forward to getting a holiday themselves, after
the work and anxiety which had necessarily preceded
the Consecration, when the first alarm of Cholera
was heard. The first, however, was a slight case, and
the patient soon rallied, so that the writer felt liim^
self justified in seizing the opportunity which pre-
sented itself of a few days' Retreat for Clergy at
Cuddesden, little anticipating for what scenes he was
really preparing himself in those quiet meditations
in the Bishop's Chapel. He had just left the station
in the City on his return, when he was met by a
neighbouring priest who enquired of him about the
state of his district as to Cholera. This was his
first preparation, but he had no sooner reached home

THE CHOLEEA OF 1866. 103

tlian he heard that one of the communicants of S.
Peter's had died very suddenly the day before.

We were at once in the very thick of this dreadful
disease. The same night about 11 o'clock, he was
called to the London Hosioital by one of the congre-
gation of S. Saviour's, who with his wife had lately
been confirmed and received their first Communion.
She had gone to the Hospital that morning for medi-
cine and being taken worse while there was advised
to rerhain, and then grew rapidly ill, so that her
husband on his return from work, on enquiry after
his wife could only learn that she had gone early to
the Hospital and had not yet returned. When we
arrived at the Cholera Ward we found her in severe
paroxysms of cramp and sickness, and yet in the
intervals of pain very thankful for such spiritual
ministrations and prayers as we were able to afford
her. Though tenderly nursed she grew weaker and
weaker and fell into collapse, dying early in the
morning. But it was not merely this case which
opened our eyes to the power of the visitation, the
ward was full of Cholera patients suffering terribly
from the first fresh energy of the awful scourge.
When once it was known that a clergyman was in the
ward, one request after another was made to him to
minister to some distressing case ; men a few hours
before hale and hearty lay struck down for death,
women young and old groaning piteously in the
agony of their cramps, on one bed lay a nurse, whose
mother and children lived in S. Saviour's District,

104 THE CHOLEKA OF 18GG.

and who had heen attacked while on duty in the
Hospital, and died in a few days ; others were
sailors just retuimed from sea, some Germans either
sailors, or labourers in the Sugar Bakeries, or their
wives ; another was a Jewess, who, alas ! could re-
ceive no Christian comfort. In ordinary circum-
stances it was not for a stranger to minister indis-
criminately to the sick in tlie Hospital, for whom a
Chaplain is provided, therefore the first course v/as
to enquire for our own parishioners or at the furthest
for those of S. George's parish, but now it vv-as im-
possible to continue this distinction, in ministering
to one sufferer we were immediately appealed to by a
neighbour, or a nurse or friend in his behalf, and thus
Sunday morning overtook us in the midst of scenes
little realized by those who were enjoying their
rest and sleep at a distance in health and safety.

At first, before the disease fell so heavily upon the
Mission districts, the Mission Clergy were glad to
offer the Chaplain of the London Hospital what little
help they could, over-burdened as he was by this dis-
tressing addition to his ordinarily excessive labours,
and very interesting indeed Avere many of the hours,
especially in the night, spent in these Cholera Wards,
when hearts Avere opened and tears shed, and we may
hope repentance accepted from those who had been
too little touched in the time of health and strength.

But the overpowering calls of our own District
soon made it impossible to withdraw any time from
our immediate charge, and though at first we could

THE CHOLERA OF 1866. 105

manage to pay a visit to the Hospital at night, yet
this was scarcely consistent with the rest required hy
our own duties in the day, and so now we will speak
of the Cholera in the Mission Districts.

In can hq no wonder that in such districts as ours,
where there is at all times so much poverty and dis-
tress, where the drainage is as yet untouched hy the
improvements which arebeing made in other parts, and
is necessarily worse from the low level on which we
lie, only just above the river ; where our poor are so
crowded from want of houseroom, an evil, alas ! in-
creasing instead of diminishing, where the alleys are
so close and the sanitary managements very defective,
(for where landlords can always get tenants it is very
difficult to induce them to lay out money on improve-
ments ;) where during the hottest part of the season
we had fermenting amongst us a large manure manu-
factory in which was collected, in a very mountain of
impurity, hundreds of tons of the very refuse of the
streets, the stinking sweepings of the market, rotten
fish, oranges, &c., to be mixed up and then carted off
to barges in the river, it can, I say, be no wonder that
when the Cholera once broke out amongst us it
should have proved most fatal, in fact, that the death-
rate in proportion to the population should have been
higher than in any other part of London.

To show how it spread when once introduced the
following facts may be mentioned. A man who
worked at a manufactory of bone charcoal, used for
purposes of sugar refining, a very unhealthy occu-

106 THE CHOLERA OF 1866.

pation, from the heat and stench produced, was taken
ill of Cholera and died. He and his wife were Devon-
shire people, and she feeling lonely among strangers
could not make up her mind to remain in the house,
much less to sleep in the room where he-died. She
imprudently moved the hed on which he died into
his brother's house a street or two off, and others
slept on it. The brother sickened and died, his little
girl dying before him, lying* in the next room that he
might not see or know of her death, his wife just con-
hned lay in the same room with him nursing her
baby, another child of hers and one of her sister's
followed ; an older girl up-stairs died also, her father
being also ill but recovering, while in another
room a young woman was dying from consumption ;
so that in that one house five died in consequence of
the infected bed being brought into it, not to dwell
upon the misery which such a complication of sick-
ness necessarily produced.

From a close court situated in another part of the
district, a woman had been removed to the Workhouse
Infimiary for her confinement, leaving at home her
husband and six children. The youngest, a little
boy, sickened, and though the husband did his best
as a nurse, yet he fretted over the care of a large
shiftless family (for they were Irish) and himself took
ill. The little boy died, and one Sunday evening
after service we were called to see the father that he
might be removed to the Cholera Ward. In a
wretched room upstairs the poor fellow lay on a bed

THE CHOLEEA OF 1866, 107

unable to help himself, and almost too ill to allow
others to do so, the children . clinging to him and
crying at his being taken from them. With difficulty
he was supported through the court to the stretcher
bed, while another child who was also suffering, was
taken with him to the Temporary Hospital. Thus
the poor man lay in agony on the next bed to his
child and died. The wife, hearing that he was in the
Infirmary, but not knowing certainly that he was
dead, resolved to come out though still very weak
after her confinement, in which she had lost her
baby. No inducements would prevail to keep her,
though it was naturally feared that, in her state of
health, the return to an infected house would be dan-
gerous to herself, and it was desired to take her
children out of it into the Workhouse. While the
Medical man was drawing up a certificate, which
might have the effect of retaining her, she made her
escape, and was soon home, surrounded by her chil-
dren and a large assembly of neighbours. The only
resource was to induce her to leave this house for
another, which after an interval of two or three days
was done, and though two more of her children were
taken ill, with a girl who was helping to wash for her,
yet they eventually recovered, and the rest escaped.

