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diff --git a/38330.txt b/38330.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5175925 --- /dev/null +++ b/38330.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8458 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Man with the Book, by John Matthias Weylland + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Man with the Book + or, The Bible Among the People. + +Author: John Matthias Weylland + +Release Date: December 17, 2011 [EBook #38330] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MAN WITH THE BOOK *** + + + + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Lindy Walsh, Julia Neufeld and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +Transcriber's note: + +Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). + +Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). + +Small capital text has been replaced with all capitals. + +Hyphenation is inconsistent and has been left as in the original; +archaic spelling has been retained. Punctuation has been normalised and +obvious printer errors corrected. + +Page 65 "if they speak not according to this word" transcriber supplied +missing word 'this'. + +Page 302 "the story of Christian effort" missing word 'of' supplied +by transcriber. + + * * * * * + + The Man with the Book; + + OR, + + THE BIBLE AMONG THE PEOPLE. + + BY + JOHN MATTHIAS WEYLLAND, + + AUTHOR OF + "ROUND THE TOWER," "A THOUGHT FOR THE WORLD," + ETC., ETC. + + "Oh, blest the land, the city blest, + Where Christ the Ruler is confest! + Oh, happy hearts and happy homes, + To whom this King in triumph comes." + + _Weiszel._ + + + INTRODUCTION BY THE RIGHT HON. + THE EARL OF SHAFTESBURY, K.G. + + TENTH THOUSAND, ENLARGED. + + LONDON: + S. W. PARTRIDGE & CO., 9, PATERNOSTER ROW. + EDINBURGH & GLASGOW: J. MENZIES & CO. + DUBLIN: GEORGE HERBERT. + + + _Butler & Tanner, + The Selwood Printing Works, + Frome, and London._ + + + To + + HIS BELOVED WIFE + + AND + + UNWEARIED HELPER IN CHRISTIAN EFFORT + + THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED + + BY + + THE AUTHOR. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +To all who desire to obtain an accurate knowledge of the inner life of +London, and probably of all our large towns, and would ascertain, by +studying the results of experience, the best mode of grappling with its +evils, the following pages will be deeply interesting. They give the +history and fruits of many years' labour among the most filthy, +destitute, and degraded classes of the whole Metropolis. Yet these +classes are by no means the most hopeless. A grand aggressive movement +of Christianity against those strongholds of vice, disease, and misery, +would end in a larger victory than in one of equal vigour against the +obstinacy and self-satisfaction of the great body of the skilled +artisans. + +The publication of such papers is very important in these days, when +inquiry and discussion are busy to discover the true secret of what is +required at the present crisis for dealing with the vast masses of the +people. So far as I can see, they have as yet reached no other +conclusion (whether it be avowed or not) than that all existing +arrangements and organizations, singly and collectively, are inadequate +to the task. The Established Church, by itself, is feeble; the +Non-conformists still more so. The two, working together in harmony, +might attain some happy issues; but, even on the supposition of their +cordial union, a new machinery must be devised, as an adjunct to all our +actual systems of operation. + +It is vain to conceive that bricks and mortar, and the multiplication of +churches and chapels, would accomplish the purpose. The sudden +exhibition of many places of worship would rather avert than attract the +people, who, through our long neglect of them, are full of prejudices +and superstitions about such matters. The money laid out on these +edifices would be better expended on an increase and maintenance of +living agents of every sort and degree, as manifold, as various, and as +special, as the wonderful congeries of human beings to whom their +efforts would be addressed. + +All the several agencies now at work have their merits, and the +conductors of them can recite many instances of real success. But there +is a lower depth into which we have to descend, and descend, not by fits +and starts, but regularly and systematically. It is the steady +continuity of the effort, and not its occasional vigour, that will make +the profound and lasting impression. And this continuity cannot be kept +up by the committees and directors alone. It must draw the main force +of its life from the zeal, the fervour, the hearty feeling, and +class-experience of the workers themselves. They must be numerous and +active, and not a few of them be drawn from the very ranks they are +enlisted to assail. The first movements must be made on individuals, or +at most on twos and threes. Every filthy court must be invaded, the dark +and terrible retreats be disturbed and enlightened. Such labours may +be--nay, will be--oppressive and revolting, but perseverance will drive +away discouragement. Doubtless it is a fierce trial to stand day by day, +and hour by hour, face to face and hand to hand with the inhabitants of +these pestilential and gloomy recesses; but patience for a while, and +they may be brought from the private conversation to the cottage +lecture, from the lecture to the mission-room, from the mission-room to +the church or chapel, from unqualified misery to comparative joy. The +condition of their dwellings is an awful impediment; but even this, in +many instances, may be partially overcome. The cause is great; and the +blessing of God has ever rested on the prayers and labours of those who +have sought to comfort and instruct the most suffering and degraded of +the children of men. + +That such men are to be found, and that their efforts enjoy no small +success, is proved by the narratives of this book. These excellent men +have established the principle, they have produced the results. It only +remains that many should arise to imitate their good example, and +extend, far and wide, the operation of this wise and solid benevolence. +And why should they not arise, and in sufficient numbers? + +It is a remarkable fact--but fact it is--that, by the special mercy and +Providence of God, a due supply of agents, able and effective for such a +career as this, can ever be found by those who diligently seek them. Men +and women of true hearts, of earnest piety, and of adequate powers, +spring in abundance out of the less affluent classes of society, and are +trained for the highest and noblest purposes. In what other way can we +account for the array of some 450 men of the London City Mission, men +with special zeal and special fitness to go among the masses? How else +for the peaceful army of Bible-women and Bible-nurses? That such large +numbers should answer to the call, and that so few, after trial, should +be found unworthy of their vocation, is a positive marvel, and proves +that the slow diffusion of what is good and restorative is due, not to +the lack of qualified agents, but to the parsimony of those on whom God +has bestowed the means of putting His gifts into life and motion. + +It is so--for these people, who thus devote themselves to the cause of +our Lord, must be fed and clothed with the rest of mankind. "They that +preach the gospel, must live of the gospel;" and the rich of the earth +should be told that if the first and highest motive be wanting in their +hearts, the second one may be deserving of their serious consideration. +These agencies tend to the tranquillization of society; and as a +tranquillizing influence, they tend to the security of property. Look at +the results of the efforts of Miss de Broen among the Communists of +Belleville, and it will be seen that by the spread of the gospel among +those terrible masses, a beginning has been made more likely to +establish a happier order of things than the indefinite multiplication +of soldiers and _gendarmerie_. + +I know not how far these suggestions may recommend themselves to the +judgment of the public at large. I offer them simply as the conclusions +of long observation, backed by the judgment of many far more experienced +than myself. It is at least worth while to make the effort, and try to +what extent we may rouse and utilize the dormant qualities of the +poorest ranks of society. We may oftentimes discern delicacy of feeling, +honesty of character, and vigour of resolution, among these degraded but +immortal beings. With many terrible exceptions, their parental +affections are strong; and it is touching to observe how even poverty, +weariness, and disease, are all, as it were, forgotten in their +desperate struggles to maintain their children. Hidden beneath these +sentiments there is a mighty engine wherewith to begin the work. + +Well, here they are! and here they will remain! Will you leave them +alone to fester and to die? But in festering and dying they will breed +a moral, and a political, if not a physical, epidemic. + +Will you advance on them in their swarming retirements of profligacy and +pestilence? Why, then, there is a hopeful promise that the Word of God +shall not return unto Him empty; and as the High Priest bore on his +turban, "Holiness to the Lord," so may the missionaries--the agents, the +men, the women, all who go forth to this great enterprise--bear +imprinted on their foreheads, a motto of no inferior power, "_Christo in +pauperibus_." + + SHAFTESBURY. + + PARIS, _May 12, 1878_. + + + + + +PREFACE. + + +This book was written in detached papers, for _Evening Hours_ and other +Journals, without any intention to republish them in the form of a +volume. Meagre details and want of connection will thus be accounted +for. The narrative extends over a period of many years, and is +substantially true, although the writer had to depend upon memory aided +by a few notes: verbal accuracy cannot therefore be expected. The +difficulty of recording the histories of individuals and families in a +few paragraphs, without their connecting links, was felt, and this may +have given a touch of the wonderful to some incidents, which a more full +account would have avoided. The object of the work, even in its detached +papers, was to illustrate the mode of Missionary visitation among the +very poor and the depraved classes; and to show the power of simple +teaching from the Word of God among them. + +The kindness of Lord Shaftesbury in writing the Introduction, and of +Mrs. Mary Sewell, in decorating each chapter with extracts, is +acknowledged with much gratitude. Their assistance has enriched the +volume, and the writer has an impression that many will regard it as an +indifferent picture beautifully framed. Be this as it may, he commits it +to the indulgence of his readers, and to the blessing of _Almighty God_, +by the power of whose Word alone the good narrated was accomplished. + + ST. JOHN'S WOOD, + _December, 1871_. + + + + +PREFACE TO THE TENTH EDITION. + + +The favour accorded to this book has taken the author by surprise, as +the issue of nine editions of a thousand copies rapidly succeeded each +other. The truthfulness and simplicity of the narrative has no doubt +promoted this result, but the secret of its success is not in the book +itself, but in the deep interest taken by Christians generally in effort +to evangelize the people of London. + +To many the difficulty of uniting disciples of various names in hearty +co-operation appeared to be insurmountable; and the gaining of access to +and influencing the "lapsed masses," the ungodly and criminal, to +religion and virtue seemed all but hopeless. + +This simple record of mission work has had its influence in removing +such difficulties from the minds of many, and in enlisting the sympathy +of persons who were previously uninformed as to a Christian union which +is auxiliary and helpful to all the Churches. + +At the time the narrative commenced there were only one hundred and +twelve city missionaries employed in London; but, through the blessing +of Almighty God and the confidence of His people, the increase of their +number has been steady and support increasingly generous. The mission +staff now numbers 448 effective men with 30 veterans upon the retiring +fund; these, with the committee and their officers, examiners of +candidates and local superintendents, number upwards of one thousand +men, who prayerfully and with great activity seek the spiritual good and +general uprising of the poor of the great Metropolis. + +Much remains to be done. In many parishes extending to the distant +suburbs there are numerous poor districts, inhabited by myriads of +perishing souls, to each of which the appointment of "A MAN WITH THE +BOOK," charged to read and bring its life-giving power to bear upon each +man, woman, and child within his influence, would indeed be a blessing +conferred. + +Charged with the duty of providing for many of these "waste places" in +the east and west of the City, the writer will gladly welcome the +friendship and aid of those who, realizing the preciousness of personal +salvation, from the abundance of the heart deviseth liberal things. + +With the committee there is one strong conviction, and it is this, that +their work, which commenced in obscurity and feebleness, by three men +without name, influence, or money, but who were strong in faith, prayer, +and holy zeal--that the effort though now exceeding large--can only be +continued and extended in the same spirit of simple trust and devotion, +"glory" being rendered "in the Church by Jesus Christ, unto Him that is +able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think, +according to the power that worketh in us." + + LONDON CITY MISSION HOUSE, + BRIDEWELL, E.C. + _May, 1878_. + + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +THE BOOK IN THE COURT. + +ITS INTRODUCTION. + + PAGE + + Description.--The strange visitor.--Translators.--The chanter + and dog-nurse.--Thieves.--Beggars.--Prize-fighter.--A + widow indeed.--The power of prayer 3 + + + THE BOOK IN THE COURT. + + ITS INFLUENCE. + + A fight between women.--Turning the fever out.--Speech + from a barrow.--Drunken Sammy.--A Wonderful tea-pot.--Dust-man + and scavenger.--Lady power 25 + + + THE BOOK IN THE COURT. + + ITS POWER. + + Black Poll.--Niggers.--Rescued.--Tom and Bess.--Costermonger's + wedding.--A baptism.--Pledge taken.--The + prison gate.--The Bible on the housetop.--The convict's + widow and son 43 + + + THE BOOK IN THE COURT. + + ITS AUTHORITY. + + A black leg.--Miniature altar.--The peacemaker.--The wafer.--An + animated sandwich.--Saved from error.--The + travelling tinker.--The dying child 65 + + + THE BOOK IN THE COURT. + + ITS TRUTH. + + Roley-Poley's opinions.--The bus-washer.--Communism. An + infidel club-room.--Philosophers.--Conflict with infidelity. + The 'strology woman.--Bible answers.--Imp woman.--The + converted infidel 81 + + + THE BOOK IN THE COURT. + + ITS CERTAIN GOOD. + + A praise meeting.--Death of the widow.--Joy of the blessed.--Out + of the prize ring.--A farewell speech.--A fagger.--A + strange preacher.--Dusty and the fiddler.--Praying in the + cell.--Indian girl.--Genesa.--Infidel society dissolved.--Works + following.--The banner of love 103 + + + THE BOOK IN THE BARS. + + ITS LIGHT. + + Between the barrels.--The true light shining.--A danger.--Light + in the club-room.--The change wrought.--Victory + gained.--Evil resisted.--Good advice.--A white sergeant.--A + wise removal.--The good increased 129 + + + THE BOOK IN THE BARS. + + ITS SPIRITUAL POWER. + + The clock going wrong.--Men of the fancy.--The rat-pit man.--Child + on the barrel.--Ticket of leave man.--A rough.--A + drunkard's home.--A fall and rise 151 + + + THE BOOK IN THE BARS. + + ITS RECEPTION. + + A strange request.--Touching the sceptre.--Sunday drinking.--Closed + on Sunday.--Pleasant opposition.--Guilty tongues.--A + sharp rebuke.--Uglier than a gorilla.--A knotty question.--Potman's + letter.--The pugilist's ring.--The beauty + of age.--Resting in peace 169 + + + THE BOOK IN THE DEN. + + ITS MAJESTY. + + The sleepless city.--Teddie's den.--A strange invitation.--The + tea.--A midnight visit.--A visit to Rag Fair.--Many + rescued.--Smashers.--The better part chosen.--Dreadful + death-bed scene.--A stronghold destroyed 195 + + + THE BOOK IN THE STREETS AND NIGHT-HOUSES. + + ITS SILENT FORCE. + + A gilded saloon.--A pigeon plucker.--Discouragement.--The + Coffee Man.--Destitute.--The solitude of the city.--Madness + of disgrace.--The beggar and his boy.--The "Traveller's + Rest."--The sleepless Church.--Coffee stalls and + booths.--The covert from the storm.--Bible power 219 + + + THE BOOK IN THE HIGHWAYS. + + ITS FETTER-BREAKING. + + To and from the city.--Our omnibus.--Box and monkey board.--The + lost day.--Crape on the whip.--Night gathering of + bargemen.--Fetters broken.--The silent water-ways.--Bible + in cabin.--The bargeman's hope 247 + + + THE BOOK FOR ALL. + + ITS UNIVERSAL GOOD. + + Christian responsibility.--Faith.--The machinery man.--Man's + inner world.--Sin reproved.--Converse upon an omnibus.--The + influence of truth.--The Bible only.--Communication + established.--Brought nigh, very nigh 267 + + + APPENDIX. + + Can You Influence the World for Christ? 287 + + + + + LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + + PAGE + + NIGHT MEETING WITH CABMEN _Frontispiece_ + + THE DOG NURSE 11 + + AN UNWELCOME VISITOR 16 + + A SPEECH FROM THE BARROW 28 + + DRUNKEN SAMMY 32 + + SANITARY SUCCESS 37 + + UPON THE HOUSETOP 59 + + INFIDEL CLUB 88 + + BEFORE THE BAR 131 + + THE BACK ATTIC 162 + + CARD FOR PUBLIC-ROOMS 180 + + THE MIDNIGHT VISITOR 199 + + DARK ARCHES 205 + + IN DANGER 223 + + ALONE IN THE CITY 231 + + THE COFFEE STALL 240 + + OUTSIDE PASSENGERS 248 + + THE MONKEY BOARD 252 + + SABBATH OUTCASTS 257 + + THE MACHINERY MAN 273 + + + + +The Book in the Court: + +ITS INTRODUCTION. + + "High up a dark and winding stair, + From floor to floor I went, + And heard sometimes a woman swear, + Or beaten child lament. + + "Upon the topmost flight I found + A close and wretched room; + Alas, that any human soul + Should call such place a home! + + "No fire was burning in the grate, + The walls were damp and bare; + The window-panes were stuffed with rags, + No furniture was there." + + _Mrs. Sewell._ + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + DESCRIPTION--THE STRANGE VISITOR--TRANSLATORS--THE CHANTER AND + DOG-NURSE--THIEVES--BEGGARS--PRIZE-FIGHTER--A WIDOW INDEED--THE + POWER OF PRAYER. + + +THE BOOK IN THE COURT: + +ITS INTRODUCTION. + +"He that hath my Word, let him speak my Word faithfully." +JER. xxiii. 28. + +Why the inhabitants called their place of residence Paradise Court was +never clearly understood. The parochial authorities substituted for the +name of the garden of primeval beauty that of a lovely southern county +of old England, and on their official papers styled it Devonshire Place. +Many would question the propriety of the Court bearing either name, as +it forms the centre of a labyrinth of dirty overcrowded streets. It is +not a blind alley, as it is of elbow shape with two entrances connecting +streets, though only used by persons of profound local knowledge. The +houses are so ill-shaped and dilapidated as to prejudice the mind +against London of the past generation; while the murky atmosphere--the +cloud of ragged yellowish garments suspended from the upper windows by +pole and line--the narrowness of the passage-way, which increases the +thick darkness of night--the constant noise made by the drunken and +quarrelsome, render it a place to be avoided by the respectable, however +poor. + +There were, however, at the time our narrative commences, respectable +visitors to the Court, and foremost among them for intimate acquaintance +with the community was that valuable official the Relieving Officer. +His approach was by some mysterious means instantaneously known, and +produced wonderful effects; unruly sounds were hushed, quite a number of +poor creatures were taken suddenly ill, and a most appalling condition +of poverty was created. Strange however to say, his exit was marked by a +revivifying influence,--low muttering occasionally burst into storms of +abuse, but not until he had turned the corner; we may therefore suppose +that he was in happy ignorance of the strong feeling which existed +against him. + +The policeman on duty used to pause, as from professional instinct, when +he passed each narrow entrance, and at night had been known suddenly to +turn his bull's eye upon persons approaching or leaving the Court. +Occasionally a visit was paid by that dreaded person, the Inspector: +which event was always unexpected. Intelligent members of the force at a +given moment took their position at either end, while the Inspector +marched with several officers to a particular house, and then marched +off with the somebody he wanted. Next morning a company of the +inhabitants used to return the compliment, by going in a body to the +Police Court, and for days after, the subject matter of conversation in +the Court was, "How the 'spector got that ere hinformation what he +received." + +The postman occasionally entered the place, and when he did so he +grasped his letters firmly,--while in order to effect a proper delivery +he deciphered strange hieroglyphics. Of course those true friends of the +poor, the parish and dispensary doctors, were frequently to be seen in +the place. They knew it well as a pestilent spot, and, while +alleviating suffering, gave many certificates for the burial of the +dead. As regards the living there was scanty record: the name of the +place being rarely if ever written in the Vestry Register. A few out of +the swarm of dirty, shoeless, tattered little heathen (heathen in the +sense of being unbaptized and untaught in the Christian religion) were +occasionally hunted for by their warm-hearted friend, the Ragged School +teacher, who had entered their names in his class book. With two +exceptions these were the only respectable visitors to Paradise Court; +and the exceptions only came on Black-Monday morning. One was the stern +broker-man, who represented the landlord of half the houses, and whose +terrible utterance, "Pay the rent, or I will chuck your sticks into the +Court," had a money-producing effect. The other Monday visitor was a +lady of peculiar style, who entered the place from her suburban +residence exactly at nine o'clock. Though shabby in dress, it was +believed by her thirty-four miserable tenants that she was a real lady +at home. She was fluent of speech, and gave many reasons why it would be +wrong of her to let the rent run on. She had never been known to +comprehend an excuse; and it was an established fact that business +friendship existed between her and that dreadful broker-man. + +To this succession of official and other visitors another was to be +added. The Paradise people knew it not; and, if they had, he would not +have been received with demonstrations of joy; indeed the few persons +who one March morning noticed two men in conversation at the narrow +entrance of the Court, were made uncomfortable, as they could not +comprehend what was meant. "I wonders if they are a coming down here," +observed one woman to another. "They aint mendicities," she replied; and +hastened to inform her companion lodgers "that something was up, as two +men, one of them an old-un, with a brown coat, and the tother a young-un +nearly all black, was a talking and looking down." A rush to the doors +and windows took place, but they only saw the two men part company. The +eldest walked away and the other entered the open door of the first +house. + +To remove all mystery,--the old gentleman was the training +Superintendent of the London City Mission, and his companion a young +Missionary whom he was placing upon the district. They had walked round +it together, and stopping at the Court, the Superintendent said to his +young friend, "You will find this the most trying part of the district, +as the people are in a bad state, and have never as yet been visited. +Enter the first house, make your way to the top back room--visit as you +come down, and in this way press through the place. Remember it is your +duty to make the acquaintance of every man, woman, and child, for the +purpose of bringing them to a knowledge of salvation by our Lord Jesus +Christ, and of doing them good by every means in your power: go, and may +the Lord prosper you." + +A poet would have called that a sublime moment for the young Missionary: +he was in possession of that which had for three years been the desire +of his heart--the office of accredited visitor to the poor. For this he +had prayed, studied, and passed the required examination; and it was +with grateful heart and elastic step, that he made his way up the +rickety stair-case, and approached the room to the occupiers of which he +was first to deliver his message. A noise,--the beating of leather upon +lapstones, required that a second and harder tap should be given at the +door. It was suddenly opened by a middle-aged man, of ruffianly +appearance, with a long black beard. In his hand was a large flat +hammer, and in his mouth a short black pipe. With a sharp look at the +stranger, he inquired, "Do you want me, Master?" "I am a Missionary," +was the reply, "and am come to make your acquaintance. Will you accept +one of these tracts?" The man threw open the door, and said to his +companions,--"This is a religious chap, and wants to know me." The +visitor stepped in and gave a curious glance round the room. It was an +attic of about ten feet square, with a low roof. In the centre was a +heap of old boots and shoes, rubbish of the kind collected from dust +heaps; round them were six men of various ages, and offensively dirty; +beside each were several rows of restored articles. It was evident that +the men were "translators,"--cobblers, who by marvellous skill in their +art were turning destroyed shoes into articles fit for use. "If he's +religious," exclaimed a man of diminutive stature, "I'm the customer for +him;" and facing the visitor, demanded "Do you believe in a Supernatural +Being? because," he continued, "if you do, I don't. He is a fool who +says in his heart there is no God, and he is a fool who says there is +one, because there is no proof." "Nature and the Bible"--replied the +Missionary; but he could get no further, as at the mention of the Book +exclamations of doubt and of abuse were uttered. He tried to proceed, +but was cried down. As he turned away, the man who opened the door, +said, with angry looks, "Now mind, Guv'nor, I am master here, and I live +in the next room, and my children knows nothing of superstition, and if +you come here with your cant I'll pitch you down." There was a momentary +pause, which enabled the visitor to exclaim in a clear ringing voice, +"This day has salvation come to this house," and he then descended to +the next landing. + +Upon the back-room door was a rusty old padlock, showing that the +lodgers--costermongers--were out; but the front-room door was partly +open. "Come in," said a feeble voice; and the visitor, though nearly +stopped by the offensiveness of the room, stepped in, and found it a +death chamber. A woman and child were upon the bed in a high state of +fever; and stark upon the floor, with face uncovered, lay the body of a +boy of six years. The scene so shocked the inexperienced visitor, that +he with sorrow expressed his regret at finding them in such a position, +and inquired about the husband. "He is a chanter, sir," she replied, +"and is out in the streets singing about the man who was hung on Monday +morning. He was cut up when Bobby died in the night, and said that he +would leave off singing when he had got half-a-crown, and come home." +While words of consolation were being read, the "chanter" entered the +room: his clothes were threadbare, his face pallid, and his voice husky. +The stranger put his hand kindly upon the arm of the poor man, and +expressed his sympathy for the bereavement he had suffered, and added, +"I have read to your wife from the Bible, and am about to pray: let us +kneel down." At the mention of prayer an expression of contempt passed +over the man's face, and he hurriedly left the room. Prayer was however +offered, and the visitor descended to the parlours: oh, such parlours! + +The back was occupied by an aged woman, who no doubt collected bones and +rags from the streets, as the floor was nearly covered with them. She +was frying fish which was partly putrid, and was so earnest in declaring +her poverty (no doubt truthfully) that the visitor had to assure her +that he had no temporal relief to bestow. The same plea of poverty was +urged by three drunken-looking women who stood at the next door; upon +his telling them that he had no money to give, but that he hoped to make +them happy with the true riches, they shut the door in his face; and +stepping out he breathed the refreshing air of the Court. + +Two more houses were passed through with varied success, and the visitor +left for rest and refreshment. Upon his return it was evident that his +fame had spread, as there were groups of persons ready to look at him, +and in that look there was a hostile expression. True to his +instructions, he merely gave tracts to several women who asked for them, +and then made his way to the fourth house. Though all the front doors +were open, and had the appearance of never being closed night or day, +that door was shut and fastened, and peals of laughter could be heard +inside, while the Missionary in vain knocked for admission. He went to +the next house, but was brought to a pause while ascending the upper +stairs by the barking of dogs. The door of the front attic was opened by +a woman: at the sight of the stranger she screamed her command for +silence, and the brutes became dumb. As she opened the door half way a +curious sight presented itself: upon the bed were five or six puppies +of various breeds, and chained to the floor was a white bull terrier of +savage mien, while an ugly cur raised his nose to the edge of the basket +in which he was reposing, and sustained a growl of low note. Bobbing a +curtsey, she said in a plaintive tone, "I can't ask you in, sir, as the +dogs are werry savage; but though I does try to get a honest living, a +ticket is as acceptable to me as to them wretches what has got into the +first floor." In answer to the inquiry, "How do you live?" she replied, +"I brings up little dogs for fancy men, and takes in sick uns to nurse, +and I earns my money I can tell you: why that ere bull-dog has the +mange, and I have to rub him in with doctor's stuff, and if I didn't +muzzle him, and pull his chain tight to the floor, he'd tear me to +pieces; and then I have to get up in the night to feed the puppies with +milk." When the matter of religion was referred to, she in an angry tone +said, that she "knowed what was right, and didn't want to be preached +at." The sagacious friends of man understood that altered tone of voice, +and recommenced growling and barking. As it was hopeless trying to make +himself heard at the next room, the visitor descended to make +acquaintance with the abused in the first floor. + +[Illustration: "I brings up little dogs for fancy men, and takes in sick +uns to nurse."] + +Both doors were open, and the lodgers were in evident expectation of a +visit. In the front room were three men and four women: the men had +cotton handkerchiefs of a reddish colour about their necks, their hair +being arranged in the peculiar curl round the ear known in their circle +as the Newgate cut. One of them, with an air of blandness, offered the +visitor a chair, and said, "I am always glad to see a Missionary gent. +Where I comes from, near Petticoat Lane, is one of them, maybe you knows +him: he's werry good to chaps that gets into trouble. Now this woman +has got a boy as is always unlucky: he went a lifting and got nabbed +first time, and got a week, as he wasn't known; after that he hopped +over a wall for something, and a Bobby was down on him, and for that he +got a month; and then he relieved a gent of his ticker, and for that +he's doing four months upon the mill, and I think that he ought to be +reformed. He'll be out on Monday, and if you will tell me where you +live, I will bring him to you, and you can put him somewhere. If you +doesn't he'll be into trouble again, because, as I says, he's unlucky." +The reasons given were not likely to stimulate zeal, but the Missionary +arranged to see the young thief immediately after his discharge from +prison. A friendly conversation, followed, and several young girls and +juvenile thieves, who came in from the other room, remained to hear the +Bible read. The evil consequences of sin were pointed out to them, and +the way of salvation was explained. Deep emotion was expressed by +several of these depraved persons, and there was a friendly parting. + +Upon the ground floor a fragrance redolent of sea-weeds filled the air, +and was a pleasant relief from the state of the atmosphere upstairs. The +cause of this strange perfume was apparent upon the door of the back +room being opened by an old man, who appeared as if he was undergoing a +salivating process. The floor was covered with baskets and trays with +piles of whelks upon them, some of which were cooked and some were not. +As the man was rather deaf, it was difficult to make him understand the +object of the visit; but when he did so, he asked the stranger in. He +refused an offered tract, with the remark, "I ain't got no larning, +Mister, and I burns every bit of paper I gits, so it 'ould be smoke if +you comed for it. I cooks these whelks for chaps and women as stands +with stalls, and gets a penny a kettleful." When told "that at his age +the great matter was not his business, but his fitness for a better +world," he laughed and said, "All I want is to die easy, so I moves the +things, and puts my mattress the right way, as we never knows what may +be, and they says as it's hard to die the cross-way of boards." He was +told that "to pray to the great God in the name of Jesus for pardon and +His Holy Spirit, was the way for old people to be made happy, and to die +easy." But he looked vacant, as though the subjects of pardon and +immortality were strange to him. Upon his saying that cooking was over +early in the evening, the visitor showed him the Bible, and said, "This +was written by the good Father in heaven, and I will come some evening +and read out of it." He looked pleased as he approached his fish-kettle, +and the visitor was then glad to make his escape from a kind of warm +sea-fog. + +The next house was filled with beggars. The rooms were filthy; and upon +entering them in succession, the women and children commenced in the +cadgers' whine to beg. "Why don't you wash your children?" was inquired +of a mother, whose four little ones were as black as sweeps. "We haven't +a penny," was the reply, "to buy soap with, and the little dears are so +uncomfortable like when they wakes up, until they rubs their faces well +with their hands, which freshens them up." Their hard begging prevented +religious conversation. In the front parlour a man, clothed in filthy +raiment, was smoking his pipe, while the wife was engaged in sweeping +with an almost hairless broom. An attempt to speak to them upon the +Gospel message provoked an outburst of low abuse from them both: the +woman, who was evidently from the Emerald Isle, followed the visitor to +the door, giving a long sweep with her broom; and then flourishing it +over his head as he stepped into the Court, exclaimed, "Och, and sure +and that's the way I sweep out rubbish!" After failing to convey +religious instruction to the people at the next house, where the woman +and youth abused, and the children yelled as he passed out, the young +Missionary left the place in a state of mind exactly opposite to that in +which he had entered it in the morning. A sense of inefficiency, of +utter disqualification for the work, had taken possession of his mind +and damped his zeal. To have instructed the respectable poor--to have +removed the difficulties of men in error, would have been a pleasure; +but to evangelize such a people as the dwellers in Paradise Court and +its surroundings seemed hopeless. Besides the offensiveness of the +work--the thought of spending six or more hours daily in those wretched +dwellings, subjected to risk of contagion, insult, and personal +violence, and that with such feeble hope of benefiting the people, +produced a sense of regret that the effort had been made. So powerfully +did these reasons act, that the Missionary availed himself of the +consideration that Saturday would be an inconvenient day for the people, +and stayed away; but on Sunday afternoon, about three o'clock, he +approached the Court with a faint heart, and a bundle of tracts in his +hand. + +[Illustration: "Where the woman and youth abused, and the children +yelled as he passed out."] + +At the entrance a group of about fifteen roughs were talking together. +Tracts were offered to each. One of them, a man of heavy frame and +unprepossessing countenance, arising from the circumstance that it was +deeply scarred, and had the bridge of the nose broken, approached the +Missionary. With a smile more awe-inspiring than ordinary frowns, he +inquired, "Are you the chap what's coming to all our rooms to make us +religious?" To so direct a question only one reply could be given, which +was hopefully in the affirmative. "Then," he continued, that dreadful +smile deepening into an expression of malice, as he raised his huge +fist, "then don't come to my room; which is good advice, cos I does +three things at once when I'm up. I'm known in the ring as a hard +hitter, and I've fixed the ring stakes for lots of battles,--and this is +what I does: I deposits my fist on the top of the nose, which leaves a +mark, and shuts up both peepers for a week or two." "Well, but members +of the prize ring are honourable in this," was the prompt reply: "they +never strike men who cannot box." The man seemed pleased with the +compliment, but his companions gave an incredulous look, as much as to +say, "We, alas, know better!" + +Friendly words were spoken, and tracts given to persons standing at +their doors. While thus engaged the Missionary was stayed by a sound +which proceeded from an upper room. It fell so strangely upon the ear +that he stood still and gazed up at the windows, with the exclamation +upon his lips--"Surely the Lord has His hidden ones in this place." An +effort was evidently being made in one of the rooms to sing a song of +praise. A cracked female voice was trying to lead other voices, not one +of which had been attuned to melody, in singing the hymn-- + + "Come ye that love the Lord, + And let your joys be known." + +A woman at one of the windows, seeing the astonishment of the visitor, +said, "It's Widow Peters, Master having a meeting: she lives here in +the first back. She's a good un: the dear old soul is like a mother to +us." The visitor approached the room, and as the singing ceased, opened +the door. He saw at a glance that the company consisted of five very +poor women. Four were seated upon the frame of the bedstead, and another +at the table, upon which lay an open Bible and Hymn-book. "This is he," +exclaimed one of the women. "This is the tract man, who is coming to +read to us out of the blessed Book." Upon this the widow rose, her +countenance beaming with holy joy, and with that graceful dignity which +religious life often confers upon the poor, offered her hand to the +Missionary, exclaiming, "Come in, sir, come in, and let us praise the +Lord together. I have pleaded with Him for poor souls in this place, and +now He has sent His messenger with glad tidings. May the Lord bless you +to many." This welcome was given with such genuine feeling that the +"messenger" was overpowered. The speaker was aged; quite seventy years +had whitened her few remaining hairs and given a decrepit appearance to +her slender frame; but under the influence of strong religious feeling +she stood erect, and the feebleness of her voice gave peculiar force to +words which entered the soul. The poor women felt it as they stood with +tearful eyes; and the young Missionary felt it, for his only answer was +an affectionate holding of that withered hand in his, and a reverential +gazing into the face of the old disciple. + +The meeting was soon brought to a close, but the aged woman and the +young man remained in earnest conversation, as though they had enjoyed +years of friendship. How strong is that cord of love in the spirit, +which binds believers together because of union with the living Jesus! +"The poor creatures down here are in dreadful darkness, and many are +awfully wicked," observed the widow; "and my heart leapt for joy when I +was told that a tract man was trying to speak with people in their +rooms: it was such a faithful answer to prayer." "And who prayed for my +coming?" was inquired. "I had heard of missionary gentlemen visiting +other places," she replied, "and about two months ago it was laid on my +heart to pray for my perishing neighbours, and I cried day and night +unto the Lord." + +"About that time," observed the visitor, "a few believers met in the +house of a Tunbridge Wells tradesman, to pray for a blessing upon the +poor of London. They then agreed to raise support for a Missionary to +one of the most necessitous districts, and wrote a letter to the +Committee of the London City Mission to that effect. While the gentlemen +were considering the matter they had their attention drawn to this +neighbourhood through the opening of an Infidel Hall just by. At that +time, after much prayer, I made application to be received as one of +their agents. They approved of me and sent me here. But how strange it +was, that in this place prayer should at that time have been offered for +the same object." "Oh, no! that was not strange," she replied; "for the +same Spirit dwells in all the disciples, and according to the Divine +Mind and Will, teaches them what to pray for, and now we must plead for +souls and these dry bones shall live." "After spending Friday at the +other end of the place," observed the Missionary, "I was led to despair +of doing any good here, as the people are so ignorant, hardened, and +offensive. I have thought that an experienced visitor ought to come +here in my stead." With a look of sorrow and reproof the old Christian +exclaimed: "The Lord has sent you here with the Gospel plough, and don't +look back. Go on, dear friend, and He will bless His faithful servant." +In answer to the inquiry, "How long she had known the Lord, and why she +was living in that place?" she replied, "I am the widow of a soldier: +thirty-six years ago I was abroad with the regiment, and was converted +at a soldiers' prayer-meeting. I then joined the Wesleyans, and have met +in class ever since. I had a daughter, who was married to a bricklayer +who took to drinking and used her badly. He brought her down here, and +then I took a room in the same house to look after her. She died two +years ago. I have three shillings weekly from the parish, and I make up +by doing a little washing for young people at a draper's. I stop here +now, as no one would rob or injure me; and many a poor creature will let +me nurse them a little when they are ill, and then I speak to them about +Jesus, and pray for their poor souls. Now you have come they must all +hear the truth. Don't, sir, leave the poor perishing souls." At parting +each offered prayer. The aged widow with tremulous voice and holy +earnestness pleaded with God for the young messenger, and for the +sinners around her, mentioning several by name. Her language was that of +one who for years had had free access to the Holy Place, and to whom +power had been given to wrestle with God and to prevail. + +That prayer was blessed to the young Missionary. As he stepped into the +Court he felt that the coward spirit had left him, and that he had +received power to intercede with the Almighty for perishing souls. His +heart was too full to speak to the people; but, as he passed their +doors, a cry of holy desire for their salvation (that best preparation +for the work of an Evangelist) ascended to where Jesus the Mediator is +seated at the right hand of God. + + +The Book in the Court: + +ITS INFLUENCE. + + "You are needed, brave hearts, that are facing the toil, + And bearing unnoticed the wearisome moil + That presses on every day; + We want the great souls that will suffer and dare, + And all the inglorious martyrdom bear + Of poverty's dreary decay." + + _Mrs. Sewell._ + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + A FIGHT BETWEEN WOMEN--TURNING THE FEVER OUT--SPEECH FROM A + BARROW--DRUNKEN SAMMY--A WONDERFUL TEAPOT--DUST-MAN AND + SCAVENGER--LADY-POWER. + + +THE BOOK IN THE COURT: + +ITS INFLUENCE. + + "The entrance of Thy Word giveth light." PS. cxix. 130. + +Monday morning cast its usual gloom over Paradise Court in the persons +of the rent collectors. Many of the men and women had gone out upon +various callings, and others, whose supply of ready cash fell short of +the required amount, absented themselves, leaving messages with the +children, in some cases with, and in others without, part payment. The +Court therefore had the appearance of quietness and moral respectability +as the Missionary passed down. His step was firm, and his countenance +wore an expression of decision. He had realized the difficulties of the +position; and in calm reliance upon the help of Almighty God, had come +to the prayerful decision that he would faithfully discharge the duties +of his office. That day and many others of toil passed before each room +had been visited. As the people became familiar with their new friend, +the spirit of opposition, with a few exceptions, gave way to one of +utter indifference. Three months passed before the statistics of the +place were taken, and then the startling discovery was made that in that +block of buildings there were one hundred and ninety-four rooms, +occupied by two hundred and sixteen families, as several let corners of +their rooms to lodgers. The population consisted of three hundred and +eighty-six adult persons, with more than double that number of children. +Only nine Bibles could be found in the place, and upon the morning of +the Lord's day only two persons left its precincts to worship God in His +temple. As month after month of stair-treading and of effort to secure +attention passed away, the Missionary became discouraged, from the +seeming impossibility of effecting any good in that valley of spiritual +death. The children, to be sure, had been won by looks and words of +kindness. They gathered round him out of doors, and looked for his smile +as he approached the rooms. And then the people had become familiar with +the pocket Bible, and cast glances at it as the reader held it in his +hand, as though they had some mysterious interest in its contents. But +this was all. No reformation had been wrought, no inquiry for salvation +had been made; and despair of blessing was overclouding the soul of the +Missionary, when a circumstance occurred which caused hope, like a day +star, to dispel the darkness. That circumstance was a fight in the +Court. + +One afternoon he was praying with a sick man in an upper room when his +voice was drowned by screams, shouts, and yells in the Court below. +Rising from his knees, he opened the window, and shuddered at the +revolting scene which presented itself. Two women, whose vile language +had several times repelled him from their doors, had quarrelled and been +ejected from a neighbouring gin-bar. Upon reaching home they commenced +fighting; and being inflamed with liquor, they had torn each other's +clothes, and their faces were bleeding. In their fury they had seized +each other by the hair, and lay struggling on the ground. A number of +men and women had formed a ring, and were urging them on to the brutal +conflict; while the people crowded to their windows, and shouted advice +according to the side they took. It was a shocking display of rage and +blood and blasphemy; but it was brought to a sudden close. Some one +looked up and raised the cry, "The Bible-man is there!" Every face was +turned up, and then the people drew in their heads and closed the +windows. The crowd in the Court dispersed, many running like rabbits in +at their doors. The sudden silence caused the wretched women to +disengage themselves and to look up. They caught the steady gaze of the +man who had spoken to them of God and judgment, and one of them with a +bound sprang into her dwelling; while the other covered her lacerated +face with her apron, and staggered into her door-way. A few minutes +after, when the Missionary passed out of the Court, all was +silence,--not a being was to be seen; but upon the pavement were spots +of blood and pieces of hair. Though saddened, he felt thankful for the +influence he had obtained. It would have taken several policemen to have +quelled that disturbance; but to have subdued it by moral, or rather +religious force, was indeed a triumph and earnest of future good. + +About a month after this event a sudden outbreak of scarlet and typhoid +fever brought distress into fourteen families, but resulted in much good +to the inhabitants. The parish doctor had ordered the removal of a woman +to the infirmary, and two old workhouse men came with a covered +stretcher for that purpose. The lodgers had noticed spots upon the +patient, and raised a report of black fever. They were in a state of +panic, and no person but the widow would approach the room. She found +the Missionary, who was visiting in other houses, and told him that she +had prepared the poor woman for her removal; but that the old men were +not strong enough to carry her, and none of the neighbours would assist +them. Upon this he followed her to the room, and taking the poor +fever-stricken creature in his arms, carried her down and laid her +gently on the stretcher. The people stood afar off; but, as their +visitor left by the side of the stretcher, he caught a murmur of +thankfulness. Upon his return from the workhouse he was received with a +demonstration of gratitude; and seizing the opportunity, he said, "Tell +the men that I want to speak to them, and that they will do me a +kindness by being here this evening at seven o'clock. I want them to +help me turn the fever out: not a man must be absent." + +[Illustration: "The visitor sprang on to a costermonger's barrow, and +waving his hand, exclaimed--"] + +When at the appointed time the Missionary turned the corner, he was +surprised to see the place crowded. It was evident that the men had +rallied in their strength, and they began to cheer. The visitor sprang +on to a costermonger's barrow, and waving his hand, exclaimed, "Many of +our neighbours are ill, and we must for their sakes, poor things, be +quiet. I thank you for mustering so strong; it shows that you have a +good feeling toward me, and as I have a good feeling toward you, why, we +are friends. Now, as a true friend, I am going to speak to you plainly, +as we can't turn out the fever unless we work together. I expected this +fever to come (murmurs); and this is why. You have not enough air and +water down here, and you don't make the best use of what you have. If a +man drinks poison he is killed by it, and if he breathes poisoned air he +is killed in a slower way by getting weak, or having illnesses like the +fever. Many of you sleep six or ten in a room, and always keep the +windows shut. This poisons the air. And now about the water. To-morrow +morning every butt must be cleansed; and let each person, when the flow +is on, throw a pailfull down their yard and another into the Court. Mind +two pailfulls for each person. And then you must wash yourselves more +frequently. There are sensible women here who wash their children every +day; there are others that do not. Now let the sensible women do a kind +thing: let them give the dirty children a good scrubbing on the sly. +(Laughter, and cries of 'We will.') And mind, all the rooms and stairs +must be scrubbed. That's for the women: now for the men. You must +whitewash your rooms. ('Let the landlords do it.') If you wait until +they do it, some of you will be in your graves first. ('That's right.') +Do it yourselves. A pail of whitewash is only the price of a pot of +beer. ('That's it.') When you have done it, I will ask the collectors to +allow you back the half-pence. ('Thank'ee, sir,' etc.) Another thing +shall be done: I will see the officer of health, and, if necessary, the +vestry gentlemen, and ask them to improve your drainage and water +supply." (Here the fighting man raised his fist and exclaimed, "If they +don't!" as though his system of deposit would of a certainty influence +the local parliament.) "And then," the speaker continued, "we must keep +sober. The fever is fond of drunkards, with their horrid breath and weak +bodies, and lays hold of them first. (Sensation.) Now, to turn the fever +out, you must promise me three things: say Yes, after each of them. Good +use of air and water ('Yes, yes'); every room to be whitewashed ('Yes, +yes'); and a sober Saturday night." (Murmurs.) The speaker repeated the +last sentence in a tone of firm command: "A sober Saturday night!" and +received a shout of "Yes, yes, yes!" Then, taking the Bible from his +pocket, he held it up, and in a subdued voice continued, "There is a +great Father up there, who loves us all; but you don't pray Him to take +care of you and your children. On Sunday morning you hear the bells +ring; but none of you go to church. This is wrong of you. Remember He +has had it written down in His Holy Book that 'the curse of the Lord is +in the house (the room) of the wicked; but He blesseth the habitation of +the just.'" There was a solemn pause, and the speaker sprang from his +uncomfortable stand and passed out at the short end of the place. + +[Illustration: Drunken Sammy leaning on post] + +One man had evidently absented himself from the sanitary meeting. This +was plain, as Drunken Sammy approached, followed by an admiring crowd of +boys and low people. This old man had been a drunkard for many years, +and his neighbours used to say that he had become worse since he had had +"something" upon his mind; this "something" being the fact that his wife +was made ill by one of his beatings when drunk, and only lived two +months after. He was a slop tailor, and used at times to work hard and +remain sober for days together. During several of these intervals he +had listened to the Christian teacher, and promised reformation; but he +had lost the power of moral control. His habit was to stand in a gin-bar +from early in the morning; when his money was spent he would take his +coat to a neighbouring dolly or leaving-shop. Soon after he would return +and leave his waistcoat and shoes. When the proceeds of these were +spent, he was of course ejected. Upon this he commenced vagaries of the +most comical kind; gesticulating and tumbling, while shouting lines from +comic songs. His rule was to enter the Court by attempting a leapfrog +over the posts at the corner; and he often fell with terrible force upon +the pavement, to the great diversion of the public. He was always +received by his neighbours with roars of laughter as they rushed to see +the fun. On this occasion, however, he met with an altered reception. +The presence of the Missionary, who had returned, at his side, and the +subduing influence of the meeting, had its effect. "Here's that fool of +a Sammy," exclaimed one of the women who had engaged in the fight we +have narrated: while others looked at him with contempt,--all with +indifference. It was much for her to call a drunkard "a fool," and for +her friends to acknowledge the fact. As the woman lived in the same +house with the drunkard, the visitor looked at her and said, "Take care +of this poor man for me, and don't let him out until I call tomorrow +afternoon." "We won't let him out!" exclaimed several voices: and the +woman seized his arm and thrust him into the house. A smile played over +the anxious face of the Missionary, for well he knew that the woman +would keep her word, and that poor Sammy was _in durance vile_. What for +him availed the British Constitution,--Magna Charta, the Bill of +Rights, and all the legal apparatus which in these fair isles of liberty +protect the subject? He is under arrest. Let us hope that it will be for +his good. + +Next morning, on his way to the Court House, the Missionary had occasion +to call upon an "elect lady," who was then the daughter, and who is now +the widow of a general officer. He told her about the soldier's +widow,--her deep piety, and her love for souls, and her poverty; and +while he did so, the full sympathy of another Christian heart was drawn +out in behalf of his poor people. Upon his leaving, the lady said, "I +will pay the widow's rent, and will supply her with comforts during the +coming winter. Let her call upon me to-morrow, as I may through her take +a deeper interest in your mission." The day had far advanced before the +pleasant message could be delivered: the bearer of it had obtained an +interview with the vestry clerk, which resulted in his introduction to +the parochial officer of health, who was so kind as to accompany him to +the district. As they entered the place, its cleanly appearance, the +result of a deluge of water, and the healthy smell of lime which +pervaded the air, took the medical gentleman by surprise. This was so +opposite to the account he had received, that the visitor, for his +veracity's sake, had to acquaint him with the events of the day before, +and to give an account of the speech from the barrow. "A division of +labour," he said drily: "and you are welcome thus to usurp my duties for +the whole parish. As regards this place, I will make such a report that +the drainage shall be set right." As they repassed a door, a rough +woman, who was standing as on guard, said to the Missionary, "Sammy has +been obstreperous, sir, but I wouldn't let him out; and now he is +quiet, as the widow has gone into his room with her teapot." As she +mentioned the teapot her eyes twinkled with that expression of good +humour which lit up all the eyes in Paradise Court when that valuable +article was referred to. No remarks were ever ventured, though much was +understood. We however will break the spell, and though the officer of +health is present, will vote the matter urgent, and narrate its fame. + +That old brown teapot was bought at the wayside, and only cost +threepence, as there was a chip upon the spout. It had however by +association with its owner, acquired a value and a charm. In addition to +the wonder of the inexhaustible bottle, it had certain high qualities. +The very sick, and poor mothers with young infants, were each convinced +that they had the first of the brew, and "that such a delicious cup of +tea as that never was." And when the owner had refreshed herself, they +were many who had a reversionary interest in its contents. There was a +power of moral elevation about the article. Many a hard face assumed for +the moment a benign expression, and many a knitted brow relaxed as the +widow stepped from the door, threw her white apron over the teapot, and +with an almost girlish trip passed into the room of some neighbour, who +to equal poverty added sickness or some distress. And then an influence +of sympathy attended the outpouring of its contents. Her supply of milk +usually cost one farthing, and this she economised by pouring part of it +in with the tea. In her pocket she carried a few pieces of lump sugar +screwed up in a piece of paper, and thus the opportunity to be courteous +was given, as each person had it sweetened to their liking. And, oh, who +can tell how many words of motherly advice and Christian counsel were +uttered over that old teapot? As the gentlemen stood at the door they +heard a feeble voice uttering mighty truths; and stepping softly into +the passage, caught the end of the conversation. "I know that I must +have killed her," groaned drunken Sammy, "as I beat her so hard; and if +the jury didn't say so, the coroner went on at me afterwards, and I'm so +miserable that I wish I was dead." "You are a poor sinner, Sammy," said +the widow; "but the blessed Lord died for you, and you musn't look so +much into yourself. Now you feel how bad you are, you must look to the +dear _Jesus_. One drop of His blood makes you clean and happy. Do, +Sammy, let me pray with you." The listeners stepped out gently; and the +sanitary officer, with ill-concealed emotion inquired about the strange +couple, and then he said, "Send the old woman to my house, and I will +give her some medicine for that drunken fellow which will stay his +craving for spirits, and so assist your effort for his reformation." + +Upon leaving the Place the visitors stopped to speak with a group of +four men who were standing at the entrance. One of them wore a fantail +cap, and held a shovel and dust-basket. Another was an unmistakable +scavenger, as he had a scoop-shovel, and was bespattered with mud. The +others were so dirty as to make the impression that they were close +friends, if not near relations of the former. "You have knocked off +early," observed the Missionary, looking with kindness into the face of +the dustman. "No we ain't, mister," replied that worthy: "we are a-goin' +to clean out all through. We split the luck (money given to dustmen) +last night, and I didn't wash the dust down, as we says, and I'm givin' +summut to these chaps what's going to help; and the carts are comin'." +"That's the right thing for you to do," was the encouraging remark. "An' +if we be in the muck," observed the scavenger, "we can be good, as you +speachified." "The dirt of your business is outside," was the reply, +"but it's the dirt inside that is bad; and this will be taken away, if +like a king we read about in the Bible, we pray, 'Create in me a clean +heart, O God.' I will call at your rooms very soon." + +[Illustration: Man carrying bundle on his back] + +"To influence such people to act for themselves in these matters is the +solution of the sanitary question," observed the official. "The putting +of pure thoughts into their minds," replied the visitor, "is the secret, +and this is a Bible work, for the saying of the wise man is true of us +all: 'As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.'" + +The bearer of the message which was to gladden the widow's heart that +evening, retraced his steps and found her in her room. She had fixed her +spectacles, and was intent upon finding a suitable Scripture for the +poor distressed drunkard she had just left. Some minutes passed before +she could realize the good that had befallen her, and then she turned +rapidly to the hundred and third Psalm, and repeated rather than read +the words, "Bless the Lord, O, my soul; and all that is within me, bless +His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His +benefits." She then said calmly, "It's the Lord's doings. He knows how +feeble I am getting, and how hard it is for me to do the little bit of +work, so He is crowning my days with mercy, and blessed be His name." + +Next morning the widow called upon her lady, and from that time a sweet +expression of peace settled upon her countenance. Her scanty raiment +gave place to a thick warm dress; and it was plain that a gracious hand +had bestowed the woollen shawl upon her shoulders, because a judge of +such articles would tell at a glance that it had been wrought by +delicate fingers. And from that time her tea-pot became invested with a +new charm, as its contents never deteriorated in quality. A new +influence was also felt by her neighbours. The sweep, who lived in the +corner house, once said bitterly, "Down here we are all by God and man +forsaken." This was no longer the case. The man with the Book, +acquainted them with the tender mercies of the _Most High_, and the +entrance of that Word which gives light was leading one and another to +call Him "_Abba--Father_." And then the expression of sweet sympathy in +their trials and sufferings, though it came from an unknown source, +softened hard hearts and prepared them for the reception of the Gospel. +The chanter was subdued by the food given to his only child when again +ill, and the warm covering for its bed was among the influences which +led him to acknowledge God, and to bend his stubborn knee. A young +labourer who had been long out of employment was saved from the first +step in crime by a pick-axe and shovel being provided for him when he +received the offer of work as a navvy, while several basket-women and +others who lived by street trading were helped by small loans and gifts +of money to recover their position, when some misfortune or difficulty +had deprived them of their means of support. This kindliness was to them +strange, because altogether out of their experience, and it exerted a +daily and increasing influence for good upon many of them. The sick were +often relieved from the intense misery which cold and hunger and family +wants bring to them; while mothers, who had become brutalized through +separation from all that was holy and elevating, were won and uplifted +by acts of kindness shown to their children by the stranger-friend. That +mighty force in the up-raising of the debased and depraved, which we +will venture to call lady-power, was evidently at work in Paradise +Court; and to this must be ascribed very much of the good which +resulted. Oh, ye handmaidens of the Lord, successors of the holy women +who ministered to His wants, and who followed Him even to Calvary, it is +your high privilege, like Him, to stoop to those of low estate; and to +minister of your wealth, for charity well bestowed upon the poor is +regarded as given to Him who is worthy to receive riches; of your +refinement, for sweetness of expression and kindliness can reach the +hearts of the vile, and produce a first emotion of love to the Lord you +copy; of your prayerfulness, for it must be well pleasing to Him, who +paid the full ransom for every soul, to have those who are "afar off" +brought by your pleadings within the influences of sovereign grace! + + +The Book in the Court: + +ITS POWER. + + "The soul has dealings with its God: + In such an hour we may not write,-- + When all His grace is shed abroad, + And darkness melts in floods of light + + "Thus, even now, that mercy came, + And righteous retribution slept, + The man could trust a Saviour's name, + And like a little child he wept." + + _Mrs. Sewell._ + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + BLACK POLL--NIGGERS--RESCUED--TOM AND BESS--COSTERMONGER'S + WEDDING--A BAPTISM--PLEDGE TAKEN--THE PRISON GATE--THE BIBLE ON THE + HOUSETOP--THE CONVICT'S WIDOW AND SON. + + +THE BOOK IN THE COURT: + +ITS POWER. + + "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." PS. xix. 7. + +"Pioneers are required in my parish," said the Rector to the Missionary, +at the time of his appointment. "In these densely populated parts of +London the people have outgrown the influence of the Church. I, for +instance, have upwards of 16,000 poor, and very few of the better +classes. Not twenty of these poor attend church, and the dissenters draw +very few. The sad truth is, that through neglect of religious duties the +people are fast losing the knowledge of God; and their close contact +with the depraved and criminal, is demoralizing them with the leaven of +wickedness. Several of my curates have attempted to grapple with the +evil, but its magnitude has overpowered us. In addition to +over-crowding, the migratory habits of the people increase the +difficulty. I am assured that in several of the streets the inhabitants +are changed once or twice a year, and in the courts there are often +monthly changes in the rooms. As soon therefore as good is done some of +the people leave, and fresh comers require the work to be done over +again. This difficulty can only be met by an order of men with special +qualifications for the work, and sufficiently numerous to cover all the +bad neighbourhoods; so that the people wherever they move to may be +brought under Christian influences. Your society has an aggressive +element of simple Christianity, which is calculated to accomplish this, +and to keep your agents down to their work, and I therefore give you a +hearty welcome, and the assurance of my sympathy in your labours." + +The Pioneer soon found that the Rector's statements as regards the +moving habits of the people were correct. After short intervals between +visits he frequently found persons in whom he had become interested +gone, and not a trace of them remaining, their places being occupied by +others. This was the case one afternoon in a house round the +corner,--one of the houses included in the block, and which we for +weighty reasons have regarded as part of the Court. The visitor was +walking upstairs, when he met a new arrival of so strange a type that he +was arrested as by an apparition. It was evidently a little girl of +meagre form and aged expression of countenance, but here the likeness to +our species grew doubtful. Her ethnology was not clearly developed as +she stood with bare shoulders of raven blackness, her lank light hair +being tied up in a bunch with pieces of rag, while the face and hands +were of a yellowish, dirty hue. The object was startled at meeting the +stranger, and was about to retreat, when he stopped her by asking a +question. She answered in a sharp, precocious manner, and the following +dialogue took place. + +"My good child, who are you?" + +"Black Poll: that me. And I goes to the gaff, and I does the changes, +and jumps 'Jim Crow;' and when I ain't black I sings 'Charming Judy +O'Calligan.' That me!" + +"Do your father and mother live here?" + +"What a stunner! cos I ain't got no mother: she died of cholera. Dusty, +what does the bones, is my uncle. He took me out of the workus, and I +earns him lots,--ten shills a week." + +"How many of you are there?" + +"Oh, a lot! We ain't together. Billy Mutton is our guv'nor; and Dusty +has took that ere sky-parlour, and they all comes here to be blacked +up." + +The Missionary approached the door indicated, and of necessity gave a +loud knock, as men were conversing inside. To the inquiry, "What are you +thumping there for?" he opened the door and stepped in. The man who +confronted him was of short stature, and of the most dismal of black +complexions. His attire was of light tweed, with broad green stripes. +Upon his knee rested a fiddle, and its stick was in his right hand ready +for practice. The table was placed near the window, and in addition to +its other uses it evidently served for purposes of the toilet. Two cheap +looking-glasses were upon it, and two tallow candles, placed in bottles, +were burning, though it was full daylight. The men were evidently +burning pieces of cork, adding tallow and a black powder, and then +rubbing the precious composition over their hands and faces. Two of the +men had completed the beautifying process, and one of them was tying on +an immense white handkerchief, while the other with an adhesive +composition was fixing a nasal organ of extraordinary shape and +proportion. All this was seen while the stranger was making his office +known, though but few words were necessary, as the tracts in his hand +indicated his business. It was evident that the man with the fiddle +understood him, as he without delay commenced playing "Drops of +Brandy," and continued a medley of comic tunes, ogling his eyes and +gesticulating in a humorous manner. He received occasional assistance +from his companions, who struck up choruses or attitudinized with +mirthful effect. Judging from his hearty laugh the stranger fully +appreciated their efforts, and instead of leaving, as they no doubt +expected, took a seat. Before the last scrape of the fiddle had died +away he remarked coolly, "That's more than I could do, because I have +not your ability. Why, were I to attempt a tune upon that fiddle, I +should make such a discord as to startle and perhaps drive you all out +of the room. The day is however coming when I shall hope to be a +musician." + +To an expression of inquiry the speaker produced his pocket Bible, and +observed: "You may not know it, but very much in this Book was written +for and has been set to music, and the song I mean to sing is here, and +something about the instrument I hope to play. Now there are instruments +mentioned here which you could never play, and some which you have not +even heard of, such as the sackbut and dulcimer; but you all know the +harp?" + +"I can play it a bit," exclaimed a man at the glass. + +"That's the instrument," continued the stranger; "and all Christians +will play it when they get to heaven, for it is written here, 'And I +heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: and they sang as it +were a new song,' and the singers were '_redeemed_ from the earth.'" The +meaning of the beautiful word "redemption" was then explained to them, +and their attention directed to the Redeemer. + +As the child entered to have her toilet completed the speaker said, "I +will tell you more about that another time. I really came in to ask you +about this child. She looks ill and overdone with work. I suppose that +she stays until very late at the gaff?" The man with the bones, who had +mounted a naval cocked-hat, replied, "I took her out of the workus, +guv'nor, to make a woman on her; but bless yer, her woice has gone, and +she can't keep up with her clump shoes for twenty minutes; and as we are +a-going werry soon to the seaside, we means to leave her with Mother +Dell, down the Court." + +The men were startled as the Missionary inquired sternly, "Do you men +believe that there is a God in heaven?" + +Upon several answering "Yes!" he continued: "He is the great Father of +us all, and it is not His will that even this little one should perish. +You know that that woman is vile and drunken, and has juvenile thieves +and depraved people in her house, and yet you would expose this poor +child to a life of crime. This shall not be, as I will take her, in the +name of the Redeemer, and place her in a home." + +"Glad to get rid on her," was the heartless reply. But as the Missionary +left, a dissipated-looking man, who had partly completed the blacking +process, sprung from his glass, and following him to the stairs, said +with emotion, "Thank you sir. I am a wicked backslider; but do take care +of poor little Polly." This request was accompanied with a grasp of the +hand which left a mark so black that hard washing was required to erase +the stain; that however did not matter, as it was the grasp of +gratitude. + +Next morning a lady and the Missionary entered the niggers' room. The +child, whose complexion had by scrubbing been reduced from black to a +whitey-brown, looked worn and ill; but her eyes brightened as the lady +took hold of her little hand, and said, "If you are good in the new +home, I will always be kind to you." The act of condescension, and the +sweet tone of that educated voice, had its influence with the niggers, +for they murmured their thanks, and gave the child an affectionate +farewell; Dusty's voice being the last heard from the top of the stairs, +exhorting her to "be a good un, and a credit to yer uncle." + +That afternoon another kindness was done, though only in the way of good +advice, for a daughter of the Court. Her parents were old inhabitants, +they had lived there for many years, and sustained the respectability of +the costermonger's calling. + +"Should like to have a say with you, mister, if you ain't a-going," said +the head of the family to the Missionary, as he was leaving the place; +and when with the good wife they were seated in the little parlour, +surrounded with partly decayed vegetables, he continued as follows: "You +know my Bess: as good a girl as ever was, she is, and a fortune to any +coster what gets her. Why she took to the trade quite natural like. When +only as high as them baskets we sent her out with cat's meat, and she +did wonderful. Such a girl to cut up a piece of horseflesh never was; +and then you should have seen how she skewered it! Why she made lots of +it, and all of them thought they had thumping hap'orths; howsomever the +cats all got their bones through their furs, and then they diskivered +what a girl our Bess was." + +After a pause for consideration he proceeded. "May be you doesn't know +Tom, who sold lots of cowcumbers last summer and put a sov in the bank, +as he doesn't put his hand to his mouth unnecessary, as he's teetotal. +His father and I has known each other always, cos we was both born in +Short's Court, Whitechapel, which was a curious circumstance, and we +always has a pint when we meets. Now his Tom has a new silk round his +neck, and looks handsome, as he always is. So he gets near my barrow +when Bess is there, and helps her knock off trade quick, and he pushes +home hisself. Well on Sunday he comes the swell, and wanted to walk Bess +out, and says he to me, 'My father's a coming to have a pint with you +over this job, as you was both born in that ere Court; and I wouldn't +let your Bess push that ere barrow, cos I've three sovs, and I'd buy her +a pretty donkey. That's me. And I wants Bess to be my lawful wedded +wife.'" Here he looked at the mother, who was in tears, and inquired, +"What would you do, master, if you was us?" + +The visitor felt the importance of his position, and at once rose to the +dignity of the friend of the family: for what can be a greater proof of +friendship than to be consulted about matrimonial alliances, their +settlements and prospects? + +As arranged, the parties concerned met the following Sunday afternoon +for consultation, and to receive the advice of their friend. He however +found upon his arrival that other considerations than his advice had +settled the business. The elders of Short's Court had agreed to cement a +life-long friendship by becoming relations. The mothers were in close +consultation about the new home to be established in the Place; and as +for the young people, they were in an ecstatic state of mutual +admiration. Her affection to her parents and high costermongering +qualities had been enlarged upon to Tom's delight, and his sobriety and +promise of the donkey had filled her cup of happiness to the brim. There +was only one difficulty, and Tom considered it a real one, for he said +gravely, "How is the banns to be got up? for it looks so for a coster to +go into a church to speak to the parson." + +"The clergyman is coming down with me during the week," said the +Missionary, "as he wishes to know you all: and I will bring him in here; +and if you like to invite me I will attend the wedding." A hearty +welcome, words of Christian counsel, and much shaking of hands followed, +and then the affianced and their friends were left as happy as princes +and nobles are supposed to be on such occasions. + +For three Sundays the banns were read and the free seats occupied with +awkward worshippers, as a wedding was a strange event in the Court, and +not a few of its inhabitants went to hear "Bess asked;" and then the +third Monday, like all appointed days, arrived quickly, and brought +excitement and joy into the Place. A party of East-end barrow-men +arrived early, and for that day fraternized with the costers of the +West, and young urchins were quarrelling over sundry old tin kettles and +saucepans, which they had provided for the rough music of the evening. +The doors and windows were thronged, and a crowd was waiting at the end +of the Place to accompany the bride to church. At length a shout was +raised, and the bride stepped forth, leaning upon the arm of the +bridegroom. Her light cotton dress, pink shawl, and white cotton gloves, +were admired by all; while the blue bonnet, with large red rose and +white strings, was the envy as well as the admiration of the female +portion of the crowd. The bridegroom was sensibly dressed in a new +business suit, his happy face being surmounted with a beaver which the +trade pronounced to be "nobby." The relations followed in a group +behind, a mob bringing up the rear. + +Those who entered the church were reverential during the solemnity, the +officiating minister was most kind to the bridal party, the happy pair +made their marks in the register, the clerk filled in particulars, and +the party left the church; the Missionary joined the group, and all +marched back to the Court as merry as wedding bells. The widow, like +another Martha, had been busy about many things, as the saveloys, +shrimps, cake, and coffee were all ready, and she received the bride +with a kiss of motherly affection. The simple breakfast was soon over, +and their friend then opened his Bible and read about the marriage in +Cana of Galilee, spoke kindly to the young people about dedication to +God being the secret of a happy married life, and he then commended them +in prayer to the blessing of the Almighty. + +Thus ended the wedding; but its influence was felt among the people, and +from that time a higher moral tone was developed. Family secrets indeed +were discovered, and the kind Rector often remitted fees, as a proof of +his interest in the people, that none should wilfully live in +transgression. On one morning alone the lay agent gave away three wives, +and this led to the baptism of an aged woman and six children. The woman +rented one of the houses, and went to the marriage of her lodger; she +had attended the little mission meeting, and had become anxious about +her salvation; without telling the cause, she had suffered deep +spiritual distress. Upon leaving the church she expressed desire to +speak to the clergyman, and upon being taken into the vestry told him +that "she had not been baptized, as her parents lived in Holborn Rents, +and did not care about religion; that she passed as a widow, and had +grown-up children, but had not been married, which now made her +miserable." She was exhorted to repent truly, and promised that upon +expressing repentance towards God, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, +she should be baptized. + +About a month after, a scene of solemn interest took place at the font. +The Rector, who was himself nearly seventy, placed the water of baptism +upon the brow of the woman of seventy-five years, the young Missionary +pronouncing her name. That evening a prayer-meeting was held in the +Court, to seek a blessing upon the newly baptized, and the attendance +was very large; unlikely persons were there, including two of the +translators, the woman of the dogs, and a rough. The passage itself was +crowded, and to those who engaged in prayer there were indications of +spiritual blessing,--of an aroused state of feeling, as though the voice +had said, "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these +slain, that they may live." The hymn, "There is a fountain filled with +blood," was sung, and the fifth chapter of the 2nd Corinthians read. The +Evangelist then spoke simply and clearly of judgment and of mercy, and +besought his hearers to be reconciled to God. + +After the meeting several remained behind to be prayed with. One of +these was a fishwoman of hard features and vile tongue. She was quite +forty years of age, and had removed into the Place from a neighbouring +street which had no thoroughfare, and was called by the people "Little +Hell." Bad as the inhabitants in the Court were, they conceived a +dislike to this woman, which made her life uncomfortable. She was indeed +hateful to many. When addressed kindly at her door, and told of +"goodness and mercy," she was subdued at once; and communicated the +secret of her debased condition. She said, "I was a pretty little +village girl, and when I comed up to London I got hawful wicked, and now +I am obleged to be a fish-fag: and you make me think of the parson lady +as made us kneel along the church and say them prayers." It was plain +that the good impressions made in the village church so many years +before were being revived, and she was invited to the meeting, and that +with blessed result. + +Proof was also given that the blessing was not transient but real, and +the minister of the neighbouring Baptist chapel became deeply interested +in the Place. When the Missionary, at his request, called upon him, he +said, "I am glad to know and to encourage you in the Lord's work; and +then I want to speak to you about an old man. You may have heard that +twice a week I have temperance meetings under my chapel. For some time +past this old man has been constant in his attendance, and I am told +that he has for years been a pest in the neighbourhood, and is called +Drunken Sammy. When invited he signed the pledge, and since then some of +my people have got him to attend the services. One Sunday I sent for him +into the vestry, and he spoke of you and a widow as his friends, and of +his promise to keep sober. He is evidently under deep religious +convictions, and as he is very shy I have told the pew opener to keep a +seat for him near the door. Of this I am convinced, that he will not +break the pledge, as he speaks with anger of the cursed drink. Besides +him, two women out of the same place are usually at chapel, and say that +'the man who reads the Bible has made them feel that they are not +Christians, and that they want to be happy;' so we are getting them here +to a week-night service." + +This was pleasant but not strange news, because the Missionary knew that +the acting of conscience, enlightened by the Word of God and the +emotions of the new life, were felt by many; and that as the result, +they were pressing into the various churches and chapels. The work +indeed became overpowering; and it was impossible for him to speak with +all who now desired his visits, as many in their distress kept him a +long time. Strength equal to the day was however given; and almost +nightly meetings in the widow's room made up for lost visits. + +Among those who received marked benefit was the sewerman, who occupied a +back "parlour" for his family and the yard for rats which he caught in +the "shores" (sewers) and brought home in a bag attached to the inside +of his coat. The smell of rats was always strong upon him, and as he had +a blinking peering look he was far from popular with his neighbours. +When, however, in his earnestness to hear, he pressed forward into the +meeting room, several smiled pleasure at seeing him, and he was motioned +to a seat. After this he was constant in his attendance, and a gradual +change of appearance was noticed. That he washed himself in right good +earnest was evident, and the lighting up of his countenance, with effort +to join in the singing, proved that his soul also was stirred by the +glad and to him new tidings of the Saviour's mercy. He avoided +conversation upon his spiritual state, as he knew not how to express his +feelings, and nothing could induce him to attend with respectable people +at public worship (he may have considered himself offensive), but he got +to love the little meeting, and it became evident that he had attained +to peace in believing. + +To the Missionary and his helpers this was a time for rejoicing; but +they had also their discouragements and anxieties. A folded letter, for +instance, of strange shape, and bearing the impression, "Dartmoor +Convict Establishment," was delivered at one of the meetings; and upon +opening it the following printed instructions met the eye: "In writing +to the convict, direct to No. 2484 (_a._ 1, 2)." This was evidently the +number of the young thief whose companion had asked the Missionary to +reform him upon his first visit to the Court, on the ground of his being +"unlucky." That effort had been made in earnest; for the mother and the +Missionary upon the next discharge morning took their stand at the +iron-barred gate of Coldbath Field's prison, and waited until the heavy +lock was opened and the ponderous bolt withdrawn. Then the jail-birds +issued out helter-skelter, looking well, and rejoicing in their liberty +as if bent on pleasure. Some were received by their "pals," unmistakable +members of the criminal class, and were conducted in a sort of triumph +to their former dens, with the prospect of a little wild pleasure, +another crime, and then a longer term of imprisonment. Our bird, a +sharp-looking, well grown youth of seventeen years, was seized by his +mother, and hastily informed "that this ere gent had come to reform +him." A keen glance at the reformer and a movement of the eyelid, +understood by such people as "the knowing wink," expressed his +reluctance to undergo the process. He then, in a surly way, said to his +mother, "I wants some bacca and some beer: that's what I wants; and I'll +have it!" As he glanced at a group of persons who had hurried from the +prison-gate to the public-house, the mother evidently felt that the +required refreshment was the only means of keeping her son. She +therefore whispered to her friend, "He'll bolt, yer honour; so I'll +treat him, and then he will be a lamb, the dear will!" And then they +also passed over to the public-house, leaving the reformer outside, and +in a perplexity as to what he ought to do. The long walk with that +strange-looking woman had been almost a punishment, for everybody turned +round to look at her. She noticed the annoyance, and volunteered this +explanation: "You see, yer honour, I must wear this ere large cap, as I +should get rheumatics in my poor head; and it's now seventeen years +since I ever wore a bonnet or shawl, cos of my oath. My husband was a +good chap to me, and had only once got into trouble. Well, he went out +with a fool what peached, and they lifted a lot of bonnets and a box of +the beautifulest shawls as ever was; and he was collared in the place +where they was, and he got fourteen years over the sea. I then goes down +on my knees, and swears that I would never wear bonnet or shawl till he +come back. He never saw our Eddy, as he was born the week after he had +gone, and he died very soon at Van Diemen's; and I tried to bring up +Eddy respectable like, but he's like his poor father. Now if people +tells you that I receives, tell them that they lies; cos I lives honest, +and does pawning for women what has got modesty, and doesn't like to be +seen going to their Uncle's; and then I gets more on anything, and +picks up what I can: but I'm an honest woman!" + +This "honest woman" and her son only remained a few minutes in the +public-house; and as they came toward him, the heart of the Missionary +yearned for their salvation. That fine youthful countenance had already +the lines of viciousness upon it; and he was not improved by the short +cut hair and the long pipe he was smoking. Poor fellow, he was but one +of thousands of the youth of this great city who are as much brought up +to live lives of crime as heathen children who are taught to pray to +gods of wood and stone. Now it surely must be true that Christian +sympathy has power to penetrate the souls of the depraved: for as the +three pursued their homeward journey there was between them confidence +and good fellowship; and though the would-be reformer was disappointed, +he felt that an influence had been gained over the depraved youth. + +The offer of a refuge was refused, but the young thief promised to +attend a class at the Ragged School which the Missionary was forming, +and in which he himself intended to teach. He did attend, with eight +other unruly natives of the Court, and received instruction so readily, +and made such progress, that hope was entertained of his reformation. He +obtained work at the side of the Canal, to unload boats, and had kept to +it for several weeks, when a circumstance occurred which crushed his +high spirit. The members of a gang of "Sneaks and Mudlarks," with which +he had been associated, were annoyed at his forsaking their company. +Several of these one day crossed over the bridge and saw him at work. +They called to the other workmen, and told them "that that fellow was a +known thief, and had had four months on the mill." That evening the +foreman made inquiries of the police, and in the morning when the poor +youth went to work he was spurned from the gate. The mother incited him +to take vengeance, and he severely beat two of the youths who, as he +said, had ruined him. + +When the friend and teacher heard of his trouble he called to see him, +and the youth opened the door; but instead of speaking he ran upstairs. +He was followed: but he vanished at the upper landing. As he absented +himself from the class, other efforts to reach him were made, but he +always disappeared at the top of the stairs. One afternoon the teacher +saw his pupil enter the house, and followed him in. He sprang forward, +his friend after him, and as he disappeared the teacher thought that he +heard the trap-door of the roof close down. He at once placed his right +foot upon the old handrail, and pushing the trap-door open sprang out +upon the roof of the house; and there, before the chimney-stack, beside +his pigeon-house, sat the vanished one. He looked unhappy, but joined in +a hearty laugh as the Missionary took his seat between the next pair of +chimney pots. The novelty of their position was soon forgotten as the +poor lad spoke of his persecutions and troubles. The pocket Bible was +produced, and the narrative was read of Peter praying upon the +house-top, and his seeing the vision of a great sheet, knit at the four +corners, let down from heaven, containing all manner of four-footed +beasts of the earth. From the words, "God has showed me that I should +not call any man common or unclean," the Gospel was made plain to him, +and the ease with which grace enables us to resist temptation and to +bear troubles. Tears started into the eyes of the poor youth, as he +said, almost in a whisper, "I ortent to have done it, sir; but I thinks +that I am done for now. I was a fool to bolt from you." And then he +glanced along the roof so anxiously, that a detective would have +suspected a thief's trail to another trap-door. An angry voice called a +"lazy varmint" to come to tea, and then the trap opened and the +Missionary made his descent. He was received by the strange mother with +a scream of surprise, and the announcement "that it was dreadful to see +him a-coming down there." + +[Illustration: "He sprang out upon the roof of the house, and there, +before the chimney stack, beside his pigeon house, sat the vanished +one."] + +That call to tea was the last which the convict's widow gave to her son. +In the midst of it stealthy steps were heard upon the stairs, but the +youth made no effort to escape. Two policemen in plain clothes entered +the room, and one of them, seizing him by the arm, said, "We want you +upon a charge of burglary, with violence to the person, committed last +night at Hampstead." The prisoner burst into tears, and his mother, +throwing her arms around him, gave a deep cry of anguish. There was but +short delay, for he was hurried down stairs, and on to the station. Next +morning he appeared in the dock at the police court, and a clear case +was made out against him. His companions were taken upon the spot, and +though he escaped, his face had been seen by the police and two other +persons. At his trial he pleaded guilty, and his companions, who were +well-known thieves, were sentenced to ten years' transportation, and +himself to seven. His teacher visited him at the House of Detention, and +then in the cell at Newgate. He appeared to be truly penitent, and +promised to send him his first letter; and this accounts for the epistle +from the convict establishment. When the Missionary read it to the +wretched mother, she acknowledged that her sins had separated her from +her God, her husband, and her son; and then, for the first time, she +knelt down, and sobbed again while Divine mercy was implored on her +behalf. There is some hope in her case and for her son also, as the +Chaplain wrote a private note to the Missionary, asking for particulars +concerning the convict, and telling him that the prisoner showed +contrition, and spoke with feeling about a conversation upon the +house-top. We must therefore leave convict 2484 (_a._ 1, 2), to endure +the penalty of his crime, and show what kindness we can to his mother. + + +The Book in the Court: + +ITS AUTHORITY. + + "'I am going there now!'-- + There was light on his brow: + Then up to the skies + He lifted his eyes, + With a bright sweet smile + On his face the while. + One struggling breath, + And the hand of death + Had broken the chain + Of his grief and pain; + And the soul had fled + From the silent dead, + And free as the lark, + And above the dark, + And above the cloud + And the toiling crowd, + Had entered the rest + Of the good and blest." + + _Mrs. Sewell._ + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + A BLACKLEG--MINIATURE ALTAR--THE PEACEMAKER--THE WAFER--AN ANIMATED + SANDWICH--SAVED FROM ERROR--THE TRAVELLING TINKER--THE DYING CHILD. + + +THE BOOK IN THE COURT: + +ITS AUTHORITY. + + "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to + this word, it is because there is no light in them." ISA. viii. 20. + +If the crew of a man of war may be regarded as a "little world," the +densely-packed hundreds of our Court could certainly claim the same +distinction. In addition to the miserable shelter which conferred upon +them the few joys of home and the associations of their life-struggles, +there were many links to the large outer world. All, without exception, +had to do battle with keen, cold poverty; and in the morning as they +left their dwellings it was amusing to contemplate the nature of their +various pursuits, as fifty-six different callings were professed by +them. The costermongers might be seen pushing out their barrows of +vegetables, fruit, and coarse fish. The hucksters and the itinerant +herbalist with their boxes. The sweep with his machine, and the Punch +and Judy man with his show upon his shoulders, and red-coated dog Toby +at his heels. Professed beggars, confirmed thieves, and the +fortune-telling women, left at more genteel hours; while the workers +with the needle, both men and women, might at all times be seen hurrying +off to shops with the work they had accomplished in "poverty, hunger, +and dirt." And then, strange as it may seem, there were inhabitants in +that obscure place which linked it to the upper classes. In a +first-floor front lived two aged women, one of them a lady of +eighty-four years. Though very feeble and careless as regarded present +comforts, she had a vivid recollection of persons and of events +connected with the beginning of the century. She was the daughter of a +physician, and had been governess to the children of a Duke, and +received a pension of L30 a year, which was her living. Her delight was +to untie bundles of letters with crested seals and arms upon them, to +show the autographs, and to relate anecdotes of her great friends who +had long passed away, but several of whose names live in their country's +records. Her companion was the widow of a mechanic, with an allowance +from the parish. She always treated the lady with respect, and a close +friendship had for many years existed between them. In death they were +scarcely divided, as she only survived the lady for a few weeks. + +The blackleg who for some months shared a room with two news-boys, had +the unmistakable bearing of a gentleman, and though a master of slang he +could not divest his tongue of its College culture. At a time of +compunction he told the visitor that he was the brother of a Baronet, +but that dissipation and gambling had reduced him to want bread. "I bear +an alias," he continued, "that the family name may not be disgraced, but +I will never humble myself to relations. I am now out of luck, and have +to act as billiard-marker in a low flash house, but I have nicely hedged +my book for the Derby, and if fortune smiles I shall have sufficient +cash to establish myself in Canada, where I may rise to my proper +position." At the time of the Derby he was absent from his lodgings for +a week; one morning he returned well dressed, paid up his lodging, gave +the news-boys ten shillings each, as "nest eggs" for the savings-bank, +left a note for the Missionary, expressing his sincere thanks for his +kind interest in him; and after that was not heard of again. + +In our little world there were also those who had defined religious and +political opinions, and the people were not always free from the +excitement which on some subjects disturbs the outer world. There were +barber's shop and taproom politicians, as well as "anti-theologians," +and several, who through ignorance of the truth, were the victims of +superstition. The great body of the men were of Republican and Communist +opinions, and belonged to what are justly called "the dangerous +classes," while the principles of pure and undefiled religion were only +beginning to exert their influence in forming public opinion in our +Court. Just at this time new occupants entered the back parlour of No. +11, and a short account of them and their proceedings will help to show +the mind of the people. + +The family consisted of an Irishwoman and her two sons. She was employed +at a Roman Catholic Chapel, and her two sons served at the altar. At +home they showed their devotion by placing a miniature altar upon a +table opposite their door, which was usually open. It was prettily +arranged, with its sacred place high in the centre, and its covering of +silk with finely wrought cross and sprigs of flowers. On one side was a +little font-like vessel containing holy water, and on the other an image +of "the Virgin," with a bunch of artificial flowers at her feet. At +times the room was darkened and several small candles were lit upon the +altar. The effect was striking, and as the lodgers passed they looked +with a kind of awe at the woman and her sons when prostrate before it. +As other Romanists went into the room to perform their devotions, and as +they commenced circulating little books, the family became a trial to +the Missionary. The enemy was sowing tares, but a circumstance occurred +which neutralized the bad influence. + +If this was an effort at proselytism, they fixed upon a bad position for +the purpose, as the next room was occupied by a young man who styled +himself a "positive religionist." He was a shoemaker, but by +self-culture had educated himself above his fellows. He was well read in +infidel literature, and being of a reflective, philosophical order of +mind, had worked out a system of opposition to Divine revelation. The +infidels of the neighbourhood regarded him as their "coming man," and +his fame was spreading, as he was clever in argument and powerful in +debate. The Missionary, upon his first visit, felt so powerless in +meeting his objections, that he commenced a course of reading, with the +one object of leading him into the way of truth. This man became +interested in the religious observances of the lodgers in the next room, +and often conversed with them. One morning the youth opened the sacred +place, and taking out a sacramental "wafer," told the infidel that he +had brought it from the chapel; that it was only a wafer then, but that +if a priest pronounced the words of consecration over it, it would +immediately be changed into the Lord Jesus Christ. To confirm this he +gave him a catechism containing the Creed of Pius IV., and pointed out +the words, "In this Sacrament are contained not only the true body of +Christ, and all the constituents of a true body, as _bones_ and +_sinews_, but also _Christ whole and entire_." The infidel read this, +and again asked to see the wonderful wafer. As the youth held it in his +palm, the infidel struck the under part of the hand, and caught the +wafer as it fell. It was broken into several pieces, but he rushed into +his room, and pasted it together upon a piece of brown paper. + +About ten days after, the visitor noticed several of the Irish residents +and the youth in an excited conversation. Upon inquiring the cause, they +told him that the young man had taken the blessed wafer round to infidel +meetings, where they had made fun of and pretended to pray to it. "Och, +an' shure," exclaimed a labourer, "an' his riverence never altered it at +all, at all; but howan'iver he says 'twas took by Mick, and 'twasn't +given, and it's himself to do penance!" And then he declared with a +bitter oath, that he would take it back to the priest. As the man had a +pick in his hand, and raised it in a threatening manner, and a crowd, +chiefly of his own countrymen, were assembling, the Missionary felt it +to be his duty to act as peacemaker, and therefore exclaimed with a +smile, "Try reason before the shillelagh: the youth and one of you had +better go with me and ask them to give it back to him!" This was agreed +to, and they made their way to the room of the six "translators," to +which place the young man had fled with his prize when he saw the storm +brewing. The men had pinned the wafer to the wall, and a filthy object +it looked. They were evidently prepared to defend it, but were +embarrassed by the presence of the Missionary, who addressing the young +man, said, "I heard you called a thief; now as positive morality is a +part of positive religion, I have come to ask you to restore the stolen +wafer." "Not I!" he replied, with a merry laugh, in which his companions +joined. "I shall rather try and find a priest, and get him to conjure it +into the Man of Nazareth, to the benefit of my paste as well as the +dough, and then we shall look upon and pray to--" Here, with profane +words, he uttered that name which is high above every name that is named +in heaven and in earth. A shout of derision from the group of infidels +was silenced by the visitor, who said firmly, "This is really bad of +you, to defend an immoral act by an outrage upon my feelings. That wafer +is not, and never can become the Saviour of the world. To believe that, +is no part of the Christian religion, that belief is a horrid corruption +added to the Christian system. Listen while I read from this book, the +standard of Christian faith, Christ's institution of His holy sacrament, +which the wafer-god profanes: 'The Lord Jesus, the same night in which +He was betrayed, took bread; and when He had given thanks, He brake it, +and said, Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you: this do +in remembrance of Me. After the same manner He took the cup, when He had +supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood: this do ye, +as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me; for as oft as ye eat this +bread and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till He come.'" +And then, raising his voice, the reader said, "Be it known to you that +the perpetuity of this sacrament is one of the many external evidences +which support a truth in which each of you has a present and eternal +interest; that the Lord Jesus, after accomplishing death for your +salvation, rose from the dead, and is now alive, and is seated at God's +right hand, a Prince and a Saviour." As he ceased speaking the infidels +conferred among themselves; and then the young man unpinned the wafer +from the wall, and handing it to the youth, said, "There, take it back, +as it ain't moral for us to keep it, though it's not worth so much as +one of our bristles, of which we get a lot for a penny; but we never +take one without asking each other for it." The youth seized the dirty +object, and, with his friend, hurried downstairs, while the reader stood +with the sword of the Spirit in his hand, ready to do conflict with the +King's enemies. + +Poor wafer! but for the accident of a youth taking thee instead of +another, thou wouldest have been the object of an imposing ceremonial: +placed upon a high altar and surrounded by lighted candles, before thee +incense would have been burned, and priests in gorgeous raiment would +have prostrated themselves, while a congregation of worshippers would +have adored thee as the Lord who had redeemed them. Instead of this, +thou wast the cause of His blessed name being blasphemed, and, as the +embodiment of a lie, made to hinder the salvation of wicked men. + +From the time the miniature altar was set up, it was noticed that two +Sisters of Mercy, with their dismal clothing and large baskets, +frequently made their appearance in the Court, and the Widow observed +three children of a poor English family, who lived in the house, +returning from the convent school with the Irish children. Upon speaking +to the mother upon the subject, she said, that "the Sisters came in to +see her and gave her nice things, and asked her to send the children to +their school; and, as one religion was as good as another, she should do +as she liked." The children, when spoken to about their school, repeated +a prayer which they said they "had been taught to say to a great dolly +with a baby in its arms." Upon hearing this, the Missionary decided +upon speaking to the father upon the matter, and in the evening went for +that purpose. + +This man was an "animated sandwich," and as he shuffled into the Court +with his worn out shoes and crushed hat, clothing to match being partly +concealed by boards covered with flaming placards, he appeared a +deplorable object. His haggard, careworn expression of face led one to +believe his saying, that "he was a chap as had been smashed up." Little +did he think, as the Missionary followed him upstairs, that he had been +the subject of much thought, and that the visitor he welcomed was as +desirous for his favour as though he had been one of the great of the +earth. The poor man was in a communicative state of mind, and in reply +to inquiries respecting his health and business prospects, made the +following statement. + +"You see, master, as how sandwiches never can get on, cos we're a +broke-down lot. Why you should see us afore we starts with our boards, +all a-rubbin' our rheumatisms or a-coughin', so as it is wonderful how +we gets on. But lots of us are respectable though we ain't always +honest, as we get into a public instead of crawling, and there we enjoys +our pipes and talks. Why one on us is a queer old man what had a good +business in the muffin line, and it udd make you stare if you heard the +poetry he makes up, and then you would laugh, and then your eyes would +water like. Well, to-day he brings in a new song all by hisself, and it +all ends with what is called-- + + "'The man what walks the gutters.' + +"And it's a correct account of how we are looked down on, and shows +that none of our old pals will shake our paws, as it's awkward like when +your harms pop out of your side like serampores at the railway; and then +it shows that it's no good to police the men what gets drunk, and fine +'em five shillings, the correct thing being to make 'em sandwiches for a +week with 'vertisements about them teetotal meetings. And then nobs +would mayhaps have to do the boards, which would helewate the +perfession, as all what they does helewates. Howsomever a chap what's a +wagabon offered me his fist, and I kicked his shins; and affor that I +never killed a fly, as my 'art is tender-like. That wagabon ruined us. +My wife was a 'ousemaid, and I was a cabby; and she had twenty-three +sovereigns, and I had ten on 'em. So we made a match, and I took a +stable and borrowed a 'orse, and bought an old cab and did it up, and we +was a-doing first-rate. So that man comes one morning, and says he to +me, 'You're good natured, and if you'll oblige me, I will oblige you; +and I wants to buy a 'orse, and if you'll write across a paper what's a +bill, I'll have the money and will stand treat.' Well, that made me feel +as I was a gent to get money with writing, and I does it; and the treat +I had wasn't no good. Well, three months arter that, a chap comes to my +stable with a paper nearly all print, which said I was to pay that +fifteen pounds I signed on the paper; and I couldn't and I wouldn't, and +I got drunk lots of times, and they hexecuted in the stable, and then I +hadn't a cab; and then I frets, and was werry ill in the hospital; and +then I thought a lot, and says I to myself, says I, 'I ortent to have +writ on that paper, and I ortent to have took to the drink, and I ortent +to have been 'ard with the wife, as I made the trouble. And now I'm a +sandwich I brings her the little bit of money I gets." + +"You did wrong," said the Missionary, "in signing that paper without +consulting your wife and your Bible. She might have seen the danger and +prevented it; if not the good Book would have said to you, 'Be not thou +one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. +If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under +thee?' I have called in because I find that you are making another +mistake, a very serious one, as regards your children, by allowing them +to go to the convent school. The Sisters have been kind to your wife, +and have persuaded her that there is no difference between their +religion and that which is true; they have however caused your children +to kneel before images, though God in the commandment has said, 'Thou +shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or bow down thyself to them.' +Besides this, they will be taught other things which are not true, and +must therefore injure them. Poor as you are, you are responsible to God +for your children, and you sin by allowing them to be brought up in a +false religion. Bear bravely with your troubles, and brighter days may +come, but do right to your children by allowing me to take them to a +proper school." After a feeble resistance from the mother this was +agreed to, and the visit ended in a reading from the Bible; after which +the family knelt together at the throne of grace. Next morning the +Missionary called for the children and took them to the National School. +During the day the Sisters called upon the mother, and after a short +visit left the Court with a quick tread. The week after, several of the +Romanists, including the family with the miniature altar, left; eleven +of the catechisms they had circulated were exchanged for good books, and +so the effort to Romanize in Paradise Court was stayed. + +The opposite house, the door of which was closed upon the Missionary at +his first visit, was known to leading members of the cadging fraternity +as an "easy padding ken," which means "a quiet lodging-house for begging +impostors." As these rogues only stayed a short time, to conceal +themselves from the police or to prepare new deceits for their country +friends, a rapid succession of them was met with, from the "shallow +cove" (_i.e._, a pretended sailor in distress), to the "highflier" +(_i.e._, a begging-letter impostor). The gipsy man and his wife who kept +the den professed to be very fond of the tracts, but a man who did the +"religious dodge" told the giver that they were saved up and sold to +such as himself at twopence a dozen, for village and roadside begging. +The landlord got into trouble with the police, and to put them off the +scent he for several months let the upper rooms in the regular way. This +accounts for the circumstance that the visitor did not know that the top +back had been occupied by a family for five or six weeks. Thinking that +lodgers were there, he, one dark November afternoon, made his way to +that part of the house. In reply to his knock, the door was opened by a +woman who was partly intoxicated, and, whose appearance denoted that she +sifted upon the dust-heaps. She refused the tract which was offered upon +the ground that "it was no good to eat;" but when told of the "true +Bread," she opened the door wider, and looking toward a bundle of rags, +said, "You can talk to my girl as is very bad, as I'm going out," and +then she staggered downstairs. + +The visitor approached the rags, upon which lay a little girl of eleven +years. She partly raised herself, as if to look at the stranger, and +then sunk back as though exhausted with the effort. "I have come to talk +to you about Jesus, and to pray with you," said the Missionary, taking +hold of her emaciated hand, and then he paused to give the little +sufferer time to recover from the excitement of his presence, and to +glance round the room. It was a wretched dwelling; filthy in the +extreme; with scarcely a vestige of furniture, unless the two boxes +which served for seats, and the planks placed across pieces of wood, +which served for a table, could be dignified by that name. In one corner +was a pile of old kettles without spouts, and saucepans without handles +and lids. In the fireplace, which was without a fender and filled with +ashes, was a tinker's hand-fire--a saucepan with round holes at the side +and wire handle. In different parts of the room were little heaps of +dirty rags, bottles, and greasepots. All this showed that the occupant +was a travelling tinker, who had been stopped on his travels by the +illness of the child, and that his wife had obtained work upon a +dust-heap, from which she brought worn-out tinware for her husband to +"doctor up" and re-sell to the poor. Turning toward the child, the +visitor inquired how long she had lived there, and if she could say the +Lord's Prayer. In reply, the child, panting at intervals for breath, in +a low, hollow tone, said, "For four or five Sundays, sir, I was ill, and +we had to sleep under a hedge, which made me worse; and then we tramped +on here, and the doctor has been to see me, and says he can't do much +for me, as I am getting thin and can't eat;" and then raising herself +upon her arm, she continued, her eyes lighting up with a supernatural +brightness, "I can't say all that prayer, but I can the pretty hymn +which is in the book under my head. I can't read, but I know it's +there." And then the peach colour of her cheek deepened as she opened +the "penny hymn-book," and repeated the first two verses of the hymn: + + "'Come, let us join our cheerful songs + With angels round the throne.'" + +Then she threw herself back as though exhausted, but her face assumed an +expression of intense happiness. After a few minutes the question was +asked, "And how did you learn that hymn?" "A little girl at the tramps' +lodging, at Ipswich," she replied, "went to Sunday-school, and took me +with her for three Sundays: the lady saw I was ill, and kissed me, and +told me how to say that hymn, and it makes me so happy. And I am going +to Him soon," she whispered, gazing up with evident delight. "You must +not talk any more, dear," said the visitor, "but I will now pray to +Jesus, to whom the angels in heaven are singing, and ask Him to make you +very good now, and then to take you to be with Him in glory." "Ask +_Him_," whispered the child, "to make father and mother good: they get +drunk and frighten me so, and say such wicked words." The request was +complied with, and He who has told His disciples to "ask that they may +receive," was petitioned, in simple language but in earnest prayer, to +bless the child and to save the parents. + +A few necessaries were that evening sent for the child; and two days +after the Missionary again ascended that dark staircase: he did so with +pleasure, because he felt that in that dismal room there was a little +one who loved the Saviour, and who would soon be called to His presence +and personally blessed by Him. The door was opened by the mother, who +burst into tears and turned away; upon glancing toward the bed of rags, +the visitor was startled at seeing a small elm coffin in its place, and +inquired when the child died. "Late in the night when you were here," +the mother replied, sobbing. "She was in great pain, and sat up in the +bed and took out her little book, and said the hymn she was so fond of-- + +'Come, let us join our cheerful songs + With angels round the throne;' + +and then her cough came on, and she fell back in the bed and died like a +lamb." While they were speaking, the father, a low-looking tramp, came +in; and the Missionary told them of the child's request that he would +pray for them that they might be made good. Both of them cried with +intense feeling, and then they knelt beside that little coffin, while +prayer, deep earnest prayer, was offered for their salvation. That +evening, and for several months after, they attended the meeting in the +Widow's room, and before they left the place for a settled life, not a +tramp's, the man gave proof of his reformation, and the woman that she +had believed to the saving of her soul. + +In that day when the Lord shall give to each of His servants according +as their work shall be, the lady who taught that beggar child a hymn +about His love and glory, and won her heart to Him with a kiss of +Christian charity, will in no wise lose her reward. + + +The Book in the Court. + +ITS TRUTH. + + "'Well, lad!' he said, 'I've flung my life away, + And now must give the reckoning in, they say.' + I said, 'I hope, Sir, that you stand prepared + To meet the Judge, and 'bide by His award!' + 'Prepared!' he said, 'Roger, my open eyes + Now look upon the past without disguise; + And I remember all the years gone by, + And all I've done, as 'twere but yesterday. + It is no use to urge me to repent; + I've lost my chance, and now must be content + To fare as others do,--so let that be: + But 'tis a dreadful word--Eternity!' + 'Dear Sir,' I said, 'it is a dreadful word: + Lift up your heart and call upon the Lord. + Perhaps'--He started up impatiently,-- + 'I cannot call: so let that matter be! + I have no hope that I shall be forgiven; + I know a drunkard cannot go to heaven; + And as I stand upon destruction's brink, + I see I've sacrificed my soul for 'drink.' + Oh, what a fool I've been! but say no more; + My crazy bark will soon push off the shore.'" + + _Mrs. Sewell._ + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + ROLEY-POLEY'S OPINIONS--THE BUS-WASHER--COMMUNISM--AN INFIDEL CLUB + ROOM--PHILOSOPHERS--CONFLICT WITH INFIDELITY--THE 'STROLOGY + WOMAN--BIBLE ANSWERS--IMP WOMAN--THE CONVERTED INFIDEL. + + +THE BOOK IN THE COURT: + +ITS TRUTH. + + "Thy word is true from the beginning." PS. cxix. 160. + +All who knew "Roley-poley," as the children delighted to call him, were +convinced that something was wrong with him or his affairs. He was +regarded as one of the respectables of the Court; and as he left home, +with his huge narrow-edged basket, covered with a white cloth, upon +which were displayed slices of rolled currant-pudding and plum-cake, he +looked the pink of cleanliness. His rosy, contented face, white calico +cook's cap, of which he was very proud, and his clean apron, were as +charms to his supporters,--the roughs and gutter children. The partner +of his life was also a partner in the provision business, as she sold +sheep's-trotters outside the doors of the public-houses. Though both +were turned sixty they were healthy, and their room had an appearance of +comfort. It was plain that they prospered, as in the afternoon they left +with well-filled baskets, and at night returned with them empty. +Business difficulties were not therefore the cause, and yet the +good-natured little man became ill-tempered, sharp with his customers, +and "cranky" with every one; and then his meek little wife began to look +wretched and speak of her "troubles." Liquor was not the cause, as +"Roley-poley" was a sober man: so the conclusion arrived at was, that +his "opinions," which of late had become very peculiar, were at the root +of the evil. This was confirmed by his venturing an attack upon the +Missionary, with whom he had been generally on good terms: and this is +how the event occurred. The reader of the good Book was standing in a +door-way with a group of boys, whose tossing for pence he had stopped by +an offer to read them the story of a young man who was thrown into a den +of lions. As "Roley-poley" passed with his basket there was a diversion +of attention and a fingering of pence, with such a look at the tempting +spread that the retailer approached to do business. The youths paused in +their purchase to hear the end of the narrative, which may have +irritated the poor man, as he looked spitefully toward the Book, and +exclaimed, "That all contradicts itself, and it's made up of lies by the +parsons, what doesn't produce nuffin, to keep us down and to get our +money, and it says, it does, that God come from Teman, and nobody knows +about that and Him; and it's bad, cos it says we are to be like a man +what told people to steal a donkey. My opinion is, 'No religion and our +rights.'" He then toddled away, as one who had let off the long +condensed steam of "his opinions." + +Next morning the Missionary entered his room to seek an explanation, and +was told that "such as him wasn't wanted." + +"Yes you be, master," exclaimed that meek little woman, with positive +anger. "He's a-turning infidel, cos them shoemakers has lent him Tom +Paine's book, which he was reading all two Sundays; and now he's +miserable, and talks wicked, and goes to them infidel meetings, and +doesn't stop out with the basket, cos he ain't content-like, and wants +other people's things." + +"She's a wixen," retorted the husband; "and a wixen what hasn't got +reason, which is the worser sort of wixens: and she is always a-reading +her mother's book, 'The Whole Duty of Man,' which is a parson's book, +and agin our rights." + +The domestic jangle was stopped by the visitor observing, "It is quite +right in religion to use our reason; as the Bible tells us to 'prove all +things, and to hold fast that which is good.'" And he then, in a +soothing tone of voice, and with simple illustrations, proved to the +poor man that God is, and that He is the Rewarder of them who diligently +seek Him; and then assured him of his interest in the loving heart of +the Saviour. + +The old man listened, and it was evident by the manner he pursued his +work of pudding-making that he was the subject of an inward conflict. +After washing his apron, he poured the flour into the dirty old tub with +such vengeance as to create a cloud of dust, and then he mixed with such +energy that his arms were soon covered with whitey-brown flakes. By the +time the dough was deposited upon the table he was calmer, and toward +the end of the operation the rolling-pin was gently used. Rising from +his seat the Missionary said kindly, "I am sorry for you, as you have +been injured. The men have done you more harm by lending you that book +than if they had broken your arm. You have struggled on together for a +great many years, and ought now to be trying to make your last days your +best days. That bad book will prevent this, and will rob you of the hope +of meeting together in heaven. Do, my good friend, read your Bible, and +ask God to take the wicked thoughts out of your mind." + +The wife, who was preparing her trotters in another tub, burst out +crying; and the tears started into the poor man's eyes as he said, "I'll +give 'em up, sir, and I'll take to your Bible; and the name of the book +I had is 'The Age of Reason,' and the 'bus-washer has it, and we was +told not to let you see it." + +A bad book, among a people so ignorant as the dwellers in Paradise +Court, is worse than a beast of prey at large: so thought the visitor, +as he hastened to the room of the family who had received the book, in +hope of its capture. The man, an omnibus-washer, had just returned from +his work, at which he had been employed since three in the morning. He +was dirty and haggard, but this was his usual condition; but the dark +frown upon his brow and the surly way in which he received the visitor +were new to him. He was one of those to whom positive good had been +done, and who had evinced his gratitude. He had a sickly wife and six +children, and his hard earnings were only seventeen shillings weekly. As +in bad weather he worked a greater part of the night, he had, no doubt +from a feeling of exhaustion, contracted the habit of having a quartern +of rum as soon as the public-house opened, which habit greatly reduced +his wages and led to after-drinking. No wonder then that his family were +at times in a starving condition. His boy of seven was deaf and dumb, +and a great object of pity. One day a neighbour, to quiet his moaning as +he sat upon the stairs, gave him a penny. The child hastened to the +baker's and bought a loaf of bread with it. As he entered the room +gnawing it, the other children, in savage hunger, sprang upon him and +tore it out of his hands. This came to the knowledge of the Missionary, +who called upon the man to reason with him about the spending of his +wages. The Widow had already been there, and had convinced the wife that +more could be made of the money if both were agreed. As the results of +the conference the man was induced to sign the pledge; and to help him +in forming habits of sobriety, arrangements were made for him to receive +a breakfast of bread, butter, and coffee, at a house which opened at +five o'clock in the morning, and that free of cost. By the time a +fortnight was over the man had improved in health, and was firm in his +resolve to keep the pledge and to continue his early breakfast. Good +results followed, for the wife became cheerful, the children happy, and +the room assumed an appearance of comfort. A cloud had however now +gathered over the family, the man absented himself from home, and the +wife's Sunday shawl and wedding ring had again disappeared. Their +visitor was therefore concerned about them, and this accounts for his +hurrying to their room. At first the man was sullen; but in reply to the +remark, "I fear that you have neglected your promise to read a chapter +daily?" he replied, "I'm the best scholar down here or in the yard +either, and I've found out how we are kept down by the 'haristocrats;' +and now I understands what are our rights, I'll have my share of the +wealth which is the people's which produces it." And then, clenching his +fist, he exclaimed, "And if fighting for it is to be done I'll do my +share." + +The visitor tried to secure his attention to the reason and religion of +the matter, but was stopped by the wife, who to his astonishment, chimed +in with the declaration, that "the people were becoming enlightened, and +were not to be kept down by religion, though some who believed in it +were good and some were bad." After listening to them for a sufficient +time to acquaint himself with the full extent of the damage they had +received, he said sharply, "You have not had time to think over the +opinions you have accepted: when you have done so you will discover your +mistake, and I trust find to your joy that the words of the Lord are +pure, making wise the simple." And then he left, with a sad heart at the +discouragement received. + +Upon his next visit to the owner of "The Age of Reason," the Missionary +tried to convince him that he was doing positive harm by circulating his +book of "advanced opinions," and instanced the parties to whom we have +referred. "I admit," he replied, "that the immediate result of +unsettling the mind is productive of apparent evil; but we free +thinkers, like good surgeons, wound to heal and amputate to save. We do +not expect to annihilate the theological system of ages without damage +to individuals and to society. Our principles will revolutionize and +destroy until we are able to build up a new moral system." He then told +the visitor that a Branch Secular Society of thirty members had been +formed at a neighbouring coffee-house, and added, "After business on +Saturday evenings we intend to hold a discussion for the purpose of +making new members; and as I have the privilege of inviting a friend, I +shall be glad to see you there." + +As several residents in the Court had joined the Society, the Missionary +felt that it was his duty for their sakes to accept the invitation, and +he therefore entered the room at the appointed time. Its arrangements +were certainly comfortable and attractive, the walls were neatly +papered, and round the room were twenty ornamental brackets, and upon +each of these the bust of an infidel writer, such as Byron, Chubb, +Paine, Shelley, Shaftesbury, Voltaire, and others. Under each bracket +was a small shelf, upon which were the works of the man represented by +the bust, and the effect was very pretty. There was also a shelf with +such books as "A Short and Easy Method with the Saints." Upon the table +were the various infidel publications, and three Bibles--the Authorized +Version, the Douay, and Priestley. There was also a Dictionary, and an +auctioneer's hammer for the use of the Chairman. This personage, an +ironmonger's foreman, was voted to the chair, and congratulated the +members upon the success of the new movement. He then announced the +subject for discussion: "Does man require a revelation?" and called upon +the Secretary, a secular bookseller, to open upon the negative side. He +did so in a really clever speech, clearing his way by stating truisms +about the force of the human intellect, man's capacity for knowledge, +and his power over the material world. He then made an onslaught upon +Christianity, charging it with all the evil done in its name, and much +more, and proceeded to establish the proposition: "Science the +providence of life; spiritual dependency leading to material +destruction." He then took pains to show "that morality is independent +of Scriptural religion," and besought his hearers to reject the Book, +which reason and modern discovery proved to be false, and to rely upon +philosophy and science for the attainment of social and political +equality with their upraising and happy influences. + +Upon taking his seat he was applauded, and then the Missionary rose, +with his pocket Bible in his hand, and said, "I trust that you, Mr. +Chairman, and the members of this Society, will extend to me the +courtesy usually shown to strangers, by allowing me to speak to the +affirmative of this question; and as this is my first attempt to take +part in a debate, I am sure that you will grant me your forbearance +should I inadvertently trespass upon your rules of discussion. Now, as +your Secretary has placed philosophy and science in antagonism to this +Book, and stated that these are the weapons of your warfare with which +Christianity and our social state are to be destroyed and supplanted, +let me reply by taking the position, 'That philosophy is only groping in +the dark for the Bible, and that science is only hobbling after it.' +(Laughter.) This is a great subject, and we ought to approach it with +modesty, because many of the best, the noblest, and the most learned of +our race have believed in the Bible. Sir Isaac Newton from his +observatory scanned the starry canopy, and then confirmed the statement +of the Hebrew poet, that 'the heavens declare the glory of God, and the +firmament showeth forth His handy work.' And let me here remind you that +true philosophy--skill in the science of nature--is after all a +spiritual product from the exercise of man's intellect upon the works of +creation: as, for instance, the atomic theory is the fruit of reason in +chemistry. You have therefore to accept the arguments of philosophers +whose reasoning contradicts your senses, as when they tell us that the +earth goes round the sun. If then in natural phenomena we have to use +our reason in accepting or rejecting the theories of men, does it not +lead to the conviction that reason itself requires to be enlightened and +directed in matters beyond its power of action? It is in necessary +truths which man by searching cannot discover, that communications from +the Creator becomes needful; and this Book contains such revelations: +true philosophy therefore leads up to it. And now let me, on the +authority of the historian Neander, remind you that before Christianity +gave the idea no one thought of forming a system of enlightenment which +could extend to the people. The Stoic, Epicurean, and Platonic forms of +philosophy recognize two classes of mankind--the noble-minded who formed +their disciples, and the gross multitudes whom they avoided as sunk +hopelessly in degradation. The Founder of the Christian religion, +however, rose above the human philosophers, by proclaiming His mission +to the common people, and in this way raising humanity to the standard +of an universal brotherhood." The speaker was here stopped by shouts of +contradiction; but he produced silence by holding out the Bible, and +exclaiming in an impassioned manner, "Philosophy and science can lead +man to the intellectual enjoyment of nature and to maxims of wisdom: +they can also trouble him with grave perplexities. They teach him that +matter is indestructible, and that there is a constant restoring of the +face of nature; and in this way they raise in his mind the important +questions, 'Are my intellectual powers to be destroyed while matter only +undergoes a change?' and 'If a man die shall he live again?' You who +reject this Book look down into the grave and discover a darkness which +can be felt but not penetrated. We, however, who accept this revelation, +look into its darkness and discover flashes of celestial glory which +make a passage-way to an immortality of blessedness. The song of victory +over death belongs to the Christian philosopher, who, looking into the +grave, exclaims with joy, 'The _Lord_ has risen indeed, and because He +lives I shall live also.'" + +[Illustration: "Philosophy is only groping in the dark for the Bible, +and science is only hobbling after it."] + +As the speaker resumed his seat there was a great sensation among the +infidels. All had listened with breathless attention to his closing +remarks, but the old free-thinkers regarded him with angry looks, while +the young men cheered heartily. It was some minutes before a member rose +to reply, and he did not grapple with the question; he rather railed at +the man with the Book, and gave an opinion that "he was an enthusiast, +and ought not to be allowed to enter their houses, as his influence in +their families and among their neighbours would ruin the secular cause, +and promote priestcraft." As this was personal, the Christian visitor +rose, and with a pleasant remark to the Chairman left the room. + +For a time the infidel society flourished, as its members put forth much +inducement and effort, and effected a large circulation of their books, +publications, and tracts. The Missionary however fought a foot-to-foot +conflict with them, by visiting each member at his house, by changing +their books for those containing an antidote, and by a large circulation +of well-chosen tracts. As they removed their discussion class to a +neighbouring hall, and secured an attendance of from 140 to 180 men, +amongst whom were many foreigners, he for fifty-two Saturday evenings +attended and took part in the debates. These efforts were made to result +in good; the Missionary however had the sorrow of seeing several of his +people confirmed in unbelief. One of these was a labourer, who read the +"Age of Reason," attended a discussion, and was ever after an enemy to +the truth. There were others who used the infidel objections they heard +as a means to harden conscience, that they might pursue their evil ways. +Among these were two women, called by the people the "'strology woman," +and the "imp woman." + +The former of these belonged to a gang of fortune-telling impostors, who +lived in the poor neighbourhoods of West London. One of these was a +scissors-grinder, whose wife was a mulatto. When travelling with his +machine he used to circulate cards among female servants, with his +address, and the announcement that his wife "repaired parasols and cut +cards." Another of the party was a vulgar over-dressed man, who styled +himself "professor," and kept a magic mirror, to which silly girls were +attracted by the promise of a peep at their future partners. The +"'strology woman" assisted those persons when so pressed with business +as to require aid, and she did a little lying on her own account among a +lower class of dupes. The room at the corner of the Court was suited for +her black-art purposes, as persons could slip in unnoticed, and there +was no passage for other lodgers. She was about forty years of age, and +unmarried. She only received her inquirers after six in the evening, and +then she dressed in a gaudy kind of Eastern costume, with fantastic +head-dress, and large coral necklace, from which was suspended a bunch +of heavy charms. The front was the waiting room, and the back was the +audience chamber. This latter was well furnished and strangely +decorated. Over the mantle-shelf was a badly painted chart of the twelve +signs of the zodiac, and at the side a picture of Daniel's vision of the +four beasts. Upon the table was a Prayer-Book, several well-worn packs +of cards, a celestial globe, and a number of "nativity" papers, +with space for filling in. At the side was a small deal table +covered with bottles and powder papers, containing marvellous +novelties for her foolish "inquirers." "Fate powders (made of brick +dust), with directions for use, so as to produce dreams of the +future,"--threepence. "Compression of the damask rose, to give to the face +a not-to-be-resisted charm" (rouge and lard in small pill box),--sixpence. +"The spirit of love: a fascination" (common scent in small bottle), +tenpence; and other articles of equal attraction. The woman boasted that +among the girls who thronged to consult her were many respectable young +women, to whom she had spoken and given cards in the parks and streets. +At first she avoided the Missionary, and when he succeeded in speaking +to her she listened with marked respect; his faithfulness however very +soon produced a rupture, and it happened in this way. One evening a +group of poor girls assembled, before the woman, who was from home, +returned to open the door. The Missionary, who was passing, gave tracts, +and explained to them the sin and folly of consulting a wicked woman +about the future, which was only known to the Almighty. While he was +speaking the "'strology woman" came up, and the girls in their confusion +scampered away. To his surprise she asked him into her consulting room, +and in a bland, deceptive tone remonstrated with him for interfering +with her affairs. "I will," said the Visitor, "answer you out of this +Holy Bible, that you may know that it is the great _God_, and not +myself, speaking to you." And then he opened it and read, "When I say +unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not +speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his +iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand." + +"Them girls," she continued, "them silly girls like to be befooled, and +none of 'em 'ardly believes the cards when I cuts 'em, and what I says +about their stars and nativities; but it amuses 'em, and does 'em no +harm." + +The pages of the Book were turned over, and the words read, "Ye shall +not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another." But she +added in a softer tone of voice, "Astrology is true, as it says in the +Bible of the stars, that 'they are given for signs,' and that 'He gives +wisdom to understand secrets;' and that is why the Professor has a +Prayer-Book, and I has one here, that they may feel that it comes of +religion; and it does lots of good, and makes 'em steady and religious +like, and it's no sort of harm." + +The leaves of the Book were again turned over, and the Scripture read: +"O full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou +enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right way +of the Lord?" As the Book was closed a frown gathered upon her face, and +springing from her chair she, with awful imprecations, ordered the +reader out, telling him "that he was a deceiver, as lots of people in +the Court knew that the Bible was a lying Book." + +The "imp woman" was quite a different style of person. She was of middle +age, and had three miserable little children dependent upon her, as her +husband had absconded. These, with several others whom she borrowed as +business required, provided a good living, as she supplied several of +the low theatres with imp children, used in pantomimes and plays to +represent huge frogs, cats, and other animals, also angels and goblins. +She was a large consumer of gin; and it was well known that she gave +abundance to her children, to stop their growth, as they decreased in +value as they increased in size. Employers at the theatres used to come +to fit the skins and to instruct the children in their duties. These +were of the most ludicrous kind, and her boy of six did the monkey so +well that for two Christmas seasons he earned a pound a week. This +training in the skins was painful until the children got "into shape" as +it was called. One afternoon the Missionary approached the door, which +was partly open, and was startled by the stifled sobbing of the +youngest,--a tiny girl of not quite five years. Upon entering the room +he saw that the sobs proceeded from a blue fiend, which was wagging its +forked tail and shaking its bat-wings upon the table, the woman standing +over the creature with a cane. "This is shameful," he exclaimed, taking +the fiend into his arms; and then he burst the cord, and set the child +free. He then turned toward the mother and said severely, "This case was +made for the child last year, and if your cruelty in forcing her to move +in it was known, you would have six months' hard labour. As this Book +says, you must be without natural affection, and it would be better for +you all to go into the workhouse, or to beg your bread, than to live in +this way." + +"You ain't got no business to come here!" exclaimed the woman in a rage. +"And she's a hobstinate hussey, she is; and as for natural affection, +there's men better than you as knows as the Bible keeps us down and +ain't true. And I does love my children, and I must get a living for +'em, sitewated as I am." + +The child trembled, and threw her arms round the neck of her deliverer. +To calm them both he said quietly: "You know very well that I am +everybody's friend, and I can't help caring for your little children. +When the Saviour was on earth He blessed little dears like this, and we +who know the Bible to be true must love and care for them." + +As he paused she burst out crying, and the child, seeing that the storm +was over, sprang into her arms, hugging and kissing her in a most +affectionate manner. It was a touching sight, and cleared the way for an +important conversation. The mother admitted that the health of the +children was suffering from their training and exposure to the night air +when returning from the theatres, and upon the visitor promising to +place her eldest boy, aged seven years, into a Refuge, she with evident +gratitude promised "to give up the imp business, and to be a Christian, +and to work her fingers to the bone for her poor forsaken children." The +little people evidently understood and believed her, as they clapped +their hands with delight, and danced round the room after their +departing friend. + +Among the group of broken-down men who made the tramp's lodging-house +their home, was a decrepit person who had evidently turned sixty years +of age. His companions always addressed him as "Strong Bill," a name so +opposite to his appearance as to require an explanation. This was given +one winter's day as the Reader of the Book sat with several of them +before the kitchen fire. A stranger entered who, after depositing +several pockets full of broken victuals upon the table, approached the +fire and stopped a serious conversation with the exclamation, "Well, if +it ain't Strong Bill--haven't seen you, old fellow, for years. How are +you getting on?" The man of powerful name shook his head, struck his +breast, and in a sorrowful tone replied, "Very queer, very, not the +same man as I was. Tell this 'ere gent, Bobby, 'cause as how he wouldn't +take it in if I said it myself, what I did when I was a young chap--how +I was known all over London as 'the strong man,' how I dressed tight and +carried two weights, each a real hundred, about with me, and as how I +used to get rings of people round me by throwing up the weights and +catching 'em like baby balls. Didn't I get lots of money, that's all; +but it's all up now, it's all up." The stranger readily confirmed this +statement, and enlarged upon the feats of strength once performed by his +old acquaintance. "It's a great thing to have a well-built frame, and a +man ought to rejoice and thank God when he feels as strong as a lion," +observed the Reader; "but the inside strength is best of all; we are +weak creatures--the strongest of us, without it," and then he with +feeling read and commented upon the words: "Blessed is the man whose +strength is in Thee." "I knows nothing about that 'ere," said 'Strong +Bill;' "but I em a weak sinner, I em a bad lot." "Then come to my +meeting to-morrow evening, and I will read and talk about 'strength and +weakness.'" "We will, master," several exclaimed. They came, and in his +weakness the once strong man was made glad to hear of Him who in mercy +strengthens weak sinners with the mightiness of God. + +In this way ignorance and infidelity, in their varied forms, were met +and grappled with; and though disappointments and annoyances were of +daily occurrence, there were at times gracious and unexpected proofs of +blessing. The most pleasing of these occurred one morning as the +Missionary was passing down the Court. The young infidel, who had for +several weeks treated him with reserve, opened his window, and handing +him a parcel of books and publications, said with a tremulous voice, "I +believe, sir, upon the Lord Jesus Christ, and have laid down my weapons +of rebellion; and in proof of it I give you these books, which have +damaged my own soul, and by which I have injured others." This +confession of faith so surprised the man who had been set for the +defence of the truth, that he was unable for the moment to reply; he +however took the parcel, and passing into the room seized the hand of +the convert and exclaimed, "The Lord Jehovah hath dealt mercifully by +you, and blessed be His name." + +The door was then closed, and the young man, in reply to inquiries, made +the following statement: "Upon the first night of our discussion I was +made miserable by your speech, as I saw that ours was a system of +negations, and that our pretensions to philosophy and science were but +groping and hobbling after revealed truth. Since then I have read many +books against the Bible, and at times have been made comfortable in +unbelief. Your speech, however, on Saturday week carried conviction to +my mind, and the next day I offered up my first prayer for light and +salvation. The past week has been one of bitterness, and I yesterday +decided to cast myself in simple faith upon the mercy of the Saviour, +and to acknowledge Him before men." + +Need we add that he was strengthened in the faith of the Gospel, and +that his spiritual father knelt with him in prayer. The Missionary +hastened over to the Widow's with the parcel, to examine its contents, +which were very curious. There were twenty numbers of the _Reasoner_, +many numbers of the _Free Thinker_ and the _Red Republican_, eighteen +copies of "Why should the Atheist fear to die?" several volumes, and +among them the long sought for "Age of Reason," the book which had +wrought so much evil among the people. The writer has now this book +before him, and he never saw a volume more worn. The covers and edges +are nearly destroyed with handling, and every page is soiled. The +frontispiece, which has been carefully preserved, shows contempt for the +ordained servants of God, as the text does of His holy Word. It +represents a fat Bishop, running away from a rock upon which the word +"reason" is inscribed, with a lamb under one arm and a sheaf of corn +under the other. At the meeting that evening the reclaimed infidel sat +beside the Widow, and to the astonishment of the people knelt reverently +in prayer. At the next discussion he spoke on the Christian side, and +boldly acknowledged his change of opinion and his faith in Christ. For +several months he gave evidence of a change of heart; and as he +expressed a desire further to confess Christ by partaking of the +Sacrament, he was introduced to the Rector; and after he had undergone a +suitable preparation, the Missionary had the great joy of kneeling with +him at the table of the Lord, there to commemorate that blood-shedding +whereby alone we obtain remission of our sins, and to receive the richer +blessings of His grace. + + +The Book in the Court: + +ITS CERTAIN GOOD. + + "As winter streams that long have lain + In icy fetters darkly bound, + When spring returns leap forth again + And fill the vale with song and sound; + So did their spring-time now return, + And love dissolved the icy chain, + And smothered hopes began to burn, + And Jenny was herself again." + + _Mrs. Sewell._ + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + A PRAISE MEETING--DEATH OF THE WIDOW--JOY OF THE BLESSED--OUT OF + THE PRIZE RING--A FAREWELL SPEECH--A FAGGER--A STRANGE + PREACHER--DUSTY AND THE FIDDLER--PRAYING IN THE CELL--INDIAN + GIRL--GENESA--INFIDEL SOCIETY DISSOLVED--WORKS FOLLOWING--THE + BANNER OF LOVE. + + +THE BOOK IN THE COURT: + +ITS CERTAIN GOOD. + + "My Word that goeth forth out of My mouth, it shall not return unto + Me void." ISA. lv. 11. + +Time glided on pleasantly, as time always does when occupied with the +activities of the Christian life, and brought the Missionary to the +third anniversary of the day upon which he first entered Paradise Court. +As that had become a commemorative day of deep interest to many of the +inhabitants, their visitor had arranged with them to raise an Ebenezer +of praise. As he entered the Place with his old friend the +Superintendent, there were pleasant greetings on every hand. The +children ran in a flock to meet him; and as if to show the good they had +received, the eldest girl of the "translator," who three years before +had boasted that "his children knew nothing of superstition," held for +his inspection a reward-card which she had received at a Sunday-school. +Salvation had come to that man's room, and he rejoiced in it, and his +wife and family were made glad. The Court itself gave indications that +good influences had been at work there, as its general appearance was +cleaner, and window-sills were ornamented with flower-pots and boxes. +The gift of a few flowers had given pleasure to those of the poor who +had come from the country, and had served as texts for lessons upon the +value of pure air and cleanliness; while to many it was a discovery, +that though the atmosphere was foul and black, they might have a thing +of beauty and fragrance at their windows for part of the year. The +appearance of the people was much the same, as all looked poor, and some +had tattered clothes; but the police knew that rows had almost ceased, +and that there was less depravity and law-breaking than formerly; and +better still, the visitor knew that the restoring influence of grace had +upraised some of the families, as he could make his way to rooms in +which the Bible was valued, and in which its teaching had led to saving +faith and holy living. On Sunday morning, as usual, women went to +market, and returned with aprons full of provisions; but these were not +so numerous as formerly, and those who did so showed their sense of +wrong-doing by making excuse for their conduct. A disposition for +hearing the truth had been created, as the Widow's room had long become +too small, and the meeting had to be removed to double rooms in a street +just by. These proofs of blessing had led to arrangements for a +praise-meeting in the Widow's room at twelve o'clock, and it was filled +with men and women who had managed to spend part of the dinner hour in +holy exercise. The hymn, "Praise ye the Lord, 'tis good to raise," was +sung; the hundred and forty-fifth Psalm was read, with a short comment +upon the words, "All Thy works shall praise Thee, O Lord, and Thy saints +shall bless Thee;" and then the language of praise ascended from that +poor Court as incense to the throne of heavenly grace. In the evening a +tea was given in the meeting-room to the forty persons who usually +attended. Two hours were spent in social intercourse, and two in +hymn-singing, prayer, and the hearing of suitable addresses. The +Wesleyan and Independent ministers took part in the proceedings; and +when the Rector, who had joined the party, pronounced the Benediction, +the people separated, praising and blessing God. + +There was only one thing which cast a shade over the happy meeting, and +that was the state of the Widow's health. All noticed that while her +happiness was intense, her words were few; and there were grave shakings +of the head, and anxious remarks about her not having been like herself +for some time past. This was evident when, as usual, upon the following +Wednesday she took dinner with the Missionary. This arrangement had been +made out of consideration to her, and in order that they might consult +together about the details of the work. That hour of conference with his +wife and the Widow was of importance, as a knowledge of individual +character (so valuable to those who would be wise in soul-winning) was +obtained, and plans of action arranged. Upon her way back to the Court +she was silent, and leant heavily upon the arm of her friend. On the +following Wednesday she was unable to leave her room, so part of the +evening was spent with her in sweet converse about the covenant which is +ordered in all things and sure. At parting she said softly, "I am so +happy, and so close to heaven that a _waft_ would take me in;" and then +after a pause she added, "To see Jesus: the fairest among ten thousand!" +After this she grew more feeble; but when her friend called in one +evening she seemed better, though drowsy. He therefore offered up a +short prayer and left. Early in the morning two women came in haste to +his house, to say that the Widow was dead. He hurried back with them, +and found the Place in a state of commotion. The people were standing in +groups, and round the door was a company of weeping women. He passed +them, and with soft tread entered the chamber of death, as he felt the +solemn influence which pervaded the room. In the stillness of the night +the angels had been there, and had taken a redeemed soul back with them +into the everlasting habitations of the blessed. The shutters had been +partly opened, and a gleam of light was thrown upon the bed, where lay, +as though prepared for burial, the remains of the soldier's widow. +Taking the icy-cold hand affectionately in his, he gazed into the face, +which appeared to be set in calm sleep, and felt that no pains of death +had been permitted to distress the holy dying of the aged saint. Upon +the table lay the open Bible, with her spectacles upon a page of the +Psalms, and near them her quarterly ticket, with "Ruth Peters" written +upon it. The doctor, who had seen her the day before, said that an +inquest would not be necessary, as he could give a proper certificate; +the remains were therefore left in the care of several women, who loved +her as a mother. + +The same kind hand which had supplied the needs of the Widow, provided a +suitable funeral. Ah, and that was an honourable burial, for she was +carried to the grave by six men of the Court, who left their work for +the purpose; and as the coffin was borne through the Place, followed by +several of the neighbours, with the Missionary as chief mourner, the +people made great lamentation over her. And when the earth was dropped +into the grave, with the solemn utterance, "Earth to earth, ashes to +ashes, dust to dust," all felt that at the resurrection of the just +that body would be raised and made like unto Christ's glorious body. + +The Missionary hastened from the funeral to meet the County Member, as +he had arranged that evening to visit the district. The honourable +gentleman had been so pressed to place boys into "Homes," that he +decided to see the people for whom he was asked to do so much. In the +evening, when they entered the Court, there was, for so crowded a place, +deep silence; and as they passed from room to room, they had to speak +words of comfort to the people who were sorrowing for the loss of their +friend. And they were sweet words of heavenly consolation which the +stranger uttered. As he left the Place he leant for a moment upon a post +at the entrance, and said thoughtfully, "I wish you had told me about +that Widow, as I should like to have known her." Soon after he sent the +Missionary a book in memory of his sainted wife ("Our Friends in +Heaven"), and wrote in it, "Not death, she said, but life, life, life, +eternity!" And when the days of his sojourn were accomplished, he with +like words crossed to the celestial side of the river. And may he not +know the Widow now? May it not be one of the joys of the heavenly state +to hold sweet converse with saints about whom we have only heard upon +earth? May it not indeed be an employment of enduring delight to be +continually enlarging our acquaintance,--to know and to be known of the +innumerable company of the redeemed? + +The removal of the Widow was a felt loss, but the bereavement was the +means of leading several of the poor to yield themselves to God. The +worker had lost his right hand, and yet the work was made to prosper. +For several months the attendance at the meeting increased, though +there was a constant drafting away to the regular ministry. At one of +these meetings he took for exposition the speech of St. Paul to the +elders of the Church at Ephesus. At the close he referred for the second +time to the words, "Therefore watch, and remember that for the space of +three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears;" +and after an effort gently to break the news, he said abruptly, "I am +about to leave you, as the Lord in His providence has made it plain that +He has important work for me to do elsewhere." This announcement brought +the meeting to a close, as the people left their seats and surrounded +him with expressions of real sorrow. + +For some days after there was earnest visiting in the Court, as the +Missionary felt the responsibility of speaking to the people for the +last time; and as a proof of the power of domiciliary visitation in +overcoming opposition to the truth, not one person, from the beginning +to the end of the Place, uttered an offensive word; while many gave him +a hearty welcome and a tearful good-bye. Take for instance, the +"prize-fighter," who had not quite recovered from a successful +pugilistic encounter with a Birmingham man, for ten pounds a side, as +his face was bruised and discoloured, and his right arm disabled. He +received the visitor with what to him was a painful smile, and then in a +confidential manner said, "It tain't sir, as I 'em a-gettin soft, that +I've resoluted; but I haven't got over that backhander you gave me out +of that Book, as was, 'Will a man fight his Maker?' and the way you +closed in was stunnin; and says I to myself, I 'em knocked over the +ropes, and I'll let the whiskers grow, and take to costering; that's +summut, ain't it?" "The wearing of whiskers," was the reply, "will put +you out of the prize-ring; and you will find that there is more +happiness in getting an honest living with the blessing of Almighty God +upon you, than there can be in wearing the 'Champion Belt of England' +with His curse." "Haven't I wished for him to be out of the magic +circle," exclaimed his wretched, vulgar-looking wife, "as you see the +feeling is awful when your 'usband is going to be pitched into and +knocked to a mummy; and you must be a fighter's lawful wife to know the +feelin when it's a-goin on. If you drinks 'ard, why you can't leach 'im +and poultice 'im, as is a tender job: and if he's beat, you gets +nuffink; and when he beats, you treats ring pals and wagabons; and the +money it tain't no good, and it tain't Christian-like as you says; and +if you'll stick to him, though you are a-goin, I'll wade through seas of +blood for you, as the sayin is." Their friend smiled graciously at this +assurance, and then taking a seat, opened the Book, and read to them +about Him who was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our +iniquities. + +The day before leaving, the Missionary announced his intention of +bidding the people farewell at six o'clock next evening in the open +Court, and of then introducing his successor to them. As at the +appointed time they entered the Place, it was so densely packed that +they with difficulty pressed to the bend in the middle. A chair was +handed from a window, and as their friend stepped upon it the murmur of +voices burst into a loud cheer. Looking round, he saw an expression of +sorrow upon that mass of upturned faces, and near him stood the +reclaimed infidel, the fighting man, the chanter, Tom and Bess, and +others for whom he had a Christian affection. For a few moments he +remained silent with emotion, and then with faltering