The disease, however, had laid hold upon the
court ; another man, a strong hearty fellow, died, two
of his sons were taken ill, one very seriously, his
daughter was attacked so violently that it was neces-
sary to remove her to the Cholera Ward. A young

108 THE CHOLERA OF 186C.

man next door followed, and while he was heing got
ready his wife felt so ill that, rather than leave her
hushand, she determined to go also, and both lay for
a long time dangerously ill, the husband indeed at
death's door. These however recovered, and were
afterwards sent down to Seaford, where they regained
their health, and returned to their homes and work.
Others were dangerously ill in the same court ; one
an unbaptized man, who professed infidel opinions
even on his death bed, though afterwards through
argument and prayer he appeared to give them up,
yet like so many sick-bed impressions his better feel-
ings seemed to have passed away, and he has returned
to drunken habits. Among the many sad scenes of
this time, one of the saddest was that of a poor woman,
whose child was just taken ill and laid on a little bed
on some chairs in a wretched room at the top of the
house ; she nursed the child as long as she could,
and then fell ill herself, lying in the agony of the
cramps on the floor with scarce anything to cover
her, entreating the nurse, who had been sent by the
Sisters for the child, to ease her pain by rubbing her
legs, while the husband in his affliction was pacing
up and down the room or getting away from the sad
scene into the street, until the ambulance bed came
from the Workhouse to remove her to the Cholera
Ward where she died, the child not long surviving.

The Cholera Wards of which we have spoken were
the Casual Wards of the Workhouse temporarily
adapted by the Guardians in obedience to the Orders

THE CHOLERA OF 1866. 109

in Council for Cholera patients. They were not in-
deed all that could be desired, and yet the best pro-
vision that could be extemporized under the circum-
stances. There were two large wards, one for men
another for women, and a smaller one afterwards used
for convalescents. Hither the sick were brouo;ht
from all parts of the parish, all, who could not be
j^vell tended at home, or where there was danger in
close houses and large families of the disease spread-
ing, were received at once, day and night. Happily
the Workhouse authorities, in the imminent urgency
of the circumstanctes, having had sad experience of
the inefficiency of pauper nurses, themselves applied
to the Sisters of S. John's Home for Nursing
Sisters, who were at once sent down and devoted
themselves most lovingly to the poor sufferers en-
trusted to them. It was indeed quite touching to
witness the tenderness and yet fearlessness with
which each Sister in turn gave herself to this work.
One Sister, with a trained nurse and others specially
employed for the purpose, was always in the Hospital
night and day taking the day and night duty by
turns, the patients were no sooner brought in than
they were at once attended to, their beds prepared,
and all that loving ministry could do was certainly
done for them. It was sad to see how little even this
could avail for their recovery ; medical remedies, the
most assiduous nursing and care were all baffled by
the virulence of the disease ; one remedy after an-
other, one system of treatment after another, one

110 THE CHOLERA OF 1866.

theory after another was tried, but without any appa-
rent effect, still the Sisters' love and perseverance
never failed, and though there were days and nights
of most trying discouragement, when one body after
another was carried out to the deadhouse only that
its place might be taken by another living yet already
doomed sufferer, when we used to look round in the
morning and see bed after bed filled with fresh pa-
tients, knowing too well that the former tenant was
in a rough coffin, though the Sister v/ho was throwing
herself heart and soul into this work of mercy was
often tempted in the silence and loneliness of her
night watch to sit down and cry over the sad scene
which lay before her, yet bravely and nobly she bore
up and never left her post as long as her presence
was needed.

There was something very touching too in the
early morning Communion at S. Peter's, when we all
felt our great need of divine help, the Clergy for
their spiritual work, the Sisters for their bodily and
yet also spiritual ministries, when our own Sisters
were preparing for their labours in the district not
knowing what the day would bring forth, to see their
little band at the altar joined by the Sister of S.
John's who had been taking her night duty in the
Cholera Ward close by, under the very " shadow of
S. Peter," her very dress tainted by the smell of the
disinfectant used in the Hospital, bringing their sor-
rows and the sorrows of their suffering charge to
lay them at their Saviour's feet, and ask for mercy and

THE CHOLERA OF 186G. Ill

grace for themselves and thera. It was a touching
thought to feel at that moment how safely we were
all gathered together under those loving wings, how
mercifully we were being fed with that Bread of Life
which could best sustain us, how the Precious Blood
which touched our lips was cleansing us and them,
and the Communion which was knitting us together
in the bundle of Life was joining us closely to Him
Whom we could thus recognize as walking with us in
the midst of this fiery furnace, so that not even the
smell of fire passed on us, not one among ourselves
was touched by the power of the plague.

We must not forget in connexion with the Work-
house Cholera Wards to record thankfully the ser-
vices of the Eev. W. R. Scott, who kindly volunteered
his ministrations to the poor patients, and was most
unwearying and attentive in fulfilling them. It was
a great relief to the Clergy of the Mission, whose
time and strength were abundantly occupied in the
visitation of the sick in their own homes, to feel that
the sufferers in the wards were so efl&ciently cared
for in spiritual things ; for although much of Mr.
Scott's time was necessarily given to the Cholera
Hospital of Wapping, to which he was appointed
Chaplain, yet he never neglected his charge in S.
George's, and we need not add how thoroughly the
Sisters of S. John's appreciated those services.

But w^hile thes.e Sisters were nursing tenderly the
the sick entrusted to their care, the Mission Sisters,
with the help of other ladies who kindly volunteered

112 THE CHOLERA OF 1866.

their help, one an Associate of S. John's Home and
another of S. Peter's in Brompton, were devoting
themselves to the sufferers in their own homes.
During the prevalence of the disease a Sister was
always in the entrance hall assisted by one or two
girls ready to attend to every call. She had at hand
prepared for immediate use that most valuable of all
preventives the Homoeopathic Tincture of Camphor
of the strength recommended by Dr. Rubini. So
efficacious did this prove in numberless cases in
checking the first symptoms of diarrhoea, and so
great was the confidence felt in it by the poor in
general, that probably half the houses in the districi.
applied for it during the alarming season. This v/as
a most useful means of learning at once any case of
sickness which might have occurred ; if urgent, a
Priest or Sister visited it, if not, the name written on
the slate was at once a guide to those who were going
out to their special districts, while a strict charge was
given to each applicant to send for the medical man.
Then wine, brandy, cordials, arrowroot, and beef tea
were being continually dispensed by the same Sister
or her assistants, all day long, while at night one
was always ready to attend to urgent cases. In the
morning, when the Clergy, after the services in S.
Peter's, were going forth to their daily rounds, while
some would take the pressing or dangerous cases
which remained from the day before, another would
find out from the Relieving Ofticer's list at the Work-
house and the Sisters' list at the Mission House the