and afterwards +with firmer voice said, "I think, my good friends, that I have shaken +hands and said Good-bye to each of you in your rooms; but I have thought +it well that we should have a last meeting, and together ask our +heavenly Father to bless and to take care of us. The four years I have +gone in and out among you have been years of happiness; at first we did +not understand each other, but from the time you discovered that my one +object in life was to lead you to the Lord Jesus Christ that you might +be made good and happy, you have regarded me as your friend. Some of you +have believed to the saving of your souls. (A cry of "Bless the Lord.") +Let me, as your father in Christ, beseech of you to regard this Holy +Book as you do your necessary food,--to live lives of daily, constant +prayer, always looking to Jesus. There are others here who respect me as +the King's messenger, but who do not care for the message of a Saviour's +mercy, which I have delivered to them. You are going as fast as time can +carry you to the grave,--to hell: faster and faster from heaven. Listen +to my last words, as I shall meet you when the dead, small and great, +shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Turn from your evil +ways, from your drunken habits, your Sabbath breaking, your iniquities. +And in the name of Jesus, because He died upon the cross to save you, +ask Almighty God to pardon and to give you His Holy Spirit, that you may +be Christians indeed." And then raising his pocket Bible, and looking up +to heaven, he continued, "Let us all so live that we may meet in glory: +the Widow is there, and some out of this place have already followed +her. Let us hate sin, trust in the Saviour, and press on for the crown +of life." Here the emotion of the people became so great that several +exclaimed, "We will," and others "May the Lord have mercy upon us." The +speaker then said, "I will now introduce your new Missionary, by asking +him to read something to us out of the good old Book; you will then see +him and hear his voice: when he has done, I will offer prayer; after +that he will stand in my place to you. Receive him as one sent from God, +to show unto you the way of eternal life, and prove your love to me by +treating him as my friend." + +The stranger then took his place upon the chair, and read the hundred +and third psalm, after which the old friend rose to offer the parting +prayer. As the words, "Let us pray," rung through the Court, battered +hats and fur caps were removed, so all the men stood uncovered, and +several of the women knelt down; while at the windows and in the crowd, +many covered their faces with their hands. The prayer was short but +earnest. At its close the word "Amen" was uttered so loud and clear, +that it seemed to come from a church congregation, rather than from that +strange gathering of worshippers; and after the Benediction the word was +uttered with still deeper feeling; and then, amidst the tears, the +thanks, and blessings of the people, and humbled before God, because of +the mission blessings received, the man with the Book passed out of +Paradise Court. + +He did not, however, and has not to this day, lost interest in the +people. At intervals he visited in the place with the Missionary, but on +each occasion found some of his old friends gone, and at length, his +acquaintance there became very small. Among those who remained, was +drunken (now sober) Sammy. He became a member of the Baptist chapel, +and never broke his pledge. His attendance at the means of grace and at +temperance meetings was regular, and he won the respect of Church +members and abstaining companions. When the friend who had stopped him +in the road to ruin called, he treated him with a respect approaching to +reverence. He died at the age of seventy, after a short illness, in +which he gave evidence of meetness for heaven. + +Persons who have left the Court, have frequently been met with in the +streets and elsewhere, and several remarkable proofs of good were in +this way brought to light; as, for instance, in the case of a little +deformed man of uncertain age, strange expression of countenance, and +rather weak intellect, who shared a back attic with a crossing sweeper, +and paid one shilling a week rent. He called himself a "fagger," and +lived as quite a number of men do, by searching the streets of London by +night and at early morning for lost money and property. These "faggers," +may be seen walking at a steady pace, or trotting gently, glancing keen +looks along the road and pavement. They always pause at corners where +omnibuses stop; at the doors of theatres and other likely places. In the +season they all make for the "Haymarket," as the place where valuables +such as rings may be found, and when the "cafes" close, they make for +home, searching as they go. + +Our "fagger," as a child of the night, was rarely seen by day. He was +indeed quite a recluse, as he shrunk from the derision to which his +unsightly appearance subjected him from the children and his ignorant +neighbours. So they only saw him when he shuffled out at night, or +trotted back early in the morning. He for months refused the Missionary +admission to the room, and was angry when his landlord, the sweeper, +insisted upon receiving the visits, and he used on these occasions to +seat himself upon his stool in the corner with a sulky expression of +face. After a time his confidence was obtained, and it was then +discovered that the poor simple man was utterly ignorant of saving +truth. He had entered upon life as a "City Arab," could not read, had +never been into a place of worship, and had not even heard the name of +the Saviour. Little did the sower think, as the seed of the kingdom fell +so freely from his hand, that it was to find good ground in the heart of +the poor "fagger." He became deeply interested in the readings from the +Bible, and at the farewell visit he drew his stool nearer, and his eyes +brightened as the sweeper and himself listened to St. John's narrative +of the crucifixion. + +Nearly a year had passed after this visit when a group of eight or ten +persons assembled in Oxford Circus. It was long after midnight, and +bitterly cold. The Missionary who was passing, approached, and two +policemen to whom he was known, informed him that the well-dressed man +who lay upon the kerb, with a frightful gash upon the forehead, was in +liquor, and had fallen against the lamp-post. As the man was stunned, if +not seriously injured, the police were advised to take him to the +hospital, and one of them left to get a stretcher for that purpose. By +this time a number of depraved men and women had gathered round, some of +whom uttered ribald jokes, one woman suggesting "that as the gent was +dead, they had better search his pockets for money, with which to drink +to his memory." "And if dead," exclaimed the Missionary in a voice so +loud and solemn that the people were startled: "if dead, his eternal +state is fixed; the day of mercy over; and there is a fearful meeting +with the Judge of heaven and earth." For a few moments there was +silence, when a man near the lamp said, "He knows nothing about it, as +no one ever came back from the other world to tell us." Before a reply +could be given, an odd-looking little man who had pressed into the +circle, exclaimed, "He does know: he's got it in his Book. They nailed +Jesus to the cross, they did; He got out of the grave, He did; He's +alive a savin' us, He is; it's in the gent's Book, it is: he knows it;" +and then the little "fagger," for it was he, trotted away, as if +astonished at himself. "That poor man is right," said the Missionary, +"The Lord Jesus is alive to save sinners." No more could be said, as the +policeman arrived with the stretcher, and as they bore the injured man +away, some of the crowd followed, but many who were sinners remained to +hear the Gospel more fully. + +The Missionary followed in the direction the "fagger" had taken, and +found him in Pall Mall. They stood for some time under the colonnade of +the opera house, and there the man of feeble intellect called Jesus, +Lord, and repeated the simple prayer he used. A few months after this he +was removed to the infirmary, in abject poverty and increased mental +weakness. At times, however, he used to sit in Poverty Square (a yard in +the workhouse), muttering to himself the one great truth he had +grasped,--that the crucified Jesus was a living Saviour; and while a ray +of reason remained this gave him comfort. When last heard of his mind +had entirely gone, but he was for years a living proof that the grand +truth of salvation can be grasped by the feeblest as well as by the +mightiest intellect. + +The "niggers" were met with under very different circumstances. Several +summers after the visit to their dressing-room and the rescue of "Black +Poll," their friend was walking upon the sands at Broadstairs in company +with three ladies. They stopped to listen to an entertainment which some +"niggers," who had formed themselves into a circle, were about to give. +As he knew them, and did not care that they should then recognise him, +he kept at the back of the assembled listeners. Towards the close, there +was a peculiar "ogling" between the "artistes," and a looking in one +direction, and then they brought their entertainment to a sudden close; +and to the surprise of the company, and the horror of the three ladies +(who slipped off), they fairly rushed toward their friend, and in the +most demonstrative manner owned him as such. "I has bin to see Poll," +exclaimed Dusty, "and she's growed a wapper, and took to hedecation, as +is her nature. And she writ me a letter, and if I sees yer honour arter +dark I'll bring it; and now the ladies are out we picks up fourpennies +and sixpennies, and when they goes in the tother sort comes out, an' we +only gets browns." For the time it was a relief to be rid of them, so an +appointment was made upon the sands at ten o'clock that night. The men, +who had left their instruments behind them, were waiting, and a +strangely pleasant hour was spent with them. As they stood at the edge, +or rather followed the receding tide, the moon casting her soft light +upon the rippling waves, the "niggers" listened, and in their way +conversed about truths which concerned their salvation. The confidential +utterance of the fiddler, will show the influence of Christian effort +with such people. "You sees, sir," he said, "that this ain't a religious +sort of business, but I can't be no other but a 'nigger,' and I has a +wife an' three youngsters, what are always a-hopening of their mouths +and must have summut to put into 'em. But I has given up getting drunk +and cursing as I used, and wheresomever I bees on Sunday, I slips in to +hear religion preached, if there ain't nuffin of that ere sort +a-going-on in the open, as I prefers." + +The presence of the "niggers" reminds us of their near neighbour in +London, the convict's widow, and we will therefore finish her little +history. Every six months, for nearly five years, her son at the convict +establishment sent a letter to his teacher. At the end of that time the +chaplain wrote to say that he was to be discharged with a +ticket-of-leave, as his conduct had been very good. As it was thought +well to keep him from his mother, a room was taken for him near to his +teacher, as he never ceased to call him. His case was mentioned to a +Christian man, a builder, who promised when his hair was grown to give +him work, and to keep the secret of his antecedents from others. Upon +his discharge the convict came direct to his friend's house, where his +mother was ready to receive him; and the meeting was most affecting, as +she hugged and kissed her son, who had grown a big man, as though he had +been a child. When in quiet conversation that evening, the convict spoke +with feeling of the reading upon the housetop, and added, "That night in +the police cell I laid upon my face for several hours, sobbing and +praying for mercy. I knew that I had done wrong, and didn't fear the +punishment; all I wanted was God's pardon, and I believe that He did +forgive me the next evening, as I lay praying in the cell at the +detention house, for I then felt that Jesus was my Saviour, and it was +the happiest evening of my life. At Dartmoor I have borne my punishment +in the spirit of prayer, and I am glad of my discharge that I may show +forth the praise of the Saviour." A few Sundays after, when his hair was +sufficiently grown for him to mix with others, he was introduced to a +branch of the Young Men's Christian Association, of which he became a +member. He went to his work, and did well until the time of his full +discharge. Soon after this the fact of his being a returned convict +became known to his fellow-workmen and Christian friends: this caused +him constant and bitter annoyance. One evening he came to his "teacher," +and said, "You know, sir, that I have desired to be a soldier, and would +have enlisted if I had not committed that last crime. As all is known +about me, I can't stop at the builder's, and don't know where to go; so +I think that I shall take the Queen's shilling, as I can be as good a +Christian in the army as out of it." He acted on this resolution, and +enlisted into a regiment then serving in India. He wrote several letters +to his mother and teacher, telling them that he was very happy in his +new calling, and that he had joined a soldiers' prayer-meeting, and +taken part in its proceedings. One evening the following winter the +mother came to the house of the teacher in a most pitiable condition. As +she stood at the door without bonnet or shawl, and partly covered with +snow, her face bore an expression of abject misery. In her hand she held +a letter, and the big tears stood in her eyes. It was evident that her +grief was too deep for utterance, so her friend took the letter from her +hand, and glancing through it found that it was from the colour-sergeant +of the regiment, to say "that her son, his comrade and Christian friend, +had died of fever, after four days' illness, and that his end was +perfect peace." The poor stricken one was taken into the kitchen and +seated before the fire, a cup of tea being made for her. When warmed and +refreshed, her friend spoke comforting words, and then they sought the +soothing influence of prayer. An hour after she went out into the cold +and snow much comforted, and muttering to herself about her "Eddy" and +heaven. From that time her frame bowed, her hearing became heavy, and +her health gradually gave way. At times she was an annoyance to her +friend, as he had evidently taken the place of her son in her +affections. Strange-looking object as she was, she used to call upon him +at most unseasonable times. As her health failed these visits became +less frequent, and in her last illness they were returned. Before her +death, which was very recent, the patient labourer was rewarded for his +efforts of many years to lead her to the Saviour, as she clung to Him +with all the fervour of a simple faith. To the last she kept her foolish +oath, for she did not for thirty years wear either bonnet or shawl. + +"Saved in a London Court, and gathered into the Heavenly Mansions from +India," is the epitome of the young convict's spiritual history: and as +if to illustrate the fact that London is the great heart of the world, +an Indian who was met with in that very Court, was drawn, gave the +life-look to the Uplifted One, and from the empire city joined the +"great multitude of all nations, and kindred, and people, and tongues." +It thus occurred,-- + +Upon his entering the Court one morning, the Missionary noticed a little +Indian girl, who was surrounded by a number of other children. She was +about eight years of age, of dark yellow complexion, with jet black +hair, which hung over her shoulders, and upon her wrists were thick +silver bracelets. Upon questioning her, the child with peculiar accent, +said that she came with her parents from Bombay; that her father was a +cook, and had come to London to make pickles at a large shop; and that +they had come to live in the Court until her father and mother got to +work. He went to the room with the child, and there saw the father, a +pure Indian, dressed like a Lascar. There was only a hammock-like +mattress, and some ship's utensils in the room. Upon the mantel-shelf +were many bottles of curry powder, and a small idol of white ivory, +which seemed to represent a boy with the head of an elephant. As the +Visitor started a conversation about the business, he became +communicative, and stated that he was a native of Hyderabad, but had +lived for many years in Bombay, where he became cook to a British sahib, +and afterwards was employed to make pickles for export to England. He +was reluctant to talk about religion, but said that Vishnu and Ganesa +were great and powerful gods; that he had married a half-caste woman, +whose mother was a Mohammedan, and whose father was an English sailor, +and now kept a lodging-house for sailors at Bombay; that the bracelets +upon the wrists of his child were made of silver coins which bore the +image of his mother's god, and she had placed them on the child when she +was an infant. He added, "that he thought his wife was a Christian, but +that she had respect to Ganesa, and that he did not like his child to be +a Christian, as they got drunk and broke up the gods." When the one +_Great God_ was mentioned he looked anxiously towards his idol, as +though he feared that it would be injured or taken from him; and then +he muttered so loudly in a strange tongue, that the visitor thought it +well to leave. + +A few days after the Missionary was told that the Indian was ill, and he +at once went in to see him. He found him so bad, that he went out and +fetched a medical friend, whose prescription gave immediate relief. That +evening the heathen listened for the first time to a simple statement +concerning Jehovah; His works, His mercy, and the atonement accomplished +at Jerusalem for the sin of the world. As he was worse next morning, his +friend obtained an indoor letter for the Middlesex Hospital, and removed +him there in a cab. He remained under treatment for nearly two months, +during which time he was visited thrice a week, and thoroughly +instructed in the Christian faith. When discharged he did not return to +the Court in which he had lived only a fortnight, as his wife had +arrived, and had taken a room near some of their country people in Drury +Lane. As he expressed contempt for idols, and a desire for salvation, he +was introduced to the Missionary of the district, who paid him great +attention, and brought several clergymen to instruct him. One day he ran +after his old friend, whom he saw in Holborn, and exclaimed, "Oh, sahib, +God in heaven is so great, and Jesus is our Saviour here!" This +confession gave joy to his friend, who returned with him to his lodging, +and was pleased to find that the Indian and his wife had become regular +in their attendance at church. After a conversation about baptism, the +Missionary took hold of the bracelet of their little girl, who from the +time he entered the room had sat with her hand in his, and said, "These +heathenish ornaments ought not to remain upon the wrists of your child, +now that you are Christians." "Take them off, sahib," replied the +father: "they are much money, and a present from my heart to you." A few +days after the Missionary and his wife drew them open with a towel, and +he has them now among other precious memorials of Christian work. +Arrangements had been made for the baptism of the Indian, when he was +taken suddenly ill; that sacrament was however administered by a curate +of St. Giles' Church. He lived some months after this in great +suffering, but he rejoiced in God his Saviour, and fell asleep in Him. +As the mother was poor, with two younger children, and as the girl was +exposed to much evil in that low neighbourhood, the Missionary placed +her in a "rescue Home." She grew up a pleasant Christian girl, and went +to service. When she last called upon her friend, all was well with her. + +The young convert from infidelity, like others who had received +spiritual good, left the place for more respectable lodgings. He became +diligent in his attendance upon the means of grace, and by application +to his trade and a good use of his leisure, he qualified himself for a +better position. He formed a class of young men, who styled themselves +"The Bible Defence Club," of which the Missionary became president. They +met weekly to read and converse upon the evidences, and by arrangement +took part in the infidel discussions. As the result, several leading +sceptics became converted, and the opinions of the working men of the +neighbourhood were so influenced, that the infidel club broke up, and +their discussion "forum" became so thinly attended that it also came to +an end. This was a great victory and cause for gratitude. The young +convert had an uncle who was manager of a large firm in one of the +midland towns; he was so pleased with his nephew's letters, that he +offered him employment, which was gladly accepted. He rose rapidly, and +a few years after, when he came to London on the business of the firm, +he had become so much the gentleman that his friend scarcely knew him. +Soon after his appointment as manager of a "department" he married a +Christian woman, but he continued to sing in the Church choir, and to +teach in the Sunday-school. + +These abiding cases have given joy to the Christian worker, and helped +to sustain him in still more onerous duties. They are, however, few when +compared with the disappointments. At the time of the revival in the +Court there was much blossom, as the inquiry for salvation was general; +but when fruit was sought for, it was plain that a spiritual blight had +passed over the place, destroying much good. The "omnibus-washer," for +instance, became confirmed in infidelity, resisted every good influence, +and died in a hopeless state; his wife became a drunkard, and his eldest +children came to ruin. The "'strology woman" prospered upon the wages of +iniquity, and became queen of a London den. Besides these, the +Missionary used frequently to meet with those of whose salvation he once +had hope, standing in the way of sinners, and sitting in the seat of the +scornful. He has indeed met with bitter opposition from several over +whom he once had spiritual influence. Perhaps in so real a conflict as +this with the powers of darkness, such failures are to be expected; +they, however, have a humbling tendency, and lead to simple resting upon +the promises, as they prove that the instrument by itself is of little +worth,--that souls are won, not by might, nor by power, but by the +Spirit of the Lord. The one consolation, however, in these +discouragements, is the fact that we never know when the Word which has +been faithfully spoken will germinate. It may be years after, and in the +day of the Lord many a joyous surprise may be experienced at finding +unknown cases in which grace has triumphed. + +Even here the "works following" past labours are causes of joy, and to +complete this narrative three shall be recorded. + +When he first entered the Place, the Missionary was resisted by a +besotted man and his wife. He was deputy potman, or rather "hanger-on" +at a gin bar, in which he used to stand for many hours daily. His wife +did cleaning and odd jobs for the lower class of tradespeople, and was +in dissipation a fit companion for her husband. He was taken ill, and +the long-sought-for opportunity to read and reason with them was +obtained; the poor man professed penitence, sank rapidly, and died. In +her early widowhood the woman sought and found mercy. She left the +Court, became a communicant, and has ever since been regular in her +attendance at the Lord's table. She is now of advanced growth in grace, +and occasionally calls upon her old friend, and they have sweet converse +together about matters concerning the kingdom of heaven. + +Something was gained for the right when the little Frenchman, who lived +at No. 10, became subdued and attentive. Since his escape from Paris, +twelve years before, he had taken up his abode in the "Grove," and +forgetting his own tongue, he had learned to speak the slang language of +the Court "like a native." He lived by polishing cheap furniture, and he +was regarded by many of his neighbours as an amusing acquaintance. His +opinions and his life were bad, as he expressed hatred toward ministers +and professors of religion, and his tongue was so corrupt that some of +the people (sunk as they were in ignorance and sin) avoided him. When +met with by himself he was quietly and patiently instructed in the +doctrines of the pure religion; but when met with among others he was +put upon the defence of his low infidel sayings and his wrong living. He +at length used to fix his gaze upon the Bible, when taken from the +side-pocket, and listened as one who felt its power. He was once +arrested by the beatitudes, and asked several times to have them read to +him. All we can say more about him is that his bad influence became +neutralized, and that his soul received some rays from the light of the +revealed word. + +The other is only part of a narrative, as it concerns our amusing +acquaintance, "Black Poll." At first her conduct in the "Home" was wild +and unruly, but as the civilizing process went on, she proved the truth +of that saying of the ancients that "the wildest colts make the best +horses, if only they are properly broke in." She was properly broke in, +and developed a fine character. Quick in learning and diligent in work, +she became a favourite with the ladies and the matron. She was of +pleasant countenance and of marked neatness in her dress, so there was +no difficulty in providing for her after she had been nearly four years +in the "Home." She was received into a good family as under-nurse, and +did extremely well, being much valued by her mistress and loved by the +children. Unhappily for her, "Uncle Dusty" regarded her with enduring +affection; upon obtaining her address, he stopped one evening with his +company before the mansion where she lived, and told the footman that +"he knowed 'Poll' lived there, as was a credit to him, becos he jist +made a woman on her by taking her out of the workus." The family were +annoyed, and the girl felt degraded before her fellow-servants, and came +next day to consult with the friend who had rescued her. As she had +thought of emigrating to Canada with other young people for whom kind +arrangements had been made, she was advised to do so. Upon arriving in +the colony she obtained a good situation, and at intervals of time sent +many pleasant and thankful letters to her "Home" friends in London. The +last of these was to him who has in the providence of God wrought out so +great a deliverance for her. In it she informed him that she was about +to be married to a young man with good prospects, and concluded with +these touching words: "When, sir, you met me on the stairs God placed +his banner over me, and ever since it has been love, and I shall always +be your grateful girl, M. W." + +Yes; the banner of a Saviour's love was placed over her, and over the +old Court, when the Christians of Tunbridge Wells sent a messenger of +the Cross to its people; and that banner of crimson hue still floats +over them, and the restoring work goes on, as the improved condition of +the place and people clearly testify. There are, however, in that +neighbourhood of Lisson Grove, though situate in the western part of the +capital of Christian England, a vast multitude who are uninfluenced by +the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, and many of whom are +deeply sunk in ignorance and sin. Ten missionary districts are +unvisited, though each contains upwards of two thousand precious souls. +Christian tradesman of the Edgeware Road, who are well acquainted with +the spiritual necessities of the "Grove," have formed themselves into a +committee to provide for three of those districts. They need help. The +writer,[1] who is responsible for the support and extension of +missionary work in this part of London, will gladly receive +communications concerning giving and receiving. He is persuaded that +many who read this narrative will gladly share in the joy of conveying +the Gospel to this multitude of precious souls; that many will help to +raise the banner of love over these acres of habitations so thickly +peopled with the home heathen; that a blessing may rest upon our nation +by an increase of its people who love righteousness, and who can enter +with personal zest into the sweet language of the poet Weitzel:-- + + "Oh, blest the land: the city blest, + Where Christ the ruler is confest! + Oh, happy hearts and happy homes. + To whom this King in triumph comes." + +[1] J. M. W., London City Mission, Bridewell Place, E.C. + + +The Book in the Bars: + +ITS LIGHT. + + "Amazed and sore perplexed he stood, + The sweat streamed off his rugged brow; + Like midnight wanderer in a wood, + More hopeless still his prospects grow. + + "The day wore on, he marked it not, + He felt not that his cheeks were wet; + He saw himself a drunken sot, + Bound fast within the devil's net. + + "He groaned beneath his heavy load: + At last a bitter cry there came,-- + 'Be merciful to me, oh God, + For I a wretched sinner am!'" + + _Mrs. Sewell._ + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + BETWEEN THE BARRELS--THE TRUE LIGHT SHINING--A DANGER--LIGHT IN THE + CLUB-ROOM--THE CHANGE WROUGHT--VICTORY GAINED--EVIL RESISTED--GOOD + ADVICE--A WHITE SERGEANT--A WISE REMOVAL--THE GOOD INCREASED. + + +THE BOOK IN THE BARS: + +ITS LIGHT. + + "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." PS. + cxix. 105. + +"You see, master, as how it can't be no otherwise; my poor husband is +very ill, and cos it's consumption he can't live long. I has to go out +a-selling to get us a living, and he is miserable all by hisself. Now, +though I says it myself, he is very much respected by the landlord and +all as uses this house, and he always enjoys hisself here. So they have +put the two large barrels at each side of the little one, and before I +goes out I takes him and puts him down comfortable, as in an arm-chair, +and then his pals gives him sups of rum, and that sort of thing, and it +does him lots of good--and he shan't be without his enjoyments for the +like of you." + +The latter part of this speech was delivered in a defiant tone. The +speaker was the wife of a costermonger who lived in a neighbouring +court. The person addressed was the Missionary of the district, who had, +by a kind touch of the arm and a cheerful "How are you to-day?" arrested +their hurried entrance into a gin-palace. The man was about thirty years +of age, and as he leaned against the marbled pillar of the "palace," +supporting himself upon his stick, he presented a pitiable sight. The +loose-fitting jacket, the sunken eyes, the hectic flush upon the cheek, +and hard breathing, indicated his near approach to the grave. A few +words of gentle reproof and concern for his spiritual safety only +provoked a movement by which he was partly supported and partly pushed +into the bar. + +As the massive door with its ground-glass panels closed upon them, an +expression of sadness passed over the face of the Missionary. He had +just entered upon the work, and for the first time realized in its +intensity the "burden of souls." Only a few weeks before, the Committee +of the London City Mission had said to him, "Visit the inhabitants of +the district assigned you, for the purpose of bringing them to an +acquaintance with salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, and of doing +them good by every means in your power." The court in which these +persons lived was within the district, and it was his duty to seek the +salvation of that man. As he passed on, he thus reasoned with himself: +"If I make no effort for his good, he must be lost; but what can I do? +When I called in at his room last evening, he was stupefied with liquor, +and it will be the same to-night. He is sober now; why should I not +visit him in the bar, and deal faithfully with him?" After prayerfully +pondering the matter, he turned back and timidly entered the "palace." +The woman had left, but the man was there in the position described by +her. The small barrel was so placed between the two large ones as to +form a comfortable seat. Several men of his own class were standing by +him, and though early in the day, groups of gin-drinking men and women +had assembled in the four compartments into which the bar was divided. +The floor had been swept and covered with sawdust, which gave it a +comfortable appearance, while its spaciousness and highly-varnished +hundred-gallon hogsheads, the gilded frame-work of the plate-glass +panelling, the bright rows of wine and spirit bottles, and the active +movements of the landlord and two barmen, rendered the place attractive +and pleasant to the miserably clad customers. + +[Illustration: Man speaking to other men in bar] + +The sick man was evidently startled by the appearance of the visitor, +who set him at ease by observing, "You must have plenty of time for +reading, so I thought I would call and give you some interesting little +books which I intended to have left in your room." + +Several were then handed to him, and accepted with the remark, "I can't +read much, but I'll ask the chaps what reads the papers to read them to +me." + +The men who were standing round asked for tracts and then listened with +deep interest while the Missionary repeated the parable of the builders. +Only a few remarks were made upon it, when the landlord in an angry tone +assured the visitor that, "They were not natural fools, to believe a set +of lies made up by the Jews." + +"The words I have repeated," was the calm reply, "were uttered by the +Saviour of the world in mercy to sinners. Believe them, and your soul +shall live." + +By this time the customers had gathered from the other compartments, +attracted by the novelty of religious teaching in such a place. The +landlord spoke quietly to several men who were standing near the bar, +and immediately after one of them made his way towards the Missionary, +and tore the leaves of a tract, formed them into paper lights. He lit +his own pipe with one of them, observing in derision,-- + +"These here are useful things, guv'nor, to light up with: give us some +more." + +A general laugh was suppressed by the prompt answer,-- + +"Of course I will, as they are useful things. I have given enough +already to light you all up,--that is, in the right way; and I'll give +you some more, and tell you what I mean. Now, there are some people who +are always in the dark, because they are blind; and there are some +people who are always dark in their souls. They don't see with their +minds the beautiful things that are in the Bible, so they live badly, +just as if there was no God. That's a miserable way of living; and when +they are taken ill they are afraid to die, because the grave is a dark +place to go to. Now, if a man reads these tracts, and thinks about what +he reads, he will light up his soul. Why, at the end of this tract there +is a little bit out of the Bible which would do it for all of you: +'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.' When a man believes +that, he becomes sorry for his sins, and asks God for pardon, because +Jesus died upon the cross for him. He is then forgiven, and by the Holy +Spirit of God made good and happy. He has then no fear of death, because +he is certain of being in heaven with the Saviour for ever." + +Further remarks were prevented by the landlord, who, forcing his way +through the crowd of eager listeners, seized the speaker by the arm, and +with an oath thrust him into the street. And thus ended the first +missionary visit to the public-houses. + +A few days after the wife of the costermonger came up to the Missionary, +who was passing the court, and said, "Please, master, my poor husband +wants to be religious; he says that he is all dark, and he wants to hear +some reading, and I've got no learning; and he has not been in the bar, +as he thought maybe that you would call." + +"I will see him at once," was the reply; and the Christian visitor +stepped with her into the room. + +Before a word of greeting could be uttered, the poor man exclaimed, with +all the eagerness of one in spiritual distress, "Sir, I have been +dreadful wicked in my time, and it's dreadful to be ill, and I don't +know what prayers to say." + +The visitor looked with pity into the careworn, pallid face of the +all-but-dying man, and, taking a seat by his side, told him in simple +words the wondrous and soothing story of a Saviour's love, and before +leaving taught him a few sentences of prayer. Such visits were repeated +daily, as the increasing weakness of the sufferer showed that the time +for instructing him in the way of salvation was short indeed. + +Upon the last of these visits he listened with absorbing interest to the +narrative of the Lord's ascension, and then, with a smile of peace, +exclaimed, "He died for poor me, and He has made it all right now, and I +shall go up to Him." + +That night he passed away; and it was for some time the talk of the +Court that he died happy, because he was made a Christian in the +public-house. + +One evening, about thirteen months after this event, a crowd of persons, +among whom were many of the respectable inhabitants, stood around the +gin-palace in earnest conversation. It was so unlike the noisy crowds +which assembled when drunkards were ejected, that the Missionary, who +was passing, inquired the cause. + +"The landlord has broken a blood vessel," was the reply: "three doctors +are with him, and we are waiting to know the result." + +Upon its being stated that the doctors gave hope of his recovery, the +people separated. For days it was rumoured that his life was in danger, +and at the little mission service held in the Court, prayer was made on +his behalf. Several mornings after, the Missionary inquired of the +servant, who was standing at the private door, as to the state of her +master's health. + +"A little better," she replied; "but he is still in the club-room, as +the doctors say it will be dangerous to remove him for some days." + +Acting upon the impulse of the moment, the Missionary passed the +servant, and with an ejaculatory prayer for success, ascended the +stairs, and tapped at the club-room door. + +"Come in," said a faint voice; and the visitor entered and saw the +landlord lying upon a couch, near the fire. + +Stepping gently forward, he said in a subdued tone, "I must ask you, +sir, to forgive this act of apparent rudeness. The truth is, that since +hearing of your illness I have been praying for you." + +There was a momentary embarrassment, until the patient, with a troubled +expression of face, whispered,-- + +"Who asked you to pray for me? I don't believe in theology." + +"No one asked me," was the reply; "but if you will keep from speaking, +which may retard your recovery, I will, in a few words, tell you why +prayer was made to God in your behalf. After years of Bible-study I know +its statements to be true; and then I have tested its promises, and know +the blessings to be real. You, perhaps, from want of opportunity, have +not done the one, and are therefore without the blessings now that you +most need them. I have felt as anxious about you as though you had been +an old friend; and we have prayed that your life may be spared, and your +soul saved." + +"It's no use: I can never believe," was the reply; but it was delivered +so feebly, and with such an expression of mental and physical pain upon +the countenance, as to draw forth emotions of sympathy. + +"Permit me," said the visitor, "to repeat two passages of Scripture, and +then I will leave you: 'Let this mind be in you, which was also in +Christ Jesus: who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be +equal with God; but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the +form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and being found +in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto +death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly +exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name; that at the +name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in +the earth, and things under earth; and that every tongue should confess +that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.' 'This is a +faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came +into the world to save sinners.'" Placing his pocket Bible upon the +table, with the passage turned down, the visitor took the hand that was +offered to him, and said, "I will leave my card: send to me as a friend +whenever you please; and may you find peace in the love of Jesus." + +During the conversation, the wife had entered, and following the visitor +out of the room, thanked him for calling. "I was religious once," she +observed; "but years before the bar has ruined me altogether; you cannot +do a first-class gin trade and keep religious." + +The old question about the profit of gaining the world and losing the +soul was put to her, and so they parted. + +Three mornings after, the potman called at the Missionary's house with +the message that his master wished to see him as soon as he could call +in. + +"Thank you for coming," was the greeting with which the landlord +received the visitor, who had hastened to obey his request: "I want to +ask you to forgive me for treating you so badly when you came into the +bar to see the poor fellow who was ill. I was in liquor--that's how I +came to do it." + +"Don't think of that," was the reply; "besides, I made excuse for you, +as it was a strange thing for me to enter your bar and talk about +religion." + +"It was," he replied; "but after the man was dead, the widow used to +tell us that he died so happy; and I have often thought that you then +acted as though you believed the Gospel to be true, because following +him into my bar was seeking the lost sheep, and no mistake." + +This introduced the subject of the internal evidence of the Bible; and +the visitor, after reading portions of the fifth chapter of 2 +Corinthians, commented on the words, "If any man be in Christ, he is a +new creature;" showing that among the pillars of evidence which support +the Bible is the experience of the fact that all who exercise saving +faith in the Lord Jesus become the possessors of a sealed peace, and +prove by holy living the change of the inner nature. + +This visit was the commencement of a friendship between the Christian +teacher and the publican, who remained ill for several months. His +sceptical objections to the truth were examined and gradually removed; +while the constant reading of that Word, the entrance of which into the +soul gives light, gradually wrought a change in his views and feelings. +He made no profession of religion, but the change was apparent to all +who knew him. He overcame the habit of profane swearing, and showed an +interest in good things. His presence in the bar effected a change in +the character of the house. He not only checked blasphemous and bad +language, but he refused to serve persons who were in liquor, and would +not allow mothers with infants in their arms to stand in the bar. The +visits of the Missionary were encouraged. After conversation with the +family, he used to go into the serving-bar for conversation with the +men; and after that visited the four compartments used by customers, +reasoning with them about righteousness, temperance, and a judgment to +come. This teaching was blessed to souls, as a desire to know the truth +was manifested by several of the worst characters in the neighbourhood. +They used to accept the invitation to come and hear the Scriptures read +in a room down the court, and as the gracious result, several became +converted. Amongst these were two drunken women, who used to boast of +the number of times they had been locked up; a youth of eighteen who had +lived by thieving; and a journeyman shoemaker. + +The good influence was increasing in the publican's family, when he was +suddenly taken ill, and it became evident that his sickness was unto +death. He lingered for some time in great weakness, but was happy in the +love of God. Shortly before his death, he said to the Missionary, "I +have settled my affairs, as I have no hope of recovery; and now I have +to ask a great kindness of you: it is that you will promise me to take a +friendly interest in my wife and children when I am gone." Upon the +promise being given, he added, "I should like, for my comfort, to +receive the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, because I have renounced my +infidelity, and am trusting for salvation to the blood-shedding and +merit of the risen Jesus." + +A few hours after, the Rector and the Missionary entered the gin-palace, +and passing into the sick-chamber, commemorated with the dying publican +that offering of Himself by which the Redeemer procured for His +disciples a present salvation and victory over death and the grave. + +After the solemn service, the Minister entered the bar-parlour, and +remained for some time, observing with deep interest the attention paid +by various groups of customers to the instruction of the Missionary. As +they left together, he remarked, thoughtfully, "While you were in the +bar, the landlady told me that, besides being the means of her husband's +salvation, you have reformed some of the worst men and women who used to +support the house. This is grappling with the greatest evil in my +parish, and God is blessing the effort. I wish that all such houses in +the parish were thus visited." + +"Your desire, sir, shall be carried out as far as the district under my +visitation is concerned," was the reply. + +The aged clergyman, taking the hand of the lay visitor, said with +emotion, "May the divine blessing make the effort powerful, that the +Redeemer's work may be extended amongst these multitudes of the +spiritually dead." + +The landlord lived about a fortnight after commemorating the Lord's +death, and his end was peace. Only a few hours before his entrance into +rest, he requested that this Scripture might be engraved upon his +tombstone: "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye +also appear with Him in glory." + +A year had scarcely passed when the widow was compelled to leave the +business, and she went to live in another part of London. She rapidly +sank from affluence to extreme poverty. Hearing of her condition the +Missionary sought her out, and was saddened to find her in a back +kitchen at the East-end of London. He took her two little girls, aged +eight and ten years, home with him, and through the kindness of leading +men in the trade, obtained their admission into the Licensed +Victuallers' School. Employment was obtained for the widow as +sick-nurse, and she has since lived a useful and Christian life. + +While visiting this family the following circumstances occurred, which +gave the Missionary influence with several licensed victuallers and +their customers. + +The potman at a very low public-house just by was taken seriously ill, +and the landlord, upon hearing that a Christian man had visited another +house, sent to inquire for him, and then wrote a note, asking him to +call and see his man. The visit was paid, and was succeeded by others, +until the young man recovered. The landlord and his wife were thankful +for the attention paid, and upon each call asked him into their private +room. This led to an intimacy so close that he was consulted both as to +their religious and business difficulties: these can be best explained +in their own words, as the visitor was seated with them one afternoon. +"You see, sir," said the landlord, "that I can tell you anything, as you +are not like the religious and teetotal sort of people who talk and +write against us, but never call upon us, that they may understand our +position. Now I don't want, and thousands in the trade don't want, to +make or to serve drunkards. In our last house we lost nearly all the +money my wife and I saved in a long service; but if I had pandered to +vice, we might have been there now. While trying to make the house +respectable, we lost 'takings' from the depraved and drunken, and, as +the result, were not able to meet demands, and were obliged to leave and +take this still lower class of business. The truth is, that publicans, +as a respectable body of tradesmen, need sympathy and Christian +influence, instead of abuse, which only worries and makes us, in +self-defence, resist rather than assist in the necessary reforms; and +then, as our trade is a temptation, we need religious influences in our +families: but no clergyman has ever entered my house. I have gone +wrongly, as I have taken to 'sipping,' but it's hard to bear up against +the trials I have had to pass through." "When we married," added the +wife, "we had L200, and felt that we should do well in this business; +the Sunday trade has however made me wretched. During the fourteen years +I was lady's maid I went to Church twice every Sunday; and from that +happy life to serving behind a bar is a dreadful change. This is not +needful except for two hours at meals, when the necessary article of +consumption could be supplied; and then the rows in the tap are a +constant misery to me, and I wish we were out of the business +altogether." + +"You have my deepest sympathy," said the Missionary, "and I will advise +you as a true friend. Your constant drinking, landlord, must be stopped, +or you will be brought to an early grave, with the curse pronounced +against the drunkard resting heavily and for eternity upon you. As +regards your wife, it is wrong to expose her to the misery which a woman +of Christian feeling must endure in this class of house. My advice is, +get out of it. You might save sufficient from the wreck to take a small +general shop, and you could then get a connection as a waiter among your +old acquaintances. The great matter in this difficulty, as in all our +trials, is prayer: this you have both neglected. Inquire of the Lord, +and He will direct you." + +A fortnight after this conversation the landlord and Missionary met the +agent of the firm to which the business belonged, and an equitable +arrangement was made for giving up the house. Upon leaving the trade +they took a small grocer's business, and became Church members, and +prospered in their new calling. + +Another publican, who was met with in this house, spoke strongly against +the Sunday business. + +"Grumbling is of little use in such matters," observed the visitor. +"Act: get up a petition asking Parliament to close you entirely upon the +Lord's-day, and request one of your Members to present it. A movement of +this kind in the trade would be much to your own and to the public +good." + +"If sir," he replied, "you will write out the petition, I will sign it, +and go round with you to other members of the trade, to obtain +signatures." + +The request was complied with, and forty licensed victuallers signed the +petition for entire Sunday closing, and it was duly presented. + +The arresting power of the Word of God was frequently witnessed in these +gin bars. For instance: a woman one evening who entered the "Globe," and +called for her first dram, was arrested by the reasoning of the +missionary with some labourers. Approaching him, pewter measure in hand, +she exclaimed, "You have no business here; go out, or I will throw this +over you." The men pushed her away, but he said kindly, "Before you do +so, let me say something to you out of this Book," and then, after a +pause to find a suitable passage, he read distinctly, "Thus saith the +Lord that made thee ... I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and +floods upon the dry ground. I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my +blessing upon thine offspring." Only a few words of comment were +uttered, when the woman placed the measure upon the bar, and raising her +apron to her eyes, burst into tears, and left, exclaiming, "Oh that I +was a little girl again!" She did not taste the gin, and was never after +met in a bar. It was evident that an arrow of conviction had sped forth +from the Word of God, but with her as with thousands of others, its +ultimate effect was not known. Encouragement, this, for earnest labour +and simple trust in the power and promised blessing upon the +proclamation of God's mercy in Christ; yes, upon the utterance of every +truth contained in His own inspired Word. + +Opportunities frequently occurred for seeking the good of customers as +well as landlords, and these led the Missionary to the conviction that +the public-house is a very proper sphere for Missionary operations. The +following is one instance. Upon passing a public-house in his district +rather late one evening, the visitor noticed a woman near the door who +had evidently been crying, and she had an infant in her arms. When he +spoke to her she told him that her husband had just gone into the +tap-room with all the money they had, and she was afraid to follow him, +as he would knock her about if she did. + +"Wait here," said the visitor; and then he entered the house, and passed +into the tap. It was filled with low men, several of whom appeared +confused at his seeing them there. He however addressed one of them in a +friendly manner, and said, "You men had better be careful; there is some +one outside." + +"Who can it be!" exclaimed several of the men, looking uncomfortable. + +"A White Sergeant," was the reply, and the announcement produced a roar +of laughter. To explain the reason of the merriment a digression is +necessary. Well, then, a "White Sergeant" in the tap-room parlance is a +wife who fetches her husband out of the public-house. This is considered +a great offence, and men who submit to such an exercise of "women's +rights" are much joked at by their companions. Many of the quarrels +between husband and wife result from this cause. One Monday morning, in +a court he visited, the Missionary saw five women with black eyes, all +received through efforts to get their husbands home with their full +week's wages. The announcement that a "White Sergeant" was waiting for +one of them outside was therefore considered a capital joke. + +As soon as their merriment had subsided, the visitor said gravely, "And +this 'White Sergeant' is a woman of whom any man might be +proud--pleasant-looking and neat in her dress, with a dear little baby +in her arms; and in my opinion the man who would bring such a woman to +cry outside a public ought to hang his head for shame." + +The selfishness of men who for their own pleasures would act in this +way, was enlarged upon, until a man rose and quietly left the room. A +few tracts were distributed, and then the visitor also went out, and saw +the man walking away with the "White Sergeant." He approached them and +spoke kindly to the man, saying