THE CHOLERA OF 1S6C. 118

new cases which needed attention. \Ye had also
some laymen engaged in a house to house visitation,
one with a special view to the sanitary state of the
houses, that deficient drainage or water supply, re-
pairs, and nuisances might be reported at once to the
Parochial Officer, the others attending chiefly to cases
of urgent distress that the funds which were so
liberally contributed at this time might be well and
judiciously dispensed. But with every effort to or-
ganise our staff and systematize our work, and cer-
tainly most thankful we have been that this heavy
visitation found our Community of Clergy and lay
helpers, as well as our Sisterhood, thus prepared, it
was difficult to cope with the strain and pressure of
the need. The suddenness of the attack, the awful
rapidity with which it spread, and the speedy issue of
each seizure, requiring immediate attention both for
spiritual and physical relief, continually baffled our
most earnest endeavours to provide it. We were
continually impressed with the great truth that all was
in God's hands, that we were but instruments to be
used as He might choose, that our spiritual ministra-
tions were of no avail without His blessing. It
seemed as if all had to be done in a moment. For
the soul, it was required that the very first moments
of illness should be seized and improved in fulfilling
the whole work of the Priest, exhortation, prayer,
self-examination, confession, absolution, comfort, pre-
paration for the last struggle must be now or never ;
collapse so soon followed the first symptoms that

I

114 THE CHOLERA OF 186G.

there was not a moment to lose. And yet for the
body these moments were also most precious, medical
attention, the best preventive measures, violent fric-
tion, hot applications, the most careful watching and
nursing were demanded at the very moment, when
we should have been glad to have kept the patient
perfectly quiet for the preparation of his soul for
death. Then, alas ! the perpetual vomiting made
the reception of the Blessed Viaticum in the great
majority of cases physically impossible, so that all
that could be done was to exhort to a spiritual com-
munion, and most frequently shortly after it to com-
mend the soul into the hands of a merciful God and
Saviour.

However readily and efficiently help was given by
Sisters or Medical Men, yet much was after all left to
the priest. He was frequently first sent for, he was
often first applied to both for bodily and spiritual
help, his influence was invoked to induce the patients
to consent to go into the Hospital or Cholera Ward,
his own arms have more than once carried the sick
child through the streets wrapped in a blanket and
laid it on the bed of the Ward in charge of the Sis-
ters. This mixture of spiritual and bodily duties was
very harassing, generally before we could minister to
the soul it was necessary to provide medicine, nurses,
food, wine, clothing, &c. ; the experience we neces-
sarily gained from so many cases brought under our
notice made us trusted and respected, and while
others were in alarm and doubt as to what could be

THE CHOLEKA OF 18C6. 115

done, our advice ^vas eagerly demanded. But all this
made it harder to go calmly from one bedside to
another fulfilling our own special duties, while the
harassing distractions of the various cases increased
the difficulty of our spiritual office. Again, much
had to be done which was against the natural feelings
and affections of the people ; it was often most im-
portant, as soon as a case occurred in a closely packed
family, to get the patient removed at once, this was
often painful and distressing to the friends, though
necessary to their safety, for we had seen how dan-
gerous it was to allow the disease once to get hold of
a particular court or locality. Again, the removal of
the body so soon after death was naturally trying and
yet most important ; the destruction of the bedclothes
was often obtained with difficulty, especially in the
uncertainty of getting them replaced ; these were
general sanitary regulations to be carried out by pa-
rochial authorities, and yet, in many cases so distaste-
ful to the persons affected, that the influence of the
priest w^as invoked to secure attention to them, and
sometimes he incurred odium by honestly using that
influence.

At the same time there can be no doubt that the
effects of this mournful visitation was largely to in-
crease the influence of the Clergy and Sisters for
good in the Mission Districts ; many doors were
eagerly opened to them in the time of danger which
had never been opened before, many hearts untouched
in the time of health yielded to their exhortations

I 2

116 THE CHOLERA OF 18G6.

and prayers on a bed of sickness, many who had
sullenly passed them in the streets before, or perhaps
had thought or muttered some word of reproach now
turned round and blessed them, as they saw them
hurrying on their errands of mercy, those who had
never come to church before sought in S. Peter's a
refuge from the lowering pestilence, where they might
prepare for death themselves and pray for their
friends in danger.

x4.nother happy effect of this trying season was
that it helped to heal many old standing breaches in
the parish. We have already mentioned that the
Sisters of S. John's Home were specially invited by
the parochial authorities, to nurse the sick in the
Cholera Wards ; our own Sisters were often in com-
munication with them, the Clergy of the Mission
were gladly welcomed in their daily visits, their
advice was taken, and their co-operation readily ac-
cepted in procuring nurses, assisting at the Vestry
Boards, &c. ; indeed, more was left to them of a secular
<3haracter in the house to house visitation than they
were able fully to accomplish, however, a better
understanding and appreciation of one another's
motives were fostered in this time of common anxiety,
and we may trust that by God's grace they will con-
tinue.

It was in .the midst of this sad time that the
writer received a very kind letter from the Bishop of
the Diocese, inquiring after his own health and the
state of the district, and most consideratory adding,

THE CHOLEEA OF 18G6. 117

" you will not fail to command my services if I can
be of any use." It was thought that nothing could
be more opportune than the presence of the Bishop
amongst his suffering flock, and a sermon from him
in the church which now stood in the midst of the
infected district. The Bishop very kindly consented
to this request, and on Sunday, August 10th, came
down to S. Peter's Church. His first act was to
visit the Workhouse Cholera Wards close b}', where
happily by this time there were evident signs of the
abatement of the disease in the emptiness of the sick
wards and the removal of the chief portion of the
patients to the convalescent wards. Here the Bishop
and Mrs. Tait spoke a few kind words to the patients
and then the Bishop offered up a prayer for them and
the parish, and gave them his blessing. Thence
we passed through the district to the Wapping
Cholera Hospital, where he was received by the
Eector of Wapping, the Sisters, and the Medical
Staff, and having knelt in prayer in each ward and
spoken to several of the patients he here also gave
his blessing. Thence he paid a visit to the Sister-
hood in Calvert Street, and inquired most kindly into
the state of the district and the health of those who
had been working among the sick, and so preceded to
the Church.

Here a large congregation was already assembled,
indeed, there must have been about 900 persons in
the Church during the service. This consisted of
some appropriate hymns and the Litany, which was

118 THE CHOLERA OF 1866.

sung most devoutly by the Choir and large congrega-
tion, who also joined very heartily in the hymns.
The Bishop preached a very earnest and impressive
sermon on the mercies and warnings of the season,
alluding in the first instance to the large number of
names of sick persons prayed for, as well as of those
who returned thanks for their recovery from sickness,
about fifty or sixty in all, and then applying the lesson
to all, concluded with some practical suggestions on
physical improvements. His sermon was listened to
very attentively by the great throng of people, and it
was very gxatifying to the Clergy that their Bishop,
so soon after the consecration of S. Peter's, should
come down into the district and prove the blessing
of the Church by using it for so important a purpose.
The offertory at the special services was devoted
towards placing a memorial window in S. Peter's, in
remembrance of those who had suffered in the
Cholera ; between £7 and £8 was then collected, and
a small addition was made on the Day of Thanksgiving
kept on the last Sunday in Advent, for our deliverance
from Cholera.

We must not forget in this chapter to record our
debt of gratitude to those generous contributors, who
so promptly answered the appeal made in the columns
of the Times for the Belief of Cholera in S. George's
Mission Districts. The letter forwarded by the
writer was at once inserted, and in the course of a
week no less than £1,000 was contributed by friends
far and near, not only in sums of £10 or £20 but in

THE CHOLERA OF 1866. 119

the smaller gifts of a few stamps from servants,
clerks, or artisans, with the most generous expres-
sions of interest in the poor sufferers, often with kind
suggestions and recipes for Cholera. This fund at
last reached £2,000, and enabled us to meet the
wants of that trying time promptly and liberally. A
layman kindly volunteered his services as secretary,
which were most valuable in conducting the cor-
respondence and keeping the accounts of the fund,
and a brother of the Society of the Holy Eedeemer
at West Torrington, Lincolnshire, likewise gave his
help in visiting the sick and distressed. The accounts
of the distribution of this sum have been published in
the last Eeport and circulated among all contributors
whose addresses were given.

It is also to the existence of this fund that we are
indebted for the opportunity of establishing the Con-
valescent Home at Seaford, which was a most valuable
resource, as soon as the disease abated, for those
recovering. During the prevalence of Cholera, and
especially when it seemed to be attacking particular
courts or localities, serious thoughts were entertained
of moving whole families into the country, and appli-
cations were made to the War Office for an empty
barrack, to the Poor Law Board for a disused Work-
house, and even the plan of erecting temporary huts
was at one time considered, but so great difficulties
were found to exist in all these projects, that the more
modest one of renting a Convalescent Hospital was
at last determined upon. Even this was not readily

120 THE CHOLERA OF 1866.

obtained near London, the fear of Cholera was great,
and alarm lest it should be introduced into suburban
parishes so easily excited, that it was not until after
many enquiries, that it was determined to try the
seaside at a greater distance. Happily two well-
situated houses were found at Seaford, in Sussex,
commanding a fine view of the sea and open to the
fresh air and beautiful neighbourhood of the Downs,
The houses were no sooner secured than the Mother
Superior with one of the Sisters arranged the furni-
ture, and though empty on the Tuesday they were
ready to receive the guests on the Friday of the same
week. A party of nearly thirty including some chil-
dren and orphans arrived on that afternoon and were
soon tempted out on the beach and cliffs. The
thorough enjoyment of those who had never seen the
sea before at their release from their close and pesti-
lential homes, and the happy exchange of them for the
pure and healthy climate were an exhilarating spec-
tacle. The party consisted of a coalheaver, a dust-
man and his wife and child, a labourer in a bone
charcoal manufactory, a boy mentioned in a previous
chapter, whose young sister died, and who himself
worked at a soap manufactory, with other men and
women, some of whom had been amongst our worst
cases, but by God's mercy had recovered. All
settled down in their places, those who were well
enough assisted in the work of the house very cheer-
fully, and soon found out the neighbouring attractions
by sea and land. On the first Sunday, after attend-

THE CHOLERA OF 1866. 121

ing the early celebration of the Holy Eucharist at
the Parish Church, we were told that some inhabitants
were alarmed at the idea of convalescents from
Cholera coming to Church, though every precaution
had been taken to prevent infection. Everyone had
a bath and an entire change of clothes the last thing
before leaving London, everything in the houses
was new, so there was no ground for alarm though
it was naturally excited. In consequence it was pro-
posed, being a fine morning, to have an open air
service, which was joyfully agreed to, and priest and
congregation, men, women, and children, betook
themselves to a lovely spot on the cliffs, under an
old Eoman encampment, commanding a rare view of
the sea and coast towards Beachy Head on one side,
and Brighton on the other. Here we sang Matins,
the men on one side and the women and girls on the
other, while the Gospel of the day, " Consider the
lilies of the field," naturally furnished a most appro-
priate text. It was a delightful service to which even
that noble philanthropist, who said he would rather
worship with Lydia by the river side than in the
rich shrine of S. Barnabas, could scarcely have ob-
jected, and yet even to this retired spot we were
tracked by a jealous Protestant distributor of anti-
ritual and anti-sacramental tracts. The service over,
our party, with the exception of a few of the weaker
ones, made their way to the flag-staff, whence a more
extensive view was obtained, and then all returned
happily to dinner. In the evening our Church

1^2 THE CHOLERA. OF 1866.

quarantine was taken off and though occasionally a
few expressions of fear were heard in the town yet it
was found that there was no real danger to be appre-
hended from the Cholera convalescents. The sea
air, bathing, walks, and excursions over the cliffs and
into the neighbouring country soon made a wonderful
change in the appearance and strength of our patients,
until at last a party of the men were able to accom-
plish a walk of nine miles along the cliffs from East-
bourne, whither they had been taken by railway. In
the evening they assembled in their sitting-room and.
related their several adventures during the day, read
or listened to some amusing or instructive reading
from others, and joined in the games provided for
them. Before supper they met for prayer in the
little Oratory, when a short service was held, with a
few words of instruction.

The greater portion of the first party being restored
to health in the course of three weeks or a month
returned home, and Avas succeeded by a fresh detach-
ment, and thus we were enabled to extend the bene-
fits of our Home to seventy or eighty convalescents.
The house being taken for a year we are continuing
its blessing to others who need change of air, and we
shall be very thankful if the experiment of this year
results in our being enabled to make it a permanent
Convalescent Home for those of our own or neigh-
bouring districts who need the change. We may
hope that the benefits of such a Home will be not
only physical but also moral and religious, as the

THE CHOLEKA OF 1866. 123

cleanliness and order of the house, the social inter-
course Avith the Clergy and Sisters or with the ladies
in charge, and the religious opportunities all tend to
promote a healthier atmosphere of mind as well as of
body.