that he would like to call and give +picture-books to his children. In a surly way he was told that he might +"do as he liked," and he therefore went with them to their door. + +Next Sunday the visitor called, and after a pleasant chat, opened the +Bible to read to them, when one of the children began to cry. The +father, without saying a word, took off his rough cap and threw it at +the child with such force as to knock it heavily upon the floor. +The poor child crawled into a corner, and, from fear, remained quiet. +The parable of the Prodigal Son was read, and the man was deeply +interested in it, and with the exposition showing the love of the +Father. As the reader proceeded, the man looked kindly towards the +child, and then went and took it into his arms. The visitor was pleased +with this act, as it showed him that the man could be influenced for +good. As he was leaving, the man addressed him thus,-- + +"You didn't know me, guv'nor, when you saw me in the tap; but I knowed +you as the chap as made my pal religious, as I used to play +pitch-and-toss with when a boy, and used to go out on the drunk with +after we got to be men; and when I seed him a-dyin', said he to me said +he, 'Bob, get religion, as it ain't no good a-goin' on bad, as Jesus +Christ is our Saviour. And my old woman will tell the tract man to have +a say with you out of his Book.' Well, when you comed into the tap in +that 'ere way, and talked sensible, thinks I, that's 'im, and it's my +Beck outside; so I misselled (slipped out), and shouldn't mind if you +made Beck and me religious, that I shouldn't." + +The meaning of the word "conversion" was explained to him in simple +language, and an appointment made for further instruction. These visits +were continued for some months, and a marked change for the better had +taken place, until he one night yielded to temptation, got drunk, and +became worse than he had ever been before. He stripped the house of +every comfort, and all the labour appeared to have been lost upon him. +He was, however, met with one afternoon when hawking crockery, and +induced to sign the pledge. This he kept for three months, and again +relapsed. His friend had come to the conclusion that his case was +hopeless, when he received an unexpected visit from the man. + +"Please, mister," he said with some confusion, "I am a-comin' to live +right agin you. I seed a room with a loft over a stable and I took it, +and I shall feel strong like bein' agin you, and shan't be near my pals +as gets me to drink. It 'tain't 'pertinent like, is it, my comin' here?" + +The poor man was commended for his strange but wise resolution, and his +friend called to see them very frequently. As a result, the children +were sent to a Sunday school, and the man was seen in the free seats at +church, clean, but in his hawker's clothes. The reformation went on with +him, and he became sober and well conducted. One morning he called upon +his friend, and said, "I never cared, sir, for my children, for I was a +drunkard, and I didn't know nuffin' of our souls and religion, and Beck +and I wants the young uns to be christened, that we does, and we are +goin to stick to church like as if we was made new inside, as is +religion." + +A few days after this conversation the curate called and instructed the +parents and the elder children in the Christian faith, and then he +arranged for the baptism. As the Missionary stood at the font with the +six children before him, he rejoiced and gave thanks because of the +change which had passed over the family. The "White Sergeant" and the +drunken hawker had changed in every way since he saw the one crying +outside the public-house, and the other seated in the tap-room. They +remained in the neighbourhood for several years, and were among the most +respectable of the poor. + +In this marked way it pleased the great Head of the Church--who is +always gracious to His servants who strive to win souls--to honour the +effort made to secure the salvation of the poor costermonger; and the +leadings of His providence also made it an open door by which the Gospel +has been made known to hundreds of thousands of the London poor. The +Missionary, in accordance with his promise to the minister, commenced +the regular visitation of the fourteen public and beerhouses upon the +district. This was trying and difficult, but good results were granted; +and the Committee of the London City Mission, after examining into the +work, requested him to visit all the public-houses in a large parish, as +his sphere of duty. Results were so satisfactory that they appointed +Missionaries to the same class of houses in nine other parishes, and are +now making efforts to extend the work. It is pleasing to know that in +the bars, tap-rooms, and parlours of 3,450 out of the 10,340 licensed +houses in London, earnest effort is made for the spiritual enlightenment +of the men and women who frequent them. As the gracious and known +result, hundreds of these have been reclaimed from drunkenness and other +vices, and many of them are members of Christian Churches. The influence +upon publicans, and through them upon the trade, has been in many +instances remarkable for good. Some houses have been entirely closed; +others upon the whole of the Lord's-day; while the character of many has +been changed for the better. Bar and other servants, who form a large +and important class, have received great benefits; not a few have been +induced to leave the business, and others have been fortified against +its temptations and snares. In addition to all this, there is a large +daily distribution of Gospel and Temperance tracts, while publications +of a high Christian and moral tone are pressed into circulation. It may, +indeed, be said that a new field for Christian enterprise was opened by +the discovery that it is _possible_ to grapple with the withering curse +of drunkenness at its very fountain-head, and so bring many hitherto +unreached multitudes in our great cities under the influence of +Christian teaching. + + +The Book in the Bars: + +ITS SPIRITUAL POWER. + + "Sir, did you ever walk along a street, + A low back street, at night, where drunkards meet! + Where the gin palace turns the night to day, + And public-house and beer-shop line the way? + Say, did you listen? What, sir, did you hear? + Our English workmen were enjoying beer. + Did the rude clamour come from happy men, + Or wild beasts maddened, raging in their den? + You heard the fiendish laugh, the oaths, the strife, + The curses heaped upon a helpless wife; + The wretched harlot's song, the drunkard's roar, + The noisy fiddle and the rattling floor; + You saw the ragged mother sick and pale, + You heard the miserable infant's wail;-- + That was the Englishman's happy lot: + That was the music to the poor man's pot: + You heard it? Yes,--our workmen mad with drink! + Something to make a sober Christian think!" + + _Mrs. Sewell._ + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + THE CLOCK GOING WRONG--MEN OF THE FANCY--THE RAT-PIT MAN--A CHILD + ON THE BARREL--TICKET OF LEAVE MAN--A ROUGH--A DRUNKARD'S HOME--A + FALL AND RISE. + + +THE BOOK IN THE BARS: + +ITS SPIRITUAL POWER. + + "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." + ROM. x. 17. + +The following advertisement, which appeared in several of the daily +newspapers, induced the Missionary to pay a farewell visit to the +landlord and bar-servants:-- + +"_Gin Palace_ for sale, in a good working and gin-drinking +neighbourhood; doing L240 a week over the bar: elegant and substantial +fittings. Terms moderate. Immediate possession," etc. + +With this farewell purpose, the Christian visitor entered the "bottle +department" early upon the following Sunday evening, but found the place +so filled with customers that neither the landlord nor bar-men had a +moment to spare. He therefore simply shook hands with them, and arranged +to call in during the quiet hours of the following afternoon, and then +commenced evangelizing work among the people. + +Three high partitions divided the bar into four compartments; and, as is +usual, there were separate doors to each, so that the crowds of +customers could not see each other, though the noise of their converse +and disputes produced a war of words, and rendered quiet conversation +difficult. One would have thought that the private or "bottle +department" would have been the easiest to visit, as its name seemed to +invite the respectable order of drinkers. To some extent this was the +case, but a jury of bar-men would certainly agree in the opinion that +this sly part of the house, into which so many well-dressed persons slip +for their drams, is the most lucrative and usually the most crowded. +Only a few weeks before, the visitor was standing with a young man in a +similar compartment, when seven women, wives of working men, entered, +and called for a quart of gin with ale glasses. They were laughing +heartily at what they considered a happy thought of one of their +companions,--the clubbing together for the purpose of ordering so large +a quantity of spirits: they were much disconcerted at the withering +rebuke they met with. + +Upon the evening of our visit, eight or ten men and women were present. +One of these, a respectable tradesman, rejected a tract with the remark, +"I don't want your religious nonsense, as I do the thing that's right +between man and man; and if I didn't I would not be interfered with by +other people in religious matters, as I know what is right, and could do +it." "The clock there is going wrong," replied the visitor, looking +towards that very ornamental object, "and because it's out of repair, it +does not answer the purpose for which it was made, as it is hours too +slow. Now the landlord will not attempt to repair it himself, neither +will he give it to a grocer or a bricklayer for that purpose: he will no +doubt send it to the man who made it,--to a clockmaker who understands +its mechanism; he will clean and repair it, and then the hands will go +right. Well, it's just so with us men: when we do wrong it proves that +we are unclean inside, and out of repair, and it is no good trying to +set ourselves right, for we can't do it; or to get other people to +tinker at us, as they are sure to make us worse. Our proper course of +action is to approach our Almighty Maker, with the prayer, 'Create in me +a clean heart, oh God, and renew a right spirit within me.' When this is +done, we go right, and glorify God in our bodies and our spirits, which +are His." After a few words about the Fountain opened for sin and +uncleanness, the speaker passed out, leaving the people with their eyes +fixed upon the clock, and their thoughts upon the Saviour. + +In the next compartment about sixteen working men had assembled, all of +whom were sober. Several were annoyed, as one of them said, at "being +tackled in such a place as that about religion." "Why, you are all in +the building trade," exclaimed the intruder, "and if you listen to the +words I repeat, and do them, you shall be likened to wise men who built +a house upon a rock: 'And the rain descended, and the winds blew, and +beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.'" +As the attention of the men was arrested by the parable, it was repeated +to the end; and then, taking the Bible from his pocket, the reader +observed, "These are not my words: they were spoken by the Lord Jesus +Christ." "I knows a lot of the Bible," said one of the men, "and He +never talked like that." "I've heard it before," retorted a companion, +"and it's there." "Yes: I am right," replied the man with the Book; and +then, leaning his back against the bar, he read the parable through, in +a clear, expressive tone. He then looked up, and said kindly, "You are +not building on this rock; if you were you would be in the house of God, +instead of this place." + +"That's right!" exclaimed several, and three of them followed him into +the street. "I'll go next Sunday," said a carpenter. "And so will I," +answered his companion, a smith. "And I will meet you at this corner and +go with you," said the reader. This arrangement was confirmed with +hand-shaking; and the men went thoughtfully towards their homes, the +Missionary entering the next compartment. + +In this several groups of persons were standing together, those near the +door being sweeps, who, in honour of the day, were partly washed. One of +them, a young man, said that his mother was ill and wanted some one to +pray with her. The visitor took down the address and promised to call. +While doing so his attention was directed to several men of the "fancy," +who were in loud conversation about the difficulties of their calling. +They were attired in dirty fustians, with gaudy cotton handkerchiefs +round their necks, and caps which made their foreheads appear +"villanously low." One of them held a bull-dog by a chain, and several +puppies were peeping out of the side pockets of his coat. He was +evidently the important man of the group, as his companions were +listening with respect to his grievances, which he expressed in the +following way: "This 'ere draining of London will be the ruin of us, +that it will. Why look 'ere: I've been all this blessed day a-trying to +get six dozen of rats, and I has only got two dozen; and it's ruination +the price of them is. I never grumbles at buying them at fourpence each +when they are fat and lively like that, I doesn't, as it's a fair price; +but it's enough to make a chap go rampstairing when he has to tip a bob +each, or eleven shillings a dozen for them, as I did this afternoon; and +it's this draining of London does it, as they be slushed away. And then +last week I had a misfortune. I went out with my pal, as is ratcatcher +to the Queen, for two days' catchin' about Windsor, and I left three +dozen in the low pit. Well, when I comes back, my misses, as as bin +queer, said, 'Oh dear me, I forgot to feed the rats!' So I went off, as +I knowed how it 'ed be. When I looked in it a dozen had gone, and they +was a-eating ever-so-many of one another; so I chucked in the stuff as +had been mixed up for 'em, and there was an end of their barbarities, as +rats are good-natured like when they has plenty of grub; but when the +price is up it is, as I say, ruination." + +"And so you have been all day trying to buy rats, have you? a pretty way +to be sure for a man to spend his Sunday," observed the Missionary, as +he turned towards the man, and caressed a pretty little spaniel whose +head was resting upon the flap of his pocket. + +"I has," was the sharp reply: "and I makes no profession of religion, so +it's no harm; like them saints, one of which I knows as cheats you +through thick and thin; so I does the correct thing, and snaps my +finger, and says I, None of your religion for me." + +"I see how it is," rejoined the visitor. "You have met with an imitation +Christian, a counterfeit, as we call bad money, and for that reason you +will not be a real Christian. Is that what you mean? If so, it is like +saying, 'A man passed a bad shilling upon me, so I never mean to take a +good one.'" + +"That's a puzzler," replied the man, thoughtfully; "as I knows what good +Christians are, as was my father and mother, as was Welsh, like me. +They did the right thing by me; but I 'erd of people a-gettin' on in +London, so I ran away from them, and begged and stumped it up here. And +I got in with some young prigs in Whitechapel, and got took before the +beak, as wasn't for much; and he didn't give a fellow a chance, but put +on three months hard; and when I got out I couldn't get on, so I went +out with a chap a-catchin' birds and rats, and married his daughter. And +now I has a bird shop at Shoreditch, and a rat-pit, as was profitable +afore this 'ere draining was inwented, as gents bring their dogs to be +teached to kill rats first-rate, and sometimes they has a match on the +quiet; and they are gents as does it and pays up, and says as I am the +best rat-pit man they knows." + +In reply to questions, the rat-pit man admitted that during the eighteen +years he had been in London he had only once been into a church, and +that was at his marriage. When reminded that he was the child of many +prayers, and of parents passed into the heavens, he was softened, and +said, "If I know'd somebody as is religious, I should be better; but I +doesn't know a religious chap, that I doesn't." + +"Give me your address," said the visitor, "and I will ask a Missionary +gentleman who lives near, a friend of mine, to call upon you." This was +done, and the parties left the bar together. + +The fourth compartment was crowded with persons of the degraded and +disorderly class, and it was evident that several men in one corner were +excited with liquor. In the centre was a large barrel, and round it +stood three women. One of them had turned a quart pot upside down upon +the barrel, and had seated her little child, about a year old, upon it. +She called for "a quartern and three outs" (three glasses to divide the +liquor), when the Missionary, who felt the difficulty of securing the +attention of such a people, approached with the exclamation: "Why, what +do you think? When the Saviour of the world was here, He took a little +child, a pretty little dear like that, and sat it in the midst of His +disciples, and said, 'Except ye be converted, and become as little +children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.'" + +"Did He, sir?" exclaimed several. + +"Yes: He did," was the reply; "and if you will listen to me I will tell +you what He meant." + +At this the people gathered round the barrel, and the speaker, taking +the tiny hand in his, continued: "There is no mistake about the love of +a little darling like this. When it throws its arms around your neck you +know it's real love" ("That it is," said the mother, giving the child a +hug); "and the Saviour meant that we men and women, who are children of +the great Father in heaven, ought to love Him with all our hearts, and +do His holy will. Now I don't think that we all do this." + +"I should think not," said a man with a coarse laugh. "If we did, we +shouldn't be a-getting drunk in here on a Sunday night." + +"You are right," replied the visitor. "You are not like this pretty +child; you are bad children, and must, as Jesus said, be converted. The +great Father loves you, and sent His Son to tell you how to be made +good, and to die for your sins." Other words of exhortation were being +uttered, when the address was brought to a close by another group of +persons pressing into the bar. + +This consisted of an old woman, and three young men of the _genus_ +rough. The woman, who had been crying, and who had new weeds upon her +head, was reluctant to enter, as one of the men said to her, "Never +mind, mother; it's what we are all a-comin' to. He was a good un, as +respected was everywhere. Come in and have a drop of rum." + +"And have you been," inquired the Missionary, "to bury the husband and +the father?" + +"Yes, sir," replied the widow, sobbing. "We was married forty-two years, +and it's his first night in the cold grave, and I'm so miserable, and my +boys has brought me to give me some rum;" and then she sobbed so deeply +that the people looked at her with pity. + +"Don't touch the rum," said the visitor, "but let me go home with you +and read from this blessed Book the comforting words which the merciful +God has said to widows;" and then they stepped out of the bar, the sons +following. They entered a house a few doors further on, and descended to +the back kitchen, which was dismal, and almost without furniture. Taking +a seat on the edge of the bedstead, the visitor read the account of the +widow of Zarephath, and such Scriptures as "The Lord relieveth the +fatherless and widow;" "Let thy widows trust in Me;" and then explained +to her the meaning of being "a widow indeed." The young men were deeply +interested, but when prayer was offered they stood up awkwardly, though +the mother knelt; it was evident that they had never bent the knee in +supplication. After more words of sympathy the widow was left much +comforted, and with the promise of another visit. + +After this the Missionary passed through several other public-houses +with varied success, and scattered much precious seed. As the evening +was far advanced, he entered a large beer-shop, intending a final visit. +About thirty men and women of the lower class were standing, many of +them with their backs to the walls, as the landlord had removed the +seats to prevent his customers staying too long. Upon glancing round, +the visitor noticed a middle-aged man, whom he had not seen for several +years, and inquired of him where he had been? + +"To prison, for assault upon a woman," he replied. "I was committed for +four years, and that wasn't much, as she will never get over it; and I'm +out six months afore time with a ticket-of-leave; and it was the drink +as made me do it, as I wouldn't hurt nobody." + +"It's no use laying it to the drink," was the reply; "speak the truth, +and say that it was your love of the drink,--your vice that led you to +commit the crime. You may make excuse now, but the day is coming when +you will be tried again for that and for every offence of your life, as +we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ; now mind, if you +are condemned by that Judge there will be no escape from the prison of +hell, to which you will be sent." + +At the commencement of this conversation, the door swung open, and a man +of a baser sort entered. He listened; but brought the conversation to a +sudden close by clenching his fist, and with that malicious hiss which +bad men have, he addressed the Missionary, and said, "What business has +you in our shop, a-talking like that 'ere? for two pins I'd smash in +your frontispiece." + +The ticket-of-leave man frowned, and holding out his right arm with +extended finger and thumb gave a peculiar jerk and exclaimed, "If you +does I'll garotte you." And a woman, whose sister the visitor had placed +in a reformatory, fearing that he would be injured, rushed before him +with a half-scream. The rough, who was evidently astonished at the good +feeling which existed between the Christian teacher and the persons of +his own class, stepped back; but as the attention of the debased crowd +in the bar was directed towards him, the visitor raised his hand and +said loudly, "Never mind: I am not hurt. But it was just so hundreds of +years ago, when the Saviour of the world was here. He used to feed +hungry people, and heal the sick, and give eyesight to the blind; but +there were men who smote Him with the fist of wickedness, and who cried +out, 'Crucify Him, crucify Him,' and then they nailed Him to a cross." +The speaker then dropped his voice to a solemn note, and continued, +"Yes; and-- + + 'It was for such as you He died, + For such that He was crucified, + For such He reigns above.'" + +The effect was startling, as that congregation of the wicked stood in +silent awe; while the landlord and his barmen leaned forward to listen. +A few more earnest words were uttered, and the evangelist stepped out, +wiping the perspiration from his brow. The rough at almost the same +moment passed out at the other door, and approaching the Missionary, +said, "I ax yer pardon, guv'nor; but I wouldn't 'urt a hair of your +'ed." + +"I feel all right toward you, so never mind," was the kind reply, +enforced with a friendly touch of the arm. "You sees, guv'nor," the +rough continued, "as I am a bad un, as I had a month for beating my old +woman, and its becos I ain't hedicated, cos if a chap ain't hedicated +he's nuffin." + +From this speech it was evident that the man had a desire for +instruction, and the visitor felt that to impart this would give him a +power which might lead to a moral and spiritual regeneration; he +therefore inquired if he would like to know how to read and write? + +"Oh, shouldn't I: that's all!" + +"Well then, if you have the mettle in you to stick to your book, which +is hard work for a man of forty, I will spend an hour with you once or +twice a week, and teach you." + +The poor rough looked astonished, wriggled in a strange manner, and then +gave expression to his feelings, by exclaiming, "If you does, master, +when I gets into work I'll treat you to a day in the country." + +His friend could but smile at this singular ebullition of grateful +feeling, though he knew the force of its meaning. To men like him, pent +up in the density of the mighty city, a day in the country is the +greatest conceivable enjoyment, and to promise that showed that the man +had a soul, and perhaps a latent taste for the beautiful. + +As it was necessary that the teacher should know where the man lived, he +went with him down one of those narrow, dirty streets, where the people +live in comfort as regards thieves: as they have nothing to be robbed +of, they allow their doors to remain open all night. The man entered one +of these open doors, and ascended the stair-case, in thick darkness; his +step was evidently known, as a woman came out of the back attic, holding +in her hand a blacking bottle, in which was a piece of candle. All +doubts as to her being his wife was set at rest, by the rough +introducing his new acquaintance in the following elegant language, +"'Ere Sarah, 'ere's a gent I've picked up in a beer shop." To the +embarrassment of the dirty, ragged woman, the visitor entered the room; +and a deplorable room it was,--a drunkard's home. The floor was dirty, +without a piece of carpet, and several of the panes of glass were broken +and pasted over with pieces of brown paper, greased to admit a little +light. There was only one broken chair, and a sieve-basket, covered with +a rusty tea-tray, formed another seat. The table was evidently the +safest piece of goods, as the wife invited her visitor to take a seat +upon it. There was no bedstead, but an accumulation of rags in one +corner covered two dirty little children. The poor woman had that +crushed and wretched expression of face so common among the wives of +this class of men. A quarter of an hour's conversation set her at ease +and secured her good-will. Before leaving, the visitor, who had taken +his seat upon the table, opened his Bible and read, while the woman +stood with her light in the blacking bottle on one side of him, and her +brutal but now subdued husband upon the other. + +[Illustration: The Back Attic] + +A few evenings after, the Missionary, as arranged, entered the room with +the spelling-book in his hand, to give the first lesson, and was glad to +find the rough at home, and to return, with a pleasant smile, his gruff +salutation of, "Thought as how you wasn't a-coming; but thank'ee, +guv'nor, for doing on it." He then fairly seized the Primer, and +repeated the alphabet so vigorously, that his intention of "being +hedicated in no time" was evident, even if he had not said so. The book +was left with him, and upon the next lesson-evening his wife told the +teacher that "Bill had bin a A-ing, and B-ing, and B A-ing, ever since +he com'd up there afore." Lesson succeeded lesson for many weeks, and +though the task was distasteful to both parties, the rough got on +exceedingly well, and at the end of three months he was able to read +easy lesson books. From that time there was evidence of a change passing +over the family. The understood rule of the London City Mission, that no +visit be completed without the reading or repeating of some portion of +Holy Scripture, had been observed, and as the result, much of that Word, +the entering of which into the soul gives light, had been read to this +poor man and his wife. There was a change in their home, for the teacher +one evening noticed two new chairs and a piece of carpet; after this, +several gaudy pictures and a fender were introduced, and then the rags +were removed, and a punch and judy bedstead (a thing that turns up in +the corner) set up in its place. + +"You are getting on in the world," observed their friend one evening, as +he glanced round the room. + +The man looked unutterable things at his wife, and said, "Should think +we are, sir; and I'll let the cat out of the bag, as they sayes: and +this is that ere cat. Arter you had been a-readin' and a-'elpin' me one +night I walks out, and as I passed the Tom and Jerry where I picked you +up, some old pals says, 'Come in and have a little heavy wet!' and in I +goes; and then we went into the tother corner, and I stood some gin, as +with the tother got into my 'ed; and when I was turned out I seed a +Peeler, and wolunteered to fight 'im. So he takes me by the choker and +walks me along, and my old woman, as was looking for me, comes up and +begged the Peeler not to trot me in, as makes a charge. So, bein' soft +'arted, he gived me to her; and when I got up 'ere I was sober like, and +said I, I will be a Christian, like as the gent reads of, what eat pigs' +wittles, and went back to his Father; and I'll be teetotal to-morrow. So +in the morning I had a pen'orth of coffee at the total shop, and hopened +my mind to the gal what brought it; and she told the guv'nor, and he +brings a book, and I put a scratch in it, and I haven't had a drop of +the public stuff never since; and we said we'd say nothin' to you till +we had been teetotal a month, and it's more than that now." + +The man was commended for his resolution, and when the lesson was over, +the Book was opened and the parable of the Prodigal Son again read and +more fully explained, and then the family altar was set up in that poor +room, as the man with his wife and children knelt together in prayer. + +Soon after this the man obtained employment in a timber yard, to empty +sawdust from the pits, and his improvement, indeed his uprising in the +social scale, became rapid. One evening his teacher took a very dear +friend to see him,--the talented author of "Our Father's Care," and +"Mother's Last Words." Reaching a Bible from the chest of drawers (for +they had risen to that dignity), he said, "Do, mum, hear me read, as I +does it well like. When I seed that gent in a beer bar I was a-goin' to +smash at him, but he has learned me to read first rate." He then read +the fifth chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel; and as the lady afterwards +remarked, "he read it well, as he seemed to feel the force of every +word." After this he gave evidence of a renewed nature, and became a +living proof that grace can change a rough into a quiet and peaceable +man, and that it is possible to pluck bad men from among the ungodly, as +brands from the everlasting burning. + + * * * * * + +NOTE.--Eleven years have passed since Mrs. Sewell's visit to the rough, +and we take the opportunity of revising for a new edition, to add that +the man and his wife have stood firm to temperance principles. It was +long, several years, before he joined a Congregational Church, and like +many such he was an unobtrusive member, but his life was right. The +appearance of his wife became so altered that she obtained work at +charing, and their home possessed an appearance of real comfort. The +eldest of the children, first seen on the rags, a girl, has obtained a +place as nursemaid in a tradesman's family, and the rest bid fair to do +well. Renewed proof, this, of the power of the religion of the Lord +Jesus to convert the soul, to enforce holy living, and to bless the +rising generation. Why then should any be lost for lack of knowledge? +Why should not all the people be instructed in the law of the Lord? each +individual receiving the call to repentance, faith, and the blessed +hope. + + +The Book in the Bars: + +ITS RECEPTION. + + "A time will come, sir,--would that it were come,-- + When righteousness shall reign in every home, + And the bless'd knowledge of the Lord shall be + As the great floods that overflow the sea, + And all things hurtful shall be swept away, + And earth rejoice in one long Sabbath Day;-- + But _this_ is not that time. The serpent stings, + The adder biteth, and the drunkard sings + In mad carousal, while the British name + Grows a by-word for drunkenness and shame. + Oh, sir, dear sir, roll this reproach away, + And hasten on the glorious Sabbath Day, + When Christ shall reign in righteousness and peace, + And all the turmoil of the world shall cease: + Think of that time, and, for His glory's sake, + This tenfold work of mercy undertake." + + _Mrs. Sewell._ + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + A STRANGE REQUEST--TOUCHING THE SCEPTRE--SUNDAY DRINKING--CLOSED ON + SUNDAY--PLEASANT OPPOSITION--GUILTY TONGUES--A SHARP REBUKE--UGLIER + THAN A GORILLA--A KNOTTY QUESTION--POTMAN'S LETTER--THE PUGILIST'S + RING--THE BEAUTY OF AGE--RESTING IN PEACE. + + +THE BOOK IN THE BARS: + +ITS RECEPTION. + + "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they + received the truth with all readiness of mind." ACTS xvii. 11. + +Thirteen years of Christian work in public, coffee, and night-houses, +during which time 465 Sunday evenings were spent in the bars, taps, and +parlours of these places, gave the Missionary thousands of opportunities +to reason with men and women about righteousness, temperance, and a +judgment to come. Incidents of interest were of constant occurrence, and +we select a few with the object of showing that the sword of the Spirit, +which is the Word of God, is mighty to subdue opposition and prejudice, +and to accomplish the great purposes of grace. + +THE CROWN AND SCEPTRE.--Upon entering this house one evening, the +Missionary found a new landlord behind the bar. As he knew several of +the customers, he entered into serious conversation with them, but was +stopped by the landlord making the declaration that "it was an +abominable thing for a man to talk religion in a public-house;" and then +he ordered the intruder to leave. As the man was angry, the visitor went +toward the door, merely remarking, "We shall know each other some day, +and shall no doubt improve upon acquaintance, as I wish to do you a +good turn,--the best thing one man can do for another;" and then he left +the house. He had not, however, proceeded far down the street, when two +men ran after him, and said that the landlord wished to speak to him. +The visitor felt that mischief was intended, but as an opportunity might +be presented to secure the good-will of the man, he boldly re-entered +the bar. To his surprise, the landlord, with a smile, offered him a +number of handbills, and said, "You want to do me a good turn, do you? +Well, this is how you can manage it. I am told that you go into all the +houses about here, and I want you to put one of these papers into each +of your tracts, which will advertise me among the right sort of people." +The Missionary read the bills aloud, and could but join in the laughter +produced, for they ran thus: "'Crown and Sceptre.' The new landlord begs +to inform the public that he has taken this old-established house, and +that he sells the best porter at fourpence a quart, and good old Tom at +threepence-halfpenny a quartern," etc., etc. The customers considered +the request to circulate such bills in religious tracts a good joke, but +paused in their merriment to hear the reply of the visitor, who stood +with the bills in his hand. That answer was given in the unexpected form +of a question addressed to a group of costermongers who were standing at +the other side of the bar. + +"Do you men over there know what a sceptre is?" + +"Never heard nothin' of that 'ere sort of article," was the reply, after +some deliberation. + +As the question evidently perplexed many of the customers, the visitor +smiled, and addressing the landlord, said, "If I can't circulate your +bills for you, I will make good use of them by acquainting your +customers with the full meaning of your sign. Well, you all know that a +crown is a kind of golden cap set with jewels and set upon the head of +kings. Now a sceptre is a golden stick, about so long (showing the +length with his hands), and is a badge of kingly authority with which to +govern and to show mercy. I have seen the Queen's sceptre in the Tower, +and its top is richly ornamented and studded with precious stones. In +this Book (producing the pocket Bible) there are beautiful things about +the sceptre, and if you like I will read you two short passages. 'All +the king's servants do know, that whosoever shall come unto the King +into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put +him to death, except such to whom the King shall hold out the golden +sceptre, that he may live.' 'And the King held out to Esther the golden +sceptre which was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top +of the sceptre.'" Then closing the Bible, he continued, "And now, +landlord, I have to tell you that the crown and sceptre brought me here. +After the Lord Jesus died to save us, He rose from the grave and +ascended into heaven. He is there crowned King of kings, and He has the +sceptre of righteousness and mercy in His hand. He holds out that golden +stick to each of you sinful men. By faith in Him you can touch it and be +saved;" and then placing several tracts upon the bar, he stepped towards +the door. He however turned back as an Irish labourer, who was standing +with several of his countrymen, exclaimed,-- + +"Och, sure and it's the rail truth; and it's meself that will do it, as +I niver did that, and I'm intirely wretched." + +This was uttered with deep feeling, and a gesture of prayerful uplooking +which showed that the comprehension of the beautiful, that charm of the +Irish character, had caused the poor labourer to understand the lovely +truth of an enthroned and pardoning Redeemer. He was invited to leave +with the visitor, and they stood for some time in the street conversing +about the love of God in Christ Jesus. The man stated that he was from +Tipperary, and a good Catholic, but that he had often got drunk and had +injured several persons. When ill, by an accident he had met with in his +work, he was an inmate of Guy's Hospital for some weeks. When there, a +gentleman used to read out of the Bible to a man in the next bed, and +the man was very happy, though he did not belong to the true faith, as +he was always speaking of Jesus, and never prayed to the saints. Since +then he had felt unhappy about his sins, though he often went to mass +and confession. The way of salvation was simply explained to him, and +his address was taken, with the promise of a call. A few days after, his +room in a rookery called Grey's Buildings, was entered. His wife, who +expected the visitor, exclaimed, "In troth and it's your honour; and +wasn't it Mick that towld me of your honour, and it's himself that has +been praying Jesus to howld out the golden stick to him." While they +were speaking Mick came in, and greeted his friend with real Irish +feeling; and then they sat before the fire and conversed about the +lovingkindness of Him who is mighty to save. As the blessed result, the +poor Irishman was led to understand the way of salvation, and by faith +to touch the sceptre of Infinite Mercy. Some months passed before he had +courage to enter a Protestant church, and then he was in company with +his friend, whom he met by appointment. He for some minutes lingered +outside, and then entered with a rush. After that his attendance was +regular; but he found it necessary to leave his lodgings, as his +conversion became known to the neighbours, and he received several +unpleasant visits from the priest. He had two boys whom he sent to a +Protestant school, though opposed by his wife. His acquaintance was kept +up for several years, and he used to speak with joy about the golden +stick, and the knowledge it gave him of the Saviour. + +THE ELEPHANT AND CASTLE.--Upon entering the bar-parlour of this house +the landlord commenced the following conversation with the Missionary, +concerning the evidence he had given before a Committee of the House of +Commons: "I have, sir, been reading your evidence in the Blue Book, and +while I agree with much that you said, I think that you were mistaken in +two particulars. First, when you said that there are more persons in the +public-houses of Marylebone upon the evening of the Lord's-day, than +there are in all the churches and chapels of that parish. Secondly, your +advice for further restrictions upon our Sunday-sale, coupled with your +opinion, that a great number of our houses could be entirely closed upon +the Lord's-day with benefit to the public and without loss to the +publican." + +"I am not surprised at your view of my evidence, but the sharp criticism +of the trade has convinced me that I spoke the truth temperately. As +regards the appalling statement as to the number of persons who frequent +your houses upon the Lord's-day evening, you must have observed that I +was sharply examined upon the point, and confirmed it with much detail; +when I had finished, the chief Inspector of Police and other important +persons were examined upon the matter, and confirmed my statement; after +which the Committee reported it to Parliament as unquestionably true. It +is then a terrible fact, certainly true, of all the poor neighbourhoods +of London. As regards the closing on Sundays, and its effect upon the +trade, I merely gave an opinion; but that opinion was arrived at after +conversation with several hundred members of your trade. As you know, +forty-seven publicans in this parish signed a petition, praying +Parliament to close you upon the whole of Sunday. Few men have a larger +acquaintance with the trade than myself, and I am convinced that a +strong feeling against Sabbath labour, and other evils of this business, +is growing up among you. For instance, several of your neighbours now +close their houses upon the whole of the Lord's-day, others close their +tap-rooms, and many refrain from lighting the glaring lamps outside. +This shows a desire to use the great moral power you possess for the +good of the people. And then as regards the loss resulting from Sunday +closing, I am convinced that the saying of the Book is true: 'That in +keeping His commandments there is great reward.' I am, however, content +to reason the point with you from a trade point of view. It is a fact +that all who close bear the loss lightly, if loss there be. One house at +Shoreditch has been established more than a hundred years, though, for +all that time, the following 'rules' have been printed over the bar:-- + + "'1. No person served a second time. + "'2. No person served if in the least intoxicated. + "'3. No swearing or improper language allowed. + "'4. Smoking not permitted. + "'5. When you enter a place of business, transact your business, + and go about your business. + + "'CLOSED ON SUNDAY.'" + +"The landlord told me that after the experience of a century they had no +wish to alter the rules. Twenty-six other Sunday-closing publicans, with +whom I conversed, told me that the loss is really small. They lend +bottles of various sizes to their customers upon the payment of a small +deposit, which increases the Saturday's returns; and as they save +one-seventh of wear and tear and gas, the cost of obtaining a Sabbath of +rest is to many small indeed. But be this as it may, the old question +remains, put by Him who alone knew the value of the world He made and of +the soul He created,--for all souls are His: 'What will it profit a man, +if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?' You, and many of my +friends in the trade, give a practical answer to this question by +suppressing drunkenness, though much to your money loss (for I never saw +a person the worse for liquor in your house); extend that answer by +observing the Sabbath-day to keep it holy." + +A few weeks after this conversation the Missionary entered the house +again, in company with a clergyman from the Isle of Wight. The landlord +asked them into the bar-parlour, and called his wife. He then produced a +board, and said, "Since our last conversation, sir, I have considered +the cost, and have had this board printed, and intend to put it outside +next Monday morning. It will no doubt increase my trade difficulties, +but with God's help I shall hope still to get on." The writing upon the +board was: "NOTICE. On and after Sunday next, this house will be closed +during the whole of the Lord's-day." They were commended for the good +resolution, and the clergyman, at parting, observed, "You said wisely, +that you hoped with God's help to succeed: that help can only be +obtained in answer to prayer. Would it not therefore be well for us to +seek the required blessing?" Upon this the landlady rose and locked the +door, and while the barmaid was supplying the customers, her employers +were kneeling with the Missionary, while the clergyman engaged in +prayer. + +The board was placed outside the house, and caused quite a sensation in +the neighbourhood, and much jesting in the bar. The resolution was, +however, kept; and after a year's Sunday closing, the landlord expressed +his determination to continue in the right way, as he had found it +possible to conduct the business upon Christian principles. + +THE MOGUL.--A dirty little beer-shop, entirely supported by low and +depraved persons. The taproom was built in the yard beside a skittle +ground, and was approached through a long passage. Upon entering it one +evening the Missionary found a crowd of at least forty juvenile thieves, +vagrants, and bullies. As the noise was great, the only hope of doing +good was an effort to enter into conversation with one or two +individuals. This, however, was prevented, as many of them knew the +visitor, and hit upon a device to get rid of him. A song was started by +one of the men, and the chorus was taken up by the full company, who +repeated with deafening effect the words, "He's a jolly good fellow." As +the song proceeded the repetition became so boisterous that the visitor +divined their intention to sing him out. He at once saw the difficulty +of his position, as, if they had succeeded, the same practice would have +been adopted in other taprooms to the hindrance of his usefulness. He, +therefore, instead of leaving, took a seat in their midst in a most +unconcerned manner. The chorus was kept up until many of the vocalists +had bawled themselves hoarse; and as the yelling became feeble the +visitor sprang to his feet, and said vehemently, "And they were good +fellows, but the magistrates commanded to beat them. And when they had +laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the +jailer to keep them safely; who, having received such a charge, thrust +them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks." + +The words changed the current of feeling. Nearly all in the room had +been in prison, and those who had not had a deep sympathy with such. +"Who was they?" "Where was it?" and "What a shame!" were the general +exclamations. + +After a pause, which produced absolute silence, the speaker continued: +"And at midnight they sang praises unto God." And then opening his +Bible, he in a solemn, earnest tone, read the narrative of the +imprisonment of Paul and Silas. When he came to the words, "He set meat +before them and rejoiced, believing in God, with all his house," the +reader closed the Book, and in a few telling sentences explained the +nature of saving faith in Christ, and the result of that faith,--being +made "new creatures." After this visit the work was easy in that +taproom, and in the family of the landlord. + +THE KING'S HEAD.--One afternoon, while the visitor was speaking with +several respectable men in this bar, the barman addressed him with the +exclamation, "Blessed are your lips." He was so surprised at the words +that he approached the young man, and inquired what he meant. "Well, +sir," he replied, "I hear cursing and swearing all day long, up till +twelve o'clock at night, and you are the only man who speaks really good +words. Why, we have some tradesmen come in here for lunch who are known +religious men, and they talk politics and all sorts of things, but they +haven't a word to say about religion. It's as if they were ashamed to +acknowledge God when they get in here: now, you condemn sinning and +swearing, and I, therefore, made the remark 'Blessed are your lips.'" + +"I am glad you are at leisure," was the reply, "as you have started a +subject upon which I want the help of the trade, both master and man. +This habit of profane swearing among the people is a crying evil, and +you are the victims of its pollution more than any other class of +tradesmen, which need not and ought not to be the case. In this part of +London the habit is too general; but the abomination is still worse at +the East end. I have with me a copy of the _Church and State Review_, in +which a gentleman gives an account of his visits the other night with a +detective. He writes: 'We stopped before one house in which all the +crusts that are begged in the streets are turned into gin. Everybody +blasphemed at intervals, except the women, who never stopped at all. +There were old men and old women--everything that is made after the +image of God, down to the little child--and the foulness of all was +equal. It was fearful to hear the words that rolled from the lips of +the crone, who was full of years and spirits; but it was agony to hear +the curses stream from the baby-mouths, when midnight had passed and it +was far away in the morning.' Now, we have a Missionary who visits the +houses there, and he was deeply grieved at the pollutions that met his +ears; so he had a card about a foot square printed, and illuminated with +a double blue border containing four mottoes between: 'Be sober;' 'Swear +not at all;' 'Be sure your sin will find you out;' 'Thou God seest me.' +The requisition in the centre is printed in scarlet characters, forming +a pretty contrast to the border, and is as follows: 'It is respectfully +requested that persons attending this house will refrain from using +improper language.' He took them round to the landlords, and to their +credit, nearly four hundred placed them in their bars and taps; and many +joined heartily in the effort to suppress the evil. Though scarcely a +year has passed, the result is most satisfactory; and I should like to +introduce the cards into this part of London: the trade and myself can +work together in this matter and I trust that your master will allow one +to be placed in this bar." + +"I am sure that he will," was the reply; "and I will ask him, and all +the barmen I know, to assist in the good effort." + +A card was placed in that bar, and many of the neighbouring bars, taps, +and parlours, were ornamented with them; and as "the rules of the +house," an effective check was given to guilty tongues. Another good of +great importance sprang from the conversation with the barman. The +peculiar temptations of the class were considered, and a special effort +was made for their spiritual good. A pocket Testament was given to +three hundred of them, with suitable remarks as to the value of the good +Book, and the duty of daily reading it. The attention of many publicans +was for the time directed to the Book, and many purchased larger copies. +A distribution was then commenced among those publicans and coffee-house +keepers who let lodgings, and hundreds of Bibles were placed in their +sleeping rooms; the movement extended to the hotels (the Books having +their signs in gilt letters upon the covers), and terminated by an +arrangement with the managers of the Great Western Hotel, by which +nearly a hundred copies of the Scriptures were placed in their bedrooms. + +[Illustration: BE SURE YOUR SIN WILL FIND YOU OUT. + +SWEAR NOT AT ALL. + +It is respectfully requested that Persons attending this House will +refrain from using improper language. + +BE SOBER. + +THOU GOD SEEST ME.] + +The barmaids were really thankful for the Bible and Card movement, as +their suffering from blasphemous and bad language was great. The +following incident will illustrate this: The visitor was one afternoon +standing in a gin palace, quietly conversing with the two barmaids, when +three well-dressed young men of "turfy" style entered, and called for +"brandies and soda." They conversed merrily about an incident which had +occurred to one of them, using corrupt words with every sentence. A deep +blush rose to the face of the younger barmaid, who had not been long in +the business. The visitor turned towards the man, and said sharply, +"Dear me, what can be the matter with you?" + +"I am all right," he replied, inquiringly. + +"You are not all right," was the reply: "but I can tell what's the +matter with you. When a man is ill the doctor examines his tongue, and +if it is furred he knows that it indicates foulness within, and that the +patient requires treatment; and it's just so when men with their +tongues defile themselves and others. It shows a diseased moral state +when the poison of asps is under a man's tongue." + +The severe rebuke so astonished the man that he could not give a ready +reply; but one of his companions said, "We meant no harm, sir." + +As the barmaids had fled to the other end of the counter, the visitor +altered his tone to one of kindly instruction, and said, "You don't know +your disease, and I shall, therefore, do you a kindness by pointing it +out to you." He then opened his Bible and read, "The tongue is a fire, a +world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth +the whole body, and setteth on fire the whole course of nature; and it +is set on fire of hell." He then referred to the passage, "Children that +are corrupters," and told them that this evil, with all others, +proceeded out of the corrupt human heart; and of that blood which +cleanseth from all sin, and makes a man every whit whole. The men, who +showed a very proper spirit, promised to suppress the hateful habit, and +shook hands with their reprover. + +Upon his next visit the barmaids thanked him; and the youngest said, "I +have been religiously brought up; and my grandfather, who was an +Independent Minister, pressed me to give my heart to God when I was a +little girl. You have brought all to my remembrance, and I shall leave +this trade for domestic service, as I have resolved to live in newness +of life." + + * * * * * + +THE MERLIN'S CAVE.