We cannot conclude this chapter on the Cholera of
1866 without thanking God for the wonderful influ-
ence which it was permitted to exercise in the ad-
vancement of Sisterhoods in the Church of England.
During its prevalence members of no less than seven
communities of Sisters were working in the East of
London in Hospitals or parochial districts. The
universal testimony borne to the value of their ser-
vices must have been sufficient to convince even the
most prejudiced. We have already spoken of their
work, in our more immediate district. The Bishop
of London, who had the best opportunities of know-
ing the real extent of their services, the readiness of
their self-devotion, ard the value of their organized
help, has recorded his opinion in his last charge.
The blessing conferred by the Hospital in the Com-
mercial Road, under the charge of the Devonport
Sisterhood was thoroughly recognised by the Clergy
and poor of Spitalfields and Bethnal Green. One of
the Medical Staff of the London Hospital gave it as
his opinion that the presence of the Sisters from All
Saints' in that Hospital was, under God, the means
of allaying a panic, which the virulence of the disease
had already excited among the nurses, and which if
not checked in time might have disorganized the

124 THE CHOLERA OF 1866.

whole discipline of the Hospital. When we find
Boards of Guardians and Vestries adding their testi-
mony to the value of such services, we may hope that
the sad experience of this fearful visitation may be
the means of securing a more Christian ministry for
the sick in our Hospitals and Workhouse Infirmaries,
and showing the women of England what a noble
field there is for their energies in the service of their
suffering brethren.

The poor of the East of London, especially of our
own neighbourhood, have a special claim for such a
ministry, not only in their great poverty, but in the
fact that they have been robbed most unjustly of such
a provision actually founded for them by the charity
of an ancient and royal foundation. The Hospital of
S. Katharine, endowed by the liberality of former
Queens, though desecrated by the ^present S. Katha-
rine's Docks, yet retains much of its former organiza-
tion as a Community of Priests, Brethren, Sisters,
bedesmen and bedeswomen, and far more than
enough of its former revenues to employ those ser-
vices if rightly directed for the benefit of the poor
and destitute. And yet it is actually permitted that
such a body should hold a capital of £50,000 in the
Funds, with a present income of £4,000 per annum,
which by proper management and future accessions
will in the course of time reach between £12,000 and
£13,000 per annum, and should rest at ease in the
Eegent's Park with scarce an attempt to benefit any-
one but themselves, while the East of London is call-

THE CHOLERA OF 18GG. 195

ing out loudly for Missionary Clergy, Scliools, Work-
house Infirmaries, and the loving ministry of Bro-
thers and Sisters for its i^oor and sick. Here is a
sum of money ready at once for the ^Durchase of
buildings and the endowment of the charitable works
which might be carried on in them. Let us hope
that the late investigation by the Charity Trustees
may lead to a radical reform of the gross abuses
which it exposes.

And now in concluding this chapter we would say
a few words on the sanitary and medical experience,
which such a trial has brought with it. We may per-
haps offend the prejudices of some of our readers, but
lovers of truth whether in religious or physical sub-
jects must be glad to hear the simple results of
experience. While then we found on all sides that
medical science was completely at fault, that system
after system was tried without effect, that the ordinary
or allopathic treatment completely failed, in a small
sphere certainly of experience, and yet in a suffi-
ciently encouraging one, we found the homoeopathic
remedies eminently successful. We should have been
very glad to have been able to test them on a larger
scale, by opening a Hospital on that system, but there
were too many difficulties in the way to make it prac-
ticable, and it was not for the clergy to interfere with
the treatment carried out by the regular medical au-
thorities except under very pressing circumstances.
We have already spoken of the value of the tincture
of Camphor as a preventive ; when this was used in

126 THE CHOLERA OF 186G.

time on the very first symptoms of the attack it
seldom failed to arrest the disease, and of this we had
numberless proofs, as there was no difficulty in giving
it at once before the medical man was able to attend
to the case. But even when this failed or the
stomach refused it and cramps supervened, the ho-
moeopathic preparations of Veratrum and Cuprum,
with applications of ice to the spine and fomentations
of the bowels were found very efficacious. In one of
the most violent attacks of cramps on a woman of
weak constitution, by no means a favourable case,
when the attacks were most frequent, the agony in-
tense, the contortions of the body fearful, and her
screams so violent that they disturbed the neighbour-
hood, these remedies had a most remarkable effect in
first lessening the frequency and violence, and finally
altogether arresting the recurrence of the attacks,
while the patient instead of falling into collapse, as
would have been ordinarily expected after such an
attack, was gradually restored by Arsenicum. A re-
markable circumstance in this case was that the
patient having been persuaded to take some allopathic
medicine about twenty-four hours after the cramps
had ceased, suffered a return of them and was
obliged to recur to the former remedies, which had
proved so successful before and again revived her.
The brother of a schoolgirl mentioned before was
also most successfully treated on the homoeopathic
system, while she was under the ordinary treatment,
and though he was for days apparently on the brink

■ THE CHOLEEA OF 1866. 127

of death yet he finally recovered. We saw in many
cases the danger of using large amounts of stimu-
lants ; brandy, though it might revive for a little, if
used largely brought on congestion of the brain ; the
proper use was in very small quantities in ice water.
So again the allowing of too much nourishment was
found to be a great mistake, small quantities in no
way forced upon weak digestions were far more bene-
ficial than larger ones. The insising upon cleanli-
ness, free ventilation of air, the immediate destruction
of all bedding and clothes on which the dead or sick
had lain, the supply of nourishing food, port wine,
&c., to families in danger of infection, the carrying
out of all proper sanitary regulations in respect to
drains, refuse, &c., were found to be most important.
Though these remarks scarcely come within the
sphere of our spiritual work in the Mission, yet it is
hoped they may not be thought out of place as con-
veying some practical hints on the treatment of
Cholera drawn from our personal experience.

JMay God of His great mercy grant that none of
these lessons may have been learnt in vain, but that
both Clergy and people may be so moved by the sad
experience of this awful judgment to a more earnest
fulfilment of their several duties, that so heavy a
punishment may not again be needed, and that while
we thankfully recognize the many mercies bestowed
upon us in this time of need, we may look back upon
the scenes of the Cholera of 1866 as remembrances
of the past.

128

CHAPTER XII.

TERSECUTIONS ANNIVERSARIES FINANCE.

It would have been a matter of great suri)rise if
such a work as we have now described, had been per-
mitted to progress without some amount of worldly
opposition. All our friends know well that we have
not been left without this mark of God's blessing. At
first indeed this was nothing more than the ordinary
trial of want of sympathy from those with whom we
should have been glad to co-operate ; misunderstand-
ings of our real principles, and motives of action ;
openly expressed or scarcely disguised suspicions of
our honesty and attachment to the Church of England,
and occasional insults in the streets. But during the
unhappy reign of blasphemy and desecration in the
Parish Church, it could not be supposed that the
Mission would escape scatheless, Our connexion
with the Rector, as Curates licensed in his Parish,
though our duty had seldom taken us to the Parish
Church except at our Anniversaries and such like

PERSECUTIONS. 1^9

occasions, until we felt bound to give what help we
could in the hour of danger, naturally involved
us in greater peril when open floodgates with the
turbid streams of ungodliness inundated the Parish.

It would be a painful and unnecessary task to recall
the scenes enacted in the Parish Church during this
crisis, nor is it strictly connected with a history of the
Mission. The insults which the Clergy met with in
those days, were not from their own people, who on
the contrary showed the greatest concern for their
safety, and even at times an exaggerated zeal in de-
fending them, but from the mob which gathered round
the Parish Church from other parts of the parish, or
from a distance. It is, however, a part of our present
business to speak of the attempts which were made to
disturb the services of the Mission Chapels, and by
God's blessing so happily defeated.

At the time when the Parish Church was closed,
the mob which had come down every Sunday to pro-
fane the services, was naturally disappointed in its
unholy object, and turned its fury upon the Mission
Chapels. In S. Saviour's Church, on one occasion
the rioters succeeded in putting a stop to the service,,
and considerable confusion was also caused by them
in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd, in Calvert
Street. Upon this we determined to admit none to-
the services except by tickets, which we gave to the
members of our own congregation, or to any other
respectable persons. For one or two Sundays the
mob assembled more than 1000 strong in Wellclose

K

130 PERSECUTIONS.

Square, and attempted to break through into the
Church, the gates, however, formed an effectual
barrier, and though our congregation had great diffi-
culty in forcing their way through the crowd, yet some
succeeded, and the service was carried on without
actual interruption. No one present on that occasion
could easily forget the sense of awe created by the
solemn stillness within the Church, contrasted with
the noisy hum of voices indistinctly heard without.
Attempts were likewise made to annoy the Clergy,
Choir, and congregation, on their way home, but
happily without any serious effect, and after a Sunday
or two the excitement ceased, and our services have
been conducted without any serious interruption ever
since. The feeling aroused in the parish has of course
to some extent affected our progress, but on the whole
not injuriously, it has proved a good test to the sin-
cerity of our people, has thrown us back upon the
soundness of our own principles, and has tended to
consolidate and establish our work. It was of course
disagreeable to meet with insults and abuse from rude
girls and ignorant boys, as we passed along, but we
patiently bore these, when we felt our real work for
the salvation of souls was progressing. The very dregs
of the people have been taught to think about religion,
and though the truth may often have been presented
to them in a repulsive rather than an attractive man-
ner, yet on the whole they see where the real interest
in their souls' welfare lies, and thus a foundation is
laid on which we hope to raise a good superstructure

PERSECUTIONS. 131

hereafter. Many have heen hrought to Church
through the unpleasant notoriety which we had gained,
and some who have come to scoff have remained to
worship. Our first choir hoy began by insulting one
of the Clergy in the street, who, quietly led him into
the house and talked to him, in the end asking him
whether he would like to be in the choir. At that
time he was unbaptized, he was first prepared, then
baptized, and afterwards admitted into the Choir ;
since then he has been confirmed and become a
communicant, and though in a good situation, keeps
up his attendance, through him his brothers and
sisters have been baptized, his mother and three of
his sisters are communicants, and another sister in
the Industrial School is being prepared for Confir-
mation.

Perhaps nothing during these ten years has so
tended to overthrow early prejudices and opposition
as the help, which, by God's grace, the Clergy and
Sisters were enabled to give to the sufferers in the
time of Cholera. The poor recognised more than
ever their true friends, and those above them found
who could be relied on for co-operation in time of
need. The final settlement of the District, and the
Consecration of S. Peter's as the Parish Church, the
presence and hearty sympathy of the Bishop both at
the Consecration and in the season of Cholera, have
all tended to give a public recognition to the work of
the Mission, which we may hope will finally silence

K 9

132 ANNIVERSARIES.

unfriendly prejudices and remove the remaining
obstacles to our work.

Amid former persecutions and difficulties with
which we have had to contend, the Anniversaries of
our various works have recurred as bright and cheer-
ing days, bringing down many old and tried friends to
give us their sympathy and encouragement, and
specially to join with us before the Holy Altar in
llianking God for His past mercies, and seeking fresh
strength for the future. When in happier and calmer
days we were able to keep these Festivals at the
Parish Church, we had large gatherings of our friends
from a distance, but the disturbances in the Parish
for a time made it necessary to discontinue the cele-
bration on the spot.

For the last five years, however, we have been
enabled to resume the celebrations at S. Saviour's,
though it was considered better for the IMission to
continue the Anniversaries of the chapel of the Good
Shepherd at some church in the west-end more con-
veniently situated. Among the churches whose In-
cumbents have kindly welcomed us on these occasions,
we must always remember with gratitude S. Paul's,
Knightsbridge, and S. Barnabas, S. Mary Magdalene,
All Saints', and S. Alban's ; while our thanks are no
less due to those who have at various times preached
at our anniversaries — the Archbishop of Dublin, the
Bishops of Honolulu and Nassau, the Bishop
of Calcutta, the Dean of Westminster, the Eevs.
the Hon. K. Liddell, Dr. Neale, Dr. Evans, Dr.

ANNIVERSARIES. 133

Wolff, W. J. E. Bennett, T. T. Carter. H. P. Liddon,
W. J. Butler, A. H. Mackonochie, E. Monro, G. Wil-
liams, J. K. Woodford, &c., &c. By the kindness
also of several parochial clergy in Oxford sermons
have been preached in their churches, and a success-
ful meeting was held in the Town Hall under the
presidency of the Mayor of Oxford. Last year a
lecture on the spiritual destitution of the metropolis,
with special relation to the Mission, was given in the
Hall of Exeter College, when the Vice-Chancellor
kindly presided over a large audience, and himself
expressed a hearty sympathy for the work of the
Mission, and the Rev. A. H. Mackonochie added
some interesting remarks on his own pastoral work
at S. Alban's. The interest excited in the University
bore fruit in the collections made in several colleges.
We must not forget to record the kindness of the
Rev. G. Williams in allowing an address to be made
in his rooms to a large meeting of Cambridge under-
graduates. Offertories also have been sent us from
several parish churches in the country, especially col-
lected at Harvest Festivals.