--There was a special inducement to visit this house +out of its regular order, as placards announced that "The gorilla, or +man-monkey, had not made its escape, but could be seen by customers +using the bar." Upon entering, one Sunday evening, the Missionary was +surprised to find the place crowded with the lowest order of drunkards, +chiefly from Seven Dials. Their object was to see the stuffed skin of +the monster, and they, for so respectable a house, formed a ragged, +dirty, and debased company. The landlord, who was unfavourable to +Christian visitation, stopped a conversation of deep interest by +inviting the visitor to look at the gorilla. "We don't usually show it +on Sundays," he observed, "but as you have come in we will oblige you +and gratify the people." And he then drew the curtain aside. All pressed +forward to look at the monster; and the Missionary, leaning upon the +bar, gazed at it for some moments. + +"How he is staring at it!" observed one of the men. + +"Yes, I am," was the reply, "as I was making up a conundrum for the +landlord; and I hope he will answer it to our general satisfaction. +'When is a man uglier than that gorilla?'" + +After a little thought, he replied, "A man never can be uglier than +that, so I will give it up." + +"Yes, he can," replied the visitor, with energy: "When he is drunk. Yes: +a drunkard is the picture of a beast, and the monster of a man. Dressed +in rags, with livid face and blood-shot eyes, and filthy breath, he +sinks below a brute like that, which answered the end of its being. A +drunkard debases his intellect and becomes a mere animal--a wife-beater +and child-starver--a pest to his neighbours, and a disgrace to his +family and country. A drunkard has the curse of the Almighty over him +which no brute has; for being filthy and abominable--a child of the +devil--He, the great God, has said that such shall not inherit His +kingdom." The landlord stood aghast at the warmth of this declamatory +speech; and the drunkards seemed rooted to the spot. Tracts were then +handed round, a passage of Scripture being repeated with each. + +Quite a group of conscience-stricken men and women had stopped outside, +and were waiting for the visitor. One of them, a woman, seemed to +express the general state of feeling, when she said, "Can't do without +it now, master. Can do without food; but though the drink is killing me, +I should die without it." And then she cried, as drunkards are so ready +to do. The state of disease which alcohol had produced in her was +explained, and she was told that a little medical attention, total +abstinence from intoxicating drinks, and regular diet, would save her +from the drunkard's grave, and would put her in the right position to +seek pardon and deliverance from the eternal curse. She readily gave her +address, and the visitor promised to call next day to receive her +pledge, and to give her further advice. + +That visit was not lost, as the woman, who kept a beer-shop in the +"Dials," was recovered from her debased condition, and with her husband +became morally reformed. + + * * * * * + +THE WHITE HORSE.--The potman at this house was a young man of unusual +sobriety and intelligence. In style and work he was to perfection the +"man of the tap," as his short apron was always clean, his room +comfortable, and his pots shining. The men were often unruly and +quarrelsome, but he always kept order, and got over the pressure for +trust with such tact that his master never lost a customer. A grave +shaking of the head, and a pointing at a picture on the wall, which +represented a dog named "Trust" lying dead between two barrels, usually +settled the matter. If not he read the inscription, "Poor Trust is dead: +bad pay killed him;" and in a melancholy way expressed his regret that +"he could not help that dog a-dying, or he would." Like many of his +class, he felt proud of his position, as in the tap he took rank equal +to his master in the parlour. Frequenters of the room acknowledged this, +and, as the representative of the firm, appealed to him on knotty +questions. Such a question arose one evening when a man, who had the +habit of fixing attention upon some matter contained in a Book he +carried, told them about the Saviour of the world ascending to heaven in +a white cloud, and added, the angels said, "This same Jesus, which is +taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have +seen Him go into heaven;" and then he made the solemn announcement, +"Behold, He cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see Him." The men +who knew little of Christianity were utterly ignorant of this great +truth, and its enunciation produced thoughtfulness, and a conversation +the very reverse of that which usually took place in the room. One man +appealed to "Potts," as he was called, as to whether that was in all the +Bibles; as if it was, it might come true. Potts very wisely looked at +the visitor, and said, "He's very likely to know, and if he'll tell me +where it is, I will look in a Bible this very night and see if it's +there." He was commended for his answer, and told of the men of Berea, +"who were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received +the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, +whether those things were so." The men were then, in a short but +earnest address, directed to the coming Judge as the present Saviour. + +A few months after this visit, the Missionary one afternoon entered the +tap-room, as he desired to hold private converse with Potts. That worthy +was by himself, and was, with great effort, writing a letter. + +"It's strange that you should have come in, sir," he observed, "as I am +a writing a letter to my sister, for whom I cares a great deal, as there +is only us two; and we has bin orphans since we was very little, and she +is a parlour-maid at Maidstone; and I don't mind you reading the letter, +sir, as it's all true that's in it." + +His friend with some difficulty got through the epistle, as its writing +and orthography were very bad. It commenced in the famous "hoping to +find you quite well as it leaves me at present" style; and then, as we +put it in readable language, he said, "I have, my dear sister, made up +my mind to be a Christian. A gentleman who comes in here has made the +duty of being religious very plain, and I have got a view of Jesus like +this:--if you were woke up in the dark night by a fire-escape man in +your room, you would not at first understand what it meant; but as soon +as you got a good look at him, you would see by his clothes and helmet +what he was, and you would let him save you. Now that is just how I see +Jesus Christ; everything about Him shows that He is the Saviour, and I +am letting Him save me. As I cannot now be comfortable here, I have +obtained work at a fishmonger's, and I want you to come to London. I +will try and get you a good place, and then you will not be subjected to +the temptations of the trade." He was strengthened and encouraged in the +good resolution which he carried out, and some time after he gave his +friend valuable assistance in the formation of a local society for the +abolition of Sunday labour. + + * * * * * + +THE COACH AND HORSES.--Two visits of considerable interest took place in +this house, though at long intervals. + +As the Missionary entered the bar one evening, the landlord said, in a +half whisper, "The fight for the championship comes off in the morning, +and a lot of the P. R.'s are in the club room." + +"Can you pass me up?" + +"It's no use your going there," was the reply; "but I will, if you +like:" and then the visitor passed upstairs and entered the room. About +thirty men were present, the majority being unmistakable members of the +prize-ring. As every eye was fixed upon the new arrival, he felt +embarrassed as to his mode of procedure; indeed, there was no help but +to produce his tracts and to commence distribution. He had given about a +dozen, when the men rolled them up as balls and commenced pelting each +other across the room, uttering vile words. The distributor at once saw +that his work was likely to be brought into contempt, and that evil +instead of good might result from the visit. He therefore, as many were +pressing him for tracts, put them into his pocket. During the few +minutes he had been there, he had noticed an elderly man of damaged face +and whiskerless who was seated at a table with two gentlemen. He was +drinking from a large silver prize-cup, which indicated that he was an +ex-champion. His hand was resting upon the table, and a diamond of great +beauty glittered upon his finger--as the lapidists say, it "gave fire." +The distributor looked at it, and approaching its owner, remarked, in so +loud a tone that all in the room heard him, "What a lovely ring! I have +not seen so fine a brilliant as this for some time: it must certainly be +worth a hundred pounds." + +"That's it," replied the ex-champion. "They say that it's worth a +hundred guineas. A gent that's dead and gone bet two thousand upon me +when I beat the Slasher; and in the morning he came to 'cossit' me, as +he said, and brought me this." + +"It's the jewel that's worth the money," said the visitor. "Why, the +gold of the ring would not fetch three pounds." All assented to this. +And he continued. "Well, it's just so with these tracts you have been +throwing about: as bits of paper they cost little or nothing, and are +not worth your acceptance; but they are all studded with a jewel--the +pearl of great price:" and then raising his voice to a clear ringing +pitch, he exclaimed, "The name of the Lord Jesus, by whom alone each man +in this room can be saved, is upon them,--He is the gem. None other name +is given by which you can obtain mercy." And then placing some tracts +upon the table, he left the room with a firm tread. The men were so +interested and surprised that scarcely a word was spoken. A few days +after, the potman told the distributor that the pugilists did not +destroy a tract or leave one behind. + +More than two years after this event the Missionary was standing one +morning at the bar, in conversation with the landlady, when he noticed, +the parlour door being open, a very aged man seated with a glass of +sherry before him. His beard, which was very long, and his few remaining +hairs were as white as the driven snow: and as he leaned upon his +gold-headed cane he looked beautiful,--he had indeed that rich beauty of +age which in its day is more lovely than the bloom of youth. The visitor +approached politely, and asked his acceptance of a little book. He +received it with a smile, and entered freely into conversation, which +ended in the following way: "And now, sir, may I put the question to you +which one of the Pharaohs put to an aged man who was led up to the +throne by his son?" + +"Certainly." + +"'How old art thou?'" + +"Just turned eighty-four." + +"An honourable age. But your answer is not so full as that which good +old Jacob gave. He told the King that 'the days of the years of his +pilgrimage were an hundred and thirty years;' and added, 'Few and evil +have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto +the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their +pilgrimage.' He spoke of life as short, for upon looking back time +appeared to have passed quickly; he spoke of his days as 'evil,' for he +had had his share of care and sorrows: but, best of all, he confessed to +the heathen King that he was but a stranger and pilgrim upon the earth, +and so acknowledged his belief in, and his hope of, enduring rest in the +better country. I trust that you have like precious faith, and the +assurance that you are near the prepared mansions,--the city of +habitation whose Builder and Maker is God?" + +"No: I am not;" and as he said it his voice trembled and the tears +started into his eyes. "I am not a Christian, and am most miserable. I +was a merchant, and until fifty years of age was absorbed in the one +object of making money. I then retired upon an ample fortune, and for +the next twenty years I loved and enjoyed the world, and collected +art-work and things of beauty, with which my houses are filled. During +that time I never thought seriously of eternal things, and scarcely ever +read my Bible. Of late years I have ceased to take pleasure in these +things, and I am truly wretched. My son, who is a diplomatist, when in +England, brought several divines to see me, but I cannot get peace. This +morning I came out for a walk, and feeling fatigued I looked in here, +and as no one was in the room I called for light refreshment--and am +taking rest. It seems strange that such a man as you should accost me +here,--and it may be of God. Let us exchange cards, and come and dine +with me." + +Cards were exchanged, and next day the "parlour friends" dined together. +Some time was spent in looking over the beautiful and curious +possessions of the old gentleman, and then they settled down to deep +spiritual conference. Many a page of the pocket Bible was turned over, +and the verities of the Word were made manifest. The library door was +then fastened, and deep earnest prayer was offered to the God of all +grace. + +Many visits followed, and the friendship was cemented. One day, as the +visitor entered the dining-room, the old gentleman grasped his hand, and +said, "The cloud is removed: I feel as a little child, and am resting +with comfort upon God's love in Jesus;" and then he uttered the language +of rejoicing. For five or six months he was happy, and his family were +made glad. One morning his friend received a deep black-bordered letter +from his eldest daughter, who was staying with him at his country house, +and it read thus: "As my late father's dearest friend, I write to tell +you of his sudden removal. He had been poorly for several days, and was +taken really ill yesterday morning. We had three physicians, but they +could only give him a little ease, as he was evidently dying. He was +conscious to the last, and very happy. He fell asleep at two o'clock +this morning, with the name of Jesus upon his lips. Our gratitude to you +for your deep interest in him, and kind attention, is deep, and will +remain for life." + + * * * * * + +The Lord sent forth the seventy "two and two before His face into every +city and place." In effective lay-work the principle holds good through +all the difficulties of domiciliary effort. The Missionaries of London +and other large towns have each a responsible helper,--their local +superintendent. It thus occurred that the man with the Book never stood +alone in his work, and if he had it would have been feebly done. His +beloved superintendent bore his full share of responsibility. At first +he visited with him that he might make himself fully acquainted with the +nature of the work and then he gave prayerful influence, with Christian +council and sustaining sympathy. Under God, much of the success which +attended, and still attends the visitation of public and coffee-houses, +is due to the direction of that "honourable counsellor," Mr. W. R. +Ellis. + +And here it is well to add that the chief secretaries of the Mission, +the Rev. John Garwood and the late Rev. John Robinson, have left an +impress of good upon this and each branch of the work. Their clearness +of judgment and full comprehension of the will of the committee, always +gave value to their advice; while their devotion to the cause of Christ +in London stimulated the zeal, and gave solidity to the labours of +young missionaries. This testimony can now be given, as one of them has +received the upward call from the Master; and the other, after forty +years of faithful service, has retired from official responsibility, +though still active as a director of the Society's affairs. Blessed, +indeed, are they who are called in early life to labour in the Gospel, +and are honoured with long life in the highest and best employ, with +sure anticipation of the blessed rest! + + +The Book in the Den: + +ITS MAJESTY. + + "And often did she bless the night,-- + That night without a star, + When Mercy kept the lonely watch, + And left the door ajar." + + _Mrs. Sewell._ + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + THE SLEEPLESS CITY--TEDDIE'S DEN--A STRANGE INVITATION--THE TEA--A + MIDNIGHT VISIT--A VISIT TO RAG-FAIR--MANY RESCUED--SMASHERS--THE + BETTER PART CHOSEN--DREADFUL DEATH-BED SCENE--A STRONGHOLD + DESTROYED. + + +THE BOOK IN THE DEN: + +ITS MAJESTY. + + "For the Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any + two-edged sword." HEB. iv. 12. + +London never sleeps. The noise and din of the mighty city is hushed as +the night advances and the toiling millions of the day sink to repose; +but their rest is the signal for the activity of others. The protection +of its vast accumulation of wealth and property requires an army of +police. The supply of its markets requires the wakefulness of thousands, +while its traffic requires an extensive night service of cabmen and +others. In addition to these, and workers upon the morning press, and +other sons of toil who earn their daily bread by night, there is the +vast multitude of those who + +"Live to sin, and sin to live," + +and who, as the evenings close in, leave their homes and dens to seek +the wages of unrighteousness. These two orders of the industrious and +depraved would make up a city as large as Birmingham, and they require +that many night-houses and coffee-stalls should be established to meet +their necessities. And so the children of the night are increased, and +we therefore repeat the statement, that "London never sleeps." + +This conviction was forced upon the attention of the Missionary to +public- and coffee-houses, when he found that many of the latter were +closed all day, and was informed that they were only opened at night. As +it was his duty to make the proprietors and supporters of these houses +acquainted with the glad tidings of peace, he had no choice but to visit +them in the night season. Upon making the effort, he discovered that +while the wicked never ceased from their wickedness, but during the +hours of darkness gave unbounded license to their evil deeds, the people +whom the Lord has set as His watchmen in the city slumbered and slept. A +vast multitude existed who, of a truth, loved darkness rather than light +because their deeds were evil; but no ray from the Sun of Righteousness +was made to penetrate the darkness of the shadow of death in which they +dwelt. They lay deeply poisoned by the fangs of the serpent sin, but no +balm of Gilead or leaf from the tree of life was offered to them. +Captives of the devil, they were bound and fettered by the cords of +their iniquities, being in ignorance of that mighty Deliverer who was +manifested to destroy the works of the devil, and to set at liberty them +that are bound. + +The sinners were astonished when, in the silence of the night-watches, a +voice was heard in the streets proclaiming, in loving accents, the +tender mercies of a great _Redeemer_. Many an honest worker or driver +was arrested or comforted by sayings which reached his ears from the +Book of Life, or was benefited by the silent messenger of mercy placed +into his hands. Many a sin-wrecked one who had been brought to feel that +there was no hand to deliver him, and who in blank despair was ready to +seek a prison or a watery grave, heard the sweet notes of salvation, +and was delivered from going down into the pit. There were many, +however, of reprobate mind who, being filled with all unrighteousness, +resisted the King's messenger, and bitterly opposed themselves to the +truth. This was the case at a place called by the outcasts "Teddie's +Den;" and by way of illustrating the power of the Book we will narrate +the religious history of that house, strange as it may sound. + +It was an old-established concern, and had a connection of its own. This +was evident, as the customers were so well known to the landlord that +their step, or tap, or knock, was sufficient to secure their ready +admission. It was not so with the Missionary. When he knocked and asked +for an entrance, the only reply he received was in a gruff tone, and to +the effect, that they were "shutting up." In order to gain an entry he +then obtained the promise of a pass in from a young thief of his +acquaintance. This, however, was unnecessary, as, upon passing the door +a little before two o'clock one Sunday morning he noticed that it was +partly open, no doubt for purposes of ventilation. This was a rare +opportunity, which he embraced by immediately stepping in. He called for +a cup of coffee, and while it was being brought took notice of the place +and people. The den consisted of an ordinary shop and parlour; the +former was fitted up with narrow tables, at which were seated about +twenty men and women; many of these were leaning forward upon their +hands, apparently asleep. A few were of the vagrant and beggar class, +who, perhaps, had only sufficient money to purchase a little food, and +the right to remain there for a few hours; but the majority were +evidently of the vicious and criminal order. The room was extremely +dirty, and the dim light from the old oil lamps seemed to increase its +gloom: the spangled sky, however, could be seen through the upper +squares of glass, as the row of shutters only reached to the top panes. +The back room, or "parlour," had a cheerful fire, was better lighted, +and was no doubt filled with paying customers. There was laughter and +merriment, but the oaths and blasphemies which reached the ear were +truly terrible. It was evident that these men and women of the baser +sort were holding a swearing club,--an amusement so hellish that we +forbear a description. There was not time for further observation, as +the landlord, a big, brutal-looking man, approached with the coffee. + +An illustrated publication was offered to him, with the remark, "You +don't, I see, supply papers to your customers; so I will occasionally +give you some of these." + +He took the paper with a deep frown, threw it upon the floor, and with a +bitter oath, said, "I know you: you spy,--you canting wretch!" and, +turning round, he locked the door; and then approaching the Missionary +with the key grasped in his hand and trembling with rage, threatened +vengeance. At this display of anger the customers rose from their seats +and pressed forward, while the dreadful people poured in from the back +room. It was an awful moment for the visitor, as he sat there helpless +in the midst of that crowd of the violent and the guilty. Realizing the +danger of his position, he uttered an inward prayer for help, and then, +springing up, he struck his hand with violence upon the table, and +pointing over the shutters to the clouds, exclaimed in a loud voice, "A +GREAT WHITE THRONE WILL BE SET UP AMONG THE STARS THERE. The Saviour +who died for sinners will sit upon it, for the dead that are in their +graves shall hear His voice and live. We shall be there." + +[Illustration: "A great white throne will be set up among the stars, +there!"] + +At this every tongue became silent, and the people stood back, gazing +upwards or into his face. Therefore, pointing at one and another, he +continued, "And you, and you; for we must all stand before the +judgment-seat of Christ. I am not an enemy or a spy, but a servant of +the Lord Jesus, who will judge you at the last day. He is now the +Saviour of the ruined and the lost, and in His name I offer you mercy +through the blood He shed for you upon the cross. In this His blessed +Book it is written, 'Whosoever believeth on Him shall be saved.'" The +speaker then stepped toward the door, which the landlord unlocked with a +trembling hand, and he passed out into the cold, silent street. + +There is a charm in the solitude of a sleeping city. The hum of the +multitude and the deafening rattle upon the stones are stayed, while the +distinct tread of the pedestrian and more measured tread of the +policeman, seem the only link between the slumbering myriads and the +activities of the day. As the distant footsteps fall upon the ear there +is an instinctive turning towards the approaching or receding objects. +The visitor had not proceeded far from the den when he heard footsteps, +and upon turning round saw the landlord coming toward him; he therefore +stopped under the next lamp, and awaited his arrival. With faltering +voice he said, "Come again, guv'nor. Didn't mean anything; and a chap as +knows you says as it's all right." + +The words, "Come again," were as music to the man with the Book; for he +felt that the door of that dreadful place was opened, and that he had +obtained power, under the protection of that bad man, there to read +from its pages of judgment and mercy, and in the Name of names to rescue +ruined ones from present and eternal destruction. He therefore replied, +"Never mind the past; it is all right with me. I do all the good I can +for people, and don't injure anybody. I will now call as a friend of +yours. When shall it be?" + +"You sees, guv'nor," he replied, "as we lives different to other people, +cos our okupation is at night; and we opens at twelve and shuts up at +six in the morning, when we has our supper at seven and goes to bed, and +then we gits up to breakfast at five, as would be your tea-time; and if +you'll turn in this afternoon, as is Sunday, we'll have winkles and +muffins, and you'll see as I ain't a bully as some is, though my temper +ain't zackly right allus." + +The promise was given, and punctually at five o'clock that afternoon the +invited guest entered the den. It had been swept, but the floor, tables, +and wall were of the same sombre colour, while the air was offensive. +The back room, into which he was welcomed by his new friend, was in the +same condition, but better furnished, for there was an old couch and +several chairs; the walls being decorated with a Dutch clock and pieces +of old tinware, while upon the grate, which had never been cleaned, was +a large boiler and two kettles. The house was so closely built in, that +it was only a dusky light which penetrated its small side windows; that +light was, however, sufficient to show that the landlord's family and +four of the depraved persons who had been impressed at the visit of the +early morning were present. + +It was evident that the family consisted of the landlord, his wife, and +a daughter about twelve years old. The "missus," as she with pleasant +familiarity was called, was a low coarse woman of forty-five, strangely +but expensively attired. Her dress was of brown silk, trimmed with lace, +in front of which she wore a braided white apron with large pockets, not +unlike a toll-collector's. Her cap was smartly trimmed with red ribbon; +and upon her bare neck was a thick coral necklace of many rows, and a +heavy gold-like chain; her dirt begrimed fingers being ornamented with +at least eight rings. The little girl was dressed in like fashion. + +Both tea and coffee were ready in soot-covered vessels upon the hob. At +one end of the dirty table was a tray, upon which were cracked cups and +saucers of questionable cleanliness; and on the table itself was a +little pyramid of periwinkles; while upon a heap of ashes before the +fire were two plates, heavily piled with muffins and crumpets. These +observations were quickly taken, and the visitor became thoughtful +concerning the feast before him. When the tea was poured out he looked +with anxiety at the cups, wondering which would be inflicted upon him; +but when the muffins were placed upon the table, and a generous supply +of periwinkles were pushed towards him--the women plucking pins from +their dresses--he was seized with a sudden loss of appetite. The +hospitable host and hostess increased his misery by showing +determination that he should enjoy their good things. Such horrors as +that tea must not however be dwelt upon. Let it suffice, that time which +remedies so much, slow as it seemed to pass upon that memorable +occasion, did at last bring the repast to an end. + +During the tea the little party were set at ease and led into pleasant +conversation; and when the things were cleared away, the visitor laid +his pocket-Bible upon the table with the remark, "This is Sunday, the +happy day, as my little boy calls it; and we all ought to be happy upon +this day, as we are reminded of God's goodness and the Saviour's mercy; +after dying for our sins, He, upon the Sunday morning, rose from the +dead. Now, as none of you attend divine worship, suppose I read to you +about Him and the words He spoke?" + +There was general assent, and the visitor read that marvellous chapter +commencing with the words, "Then drew near unto Him all the publicans +and sinners for to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, +saying, 'This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them.'" The little +party listened with rapt attention, and several were moved to tears by +the running commentary which was made upon the parables. The landlord +and his wife, in their strange way, assured the reader that he was +welcome to come when he pleased; and they parted as pleasantly as though +they had been old friends. Weary, but happy, the Missionary entered the +first church he came to with the object of giving thanks to the Lord in +His Temple, for deliverance from danger, and for mission mercies +received; and he then presented prayer for spiritual success with the +keepers of that night-house and their supporters. + +About a week after the tea he paid a midnight visit to the den, and as +he entered the landlord commanded silence in the following words: "I +know this 'ere gent, and if you doesn't shut up while he's here, I'll +have you out with a shake and a kick. You bad manner'd brutes, to keep +your hats on when your betters comes in." This was sufficient to secure +silence, while tracts were delivered with scriptural remarks. It was +thought well that the visits should be short until influence was +obtained with the customers. The Missionary therefore left, after fixing +attention upon the word _Saviour_ and its sweet meaning. He then pinned +his address card upon the wall, and said, "Let this remain here. I have +told you how to obtain pardon from Almighty God; but as it may be +difficult for some of you to leave lives of sin, I shall be glad to be +the friend of any who are truly penitent. Some of you might be glad of +some one to plead with your relations, and I might assist others into +institutions of mercy." + +[Illustration: _See p. 206._] + +In answer to this invitation several outcasts called during the week +upon the "reformatory man," as they pleased to style him, and were +rescued. Early one morning, the keeper of the night-house came himself, +leading by the hand a little girl without shoes or stockings. She was +offensively dirty, with dishevelled hair, her frock of rags being pinned +round her. He fairly dragged her in at the door, and said, "This 'ere +gal, sir, has been about the streets for months, as she's a Irish +cockney, as we calls 'em. Her mother is dead, and her father has bolted; +and she sleeps under stairs where the doors are open, and under the +arches with them that's got no homes; and she gits into my shop for bits +of grub; and a woman, who is a bad lot, wants to take her, and we had a +row, and I have bringed her to you,--and here she is." + +Yes; there the poor child stood, an object to be shuddered at and +avoided; but a fit object for Christian compassion. To provide for her +was a difficulty, as the Missionary had burdened so many Institutions +with cases that he scarcely knew where to apply. After conferring with +his wife, it was arranged that she should be cleaned in the back +kitchen, and dressed in one of their children's old clothes, while he +went in search of a home for her. After hours of toil, all the success +he met with was a promise from the manager of a crowded home to receive +her at the end of three days, when an inmate was to leave. There was, +therefore, no help but to keep the child for that time. + +A bed was made up for her in the kitchen, and orders given that the +doors should be all locked, and that she should be carefully watched. +There appeared little need for this, as the child was shy and reserved; +but she proved to be deeply cunning. Next morning, while the family were +at breakfast, she slipped upstairs with a key which had been left upon +the dresser, and entering a room, she stole two dresses--one of them a +good silk,--and fifteen shillings in money. The theft was soon +discovered, but the thief had got clear off. As she had spoken of the +savouriness of "Jew's fish" (cooked in oil) it was surmised that she +would go to Rag Fair, and her ill-used friend, therefore, got upon the +roof of an omnibus, in hope of seeing her upon the way. In this he was +disappointed, and, therefore, walked about the fair for some time. He +was about leaving in despair, when he noticed, in the distance, a girl +of her style, but of strange appearance, and upon approaching he found +that it was her, but so changed that he could not refrain from laughing +as he seized her arm. Her clothes had evidently been changed,--in place +of the neat little frock, she had put on a dirty sky-blue silk, which +was much too large; upon her feet were a pair of green boots, and upon +her head a straw hat with large red feather. In one hand she held a +piece of greasy fish, and in the other a green parasol. + +In reply to the question, "What have you done with the dresses?" she +replied, "'Eld 'em up 'ere, and a woman gave me ninepence for the silk +un, and two shillings for the t'other; and I've bin in and bought these +'ere pretty clothes; and I've had lots of fish and taters and beer, and +was a-goin' to the gaff." + +This statement was made in such a disingenuous manner that it seemed +evident that the poor child, like the heathen, had no moral sense. As it +was useless to try and trace the dresses, it only remained to march her +off to the Refuge, where, out of consideration to her friend, she was at +once received. We may add, that she did well in the Institution for +several years, and that she became a good general servant. + +This girl was one of seventeen outcasts whom the keeper of "Teddie's +Den" brought to the Missionary, all of whom were rescued; but though a +"helper" in the good work, he did not obtain spiritual good himself. At +times he seemed to tremble when passages concerning judgment and mercy +were read from the Book; and he treated the Reader with respect,--but +that was all. The dreadful influence of his business and the love of +liquor quickly removed all good impressions, and he continued to do +evil: "He saw the better, yet the worse pursued." Bad as he was, he at +times showed a kindness of disposition quite out of keeping with his +appearance and character; for instance, when he heard that his friend +was ill, he went to Covent Garden Market, and, of all things there, +bought a pomegranate, and left it at his house. A few nights after this +he was in liquor, wandered from his door, and leaning against an area +gate which was unfastened, fell back upon the stone steps. He fractured +his skull, remained unconscious for some hours, and died in that state. +The grief of the Missionary was great; he had diligently sought the +salvation of the man, and he, therefore, felt crushed beneath the +discouragement. The evangelist has his trials and heart-sorrows, his +disappointments are frequent and painful, though not so often referred +to as they perhaps ought to be. It is a fearful thing when the words he +utters become "the savour of death unto death;" but he has no choice in +this matter, as the order of the great Master is: "Thou shalt go to all +that I shall send thee; and whatsoever I command thee, that thou shalt +speak." + +The "missus," for no one seemed to know her name, succeeded to the full +control of the den, and it soon became evident that she was hardened +rather than softened by the wretched end of her husband. She expressed a +positive dislike to the man whose faithfulness was no doubt a difficulty +to her, and she hindered his efforts to do good. + +"The master was a fool," she observed, a few weeks after his death, "to +bring you back here, as it's ruination. After you left the t'other night +the people was all glum; and now gents as has lots of money to stand +treats doesn't come, as they are affeard of meeting you; and I have got +a man a-coming to help as will turn anybody out, and you shan't come." + +This was no doubt her determination, but the Missionary had obtained +such power with the supporters of the place, that they would have +defended him from insult, certainly from violence. All knew him as one +able to rescue them, and as the only one who sought their spiritual +good. Bad therefore as they were, they felt that the friend of the soul +was their best friend, and they treated him as such. All then that the +"missus" could do was to keep him at times out of the back room. + +A change, however, passed over the place as the class of customers +gradually altered. The depraved became fewer in number, while the +skilled criminal class increased. Magsmen and well-dressed pickpockets +were more frequently to be seen there, while the thieves, among +themselves, spoke of the woman as a good "fence" (_i.e._, a person who +stands between the thieves and receivers, and renders detection more +difficult). The following incident will show the class of customers:-- + +One night a Clergyman, who is now a dignitary of the Church, visited +there with the Missionary. The shop was unusually full of youths and men +of the criminal class, but in the farther corner sat a party of three +persons who appeared to be separated from the rest of the company,--a +man, woman, and little girl of twelve years. They were leaning forward +as if asleep, but were aroused by the laughter produced by the pleasant +remark the Missionary made concerning "the wisdom of the owls of night." + +"What are you doing here with that child?" inquired the Clergyman. + +"Please, sir," replied the woman, "we has been very unlucky, cos as how +my husband has been ill, and all our sticks was took for the bit of +rent, and we begged sixpence, and has had some tea and is stayin' here +till it's light; and if my old man doesn't get work to-morrow we shall +go next day to the Union over Battersea." + +"You had better go there at once," he replied; "but don't expose the +child to the night air. If you will promise me to save enough for a +lodging, should you be out to-morrow night, I will give you +half-a-crown." + +The promise was made and the money given, though the quick eye of the +experienced visitor saw by the glances interchanged between the company +that deceit was being practised. The money was not, however lost, as +that congregation of the ungodly listened with deep feeling to the +clear, loving utterances of Divine truth which fell from the lips of +that good minister of Christ Jesus. + +Next evening the Missionary called in and inquired of the "missus" what +was done with the half-a-crown. + +"We had a bottle of gin with it," she replied, "but some of the fools +wouldn't have any and went out, and said it was a shame to cheat such a +good Missionary-man as him was that gived it." + +"Now tell me," he continued, "who that man, woman, and child were? I am +certain that they are not vagrants." + +"I should think not," the woman replied laughing: "why they are smashers +(_i.e._, makers of counterfeit money), and they sends the girl in first, +who has bags of bad money under her frock, and one of 'em comes in, and +if it's all serene the t'other comes, and then they does business. When +you com'd to the door I tipped 'em the wink, affore opening it, as they +was then a-sellin' to them chaps. One was a buying six-pennorth of +shillings, and another a shilling's worth of half-crowns, according to +quality, as the saying is." + +Some further conversation followed, when the woman had occasion to leave +the room for a few minutes, the visitor turned to the daughter and said: + +"I am glad at what you told me a few weeks ago, that you were always +praying to _God_ to make you His child and to keep you from the evil to +which you are exposed. Now tell me if you have decided to serve the +Lord?" + +"That I have, sir," she replied, her eyes filling with tears. "Mother +won't let me out of her sight; but for two Sundays I have been to the +chapel down the mews, where I understand everything, and keep on +praying; and the gent spoke so beautiful last night that I want to serve +Jesus altogether." + +She was encouraged in the wise choice she had made, and the friend left, +rejoicing that her heart, like Lydia's, had been opened to receive the +truth. + +The coiners were not met with again; but quite a year after, the +governor of Norwich Castle, at the suggestion of a magistrate who +assisted him in many works of mercy, wrote, asking the help of the +Missionary in finding a home for a girl who, with her parents, had been +apprehended for passing base money. It appeared that they left the girl +in the distance, and each taking a piece of bad money passed it upon +shopkeepers. They were stopped several times, but as a second piece +could not be found upon them they were not detained. They were traced +from London to Norwich, by the bad money they had passed, and were +apprehended at a lodging-house, with the bags in their possession. The +parents were sentenced to nine months' hard labour each, and the girl +detained until a home could be found for her. This was done, and she was +passed up to London. She was some time in the home, and then absconded; +but several years after she called upon the matron, and invited her to +come and see her husband, as she was comfortably married. + +Several years passed, during which time "Teddie's Den" was visited with +varying success, until the night upon which the International Exhibition +was closed. The Missionary had arranged a tea in the building for a +thousand persons, and returned home very weary, to find a thief in the +house,--for there in the hall sat a man who had been frequently +convicted. He, with evident feeling, said, "The 'missus,' sir, has bin +bad all the week, and she's wery bad now, and is a mumbling your name; +and the doctor has bin agin, and says as you ought to be sent for, so I +has come." He was told to fetch a cab; but it was midnight before they +arrived at the night-house. + +An anxious group of depraved persons were standing at the door, but the +visitor passed them in silence and entered the back room. The scene +which presented itself was solemn indeed, for there, dressed, upon her +couch, in the pains of dissolution, lay the woman who used to boast that +she had kept dens for twenty-one years, and had not slept at night +during that time. She appeared to be dying, but rallied when she heard +the voice of her friend, and whispered, "Mercy! mercy!--Pray, pray!" + +"I tell you again, that as a guilty sinner, you must pray for yourself," +he replied, in a slow, quiet, tone. "The blood of Jesus can save you +now: ask God in His name to pardon you." And then the dying woman, after +him, repeated short prayers. After a pause he took her cold hand in his, +and kneeling down, implored pardon for her from the God of all grace. +His voice was, however, stopped by the sobbing of several women and +young thieves who had entered from the shop. The death-expression upon +the face of their old acquaintance in guilt, with the solemn attitude +and words of prayer, overcame them, and they seemed to kneel as in +contrition before their offended Maker. + +There were intervals of consciousness, during which words of hope were +read from the Book of Life; and at her request, expressed by movements +of her hands, prayer was again offered. She soon became unconscious, and +expired at three o'clock. + +A few comforting words were spoken to the weeping daughter and the women +who remained in the room; and the night-visitor then passed into the +street. A large crowd of the criminal and depraved had assembled from +other night-houses, and as he left they made a passage for him to pass +through, while the two policemen turned on their bull's eyes to light +him on his way. He, however, stepped back, and standing upon the +threshold of the den, held out his Bible, and said, "She is dead, and +her eternal state is fixed: you, however, are upon the side of the grave +where mercy can be sought and found. Look up, now, to where the Saviour +is seated, at God's right hand, beyond those dark clouds. Be in earnest +in seeking salvation, and then live for the hour of death and the day of +judgment." He then passed down the street in silence, not a word reached +his ear from that gathering of the wicked. + +The wretched inheritance descended to the daughter, now a young woman of +twenty. Before her mother's illness she had suffered persecution from +her, because she boldly confessed faith in Christ. Another cause of +offence was her receiving tracts and placing them upon the tables before +the customers were admitted. She, however, showed such dutiful affection +to her mother, that it no doubt softened her hard heart, and caused her +to show a better feeling towards the unwelcome visitor. A few evenings +after the funeral she called upon her friend, and upon entering the room +burst into tears, and said, "I can't, sir, keep the dreadful place open, +for I am always praying, and the language and sin is awful: I will beg +my bread first. What shall I do?" + +She was soothed, and a quiet conversation took place between them +concerning her position. After conferring with his wife, he said, "You +are painfully circumstanced,--no one would receive you into their +service if they knew that you had been brought up in such a place. We, +however, will do what others could not, as I am assured that the Lord +has dealt mercifully by you. We need a servant, and will take you into +our house." She, with expressions of gratitude, accepted the offer; so +he wrote notes to the landlord of the house, and to a broker, and sent +her with them. + +Next evening the Missionary paid his last visit to "Teddie's Den." A +hand-cart was at the door, and the broker inside. The furniture, +crockery, and fixtures were quickly sold and removed, and then the night +visitor and its late mistress left. It was with a joyous, thankful +heart, that he closed the door behind them, for he felt that a +stronghold of sin and Satan had fallen before the silvery notes of the +Gospel of peace. + +The young woman did well in her place, and gave evidence of a renewed +nature. After a few months, her master and mistress were so well pleased +with her, that they recommended her into a reformatory institution as +under matron. For two years she filled the office with credit to +herself, and to the spiritual benefit of many of the inmates, including +one who used to frequent her parents' den. This woman had for years been +the companion of thieves, and had by vice so injured her health as to +suffer long illness in the London Hospital. Upon her discharge she was +sent to the Institution, and great was her astonishment to find the +young woman who, when a girl, waited upon her at night, an under-matron +in the home of Mercy. From her she gladly received the good news of +Jesus receiving sinners, and was led to call upon His name, and then to +rejoice in His mercy. + +One evening the young assistant called upon her friend, and said +timidly, "You know Mr. So-and-so, don't you, sir?" + +"I do," was the reply; "and think well of him." + +"You have been more than a father to me, sir; and will you please give +me away?" + +The office was cheerfully undertaken, and readily fulfilled. After the +marriage, the Missionary friend and father handed her a Bible, with this +writing in it: "Heirs together of the grace of life." The union is a +happy one, and she is a living proof that sovereign grace can raise its +subjects from the lowest depths, and place them among the princes of the +children of light. + + +The Book in the Streets and Night-Houses: + +ITS SILENT FORCE. + + "Sow in the wild waste places, + Though none thy love may own; + God guides the down of the thistle + The wandering wind hath sown. + Will Jesus chide thy weakness, + Or call thy labour vain? + The word that for Him thou bearest + Shall return to Him again. + Sow with thine heart in heaven, + Thy strength thy Master's might, + Till the wild waste places blossom + In the warmth of a Saviour's light." + + _Anna Shipton._ + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + A GILDED SALOON--A PIGEON PLUCKER--DISCOURAGEMENT--THE COFFEE + MAN--DESTITUTE--THE SOLITUDE OF THE CITY--MADNESS OF DISGRACE--THE + BEGGAR AND HIS BOY--THE "TRAVELLER'S REST"--THE SLEEPLESS + CHURCH--COFFEE STALLS AND BOOTHS--THE COVERT FROM THE STORM--BIBLE + POWER. + + +THE BOOK IN THE STREETS AND NIGHT-HOUSES: + +ITS SILENT FORCE. + + "The seed is the Word of God." LUKE viii. 11. + +Two hundred and sixty nights occupied in evangelizing efforts in the +streets, refreshment houses, and dens of the mighty city, gave evidence +that the Word of God is powerful to arrest the attention of the most +thoughtless--to stop the guilty in their downward career; and that it is +the power of God unto the salvation of sinners who are sunk so low as to +cause them, when restored, to stand out before men as miracles of mercy. +Disappointments were frequent, and if continuance in the work had +depended upon known success, would have been crushing. This however was +not so: the great Master does not send out His servants at their own +cost. When He, of His sovereign grace, takes a sinner and places him +among His children, and then by distinguishing favour makes him a wheel +or a lever in His great machinery of mercy, He only requires +faithfulness--not success. Men can only fill the office of subordinate +instruments and visible agents in the mighty process of salvation. "God +was in Christ Jesus reconciling the world unto Himself," but "He has +committed to us the ministry of reconciliation." This truth ought to +remove indolence and avarice from those who are named by the name of +Christ. The redeemed people who realize the debt they owe unto their +Lord, should covet to be the deputies and agents of Divine love; such +should labour and study, and pray for success, because the Holy Spirit +works by instruments made fit for His use, and the armed omnipotence of +God is engaged on behalf of repentant sinners. The great restoring work +is of God, and of God only; and it is therefore the duty of His servants +to labour as cheerfully when denied, as when favoured with evidence of +blessing. + +These thoughts were suggested when materials for this chapter were being +collected. The mind reverted to so many instances of failure,--to a +succession of men and women who had been the objects of much earnest +effort, but who had passed from under the influence of the Missionary +without giving the remotest hope of their salvation. If a proportion of +them were referred to, this would be a dismal record. We will only +therefore, by way of illustrating the nature of the work, refer to one +instance. + +A Cabinet Minister had conferred with the Missionary upon the matter of +legislation for night-houses; and as other interviews were sure to +follow, he thought it well to visit all such places of which the police +could give him information. + +One night he followed several fashionably dressed gentlemen into a house +near the Haymarket, and found himself in a gilded saloon, with billiard +rooms upstairs. The gentlemen remained together, and as the visitor felt +strange, he went to the upper end and threw himself upon a couch; he +was meditating as to what he could do there, when a middle-aged +gentleman entered and gave a familiar nod to the group, and then +glancing keenly toward the stranger, approached and took his seat at the +other end of the couch. After a little thought, an envelope containing a +tract was handed to him. He gave a sudden start, and the Missionary in a +merry tone, exclaimed "It's not a writ;" and then both laughed heartily. +The attention of the proprietor and his waiter in full dress, had from +his entering in, been fixed upon the stranger; he therefore thought it +well to make friends with the gentleman, and pressing near to him, he +said, in a confidential half-whisper: "Oblige me by not opening the +envelope now, as it only contains a religious tract." As he looked at it +with astonishment, the giver continued: "You no doubt think it absurd, +quixotic of me to venture in here with tracts, but you will respect my +motive when I tell you that I have for years visited the lower class of +night-houses, and conferred benefits upon many; and that I am the voice +of one crying in the night season, 'Behold the Lamb of God that taketh +away the sin of the world.'" + +"A motive so good, justifies the act," replied the gentleman. "I am +going over to the Turkish saloon, and will pass out with you." + +In the street they fell into a pleasant chat, and an appointment was +made for another night; this was kept, and followed by several others, +besides chance meetings. From his friends he ascertained that the +gentleman was supposed to be of good family, that he had graduated at +Oxford, and that he bore the assumed name of Clifford. He was a most +fascinating person, though his countenance had a dissipated and at +times malicious expression. He had a large acquaintance among young men +of position, who at that time frequented the Haymarket, and was often +seen with a gentleman, now deceased, who by bad company lost his +fortune, and had to sustain a long law-suit to prove his sanity. By the +lower order of the depraved he was regarded as one of quite a large +number of gentlemanly men whom they called "pigeon pluckers." + +One night the gentleman and his Christian friend, who had met in the +Haymarket, were conversing together, when he was accosted by a young man +who appeared to be of age, with "Ah, Clifford! how'do? glad to see you. +Just a word at your leisure." + +"Certainly, my lord," was his reply. "I will be with you in a few +minutes: should have been waiting for you, had I not met with this very +pleasant friend." + +"As Clifford's friend, may I crave the honour of offering my hand to +your lordship?" inquired the Missionary. + +"Certainly," replied the young nobleman (if such he was), and then the +Christian visitor grasped his hand, and holding it with mild restraint, +looked him full in the face, and said, "You are in danger, my lord. This +dissipation will injure your person, your good name, your fortune, and +perhaps your country. Be wise. Like a certain young ruler mentioned in +the Gospel, approach the Lord Jesus, and ask, 'What shall I do to +inherit eternal life?'" + +A deep colour rose to the face of the young man, and he stepped hastily +away; but turning back, as by sudden impulse, he again offered his hand +to his reprover, and said, "I thank you, sir;" and was then lost in the +crowd of the gay and dissipated. + +[Illustration: "You are in danger my lord."] + +Some weeks after this event, the night visitor met the gentleman, and +had tea with him in a cafe. As they sat together at the small round +marble table, the Missionary observed, "To me it is astonishing that you +can live such a life as you are doing; heaping up wrath against the day +of wrath. From a child you have known the Holy Scriptures, and I am +surprised that texts do not at times rise to your memory, and produce a +fearful looking forward to judgment!" + +"Such is not the case," he replied, "strange as you may regard it. There +is only one matter of memory which ever troubles me, and that is the +verses of a child's hymn which our mother used to teach us as we knelt +at her side in the nursery,-- + + 'Almighty God, Thy piercing eye + Strikes through the shades of night; + And our most secret actions lie + All open to Thy sight.' + +"At times these verses flash across my mind at most inconvenient +seasons, and destroy my enjoyment; they occurred when you first spoke to +me in