The collections at the Anniversaries have been im-
portant helps to us in a pecuniary point of view, while
the hearty services in Church, and the earnest prayers
of those who have been thus gathered together before
the Holy Altar have doubtless been the means of
drawing down upon us abundant blessings in our
work.

We cannot indeed bring to a close this history of

134 FINANCE.

the Mission without alluding to the many temporal
as well as spiritual blessings which we have received.
It should be remembered that S. George's Mission
was the first Mission in the Church of England of
its peculiar character, and not least of all in this, that
it threw itself for support upon the charity of the
Church without any endowment or guaranteed main-
tenance ; its existence has depended from the very
first upon the alms of the faithful. We remember
that, in the commencement of our work, a so-called
religious paper made it a matter of ridicule, that a
Mission should be started without any other visible
means of support than prayer, and yet that prayer
so often offered for God's blessing upon our labours
has borne fruit in our present success. What
but God's mercy could have supported us as He has
done through these ten years ? Commencing in the
very humblest way, we have been led on to our pre-
sent position. At first it was a matter of serious
consideration, whether w-e could raise £100 a year for
the support of a missionary priest. Yet our ordinary
income has been twenty times as much, and during
last year we were enabled to spend eighty times as
much in the building of S. Peter's, the relief of dis-
tress in time of Cholera, and the ordinary Mission
work.

We would gladly take this opportunity of express-
ing our grateful thanks to the many well-known as
well as unknown friends who have helped us, often
as it seemed beyond their means. It has been a

FINANCE. 135

great encouragement to ns in many difficulties, to be
assured by the kind expressions of interest which we
have received, as well as by large and substantial
tokens which have accompanied them, that our work
was really valued. We have often wondered that,
with the many misrepresentations which were circu-
lated, and severe judgments which were passed on
our failings and shortcomings, our old friends should
have proved so staunch and faithful in our seasons of
trial and discouragement. The kind letters which
we have received from members of the Church per-
sonally unknown to us have been most comforting,
we have felt them as marks of God's love in the com-
munion of His Church. We ask now that very many
<vho have received scant or perhaps no acknowledg-
ment of their kindness, will receive the only apology
we can make, that not want of gratitude, but of time
to express it, has been the cause of this apparent
negligence.

Yet while we thankfully acknowledge the great
bounty of the past, and express our renewed confi-
dence of support for the time to come, we must not
shrink from impressing upon our friends that we are
as yet far from having achieved an independent
position. The balance sheet of our Building Account,
which will be issued with this little history, will show
that we have still a debt of £1,200 to defray for S.
Peter's, there are many almost necessary additions
Avhich should be made, such as organ, complete stalls,
iron fence, &c., which would raise the sum needed to

136 FINANCE.

^61,600 and no one can enter the church without
feeling that its grand outline and proportions are
worthy of the further ornaments of reredos, painted
glass, screens and sculpture, which form part of the
plan.

As an endowment is expected from the Ecclesias-
tical Commission, the Committee of the Bishop's
Fund in accordance with their rules has withdrawn
their grant for a Missionary Curate on the Con-
secration of S. Peter's, and the whole support of
the clergy of S. Peter's as well as of S. Saviour's
has hitherto fallen upon the Mission Funds. The
Mission House, Schools, Penitentiary, Working Men's
Club, Church Expenses, rents, and various charities
for the poor, &c., require an income of nearly i62,000
per annum. We need at once and very urgently, a
Clergy House, for S. Peter's, which would cost with
the site at least £1,500, Schools could scarcely be built
for less than £3,000. We cannot yet estimate what
may be wanted for S. Saviour's District in addition to
the £5,000 promised for a Church and Schools until
the assignment of the District itself is settled. It
would be a great blessing to S. Peter's Parish, and
indeed to the whole Mission, if suitable buildings
were erected for the Sisterhood and Industrial School
with which the Girls and Infants' Schools, Soup
Kitchen, Infirmary, and other accommodation for
works of charity might be combined, this might
be commenced with a sum of £5,000. So that on
the whole could £10,000 be raised during the pre-

FINANCE. 137

sent ye^r in addition to our ordinary income it might
be well and profitably employed in works of per-
manent benefit to this very destitute neighbourhood.
We hope that our friends will not be alarmed at
the idea of raising such a Fund, the experience of
the last ten years in which thrice as much has been
raised gives us confidence, and we doubt not, if it be
for God's Glory, it will be done. Pew things help so
much to give a permanence to our work as permanent
Homes for our institutions and those who are en-
gaged in carrying them on.

138 PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

CHAPTEK XIII.

THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF THE MISSION.

We have thus followed the history of the^irs^ Home
Mission of the Church of England, understanding by
that term a missionary body devoting itself to the re-
lief of the spiritual and temporal wants of English
poor at home. We have endeavoured to describe in
a plain and simple statement of facts the origin and
progress of this undertaking, the trials and difficulties
through which it has passed, the blessings which
have been vouchsafed to its labours, as well as the
disappointments by which it has been proved. While
we thankfully recognize the merciful Hand of our
good God stretched over us, shielding us from many
dangers, and prospering our exertions, we humbly
confess our own weakness and insufficiency for so
great an undertaking, as well as many failures occa-
sioned by our shortcomings. Still we have been
wonderfully blessed, so much so, that convinced as
we are that it is God's work, we cannot but resolve

OF THE MISSION. 139

by His help and blessing to persevere to the utmost
of our power.

When Ave look back upon our very small begin-
nings, upon the one or two who first came to us, and
then feel that we have more than two hundred com-
municants bound to us by the very closest spiritual
ties, besides four or five times that number who are
members of our congregations, parents of our shool-
children, members of our Clubs, or in some other
way brought into connexion with us, when we look
round upon so many smiling faces of our little ones,
looking up cheerfully and trustfully to us for religious
guidance and instruction, or when we look at both
our religious houses in London, whether that of
Clergy and teachers, or that of the Sisters with the
children under their care, both bearing witness for
Christ and His Church in the most destitute and de-
graded district of the Metropolis, when we feel that
we have now a Consecrated Church for ever dedicated
to God's service and a Pai'ish permanently attached
to it, when we hear the sound of our Church bells,
inviting day by day and many times a day, ' all who
will heed them, to the constant services of prayer and
praise, and remember that here is daily offered the
Blessed Sacrifice, that prayers, and praises, and
litanies, are daily ascending for ourselves and all
around us, nay, for the whole Church ; or when we
pass from our own immediate district to the quiet of
the country, and see there two large Christian house-
holds reared up, one of penitents seeking pardon for

140 PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

past sin, and grace to lead new lives, watched over by
religious women whose whole selves are devoted to
their recovery, the other our convalescent Home at
the Sea-side where our children and poor are gaining
health and strength for their bodies. When we
remember that 100 and often 200 mouths are daily
fed by the Mission, and more that 1000 souls of old
and young brought under the influence of Christian
teaching and Christian love, we cannot but adore the
goodness of our God Who has permitted us to bear
our part in this blessed work of mercy. Surely we
must thank God and take courage.

So much, then, for the past and present, the future
is in the same merciful Hands. And when we feel that
amidst such trials He has stablished and settled our
work, we may hope yet better things are in store for
us. Humanly speaking, if Clergy, Sisters, and pe-
cuniary means were given us we might extend our
work almost indefinitely.

S. Peter's is legally settled, and we cannot but hope
that nothing will prevent a like permanence being
given to S. Saviour's. The works which we have
already indicated in the former chapter show what we
areready to accomplishjif we obtain the necessaiy funds.
Thus, v/e might look forward to the settlement of
two Ecclesiastical districts, when the missionary
system would give place to the parochial, and even if
the present hitherto missionary clergy should
become permanently attached to their respective
charges, yet it is a great cause of thankfulness to

OF THE MISSION. 141

know that S. George's Mission has been recognised
by the Bishop as having been instrumental in
giving an impulse to many great missionary works
of this important Diocese, and to be able to look
around on so many neighbouring Missions, carried
on, for the most part, on the same principles as our
own, so that, even if the present missionary body
should be unable to remove to another sphere, it
may be hoped that their influence is extending and
will extend to many other destitute parishes and dis-
tricts, both in London and the country.

Thus, with God's blessing, we might go forward,
or, if not we, yet our fellow- workers, in converting
many other diy and barren wastes into happy pas-
tures, where the Lord's flock might be fed by their
own shepherds, who, like the Good Shepherd, would
know their own sheep, and be known of them.

Are there none amongst our brethren, Priests,
Deacons, or Candidates for Holy Orders, who will
cast in their lot among us, and enter as willing
labourers upon those fields already ripe for the har-
vest ? By God's help we will provide them main-
tenance, and He will give them their reward.

Are there no pious daughters of the Church of
England to cheer the souls of their sisters, already
devoting themselves to the service of Christ's poor,
by joining with them in their blessed works of love
and mercy to the souls and bodies of His people?
They also will find a home and sympathy, and abufi-
dant opportunities of usefulness.

142 PAST, I'RESENT, AND FUTURE

Are there no noble-hearted children of the Church
on whom God in His Providence has bestowed the
means, who will come forward at this time to help us
in raising Churches to His Glory, in building schools
for his little ones, Clergy Houses and conventual
buildings for both Clergy and Eeligious Women, who
desire only to devote themselves more entirely to the
service of Christ's poor and His Church, thus estab-
lishing a pennanent witness for Him in the centre of
these once neglected districts, and in maintaining the
works of mercy we have already undertaken, that
those who are bearing the burden and heat of the
day may be cheered and encouraged in their labours
of love.

But upon all we may call to pray for us.

PRAYER.

O Lord Jesu Christ, Thou Good Shepherd of the
sheep, Who wouldest not that any should perish,
but that all should come to repentance, bless the
endeavours of those who are seeking Thy lost sheep
in the wilderness of this sinful world. Let Thy love
and patience be shown forth in their lives and con-
versation, Thy tenderness and compassion in their
words and actions, that they may win many souls for
Thee. Kindle in other hearts a desire to devote
themselves to this work of mercy, and grant that we
with them and all who shall thus be gathered into

PEAYER. 143

Thy fold, being knit together in the unity of Thy
Church, may appear with Thee in everlasting glory.
Who livest and reignest with the Father and the
Holy Ghost, One God, world without end. Amen.

TO THE GREATER GLORY OF GOD.

LONDON :
PEIKTED BY G. J. PALMEE, 32, LITTLE QUEEN STEEET.

Subscriptions and Donations to the General Fund
are received by the Kev. C. F. Lowdee, 44, Wellclose
Square, E., (Post Office Orders should be made pay-
able at the Office, Wellclose Square,) or may be paid
to the account of S. George's Mission, at Messrs.
Barnetts & Cos., 62, Lombard Street.

Contributions for the Building Fund to ** S.
George's East Church and School Fund," and for the
House of Mercy to the account of the "East London
Penitentiary," (T. Charrington, Esq., Treasurer,)
at Messrs. Barnetts & Go's., for the Industrial
School to the account of " S. Stephen's Home,"
at Messrs. Stevenson & Salt's, 20, Lombard Street.

Contributions to the " Ten Years Fund " may be
paid in yearly instalments in the course of three
years.

SAINT GEORGE'S MISSION

Is the first Mission of the Church in London, and
now maintains in two destitute districts of 10,000
souls, in one of the worst parts of the East of
London,

1. Five Clergy.

2. One District Church, consecrated last year, and
one Mission Chapel, each with daily celebrations,
constant services, frequent sermons, classes, and
other instructions.

8. Seven Sunday and Daily Schools, and Evening
Classes.

4. Two Working Mens* Clubs, a Boys' Institute,
with classes, lectures, and social and musical enter-
tainments.

5. A House of Mercy for thirty fallen women and
girls.

6. A Penny Bank, and various charities for the
relief of the poor and sick.

7. A Convalescent Home at the Seaside for twenty-
five inmates.

The Sisters of S. George's Mission visit the
poor and sick, teach in the schools, manage the
House of Mercy, and maintain

8. The Industrial School for training forty girls for
service.

For these various works an annual income of about
U^ijOOO is required.

Gifts of old clothes, shoes, and garments, nomina-
tions for the London and Victoria Park Hospitals,
books for the Lending Libraries and Clubs, will be
thankfully received by the Clergy, in Wellclose
Square, E.; or the Mother Superior, Mission
House, Calvert Street, S. George's East, by whom
also orders for Church work, altar vestments,
embroidery, &c., are received, as well as for washing
in the House of Mercy.

Mission boxes, collecting cards, annual reports, &c.,
will be forwarded by the Clergy.

Photographs of the Interior of the Chapel of the
Good Shepherd, and of the last Procession on the
Festival of S. John Baptist, 1866, may be obtained
of Mr. J. H. Hartley, 169, Old Gravel Lane. Price
Is. 6d. each, or 2s. 6d. the pair. Also S. George's
Mission Almanack, price 8d.

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