the saloon, and the other night I caught myself repeating them +when playing an important game of billiards." The pocket Bible was +produced, and the words solemnly read,--"He hath appointed a day in the +which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath +ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men in that He hath +raised Him (Jesus) from the dead." + +The visitor then repeated to him the verses of a Judgment Hymn of his +own writing, which evidently made a deep impression:-- + + Roll, roll, ye thunders with terrific dread! + Shout, shout, ye angels and awake the dead! + Proclaim the mandate of the Almighty King; + Man, dead and living, to the Judgment bring. + + Rise, rise, ye millions of reposing clay! + See, see, the light of the eternal day! + The brightness of His coming gilds the sky, + The glorious mantle of the Judge most high. + + Rejoice, rejoice, ye ransomed sons of God! + Sing, sing, the virtue of the Saviour's blood! + Your loud triumphant Hallelujahs sing, + With great rejoicing hail your Saviour-King. + + Mourn, mourn, neglecters of a Saviour's love; + Weep, weep, rejecters of the Heavenly Dove; + Insulted mercy leaves thee to the law + Which dooms to death, and bids thee hope no more. + + Awake, awake, ye slumbering sinners, pray; + Cry, cry for mercy, now in mercy's day; + Flee to the Covert from the storm, and rest + Your blood-bought souls upon the Saviour's breast. + +After this visit there were several other meetings, and then a long +interval occurred. Upon inquiring for his friend at the divans and +saloons, the visitor was told that "he had not been seen for some time: +that he had no doubt gone upon the Continent, and would turn up next +season." He was not there the following year, and was never seen in his +old haunts again. It was with him as with others,--much effort without +apparent result; and yet it is possible that, in the day of the Lord, +good concerning some of them will be made manifest. + +In one class of cases there is freedom from discouragement, and that is +when the Christian worker is enabled to strengthen, to encourage, and to +assist disciples in their efforts to give a testimony for the Lord, and +to do good under depressing circumstances. + +It was certainly thus with an old man who kept a coffee-stall in a poor +neighbourhood. His shop consisted of a large barrow with canvas +covering, supported at the corners by upright pieces of wood. At one end +he had a small iron stove, with a large kettle upon it, and a coffee-pot +on one side and tea-pot upon the other; at the farther end was a +cupboard well filled with bread-and-butter and plum cake. Upon the +centre of the barrow was a white cloth, covered with cups and saucers, +and underneath were several pails of water. He used to wheel the whole +concern to his corner as soon as the clock struck twelve at night, and +wheel it away when the public and coffee-houses opened at six in the +morning. The acquaintance of the proprietor was made in the following +manner: One bitterly cold morning, about three o'clock, the Missionary, +who was trembling from the chill felt upon leaving a warm night-house, +approached the stall, and held his hands to the fire. The policeman on +duty paused for the same purpose, and the following conversation passed +between them:-- + +_Stall-keeper_: "I have read the book you lent me, and don't think the +doctrine sound. Sovereign grace fore-ordained unto salvation, and the +saints elected according to the Divine purpose must be saved. No man can +pluck them out of the Saviour's hands." + +_Policeman_: "You make too much of your favourite doctrine of election. +Our Lord died for all who ever lived or shall live in the world; and it +is written that it is not the will of God that any should perish, but +that all should come to repentance." + +"Both doctrines are plainly taught in the Divine Word," remarked the +stranger; "and, like the colours in the rainbow, they harmonize and +blend over the throne where Jesus is seated. We do well to seek for the +full assurance of faith, and to rejoice in the sure covenant; but while +doing so let us witness for the Lord who bought us, and try to win +others by testifying of His abounding grace." + +With a happy smile the policemen recommenced his weary walk round the +beat, while the stall-keeper and the night-visitor had pleasant converse +about the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, which hath appeared unto all +men. This led to a friendship with the stall-keeper, who was a Cornish +man and a Calvinistic Baptist; and to a slight acquaintance with the +policeman, who was a Congregationalist. Several visits were paid to the +"Coffee Man," as he was called, and work was appointed him in the great +vineyard. He was supplied with tracts, which he kept in his cupboard, +and for several years he was a valuable distributor. Groups of depraved +people, who "make night hideous," used to surround his stall; to these +he gave tracts, and spoke the truth boldly. He indeed became a kind of +spiritual adviser to the depraved. Many repentant ones spoke with +confidence to the good old man, and several were sent by him to his +friend, and were placed in institutions of mercy. + +This was not a solitary instance of converted men being found in night +occupations; and it became an object of the visitor's efforts to +strengthen such in the faith, and to lead them boldly to witness for +their Lord in the midst of the ungodly. These helpers were precious and +their testimony valuable, because the great body of persons met with +were disreputable or utterly vile. Many were ignorant of the true light, +but there were others who had received religious advantages, and who, by +rejecting proffered mercy, counted themselves unworthy of eternal life. +Among this mass of the unholy were to be found the young, the +thoughtless, and the distressed, who being easily led captive by the +devil and his servants, supplied the places of those who were constantly +sinking to perdition. With some of these the work was effectual for +good, as the following case will illustrate. + +One night, a little after eleven, the Missionary was walking down Oxford +Street, in company with another evangelist, when they passed a girl of +seventeen, who was walking slowly, as if ill. The night visitor glanced +at her, and was struck by the expression of misery and disease,--it +seemed as though the sorrows of a life had been concentrated in that +young face. He therefore turned suddenly, and approaching her, said +kindly, "Don't be afraid: I am a religious man, and a friend to poor +girls in trouble. Now do tell me where you are going?" + +"To sleep under the trees in the park, sir, if I can get in," she +replied; "if not, to walk about all night;" and then she burst into +tears. + +In answer to inquiries, she made the following statement, in a very +truthful manner. She said, "I am a village girl, and came from home +after losing my only parent about eighteen months ago. A neighbour's +girl who was in London got me a place. It was at a lodging-house: and I +rarely got out, as they only let me go to church three times. All the +stairs were of stone, and I had to clean them; this, with constant +running up and down, brought on a white swelling in my knee. I remained +as long as I could crawl, and then, as I had saved three pounds, went to +live with the charwoman. After a time I went into an hospital for two +months. I returned to the charwoman, and tried to get into place, but I +looked so ill that no one would engage me. After the money was spent I +pawned my clothes, and I was told to go to the workhouse. I went to the +door, but the man spoke so sharp to me that I drew back, and now I have +been in the streets for two days. Last night I slept with some other +girls under the trees in Hyde Park, but they talked so dreadful that I +am afraid to go in again. Oh! what shall I do?" and then she sobbed so +loudly that several persons crossed from the other side of the street. + +"If your tale is true, I will provide for you," said her interrogator: +"at all events I will see that you are taken care of to-night." He then +took her to a coffee-house, where he was known, and paid for a supper, +bed, and breakfast. At leaving, he took an envelope from his pocket, and +tearing it, gave her one-half, and said, "Stand with this in your hand +near the fountain in Regent's Circus to-morrow morning at ten o'clock, +when a lady with the other half will speak to you, and take you to a +Home." + +At the appointed time the poor girl approached the fountain, where a +matron of the Rescue Society was waiting to receive her. As soon as she +reached the Home her statements were inquired into, and found to be +correct. Care and proper treatment soon restored her to health, and a +lady received her into her service. Three months after the lady called +at the office to thank the secretary for sending her such a good +servant. She remained in her place several years, and gave evidence of +real gratitude for the great deliverance which had been wrought out for +her. + +[Illustration: Lady at window] + +The state in which this poor girl was found illustrates the lonely +condition of those who are friendless in a great city. The most wretched +and deserving may in the crowd jostle against the best and kindest of +men and women, and yet be sinking to the lowest depths of wretchedness +and vice, unnoticed and uncared for. Hence the Christian duty and true +philanthropy of arresting such wanderers, and putting them in a +position to live godly, righteously, and soberly in this present evil +world. The following case will show that such efforts are not lost, and +that the words of the Book are powerful to reclaim even outcasts:-- + +One morning a ragged, wretched-looking girl of nineteen, was brought to +the house of the night visitor by a woman of depraved and drunken +appearance, who said, "This 'ere young woman was a-going mad, and +fainted like, when she ran into the night-house, and said as how she +wanted the parson man, who preaches like out of the Bible in the streets +at night; and as that's your honour, I found out that you lived here, +and so I've brought her. I had to treat her, as I has good feeling, and +the men wanted to take her to the police, as she is mad, and I think she +ought to be took to Bedlam." + +The object of this speech stood with her hands before her face, +trembling with emotion. Filthy as she was, the Missionary and his wife +took her into a private room, and by soothing words drew from her the +following statement. She said, "I am a Scotch girl, and my father is a +tradesman in a large way of business. In a bad temper I absconded from +home, and have been awfully wicked. One night I heard you speak to some +people round a coffee-stall, and then you showed us the Bible, and said +that every word in it would come true, and that Jesus would come again +as a thief in the night. At leaving, you said that 'the heavens would +pass away with a great noise, and that the earth would be burned up, and +that all who rejected mercy now would then be banished from the +Saviour's presence.' I felt so miserable that I went to my lodging, and +next day I wrote to my father, asking him to forgive me. He did not +write for two days, and I was so anxious that I stood for hours looking +for the postman. At last a letter came in his handwriting, and the only +words in it were, 'You are no daughter of mine: never write to me +again.' I felt mad when I read it, and walked about Regent's Park all +day: when the gates were shut I hid myself, and went to sleep on the +grass. I woke up in the night, as it was raining, and I was soaked +through. As I crossed the bridge I began to laugh and dance, and thought +how nice it would be to drown myself; so I took off my bonnet and shawl, +intending to jump in, when I thought I heard you speaking of mercy and +Jesus, and was so startled that I took up my things and ran as fast as I +could. I jumped over the palings as though some one was after me, and +ran until I got to the night-house, and then I fainted." At the end of +this recital she looked wildly round, and almost screamed, "Oh, save me, +sir: do save me! don't let me go into the park." + +She was assured of her safety, and words of Christian tenderness were +spoken to her. After partaking of refreshment she was sufficiently calm +to be sent in charge of the woman with a note to the manager of the +Refuge for the Destitute. She was received, and next morning, being ill, +was taken into an hospital. Her father was written to several times, but +did not reply to the letters: a maiden aunt, however (those blessings in +a family), sent for her into Scotland. A week after a very grateful +letter was sent by the aunt, inclosing full payment for expenses +incurred in the rescue of her niece: also a letter from the girl, +expressing thankfulness to God and man for her wonderful deliverance +from a watery grave. After these no other voluntary letters were sent. +When he wrote, the replies were so cold and short as to give him to +understand that though thankful, they wished to break off from all who +knew of her dreadful fall. + +Such and much worse instances of ingratitude, where the greatest of +blessings had been conferred, were not uncommon. At first it was a real +discouragement to the man, who felt the sorrow and weariness of this +desperate struggle for souls; but at length he became reconciled to +labour as unto the Lord only. Even then he at times felt saddened, after +labouring for the good of some apparently worthless person, to be +avoided after the good had been accomplished. It seemed like the Gospel +story of the ten lepers being healed, and only one of them returning to +give thanks to the great Healer. The proportion of the unthankful is +very large; for out of the 374 women, girls, and boys, whom the Lord +enabled the Missionary to rescue, or to deliver from some peril or +misery, they are few indeed who at the interval of years show gratitude. +One of these shall be referred to here, as the narrative also shows that +the blessing which gives success frequently rests upon perseverance in +effort to do good. + +Upon a drizzly night, a beggar man and his boy of thirteen years entered +a public-house which remained open until one o'clock in the morning. The +man asked alms of the publican, and then of the Missionary to whom he +was talking, and said that they only wanted fourpence for their lodging, +as they had tramped in from Chatham, and were both ill. Out of pity to +the boy, who staggered from weakness, the visitor walked with them to a +"Traveller's Rest," and paid the money. Upon the way the man stated +that he was a discharged soldier, and had left the regiment through bad +eyes; he was nearly blind, and that he had a small pension for the first +year. His wife and themselves had lived pretty well by begging in the +country during the summer, as he always wore a red jacket and carried +his discharge paper. On their way his wife had been taken ill, and was +left at an Infirmary; but he hoped she would soon join them. He appeared +very thankful when an offer was made to place the boy in a Refuge, and a +call for that purpose was arranged for the next day. + +"The Traveller's Rest" was situated in a low back street, with several +courts in it, and a passage at the end. The road was offensively dirty, +as the Missionary passed down at two o'clock upon the next afternoon. +The swarms of children were of the gutter, shoeless, tattered, and +filthy. At many of the doors women of debased countenances were +squatted, smoking short pipes. A fiddler was playing in the doorway of a +low beerhouse--"The Dan O'Connell,"--while men, women, and children were +dancing inside and out, to an Irish jig. Out of two windows were long +poles with bills underneath, announcing the pleasing fact that a "clean +shave and a wash could be had within for one halfpenny." These were no +doubt rival barbers. "The Rest" was one of several, and was offensively +dirty. In the back, or common room, were two tables and several forms, +the company consisting of eight women and five men. Three of these were +at the fireplace, one holding a number of sprats upon a long skewer, +another a red herring, and the third was frying steak and onions. They +regarded the stranger with what he knew to be a professional look, and +one woman in the same breath told him that "the sojer was upstairs, and +that she was very ill, and almost a skeleton with starvation;" and then +she took a bottle of medicine out of her pocket, and to prove how bad +she was, invited him to taste it. This he courteously declined, and +ascended to the bedroom, the air of which was horribly offensive. A row +of old mattresses upon the dirty floor formed the beds, while the walls +were shockingly dirty. But as the "soldier" said, "What 'commodation can +a chap expect for twopence, when you has the use of fire and water?" To +the disappointment of the visitor, the man began to wriggle out of his +promise to let the boy go to a Refuge; and when pressed he became +impertinent, and said, "With my eyes bloodshot and the boy a-looking +ill, we can get lots; and I shan't starve for him." When leaving, the +reader re-entered the common room, and secured the attention of the +people to the parable of the good Samaritan; and then, holding up the +pocket Bible, he said, "It's in here, and many other things which the +blessed Jesus spoke." + +Some weeks after this the visitor saw the boy huddled up in a night +coffee-house, the father being fast asleep. The lad told him that a lady +in Upper Brook Street had been very kind to them, but his father drank +away all the money. The address was taken down, and next day the +Missionary called upon the lady, who was so good as to express her +thanks, and they together planned the rescue of the boy. By threats and +entreaty the father was prevailed upon to let him enter the Refuge in +Commercial Street, and the night visitor took him there in triumph. + +The lad did well in the home, and was initiated into the mysteries of +the two crafts of the shoemaker and carpenter. He did his work well, +and showed a thankful heart. He procured a slip of leather about nine +inches long, and wrought the name of his friend upon it with shoemaker's +thread, and upon one of his visits gave it him, while the tears of +gratitude stood in his eyes. The visitor has it now among the precious +memorials of his work. Poor boy, he was without money with which to buy +a present, so he devised this in order to show how warm his heart was. + +Upon leaving the Refuge, he was apprenticed to a master carpenter, the +lady kindly paying a small premium with him. He did well, and at the end +of his time entered a good shop of work. He occasionally called upon his +friend to report progress. After a long interval he came back for a +short time, and stated that he had for eighteen months been a member of +a Presbyterian Church, and by giving tracts and by conversation was +trying to do good to others. It was a pleasant interview, as the young +carpenter thanked his friend more warmly than ever for his rescue, and +then they knelt together in prayer. One instance like this makes up for +all the toil and sorrow of the work, and leads to humiliation before +Almighty God, that He of His great mercy should use earthen vessels for +the purposes of His grace. + + * * * * * + +We cause a gap in this chapter, in order to make an important +announcement,--an announcement which deserves to be printed in large +type, and blazoned in letters of gold; it is, that as London never +sleeps, so THE LARGE CHURCH OF GOD IN THE MIGHTY CITY NEVER SLEEPS. +There are now many workers for Him in the night season, and the call of +sinners to repentance never ceases in the empire city. The happy result +was brought about in this way: People heard of and became interested in +the work of the midnight visitor. First among them was a clergyman of +importance, then at a college in Oxford. He wrote to the Missionary, +asking him during the week of the Cambridge and Oxford boat-race, to +give letters he had written to any young gentlemen he might find in +casinos, saloons, and night-houses, wearing the dark-blue necktie. +Several nights were thus occupied with interest and profit. + +Soon after this, the founders of the midnight meeting movement consulted +him about that project, to which he gave his hearty support. Upon the +first night he gave away the invitations, and for that purpose +penetrated places into which no one but himself dare have entered with +that object. The large room was crowded, not less than 250 young women +were present; and he stood rejoicing with prayerful heart beside the +Hon. and Rev. Baptist Noel, while he gave the first address. The +midnight visitor knew that a movement was then being inaugurated which +would continue to recover many from destruction, and which would raise +the moral tone of London. Several private individuals now commenced +visiting at night, and the Committee of the London City Mission had +compassion upon their overworked servant, and by the appointment of a +Missionary to night-houses, relieved him of these self-imposed duties. A +change of importance had however been brought about. His evidence before +a Committee of the House of Commons, his writings and private influence, +had its share in securing a beneficial Act, closing night-houses from +one until four o'clock in the morning. This was a great moral good, and +it has resulted in the establishment of hundreds of street +coffee-stalls. There is still much room for Christian effort at night, +as the following extracts from printed statements of the two +Missionaries thus employed will clearly show. We introduce these with an +extract from "The Sword and Trowel:"-- + + "The Missionaries invariably leave their homes at twelve o'clock in + the night, and return about eight o'clock in the morning. And the + number of cabmen is now so great, and their spiritual instruction + so much needed, that the effort has proved to be one of the most + necessary, as well as fruitful departments of evangelization. There + are nearly 2000 night cabmen. They are very docile, remarkably glad + to be taught the message of God's love. And, indeed, the two + Missionaries seem generally attached to them. Being earnestly + desirous for their best welfare, and remembering how close death + must be to most of these old men, these messengers of peace yearn + over their souls. In numbers of instances their efforts have been + blessed. Poor old men, down whose furrowed cheeks the tears of + penitence have flowed, have found in Christ the truest consolation + for their wearied hearts. In the hour of life's eclipse--for death + to the Christian is nought more--they have witnessed a good + confession, and have given bright and glorious testimonies that + they have been born again." + +One Missionary writes,-- + +"The coffee-stalls and booths which are to be found all over London at +the corners of the streets, and in public thoroughfares, near railway +stations, etc., are excellent opportunities for usefulness. These are +kept by people who have no other means of obtaining a livelihood, and +who sell a cup of smoking hot coffee for one halfpenny, and a slice of +cake or bread and butter for the same price. Many of these people are +Christian men and women, and render the Missionary great assistance in +expounding the message of mercy and salvation to their customers. Not +only cabmen and the outcast get a cup of coffee at these places, but men +in the building trade, railway carters, and others, towards six +o'clock, gather round them in large numbers, to obtain that which does +them good and saves them from going to the early public-house. So that +these coffee-stall proprietors are a really useful part of the +community. These coffee stalls have increased rapidly, so that now about +four hundred and sixty can be counted in the streets of London at night. +The Church of England Temperance Society have also stationed a number in +leading thoroughfares by day. We give a picture of one of these because +it contains the latest improvements and best use of them. + +[Illustration: Boy at coffee stall] + +"On one occasion a pugilist gave me his address, and told me that, when +a little boy, his mother used to teach him his prayers, some of which he +repeated. He added that he had got the best wife in the world, but he +treated her like a brute. I talked to the poor fellow till he wept like +a child, and he took hold of my arm and said, 'You shall go home with me +to-night.' I begged to be excused, as it was now three o'clock in the +morning. However, there was no alternative, so off I went with him, +arm-in-arm. He called his poor wife up, although I wished him not to do +so; but so far from being angry when she saw that my object was to try +and reform her husband, she thanked me with tears in her eyes. He +promised by God's help to seek to lead a new life, and give his heart to +God. As I had a Testament in my pocket I gave it them, and we knelt down +and prayed for God's blessing on our meeting. I went home musing on the +event which had occurred, and could not help feeling that the Lord had +directed my steps back with the man. I have called since, and find that +by trade he is a sawyer. He is now working at his trade, is a +teetotaler, and in a hopeful state of mind." + +As some instances of usefulness have come under my notice through the +reading of the Word of God, I purpose to refer to two or three:-- + +"Mr. ---- has been a night cabman for thirty-six years. In reply to my +questions, he said he did not remember when he last went to church, and +if he was to go, he is so deaf he could not hear the parson. I asked, +'How do you spend your time on Sunday evenings?' 'In reading _Lloyd's +Newspaper_,' was the reply. 'Oh,' I said, 'then you could read a +Testament, if I got you one?' 'I dare say I could,' was the answer. I +took him one, which he read, and he became so fond of it that he soon +laid aside the newspaper, and the Testament became his constant +companion. Although he is deaf, yet he now attends church, and is in a +hopeful and penitent state of mind. + +"Mr. ----, poor man, was always full of trouble. He had lost his wife by +death, buried four children, and broken his leg; and every time I +attempted to converse with him, he would pour his burden of troubles +into my ear, and think no one sympathised with him. I got him a Bible, +and turned down for him Isaiah liii., and several other portions of +God's Word, which he read. The next time I saw him I heard but little of +his troubles, and the time after that he said, 'Sir, my Bible has quite +cured me of complaining, for when I read of what my Saviour suffered, I +feel ashamed to murmur or complain. It is the Bible that has cured me, +for I see others have suffered before me, and that nothing has happened +to me but what is common to all men.' + +"Poor old ---- said, 'I have read your Testament all through, and don't +know what I should have done when I was in the workhouse but for my +book. I have been thinking very much about our Lord's Sermon on the +Mount, and I feel that it condemns me, for I used to think that I was +not so bad as others, and that through my own good works I should go to +heaven. Now I feel I am a sinner, and have no good works, and that it is +through the righteousness of another that I must be saved. I asked the +Chaplain in the workhouse, and he explained the whole thing to me as +clear as day.' I have often explained to him the glorious doctrine of +justification by faith in the finished work and righteousness of the +Lord Jesus Christ, for which he is very grateful. + +"A man, named ----, said, 'Well, if your Testament has done nothing +else, it has kept me out of the public-house, and therefore it has done +me good; and my wife is pleased, I can tell you.' I advised him to go on +reading, and to seek the aid of the Holy Spirit to help him." + +As it is always pleasant to record increase of good, we are glad to +state here that a second and well qualified Missionary has for several +years been working at night in East and South London, and that with +marked success. All the night cabmen and thousands of people to be +instructed in saving truth by night only are now under visitation. + +The following words from the pen of a clergyman's wife (Mrs. Hebert), +who has for years sustained this good work, will form a most suitable +conclusion to this chapter:-- + +"Night after night the work has been going on, much being done, as we +have often seen, in a single night, and the result is that many have +found rest to their souls. Prodigals have sought their Father's house, +the afflicted have heard the rod, the inquiring have been directed to +Jesus, and have found Him; the aged have been brought in at the eleventh +hour, and are spending their little remnant of life to His glory who +called them into His vineyard. Let us give thanks and pray more. Let us +identify ourselves more in spirit with our Missionaries. It is our work +as well as theirs. We can only reach these poor cabmen through them.... +Missionary work is so like Christ's work, and so great a blessing rests +upon it, that we should all seek to have a share in it in our own +way,--that is, in the way God may have opened for us. Then we shall feel +not only that we are fellow-labourers with all who are seeking to spread +the Gospel, but, as it is so wonderfully said by St. Paul, we shall be +'workers together with Him' whose word shall not return to Him void.... +We have all had our trials, like those whom we are seeking to lead to +the God of all comfort. Life and its treasures are passing away, but the +things which cannot be shaken remain. God's work still claims us. We can +still be about our Father's business. And what is so elevating and so +soothing amidst cares and distractions and losses, as the thought that +there is a calm, holy, steady course marked out for us by Him, and that +He condescends to be glorified by us, whether by our life, or by our +death?" + + +The Book in the Highways: + +ITS FETTER-BREAKING. + + "There are in this large stirring tide + Of human care and crime, + With whom the melodies abide + Of th' everlasting chime; + Who carry music in their heart, + Through dusky lanes and wrangling mart, + Plying their daily task with busier feet, + Because their secret souls a holy strain repeat." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + TO AND FROM THE CITY--OUR OMNIBUS--BOX AND MONKEY BOARD--THE LOST + DAY--CRAPE ON THE WHIP--NIGHT GATHERING OF BARGE MEN--FETTERS + BROKEN--THE SILENT WATER-WAYS--BIBLE IN CABIN--THE BARGEMAN'S HOPE. + + +THE BOOK IN THE HIGHWAYS: + +ITS FETTER-BREAKING. + + "He went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the + receipt of custom: and He said unto him, Follow Me. And he left + all, rose up, and followed Him." LUKE v. 27, 28. + +"My saying is," observed the driver of an omnibus to a gentleman at his +side, "that it is right to be sociable; for if we are to have friends, +we must be friendly ourselves." "Capital remark, that," we thought, +while sitting down at the other side of the rather elevated box, waiting +an opportunity to join in the conversation. The man was not quite +unknown to us, as, in our almost daily journeys to the City, we had +mounted at his side in turn with that of other knights of the whip who +drove omnibuses from one of the suburbs to the centre of the mighty +City--the Bank. + +Once before, a short terse sentence had, in our hearing, been uttered by +him which made a favourable impression, and we were now certain that +James was a character--a man with an individuality. He was certainly +respected by his fellows, as, while many others had singular names given +them, expressive of peculiarities or contempt, he was always addressed +as James; and it was certain, from the hurried words shouted by the +drivers as they rapidly passed each other, that he dared to be singular +by paying like respect to them. It was thus that we got to know the +christian or surnames of men who were addressed by others as Kitty, +Cranky, Boosey; and even "Ugly Jib"--as a worthy man was called in +derision of a facial deformity--smiled pleasantly as our driver, in +cheery tone, gave the rapid word of greeting, "Fine morning, Dan," or +"Raw evening, Dan; button up tight." + +[Illustration: Driver with four men in top hats, outside passengers] + +A kindliness of disposition was also evident by the style in which he +handled the "ribbons;" with a care and decision peculiar to the man, as +though fearful of jagging the horses with the bit. As for the whip, it +was simply what he called it, "his ornament." To have used it with +violence upon his dumb friends never entered his mind. This was evident +one dreary night when we had stayed late in the City, and happened to be +the only outside passenger. As the hill was ascended near the end of the +journey, the horses slackened pace almost to a walk. Now, we thought, is +time for use of the "ornament;" and use it he did, but in a gentle +manner. Patting one horse upon the neck with it, he said in an +encouraging tone, "Now, Polly; come, get on;" and then passing it over +to the other, he stroked kindly and said, "This won't do, Sally; come, +pull up." Then followed the "click, click, click," an accomplishment of +the mouth only attainable by the thorough "bus" driver; and then the +horses, as with a human sense of the power of kindness, took the collar +and cheerfully capped the hill. + +"And so you treat your cattle as young ladies, do you?" we observed. + +"Well, you see, sir," he replied, "as the saying is, 'the man that's any +good considers his beast;' and it answers, as I can keep time as well as +any one; and the foreman of the yard never finds fault, as I run them in +quite comfortable, not all reeking and trembling as some do. And then, +when I go into the yard of a morning, the pretty creatures look round +and shake their manes, as much as to say, 'Good morning, master, we +shall get on all right to-day.' You see, sir," he continued, after a +thoughtful pause, "I have two daughters at home, Mary and Sarah, and +good girls they are, though I don't see much of them; and as I am always +thinking of them I mention them like to the horses when I want to pull +up to time and the like." + +"Your daughters, I suppose, go out to some employment, as you see so +little of them?" + +The answer was not immediately given, as the man hung his head and with +ill-concealed emotion said, "No, sir, they ain't quite old enough for +that; and I have heard a saying that no good is got by showing your +sores, and 'that which can't be cured must be endured.' You see, I have +to work more hours a week than niggers in the West Indies were ever made +to do. Compared with other working men, I do nearly two days' work in +one. This I have done for these sixteen years, and very little I've seen +of my family and home. I often feel that I am getting used up, and think +of a saying a foreman of mine had for men who asked for a day off the +box: 'Rest indeed! rest in the grave, that will do for you.'" + +This reply was given in a tone of despair which stopped the conversation +for the short time required to reach the end of the journey. The parting +word of "Good night, coachman," evidently helped him to regain his usual +cheerfulness, as we heard the shake of the reins and the usual +utterance, "All right, Sally; come, get on, Polly." + +With us, cheerfulness was not so easily regained. The happy home and +family joys seemed to deepen rather than remove the impression made by +the driver. "It is now after ten," we thought, "and the poor fellow has +another journey to the City and back. On the box again at eight in the +morning until midnight, with little prospect of a Sunday; well, we will +speak to him upon that subject." + +A few nights after, being purposely late, we again mounted beside our +proverb-speaking acquaintance, and watched for an opportunity to draw +him out upon the "rest-rights" of his class. This soon occurred, as the +driver remarked that his horses were fresh, "as they had yesterday in +the stables." + +"And so they have a rest-day now and then," we remarked, "and you have a +natural and scriptural right to one in seven. How often do you get it?" + +"I've lost mine this many a long year," was the reply; "and as they say +somewhere, 'losers are always in the wrong;' and so five thousand or +more of us who toil on the stones of London during all the Sundays are +in the wrong--of course we are--and being in for a bad bargain must make +the best of it. For us there is no help, as saints and sinners are both +against us." + +"Saints against you?" + +"Yes sir, begging your pardon, the saints, or that sort of them that +ain't advanced, and can't get on without their ears being tingled. We +who live all our waking hours elevated on a 'bus observes a great deal, +and that there are two sorts of Christians. It is wonderful if you +compare duly what religion does. The hundreds of gentlemen's carriages +it keeps indoors; the lots of working-men and city gents who can be +happy at home, and the wonderful number that goes to their own places of +worship, as is right. Well, these religious riders are a strange set, +they are indeed. Sometimes they are ashamed of their prayer or hymn +books, and sometimes they show them off boldly. My conductor was a +Sunday-school boy not long ago, and he hates the sight of them. Between +the box and monkey board there is an understanding, 'signs and wonders,' +as I calls them, and when a religious party gets in, he puts his hands +together and looks solemn; and when the pleasure-takers--our worst +enemies--and there's no end of them, he rubs his hands and looks jolly. +Well, these religious Sunday riders are a selfish, shabby lot; it's +quite common when they pay with a shilling for them to say, 'Give me a +threepenny piece, please, conductor.' That, you know, is for the +collection; but if he can help it he don't give it them, as he is of my +opinion, that these people ought to keep to their own places of worship, +and not bring religion into contempt by supporting Sunday labour. Well, +but the Sunday pleasure people are generous fools. They do a hard day's +work and pay for it, as they don't believe in the religious way of +being happy. At night the men put their wives and children inside and +get out here themselves smoking hard after the drink they have had. Last +Sunday night two of this sort got up beside me, and one of them swore +badly, and offered me a cigar; but I said to him, 'The saying is, that +"the tongue defiles the whole body," and I don't care to smoke with a +man that curses.' Then he bullied me and threatened to inform about me; +and I thought afterwards that I had done wrongly, as it is not doing my +duty in that state of life in which God has placed me (as the Catechism +says) if I offend riders; and as we outcasts--yes, I say outcasts, as +men who have no Sundays and no ministers to care for them are--can't +hope to be saved if God Almighty does not have mercy upon them for doing +their duty." + +[Illustration: Man collecting fares] + +The last part of this speech, which had been delivered at intervals +between stoppages, was uttered with an expression of despair which +reminded one of the day's sigh of the prisoner without hope. After a +pause, the remark was ventured, "But, James, you can surely get a Sunday +off whenever you like; it is only forfeiting the day's pay; and as I +have ridden with you for some time, I had a thought of asking you to let +me give you a Sunday, you could then attend Divine worship?" + +"Thank you kindly, sir," he replied; "but I could not ask for more than +one in two months or so, though we are supposed to have every third or +fourth Sunday. I am feeling old, and a man ain't liked who is often off +his 'bus. The foreman would soon say that a younger man was ready to +take the reins; and then the workhouse, its disgrace, and separation +from as good a wife as ever lived. No, sir, personal kindness can't do +much for us Sunday slaves. No! it's getting the public to feel that +it's a disgrace to the riders, and an injury to us poor fellows, that +can alone do it." + +Such were his opinions; but we soon after had the satisfaction to know +that he enjoyed one happy Christian Sabbath, and upon several journeys +we listened to his quaint remarks upon preacher and sermons. An interest +in his spiritual state (which is always akin to real friendship) +resulted; and upon many occasions instruction concerning personal +salvation was given. The last ten minutes of the journey, when we were +often alone, were valued, as, at intervals for more than a year, the +good-natured driver listened as a little child to the message of a +Redeemer's mercy. The summer and autumn had thus passed away, and during +the winter we seldom rode with him, as his hours had been changed. Upon +one of these occasions he from cold spoke with difficulty; but his +weather-beaten countenance expressed a quiet peace, as he said, "I got a +day off last Sunday week, and went to church twice. At night it was a +saying of Jesus that was preached about, 'Come unto me, all ye that +labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' The sermon made +me as happy as a prince; and after supper my Polly read the chapter +through, where it is; and then I read a Psalm which is like a prayer." + +We had not after this many opportunities for conversation, but +frequently received his salute (the raising of the whip to the hat) as +we passed on other omnibuses. One fine morning towards the end of the +winter, which had been very severe, upon mounting an early 'bus, we +noticed a bow of CRAPE ON THE WHIP, and inquired concerning it. "It's +James as used to drive this 'bus," the man replied with feeling; "but he +is only one of the several old whips who have been done up this horrid +winter. He had sixteen hours a day on this box for six weeks hard off, +and had a bad cold; and when he tried for a rest Sunday, so many wanted +it that he was snubbed, and was afraid of losing his whip, and so he +kept on till he couldn't do so any longer, and then he took to his bed, +and died in a few days." + +The startling intelligence produced a sense of sadness during the +journey, and led to solemn thought with desire to break fetters and let +this order of Sabbath slaves go free. + +That _Crape on the Whip_ spoke of injury done to a man, and an important +class of men, and that by a too general habit of breaking a Divine law +through love of pleasure, or want of consideration. + +To labour or employ labour on the Lord's day, unless for purposes of +necessity or mercy, is sinful; as the command is, "Remember the Sabbath +day to keep it holy," and "Thou shalt reverence my Sabbaths." It is a +breach of the moral law for mere pleasure to use any kind of vehicle on +"the day which the Lord has made," and given for rest and worship. Poor +James, like thousands of his class, was injured also by the criminal +carelessness of professed Christians. These Sunday riders do spiritual +and eternal damage to public servants, as well as temporal wrong, for-- + + "Evil is wrought by want of thought, + As well as want of heart." + +That _Crape on the Whip_ told the oft-repeated fact that the body of the +Sunday worker rests earlier in the grave through loss of the Sabbath +rest. The Maker of our frame has declared cessation from labour during +a seventh portion of our time to be necessary to its health and vigour. +The son of toil by hand or brain, who by loss of, or misuse of, the rest +day so graciously given, impairs or fails to restore his strength, thus +does injury to himself and others. + +That _Crape on the Whip_ assumed the force of a call to the Church, +urging to self-denial and to active effort. Shall public servants slave +on for our convenience, with no man to care for their souls? Let +Christian men who are brought into friendly contact with them answer +"No," by telling them of a Saviour's mercy. Let workers in the Lord's +vineyard seek opportunity to instruct them, while making effort to +lessen their hours of toil. Numerous as they are, they are only part of +a class, including cabmen, railway servants, and others who suffer the +moral degradation of Sabbath slavery. Their helpers, for instance the +men who take charge of the horses, are the hardest-worked men in +England. From early morning until late at night, all the year round they +toil on. One of them remarked, "Cursed already, unceasing labour, and +life used up early." A City Missionary, in a yard he visits, has +arranged for eleven of these to join him on the Sabbath in an old +omnibus which stands in a corner of the yard. It was once licensed to +carry twelve inside. He there conducts a little service with them. Then +again there are servants of the Redeemer who make constant effort to +bring the life-giving power of Christ's religion to bear upon these +Sabbath outcasts. Let us be partakers in their struggles and joys until +the victory is gained; until freedom for those who cry because of the +oppressor is secured; until no conscience is troubled by _Crape on the +Whip_ indicating that souls which were sabbathless and uncared for had, +_without_ preparation, entered the presence of God. + +This earnest pleading for the oppressed omnibus men, through the pages +of the _London City Mission Magazine_, reached many hearts with +Christian sympathy, and not a few resolved that these men also should be +spiritually cared for, and that an effort should be made to improve +their condition. An "elect lady" gave full support for a Missionary to +those who ply omnibuses in the West, while the liberality of a gentleman +abounded to those of the South, and the help of many extended the +benefit to East and North London. + +[Illustration: Man beside two tired-looking horses] + +Welcomes, hearty and full of hope, were given by the omnibus men to +their new friends. Among their thousands there was not a Church member, +a "Church goer," or one influenced by reading the Scriptures; except two +or three who worked for private masters of Christian principles. To +these Sabbathless men of constant toil, the Gospel which speaks of +deliverance through the mercy of God in Christ Jesus was indeed a joyful +sound, and right glad were they while waiting for a few minutes at each +end of their journeys to listen to the messengers sent to them with glad +tidings, and the result has been blessing to many souls, and the +commencement of a struggle for their Sabbath and social rights. + +A lady, for instance, offered a supper to three hundred of the omnibus +men of West London if they could be got together. Lord Shaftesbury's +advice was taken in the matter, and he decided that it would be well to +invite them to the repast when they left work, from eleven to half-past +twelve at night. This was done. A large, unfurnished room near the +Paddington Station was taken. Their Missionary delivered the invitations +the day before, and as midnight drew near the rush of men proved that +all had accepted them. The uninvited guests, indeed, exceeded the +invited, so the ample supply of provisions were soon cleared off. Then a +raised platform was extemporized, and great was the demonstration of +delight when Lord Shaftesbury took his stand upon it. The sight was of +thrilling interest, as his lordship was surrounded by a group of +gentlemen and ministers, including the Earl of Aberdeen and Canon +Fleming, and in front were a mass of omnibus men, closely packed to the +end of the room. The excitement was great when the noble lord announced +that "The Man with the Book," who wrote "Crape on the Whip," would +first address them. + +This speaker, who was well received, stated the difficulties of the men, +and gave matured advice as to the means of their removal. Referring to a +conversation he had held with a director of the company, he stated that +this gentleman admitted that the men were cruelly overworked, and that +they were, with few exceptions, deprived of their natural and scriptural +right to the Sabbath rest; but that the evil resulted from the increase +of the Sunday riding public, and from faults with the men themselves +which riveted their fetters. These faults were faithfully stated, and +passages from the Book of God were repeated and pressed upon their +attention, which, if believed from the heart, would lead them to their +God and Saviour, and so break these and the heavier fetters of the soul, +making them happy as the freedmen of Christ. + +Dr. Manning, of the Tract Society, Lord Aberdeen, and Canon Fleming, +then made pointed and telling speeches, after which the noble chairman +wound up the meeting by telling the men that it was right that their +grievance of constant toil--long hours without Sabbath rest--should thus +be made known, that a healthy public opinion might be formed on their +behalf. From his long experience in effort to reduce the hours of labour +he gave them valuable advice, and concluded with the words:-- + + "I cannot find language strong enough to express all I feel at + constant labour being forced on men, not excepting the Lord's day. + It is abominable, and sufficient to call down the vengeance of God + on the country. The rest of the Lord's day is a great necessity, + and to deny you men the enjoyment and repose of that day is not + only a very great cruelty, but an abominable sin (cheers). I want + to remind you of this, that this work which we are commencing + cannot be done by us alone; it must be done in cooperation with + you. You must support the effort by strong appeals to your + employers, and still stronger appeals to the public, and by + unceasing prayer to Almighty God. You must press on all the rights + you have, and which by God's grace you are determined to enforce. + Your sole reliance must be in the blessing of the Almighty. To Him + you must direct your thoughts and prayers, and draw down His + blessing upon the effort, and take to your consideration these + words which fell from the lips of many Protestant martyrs in their + great sufferings,-- + + 'Although the day be never so long, + At last it ringeth to evensong.'" + +Great cheering followed, and after singing a hymn, the meeting, to which +additional hundreds of omnibus men had flocked, separated at two o'clock +in the morning. + +But what good has resulted from this effort and meeting? + +Well, much. Employers are granting their Sunday slaves concessions, +slight indeed, but hopeful as to the future. Many persons who used these +vehicles on the Lord's day have discontinued the practice. Some drivers +and conductors have left on Sabbath principles; and, best of all, many +of the men have already received spiritual good. + +This was certainly the case with old Ben, who had driven to the Bank +many thousand times, and who for thirty-two years had never attended +Divine worship. He, indeed, held religion and religious people in +derision. The Missionary secured his attention, and one day soon after +the meeting, old Ben observed to him, "I read the tracts now, sir, and a +bit of the Bible, and mean soon to get another Sunday off." He +succeeded, and in the morning, the first time for so many years, +attended Divine worship. In the evening his wife went, and he remained +at home reading the Scriptures. He retired to rest unusually happy, but +to sleep the long sleep, as in the silence of the night watches his +immortal spirit was summoned to the presence of God. + +It is indeed well that at length these men should have spiritual care, +and that the "feet of those who carry glad tidings" should make their +way to those who are in like condemnation. Now it so occurred that about +the same time that Christian attention was directed to the neglect and +wants of the men who labour upon our _noisy highways_, the roads,--that +a like attention was called to those who pass life quietly on our +_silent highways_, the canals. These water ways of the metropolis extend +for several hundred miles through and about the City and its suburbs, +and connect and bring into communication other great cities of the +country. They are traversed continually by barges, which besides much +merchandise contain a large floating population. Whole families inhabit +the small cabins, and they have been described in the British Parliament +as the most ignorant and debased of the people. It was therefore decided +by the rulers of the mission to select a suitable man from the ranks, +and bid him to make known the Gospel in the cabins, and on the towing +paths. + +The surprise at the lock of the Grand Junction Canal was great indeed +when a stranger boarded each of their vessels, and addressed them as +though they were old acquaintance. It was evident at first that they did +not take kindly to the new friend. There were suspicious looks, and such +hints as, "There bees them as says we are awful bad, and as puts us down +in them papers as is in the publics." The zeal of the good man was also +a matter of jest with them; as when they saw the agility with which he +sprang from the tow-path to the barge, and from boat to boat, one man +said to the other, "he's a jumping Jack, he is." The readings from the +Bible, appeals to conscience, and the gift of Testaments and illustrated +publications, soon won a way to their hearts, and in the course of five +months their "Tract Man" became a popular personage, and this is how the +fact was discovered. Mr. Atkinson, late Mayor of Hull, who superintends +the work, gave a tea to as many boatmen and their wives as happened upon +a certain evening to be at the Brentford Junction, and two hundred and +fifty, direct from their boats, assembled, and a rough company they +appeared. + +Tea over, and justice was done to it, the meeting commenced by their +host taking the chair, and he, after hearty words of Christian kindness, +requested the man who was known to carry a Book with him to address +them. This he did by telling them "that a few days before he had read +something upon an old tea-pot in the Brighton Museum, which he would +repeat to them,-- + + 'The loss of gold is much, + The loss of health is more, + The loss of Christ is such a loss + That no man can restore!' + +"And then he explained to them the value of money, and the misfortune of +losing it by accident, and the sin of losing it by drunkenness and vice. +The value of health, and the folly of losing it by intemperance, +smoking, and neglectful habits. The value, the preciousness of Christ as +the Saviour of sinners, and the folly, the crime, of refusing the mercy +of God by Him. The Book was then produced, and the words read solemnly, +'Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.'" + +Their Missionary was then called upon, and the boat people received him +with a demonstration of delight. His speech was simple in words, but +full of Christian affection for their souls, and of sympathy in the +trials of their calling. It was evident that they received him as their +own "parson man," as they drank in every word he uttered, and with a +great noise expressed their delight with his speech. One of them indeed +rose, and with a stammering tongue said, "that he was a waterway man, +and like them all, he and his wife wanted to see him often in their +cabin, to read to them from the good Bible, and to try and make them +good, as he knew he was doing to some of them." + +At the close it was cheering to hear them trying with all their will to +sing, "Tell me the Old, Old Story," and to notice their reverence during +the closing prayer. + +After the tea several letters were sent to the Office. They were alike +in style, and we select one to show the progress which has been made +with these rough people. + + "Dear sir i right those few lines to you to thenk you for you + kingens for sending such a man to the Poor Boat Peple i think he + Just the man for it to Point them to the lame of god Wich taks the + sins away he Not shamed to take yup his crose and tell Poor Peple a + Bout Jueses i cant right much But i hope you escuse my Bad righting + Whe have knowed in tim a good Wile at Padgtion and glad to see his + face Down kingsland Pasen the lord Bless his labore and give him + soles fore his hiere so + + No More frome + + c.---- D----. + + Boat man." + +We will only add that a gathering from among the boat people, as from +the omnibus men, is being made to the Lord Jesus, and as they approach +Him, the Saviour, their spiritual fetters are broken, and the outward +fetters of their calling fall away. Duty, compassion, patriotism, +require that these thousands of the oppressed should have opportunity to +worship Jehovah in His temple, and to become acquainted with His laws, +and the wonders of His grace. Remember, oh ye people who have been +chosen and called to form the Church of the Redeemed on earth; remember +that it is your dignity, as well as duty, to help all who are oppressed; +everywhere to proclaim the freedom of the kingdom "set up in the earth;" +that to you the enraptured words of the prophet are addressed with royal +command and sustaining promises: "Thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go +forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in +the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places ... for He that +hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall +He guide them."[2] + +[2] Isaiah xlix. 9, 10. + + +The Book for All: + +ITS UNIVERSAL GOOD. + + Ye have not sowed in vain! + Though the heavens seem as brass, + And, piercing the crust of the burning plain, + Ye scan not a blade of grass. + + Yet there is life within, + And waters of life on high: + One morn ye shall wake, and the spring's soft green + O'er the moistened fields shall lie. + + Tears in the dull, cold eye, + Light on the darkened brow, + The smile of peace or the prayerful sigh, + Where the mocking smile sits now. + + Went ye not forth with prayer? + Then ye went not forth in vain: + "The Sower, the Son of Man," was there, + And His was that precious grain. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITY--FAITH--THE MACHINERY MAN--MAN'S INNER + WORLD--SIN REPROVED--CONVERSE UPON AN OMNIBUS--THE INFLUENCE OF + TRUTH--THE BIBLE ONLY--COMMUNICATION ESTABLISHED--BROUGHT NIGH, + VERY NIGH. + + +THE BOOK FOR ALL: + +ITS UNIVERSAL GOOD. + + "And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to + hear the Word of God." ACTS xiii. 44. + +"They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament:" they +who have the wisdom of God in a mystery, or the hidden wisdom,--the +knowledge not to be found by searching the works of creation, or in the +discoveries and developments of science and philosophy. This wisdom +cometh from above, and is therefore communicated by the all-wise and +eternal Jehovah. This, and this alone, can enlighten man spiritually, +invest him with power to comprehend the central and infinite in truth, +and lead him to the attainment of those graces and perfections which can +alone fit him for the reception of reflected glory, and raise him to a +place before the throne of ineffable light and purity. + +This wisdom (like its counterpart in the natural world, the sun) casts +rays of light, beauty, and restoration very widely. When He, the essence +of uncreated light, stood with "the glory He had with the Father" +veiled, as the Teacher of men, He uttered a truth so mighty that +wherever it is repeated the darkness fleeth away; wherever it is sounded +forth with power, be it in the palaces of kings, in the hovels of the +poor, or in the deepest recesses of moral corruption, the blackness of +the shadow of death which surrounds the immortal soul is dispersed as by +the voice of Omnipotence. Jesus said, "I am the Light of the world: he +that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light +of life." + +The Church militant, the royal priesthood, the ransomed people, is an +assemblage of individuals called out of darkness into His marvellous +light. This community of the blessed occupies the place of the absent +Lord, and has to show forth His glory. As children of the day, they +renounce the hidden things of darkness; and as vessels of mercy +illuminated by Divine grace, they show forth "the light of the Lord." +They of necessity do this by letting men see their good works, by +reproving sin, by giving instruction in righteousness, by holy zeal in +efforts to increase the kingdom of truth and purity. Possessed +themselves of the Word of God, through which and by the Holy Spirit they +are being sanctified, they use that same word for purposes of the grace +of God which bringeth salvation. The Bible in the hand of the Christian +is as the wisdom of God in the hand of Ezra, leading them "to judge;" to +give wisdom and prudence "to all such as know the laws of their God, and +to teach them that know them not." Hence it is the duty and high +privilege of each Christian, be he minister or layman, ordained or +unordained, to communicate precious truths, to teach from the Holy +Scriptures which are able to make wise unto salvation, through faith, +which is in Christ Jesus. + +We have a conviction that the individual members of the Church have not +yet risen to the dignity of every man saying to his neighbour, "Know the +Lord." This witnessing for God is not a professional matter, but a +religious duty. Masses of people in our great cities perish for lack of +knowledge, while many partakers of precious faith are content to live +without an effort to add one immortal spirit more to the ransomed from +the earth. They, alas! are many who are under the "woe" pronounced +against those "who live at ease in Zion." There are no laity in the +theocracy of grace. All are priests. And they who have heard the call of +Divine compassion, and feel themselves sheltered in the covenant of +love, are commanded to say "Come," or for ever bear the reproach of +being unfaithful servants. This standing back from the great conflict, +this looking on instead of joining in the holy strife, is a reproach to +the royal people, an injury to our neighbour, and a withholding of +blessing from this sin-stricken world. There is work for all in the +great vineyard, and opportunities for usefulness are ever occurring. It +is not those only who dwell in squalor that require the Gospel: the +respectable mechanics, the trading and professional classes; yes, and +the educated, and the noble, and the princes of the earth: all who have +not passed into the kingdom of grace need the same truth, the same +restoring and elevating force. While, therefore, it is right to send the +Gospel of the grace of God to the lower orders, this does not +_exonerate_ from the duty of influencing the other classes to the +acceptance of truth and the practice of holiness. The necessities of the +world require that every Christian should carry a pocket Bible, and +study how to use it well. Then would the kingdom of God come with power. + +There can be no doubt that the practical infidelity and viciousness of +the classes immediately and very much above them has a most injurious +effect upon the lower orders of society. The wealth of the rich is often +used to the demoralization of the poor, while skilled workmen are the +chief propagators of scepticism among them. Those, therefore, who give +themselves to the labour and care of uplifting the very low, have a deep +interest in the religious elevation of the more refined and educated, as +the classes act with marvellous effect upon each other. These +considerations must be our excuse for devoting this last chapter to +narratives of like Christian work among the more advanced in the social +scale. As infidelity is so terrible a foe, we commence with two +instances of recovery from its destructive influence. + +One evening the visitor had occasion to call at a public institution, +and stopped in the lobby to examine a microscope and set of lenses. The +optician showed him a telescope by which he said stars at a great +distance could be seen and particulars accurately defined. In answer to +the inquiry, "If those distinguished by the appellation 'telescopic +stars,' and ranging from the seventh magnitude upwards could be seen by +it," he gave a very clever answer, which led to a long and pleasant +conversation. At parting, the visitor observed "that there was an +instrument now much in use by the 'wise,' of higher range, and called by +the name of 'faith,'--a gift of God, a power by which Christians could +look through the clouds, beyond the nebulae, even to the place where +Jesus is seated at the right hand of God." + +The optician shook his head, and said that "he believed in all that was +true in creation, in all that could be demonstrated; but that his +credulity stopped at the uncertain." + +The subject was renewed upon another visit, and continued at intervals +for some months; so that he became well instructed in the principles of +that faith which is said to "abide" and to "dwell" in the true +Christian, and which the unbelief of men cannot "make void." After a +time the optician left the institution, and was lost sight of for nearly +three years. He then addressed a letter to his friend of the telescope, +from Middlesex Hospital, telling him that he had suffered sad reverses, +and that he was a patient there with a painful eruption; and added, +"Through the mercy of God I have obtained precious faith, and I hope to +be ever mindful that I can only conquer the enemy by giving myself up, +and entirely depending upon the blood of the Lamb. I feel, my dear +friend, what tongue or pen cannot describe: I feel that I am preserved +by our blessed Saviour from that doom I so deserved; and I now place all +my dependence upon this new Friend, and I trust that I may continue in +the faith, and rest in the Lord and wait." + +When the visitor called he found him afflicted with a kind of leprosy, +being covered with sores from head to foot. He however looked happy, and +in the course of conversation, observed, "That remark, sir, about the +telescope when you first spoke to me, was the leading step in my +conversion: I never lost its impression. When I packed or unpacked the +instruments I used to think about it, and at last got to desire your +statement to be true,--that 'the Lord Jesus, by a power of the soul, +could be seen pleading for and saving sinners;' but now, blessed be God, +I feel that I have the heavenly gift, and pray for its increase." He +recovered from his disease, and has for years proved his faith by holy +living. + +The other instance occurred in the International Exhibition. A visitor +who frequently embraced opportunities to direct attention to some truth +contained in the good old Book, was one morning worming his way through +the machinery annex, when his progress was stopped by a barrier. As it +was the midday hour for refreshment, the whirl and clatter was stayed, +the machinery being at rest. A man, a fine specimen of the English +mechanic, sat by the motive engine reading Goldsmith's History of +England. The visitor noticed this, and, handing him a Gospel of St. +John, said, "Here is part of the great biography,--some leading passages +in the life of the King now crowned with many crowns; but whose life +here was a miracle, from the manger to Golgotha." + +"I have read it, sir," the man replied, taking the book; "but I cannot +believe all the Bible says about Jesus Christ, and other matters." + +"If you have time, I should like to know how it is that you reject the +testimony which _God_ has given of His Son?" said the giver of the Book, +and the following conversation took place:-- + +"Well, sir, this is how it is: I was religious in my youth, but when an +apprentice, my shopmates induced me to attend theological lectures +followed by debates. These discussions shook my faith in the Christian +system, and the reading of books has strengthened my convictions." + +"This is a serious matter: do please tell me your chief difficulty." + +[Illustration: "It is your duty to connect the band of this engine with +the various machines."] + +"Well, sir, this is one: the Bible says that every man in order to be a +Christian must have a change wrought in him called conversion, which to +my mind is simply a change of opinion, with results which could be +effected by other means. Socrates was made good by philosophy; and men +of all opinions, even Mohammedan and Hindoo, have been made moral by the +good in their systems. What we are to aim at is a perfect moral code +free from superstition and spiritual tyranny." + +"You must, my good friend, judge of a system by its general influence, +as well as by its effect upon the individual; and I suppose that you +would not like society to go back from the Christian to the heathen +state, because there may have been moral heathens; or to live under the +government of Turk or Hindoo, because some individuals among them have +practised virtue. Now it occurs to me that you may not be quite clear in +your views of the Christian system which you reject. It consists not of +moral principles, which are its results,--but of a new life,--the +communication of Divine influences. Let me illustrate this by your +occupation. It is your duty to connect the band of this engine with the +various machines; and thus by an act of yours a mass of inert mechanism +instantaneously becomes subject to complicated motion, and invested with +great power. It is so with the inner world of man's spiritual being, +which has its facts as well as the outer and material. The soul of man +has wonderful powers and capabilities, even when inert, in a state of +spiritual deadness, resembling the machinery around us, until the steam +force is communicated to it. Man in a state of nature is dead and +incapable of loving _God_, or otherwise exercising the powers of his +higher being; but the ever blessed Creator, by an act of clemency, +pardons sinners who believe in Jesus, and gives His Holy Spirit to them. +These divinely influenced persons form the Church of Christ, and of them +the sayings of this Book are true: 'And you hath He quickened who were +dead in trespasses and sins.' 'Not by works of righteousness which we +have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of +regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost.'" + +The man, who had listened with rapt attention, rose from his seat, and +said with emotion, "I see it all, sir, as if scales had fallen from my +eyes. I have had my machinery, philosophy, science, Bible, and all sorts +of books, but I have never prayed, 'Give me Thy Holy Spirit.'" + +"Utter that prayer," said his instructor, "in the name of the +well-beloved Son, and you shall be endued with power from on high; for +He has said, 'I will give my Holy Spirit to them that ask Me.'" + +As the time for setting the machinery in motion had arrived, the visitor +promised him a book on infidelity; and after shaking hands with the new +acquaintance, made his way through the annex. + +Several other visits followed, and as the blessed result, the man +believed on the Saviour, and gave evidence of having passed from death +unto life. A clergyman who visited the place a few months after, wrote +of him, "Among others I spoke to a man in charge of machinery; a frank, +open-faced, and as I should think, open-hearted Englishman. 'I was, +sir,' said he, 'an infidel, until a gentleman spoke to me here, and gave +me a Gospel. He then reasoned with me, and lent me a book. I am now +persuaded that the Bible is true, and I am trying to be a Christian.' I +think he has the root of the matter in him." + +The readiness with which this man received the Gospel is exceptional. +With sceptics of his class prejudice is usually so strong that to remove +it is like working through a granite wall; and, after years of effort, +the good frequently appears to be lost upon them. Such an incident is +therefore a great encouragement to trust in the power of revealed truth. + +The reproving of sin is also a plain Christian duty, and yet how few +nerve themselves to do it. Besides, persons who, for instance, are +guilty of profane language, not only show their need of good counsel, +but their very words give the judicious Christian a kind of introduction +to them, which can be used to advantage. We will give two instances in +illustration of this use of the Book. + +When travelling in Yorkshire, the visitor one morning lost his train at +a junction, and had to remain in the waiting-room for some time. Three +young men entered, who proved to be a barrister's and two solicitor's +clerks. One of them in his disappointment at not being in time, as he +had to attend a barrister at the assize, uttered an oath, and another +took the Divine Name with worse than lightness upon his lips. + +"Be careful, gentlemen," observed the stranger, "or you will never +discover the legal title." + +"What on earth do you mean?" inquired the swearer. + +"Just this: there are possessions of present value, and a heavenly +inheritance covenanted and held direct from the king, but the profane +and corrupt will never be able to prove their legal claim to them." + +"It was a slip of the tongue, sir, as I don't swear," said the young +man, with some confusion. + +"Then be careful," was the reply, "not to contract a habit so vile." + +As they had to wait an hour, the reprover produced his pocket Bible, and +to interest them in the truth, compared the Old Testament to a court of +law--stern law, in which no sinner living can be justified; and the New +Testament to a court of equity, in which the highest legal Authority in +the universe has pronounced sinners, who believe on Jesus, "Justified +from all things from which they could not be justified by the law of +Moses." After this, he impressively read the words: "The Spirit itself +beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God; and if +children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." As the +train approached the station, the young men thanked their reprover, and +there was hearty hand-shaking. + +The second instance occurred under exceptional circumstances, for the +conversation took place at the top of an omnibus. Late one fine summer +evening a Christian man was seated at that pleasant elevation, when, as +they passed a club in Pall Mall, a gentleman came out, ascended to the +top, and lit his cigar. As they passed along, he made a most improper +remark concerning some low people who were quarrelling at the corner of +a street. + +"Your sympathies," observed the man addressed, "are evidently with those +persons: as we say in chemistry, there is attraction, an affinity +between you."-- + +"Thanks for the high estimate you have formed of me," said the gentleman +in an angry tone. + +"A very right way to estimate a stranger," was the reply, "as to judge a +man out of his own mouth is a very proper judgment. There are only two +orders of men--the natural or corrupt, and those who have been made +pure in heart. Had you belonged to the latter, those bad people would +have caused a revulsion of feeling within you; instead of that you spoke +with sympathy, and I therefore as a moralist come to the conclusion that +impurity attracts you instead of holiness." + +This remark was followed by a long silence, when the gentleman turned +suddenly toward his reprover and inquired,-- + +"Are you a religious man?" + +"Yes: I am." + +"Then your reproof of my thoughtless words was very proper; but to +unchristianize a fellow for such a remark is really too bad." + +"I did not unchristianize you, but gave honestly the impression your +words conveyed to my mind. And now by way of apology for the sharp +manner in which I spoke, may I return your question: 'Are you a +religious man?'" + +"Well, yes: I am certainly baptized, and am regular in attendance at +church with my family; but after all I am not quite right, as there are +mysteries in the faith which trouble me." + +"Are you a new creature in Christ Jesus?" + +"That doctrine has no doubt a depth of meaning and much beauty in it, +but I can only see the beauty. With me it is not a reality, as the +longer I live the more difficult it is for me to conceive of the +_Almighty God_ and a vile creature, an unit among hundreds of millions, +holding intercourse and affecting a transaction between them." + +"And yet such is the fact, established by the verities of the Truth +Himself, who has said, 'Your heavenly Father will give His Holy Spirit +to them that ask Him.'" And then pressing the arm of the gentleman, the +speaker continued, "It is thus: just as matter can influence matter, so +can spirit influence spirit. Your body feels the grasp of my hand, and +it is as possible for your soul to be touched by the Holy Spirit of God +and to be made conscious of that blessed influence." + +The conversation was continued, and deepened in interest until the +omnibus came to the end of its journey in the suburb. The passengers +alighted, and then the gentleman in a most graceful way said, "You have, +sir, reproved me wisely, and made the truth, which for years has +disturbed me, so plain, that duty to myself requires me to ask your +friendship, certainly for the favour of another long conversation." + +"I am much occupied," was the reply, "but will gladly spare an hour or +so to-morrow evening, should you be disengaged." + +"Then I will give you my card, and will remain at home to receive you. I +have only to ask you as a point of honour not to mention my foolish +remark." + +The promise was given, and the gentleman handed his card to the +religious teacher, who was startled at the rank of the man to whom he +had spoken so faithfully; but addressing him by his title, he +endeavoured to fix the Scripture in his mind: "If any man be in Christ +he is a new creature: old things have passed away; behold, all things +have become new." + +Upon the next evening the promised visit was paid, and the stranger was +introduced by his new friend to the family circle. For a time his lady +was reserved (as well she might be), but after an hour's converse about +"things spiritual," she became genial and kind. Before he left, the +servants were called in, and the Missionary read and gave a short +exposition of the chapter commencing with the words: "And you hath He +quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins;" after which he engaged +in extempore prayer. + +This was the first of many pleasant visits, and the commencement of a +friendship with the family which had its proof of blessing,--certainly +with its head, who received the doctrine of regeneration in its fulness. +When a believer is impressed with the duty of witnessing for God, +opportunities for doing so are sure to occur, and if he keeps simply to +the Bible, good will of necessity result. He may speak with conscious +feebleness, but his infirmity has nothing to do with the matter. The +secret of success in Christian work is humility before God and meekness +of wisdom before men, united with firm faith in the truth and power of +the Divine Word. That Word can be spoken by, but can gain no improvement +or strength from man. All experience gives proof of this, and we add two +narratives, in confirmation of others, which show that the lodgment of +passages from the Holy Scriptures is sufficient to accomplish the +purposes of grace. + +A Christian man was in the studio of a celebrated sculptor, fixing upon +designs for the first drinking-fountains erected in London. When the +order was given for cutting passages of Scripture in the solid granite, +the sculptor objected, upon the ground of "leading the vulgar to despise +the Scriptures, by making its words common." The point was reasoned with +him, and the position taken, "that any word of God may lead the thoughts +of men up to Him, and that the honouring of His truth must therefore be +attended with beneficial results." The order was carried out, and for +years the drinking-fountains of London have at the same time refreshed +the people with pure water, and instructed them in words of heavenly +wisdom. Upon one of them, in the Edgeware Road, is the Proverb, "The +fear of the Lord is a fountain of life." One evening two young men +passed it. The eldest was a barman, and the other was his youngest +brother, who had just come up from the country. They had planned the +robbery of the master in this way: the youth was to enter the bar as a +stranger, to call for liquor, and to hand his brother sixpence; change +for a sovereign or half-sovereign, according to the money in the till, +was then to be handed back to him. This was to be repeated several times +during the evening, and next day they were to meet and divide the spoil. +As they passed the fountain the eye of the youth caught the inscription, +"The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life," and he gazed at it with +riveted attention. The teaching received at Sunday-school and a +succession of corresponding Scriptures flashed into his mind. Turning to +his brother, he said, "God will see us, and I dare not do this +thieving." Next Sunday he attended a meeting of "The Young Men's +Christian Association," and soon after became a decided Christian. Who +can tell how many have been thus blessed by Wisdom making her voice +heard in the public ways! + +The other instance was that of an opportunity being embraced of speaking +faithfully to eighteen highly intelligent young men. They had assembled +in a classroom at the Royal Polytechnic, to receive instruction from a +professor in chemistry. A Christian man had occasion to enter the room, +and upon being informed that several of the young men were telegraph +clerks, he reminded them that the word "religion" in Latin really meant +"binding again,--the re-uniting of a broken communication;" and added, +"This is the condition of us all in our natural estate. Communication is +cut off between the sinner and the _Almighty Creator_. Faith in the Lord +Jesus and the reception of the Holy Spirit are the only means by which +communication can be re-established between the creature on earth and +the offended Majesty of heaven; as it is written, 'Ye who sometimes were +far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.'" + +More than a year after this circumstance a young man lay upon his +death-bed. A rapid consumption had reduced him to a shadow, and when he +felt the end drawing nigh, he sent for the Christian visitor, to thank +him for speaking so clearly of Jesus in the hall of many sciences. He +was at that time "far off," but by faith in the risen Lord he had +obtained mercy, and a blessed hope of everlasting life. He spoke of "the +comfort of prayer," and "his sweet anticipation of glory," as proofs +that communication had been established between him and the Father of +his spirit. Soon after this he fell asleep in Jesus. In him the great +object of the Church in all her labours was accomplished. Being +ignorant, he was instructed in saving truth. Being separated from his +_God_, he was drawn by the cords of Divine love; and then, being assured +of resurrection life in Jesus, he laid down his mortal body that he +might follow with the ransomed of the Lord, who enter Zion with songs, +and everlasting joy upon their heads. + +This great good resulted from one Scripture being fixed in the mind of +that young man, "But now in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off +are made nigh by the blood of Christ." To every Christian the Word is +committed, and it is the duty of all to use it for the spiritual +enlightenment of others. All whose communication with heaven has not +been re-established, must be instructed in the saving truths of Holy +Scripture. Opportunities to instruct the intellectual and the higher +social classes in the grand but simple truths of salvation must not be +lost; but to the poor the Gospel must be preached. They were and ever +will be the objects of the deep solicitude of our Lord. He in a special +manner was their Teacher: for them as for others He lived and agonized +and died. They must not be permitted, as in our great cities, to +continue in ignorance and sin, and with multitudes to die the death that +is eternal. The Church universal must answer, "No!" She must gird on her +strength, and convey the Book of God, which sheds the light of His +salvation, into every dark dwelling,--that redemption's work may spread, +and the people learn righteousness, to their salvation and to the praise +of the glory of Divine grace. + + + + + +APPENDIX. + + +CAN YOU INFLUENCE THE WORLD FOR CHRIST? + +To a large extent it is believed that you can! God in His providence _has +brought within your_ reach representatives of the various nations of the +Globe; and has placed them in the best possible position to influence the +whole earth; so that _if you act upon them, you act upon the world_! + +But where is this great gathering of the representatives of the nations +to be found? Our minds at once advert to London, the Metropolis of the +United Kingdom and of the whole earth!--the Modern Babylon!--a city +which now contains nearly four millions of inhabitants! + +Are you a Scotchman? There are about as many Scotch people and their +descendants in London, as there are in Edinburgh? Are you an Irishman? +There are more Irish and their descendants in London, than there are in +Dublin! Are you a Welshman? The Welsh and their descendants living in +London about equal the united populations of six of the principal Welsh +towns? Or are you an Englishman? The population of six, eight, or ten +towns in some of the English counties, represent the number of persons +_born in those counties_, who now live in the great city! You may thus +act upon almost every city, town, and village in the United Kingdom by +means of their own representatives now living in London. + +And if you should specially pity the poor Jew, because he rejects the +great Messiah;--then you should remember that there are more Jews in +London than there are in Palestine! If, again, you regard Popery as the +great Antichrist; you are reminded that there are more Roman Catholics +in London than there are in Rome! Its 2,000 ITALIANS can here be +prepared to carry home to their countrymen the glad tidings of a +completed salvation! Are German Neology and French Infidelity the foes +to the Redeemer which you would oppose? It is affirmed that above 60,000 +GERMANS, or their descendants, and about 40,000 FRENCH and their +children, are now to be found in London! The mighty Russian Empire, with +its Sclavonian races, sunk in ignorance, or in the corruptions of the +Greek Church, is numerously represented in London! Some 6,000 +MOHAMMEDANS AND EAST INDIAN idolaters are also found yearly in London! +and _there_, with perfect safety, can be taught that there is one God, +and one atoning sacrifice. _There_ also are found vast numbers of Danes, +Dutch, Swedes, Swiss, Spaniards, Portuguese, Greeks, Turks, Africans, +Arabians, Persians, Chinese, Brazilians, Americans, American Indians, +West-Indian, and South Sea Islanders, and probably from every other +nation under heaven! These are brought together by Divine Providence, no +doubt, that they may be instructed in the wonderful works of God. THESE +REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH ARE BROUGHT WITHIN YOUR +REACH; AND THROUGH THEM, BY THE AID OF THE LONDON CITY MISSION, YOU CAN +INFLUENCE THE WORLD FOR CHRIST. Alas, that these representative bodies +should have entered a city in which a million and three-quarters of its +people cannot find room to worship God in its Protestant Churches and +Chapels!--a city in which myriads of its inhabitants are addicted to +crime. + +THE LONDON CITY MISSION enables Christians to act on individuals of +every class and nation resident in this most important spot of the +earth, this _diseased_ HEART _of the body politic of the world_. The +simple object of the Society is to take the Gospel to every house, +garret, and cellar, and to beseech men to be reconciled to God. It knows +nothing of sects nor parties, nor does it seek to proselytize in any +other way than to make the wicked holy, and the worthless valuable +members of society. Its Missionaries, 450 in number, communicate the +Gospel in twenty-three languages, each to about 2,000 persons. But if +each Missionary employed continues to have about 2,000 persons to visit, +AT LEAST 400 MORE MISSIONARIES ARE REQUIRED FOR THE MONSTER CITY. Who +then is willing to endeavour--by personal consecration, or by helping an +agency that is ready at hand, fitted for the work, and blessed in the +doing of it--to _influence the world for Christ_? + + + + +COMMITTEE OF THE LONDON CITY MISSION. + +Treasurer.--Joseph Hoare, Esq. + +Secretaries. + +Rev. Josiah Miller, M.A. +Rev. J. P. A. Fletcher, M.A. + +Auditors. + +J. Herbert Tritton, Esq. +E. Brodie Hoare, Esq. + +Arbuthnot, Geo., Esq. +Ashton, Charles, Esq. +Barclay, J. Gurney, Esq. +Bevan, R. C. L., Esq. +Bevan, Francis A., Esq. +Boulnois, W. A., Esq. +Buxton, J. H., Esq. +Charles, Robert, Esq. +Clarke, Frederick, Esq. +Coles, William, Esq. +Denny, T. A., Esq. +Ellice, William, Esq. +Fox, Chas. Douglas, Esq. +Garwood, Rev. J., M.A., _Hon. Member._ +Hanbury, George, Esq. +Kinnaird, Lord. +Lycett, Sir Francis. +M'Arthur, W., Esq., M.P. +Marten, C. H., Esq. +Maynard, H., Esq. +Morris, H., Esq. +Noel, Hon. Henry. +Paton, R., Esq. +Pocock, T., Esq. +Robarts, Henry, Esq. +Sheppard, John Geo., Esq. +Sheppard, S. G., Esq. +Smith, Basil Woodd, Esq. +Spicer, Edward, Esq. +Tritton, C. Ernest, Esq. +Trotter, Stuart, Esq. +Watson, J. G., Esq. +Williams, George, Esq. +Wood, F. J., Esq., LL.D. + +Examiners of Missionaries. + +Rev. H. Allon, D.D. +Rev. W. B. Carpenter, M.A. +Rev. Burman Cassin, M.A. +Rev. J. P. Chown. +Rev. J. H. Clay, M.A. +Rev. Flavel Cook, B.A. +Rev. Frederick Cox, M.A. +Rev. John Edmond, D.D. +Rev. A. T. Edwards, M.A. +Rev. H. E. Fox, M.A. +Rev. B. Gregory. +Rev. J. G. Gregory, M.A. +Rev. D. B. Hankin. +Rev. J. C. Harrison. +Rev. S. Hebditch. +Rev. W. G. Lewis. +Rev. Peter Lorimer, D.D. +Rev. A. Macmillan, B.A. +Rev. John Matheson, M.A. +Rev. Thomas Nolan, D.D. +Rev. G. W. Olver. +Rev. Aubrey C. Price, M.A. +Rev. Robert Redpath, M.A. +Rev. Henry Sharpe. +Rev. Gervase Smith, M.A. +Rev. G. W. Weldon, M.A. + +Country Secretary for the South--Rev. W. Lionel Green. + +Country Secretary for the North--Mr. Francis Palin, 15, Chichester +Street, Chester. + +District Secretary--_West (portion of) and North London._--Mr. Charles +M. Sawell. + +District Secretary--_West (portion of) and East London._--Mr. J. M. +Weylland. + +District Secretary--_South London._--Mr. Hugh Pearson. + +Accountant--Mr. Thomas R. Marrison. + +General Superintendents of Missionaries. + +Captain H. J. R. Lowe. +J. Rennie, Esq. +Captain Charleton. +Captain Thom. + + + + +CONSTITUTION. + + +I. The name--"The London City Mission." + +II. The object of this Institution is to extend the knowledge of the +Gospel among the inhabitants of London and its vicinity (especially the +poor) without any reference to denominational distinctions, or the +peculiarities of Church Government. + +III. To effect this object, Missionaries of approved character and +qualifications, who shall give themselves entirely to the work, shall be +employed and paid by the Institution. Their duty shall be to visit from +house to house in the respective Districts that shall be assigned to +them, read the Scriptures, engage in religious conversation, and urge +those who are living in the neglect of religion to observe the Sabbath +and to attend public worship. They shall also see that all persons +possess the Scriptures, shall distribute approved religious tracts, and +aid in obtaining Scriptural education for the children of the poor. By +the approval of the Committee, they shall hold meetings for reading and +expounding the Scriptures and prayer, and shall adopt such other means +as the Committee may think necessary for the accomplishment of the +Mission. + +IV. As the object of the Mission is to extend the knowledge of the +Gospel, it is a fundamental law that the following doctrines be +prominently taught by the Agents and publications of the Mission. They +are given, "not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the +Holy Ghost teacheth."[3] "All have sinned and come short of the glory of +God."[4] "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and +the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us."[5] +"Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."[6] "The +blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth from all sin."[7] "Being +justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus +Christ."[8] "Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none +other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."[9] +"Without holiness no man shall see the Lord."[10] "Ye are sanctified--by +the Spirit of our God."[11] + +[3] I Cor. ii. 13. + +[4] Rom. iii. 23. + +[5] John i. 1, 14. + +[6] John iii. 3. + +[7] I John i. 7. + +[8] Rom. v. 1. + +[9] Acts v. 12. + +[10] Heb. xii. 14. + +[11] I Cor. vi. 11. + +V. The general business of the London City Mission shall be conducted by +a Committee consisting of an equal number of members of the Established +Church and of Dissenters; and the Examiners of Missionaries shall +consist of an equal number of Clergymen and Dissenting Ministers, all of +whom, with the Treasurers, Secretaries, and Auditors, shall be members +of the Committee, _ex officio_. + +VI. Persons subscribing one guinea annually; every donor of L10; an +executor on the payment of a legacy of L50 and upwards; and Clergymen of +the Established Church, and Dissenting Ministers, as representatives of +their congregations, who subscribe or collect for the Mission the sum of +L5 annually, shall be members of the Institution. + +VII. A General Meeting shall be held annually in May (and oftener if +necessary) to appoint the office-bearers, and receive a Report of the +proceedings of the Mission and of the state of the funds. All matters +proposed shall be determined by the majority of the Members present. The +Meeting shall be opened and concluded by prayer, and the President for +the day shall sign the Minutes of the proceedings. In connection with +the Annual Meeting, one Sermon, or more, shall be preached, of which due +notice shall be given. + +VIII. The funds of the Mission, arising from donations, legacies, +subscriptions, collections, etc., shall be expended, under the direction +of the Committee, upon the salaries of Missionaries, the purchase of +tracts, and in meeting all necessary charges in conducting the business +of the Mission. + +IX. That no alteration be made in this Constitution, except at an Annual +Meeting, or General Meeting, specially convened by the Committee, upon a +requisition stating the nature of the alteration, signed by fifty of the +members, and to be held within twenty-one days of the receipt of such +requisition. + +We give the following extract of speeches delivered at the last, or +Forty-third Annual Meeting of the London City Mission, which was held in +Exeter Hall, on Thursday, May 2nd, 1878; Lord KINNAIRD in the Chair. + + * * * * * + +The large assembly having sung three verses of the hymn, + + "All hail the great Immanuel's name," + +the Rev. JOSIAH MILLER read a portion of Scripture and offered prayer, +after which-- + +The Meeting was addressed by the CHAIRMAN as follows:-- + +I have been asked to preside on this special occasion from the fact that +I believe I am one of the oldest members on service on this Committee. +For upwards of forty years I have been permitted to join in this great +and important work, and I can only say that each year, as it rolled on, +I felt more and more thankful that this work was flourishing and +advancing. When it began its work in London, the principles on which it +was founded were not so generally recognised as they are now. I well +remember, for instance, when we had to contend for the very principle of +lay agency in quarters where now it would be frankly recognised. Three +principles seem to underlie all our work. First, that evangelical truth +has the only claim for recognition as being in full accordance with the +Word of God, and as being fitted to persuade men to be reconciled to +God. Secondly, that the duty of proclaiming it does not exclusively rest +on ordained ministers, but that all men share the obligation, which +flows from the Divine command to go into all the world and preach the +Gospel to every creature, and also to go into the lanes and hedges and +invite men to the Gospel feast. And thirdly, that the members of the one +Church of Christ, though connected with various denominations, should +combine in the work of evangelization, thus manifesting in some degree +the unity for which the Saviour prayed, and proving to men that the +points on which they agree are of far more deep and lasting importance +than those on which they differ. The steady growth of our London +population, which, when Mr. Hoare and myself began, was about a million +and a half, but which is now rapidly approaching four millions, makes +the need of this Society, in some respects, even greater than it was +when it first started. We may be very thankful that so much has been +accomplished through its instrumentality, and very thankful, too, that +other kindred Societies have sprung into existence following in our +steps. But I would impress upon you that there must be no relaxation of +effort on our part. Perhaps no claim could be stronger than that +connected with the evangelization of special classes, which is the +peculiar feature of this Society. It has been my privilege at different +times to superintend many missionaries, and especially those to +foreigners. That work is continuing, and we may thank God for it. What +should we now do without the City missionary? In any moment of +perplexity, when new difficulties arise, one generally has to seek the +aid of an experienced missionary to help in starting a movement for the +relief of some evident spiritual want. My own experience is, that it has +pleased God in a marvellous way to use this Society for the advancement +of His kingdom. We must not, however, try to monopolize. There are +Scripture readers, and, above all, there is that wonderful +instrumentality of the Bible-woman and the Bible-nurse. The idea of +these has been taken from us. We were the pioneers in the work. God has +blessed it, and it is apparently prospering. There are fields of labour +amongst our increasing population, which, but for such an agency as +this, would make us tremble for our great City. I had hoped to have seen +here our excellent friend Mr. Garwood, whose labours have been perfectly +indefatigable. But though he is absent in body he is with us in spirit. +It has been very refreshing during the past year to see him constantly +attending our Committees, as earnest and warm a friend to the work as +ever he was in his younger days. Long may he be spared to us, to give us +the benefit of his sage counsels. I have now to call upon the Secretary +to read the Report. It is one full of deep interest, and I trust that +you will give it your earnest attention. + +The Rev. J. P. A. FLETCHER then read an abstract of the Report of the +Society for the past year. + + * * * * * + +The Bishop of SODOR and MAN:--My Lord, I have to move the first +Resolution:-- + +"That the Report, an abstract of which has now been read, be adopted, +printed, and circulated, under the direction of the Committee." + +I should have been very much wanting in gratitude if I had failed to +respond at once to the kind invitation that was sent to me, asking me to +take part in the proceedings of to-day; for I shall always look back +with pleasure to my connection with the City Mission when I was a +working clergyman in London. Only this morning, as I was coming to this +meeting, I met a gentleman who said to me, "Where are you off to? Which +of the meetings are you going to attend?" I said, "I am going to the +anniversary of the City Mission." "Oh," said he, "but that is not a +Church of England Society." "No," I said, "but it is an old friend of +mine; it is an unsectarian Society." When I was a clergyman working in +London, the City Mission gave me support in two parishes; and now I am +made a Bishop, I am not going to refuse to give my support to the City +Mission. The truth is, there is room enough in this vast city of London +for all the Societies that are working for the spread of God's truth. We +could afford to have twice as many Societies; and if all the City +missionaries, and Scripture readers, and Bible-women, and district +visitors, were quadrupled in number, there would be room enough for all, +and we should want more. But the benefit of such Societies is not only +to be found in their evangelistic work--that they carry the Gospel of +the grace of God to the masses--but I take it that it is to be found +above all in the fact that they unite Christian people together for the +Lord's work. This is what we especially want in the present day. The +enemy is carrying on his work with the greatest activity. The Lord's +people must be united, and I rejoice in the working of such Societies as +this, because they bring Christian people together, and unite them in +the grand common object of the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom. It +is now some years ago since I first entered upon the work of my first +parish in London. I received a district of 10,000 people in the parish +of Marylebone, cut off from St. Mary's, Bryanston Square. There were no +rich people in the district, and I had to set about the work with many +difficulties to contend with. I had the help of a Scripture reader, a +Pastoral-aid worker, and three Bible-women, but still that was not +sufficient. As we went on with the work we found a City missionary +working in one corner of the district, and we found that he got hold of +the people that we were getting hold of. I felt, "This will never do, +because we are treading upon each other's heels." So I went to the +Committee of the Society and represented the case to them. I said, "We +have got a common object in view; we only want to take the Gospel to the +masses. I am unfortunately in this position: that I cannot go beyond my +bounds. I am tied by the parochial system (a very good system, too). +Now, I will undertake the superintendence of the missionary if you will +kindly let me do so." The Committee at once said they would, and from +that time I began to work heartily in connection with the City Mission. +But this was not the end of my connection. I was asked to undertake what +I believe to be a most important part in the work of the Society; I was +asked to become one of the examiners of the City missionaries. I say +this is perhaps the most important part of the whole work, for our +success very much depends upon the men whom we select to carry on the +work. There is a tendency in the present day for men to take up this +kind of work when everything else fails. Well, that will never do. We +must not have this work undertaken simply as a profession. We want men +constrained by the love of Christ; we want men with an accurate +knowledge of the Word of God to go and deal with the masses of the +people; and if we have not this class of men as our City missionaries, +the work will fail sooner or later. We may have five hundred City +missionaries, but unless they are men of God, unless they know the Word +of God, they will never carry out the work of God. I look back, +therefore, with the greatest pleasure upon my connection with this +Society. I dare say there are some missionaries now before me who have +passed through my hands. I hope they did not find me very severe; but if +they did, I can tell them that I was only severe in my examination of +them because I was anxious about the good of the Society. The question +before us this morning, as it seems to me, is, How can we stir one +another up to take greater interest in the work? I believe there are +three things which are necessary. We need first of all a deep sense of +our responsibility in the sight of God; we need secondly a keen sense of +sin in God's sight; and, last of all, we need a lively sense of God's +presence and power with us. I believe these three things are necessary, +and I am substantiated in that conviction by a reference to three of the +greatest City Missions that we find mentioned in the Word of God. We +have a grand work before us in connection with London, the largest city +in the world that was ever seen, but I do not think that we must run +away with the idea that London is worse than other places; the only +thing is, that we have so much evil brought together, with its seven or +eight thousand streets, and its nearly four millions of population. It +is a tremendous place, but after all I do not think upon London as worse +than other places. It is, so to speak, the heart of the world. The blood +flows from London throughout the world, and therefore, if we are to deal +with the world outside, we must deal with the heart. We must bring the +Gospel to bear upon the masses of London, and then we shall do a mighty +work for the world. There are three grand essentials that we need in +carrying out the work, and I would substantiate this by a short +reference to three of the greatest City Missions that we read of in the +Word of God. I said, in the first place, that we need a true sense of +our responsibility in the sight of God. The portion of Scripture which +has been read to us reminds us of Nineveh and the Mission to that city. +It was a vast city, somewhat on the scale of London, but its wickedness +had gone up to heaven. God commanded His prophet Jonah to go and call it +to repentance, but he went on board ship and tried to flee from the +presence of God. He went down into the cabin and fell asleep. It was not +till a storm sent by God aroused him--it was not till the captain put +his hand upon his shoulder, and said, "What meanest thou, O sleeper? +Arise, call upon thy God," that he was awakened to a sense of his +responsibility. I believe there are many just in the condition of Jonah, +and it is not till the world makes an appeal to them that they are +aroused. For you will notice that it was not a man of God who awakened +Jonah to a sense of his responsibility, but it was a man of the world, +the captain of the ship, a heathen. Dear friends, the world wants us to +speak to it. There are people around us who want us to take the Gospel +to them. They know what our privileges and blessings are. But how is it +with many? They just flee from the presence of God; they go down into +the sides of the ship and fall asleep. We need, then, first of all, in +our Mission to this great City, a true sense of our responsibility and +duty in the sight of God. But let me remind you of another city of quite +a different character, blessed with every privilege of a religious +kind--the city of Jerusalem. Though that city had every blessing which +God could shower on it, the people rejected God in all His love, and +grace, and kindness. Their wickedness may have been of a different kind, +but it was as great in the sight of God as that of Nineveh. The Lord +Jesus Christ Himself came as the great Missionary to that city--the city +of His love. He beheld the city and wept over it; its sins, its +wickedness, its rejection of God's love, drew tears from His eyes, and +He said, "If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the +things that belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine +eyes." And as I think of that, I learn the second grand essential for us +of a keen sense of sin. Oh! if you realize more and more the wickedness +of this great City, you would be more and more constrained to work, so +as to let others know of that Saviour who has proved so precious to you. +Lastly, let me refer you to another Mission--the Mission to the city of +Corinth. It was the centre of the commercial world; through it flowed +all the wealth from the East and the West; and as it was famous for its +wealth, so it was notorious for its vice. We are told of the Apostle +Paul visiting that city for the first time, and being discouraged; but +we are told that the Lord appeared to Paul in a vision and said, "Fear +not, Paul; be not afraid; I am with thee. I have much people in this +city." So he was encouraged in his work. He went forward in the cause of +the Lord with his hands strengthened with the blessed assurance that the +Lord was with him. Let me, in conclusion, remind you what a glorious +work is performed in this Society. If we are only true to God, God will +be true to us. His promise is sure. His people shall be gathered out. As +we look at the various discouragements, difficulties, and trials with +which we have to contend, we can go forward with hope and firm +assurance, remembering that blessed promise, that He has prepared for us +a city. + + * * * * * + +The Rev. Dr. MANNING (Secretary of the Religious Tract Society):--Ten +minutes ago my name stood last upon the list of speakers. That, of +course, meant that I was not to speak at all; that was the clear and +obvious inference from the place in which I was put, and it is only fair +to say that I was put in that position at my own urgent request, not +having time to prepare anything to say to you to-day. In the absence of +Mr. Waddy, I venture, very unexpectedly, to stand in the gap to second +the Resolution so ably moved by the Bishop of Sodor and Man. The other +day I was reading the memoirs of the late eminent aural surgeon, and +scarcely less eminent a metaphysician, the late James Hinton, who, on +one occasion, found himself in one of the very vilest haunts of London, +surrounded by the most abandoned and depraved of this great city. He +spoke to them of Jesus of Nazareth, and told them how, through Him, they +might reascend to virtue and hopefulness; and then, his eyes brimming +with tears, he turned to a gentleman who was accompanying him, and said, +"If the Lord Jesus were back again upon earth where would He be? He +would be here." And then with emotion, he turned away. So, when I think +of the work of the City Mission, when I remember that I have before me +some four hundred or four hundred and fifty agents of this Society, who +are descending into the very depths of misery and vice, carrying with +them the tidings of the great salvation, I cannot but think, in the +words of James Hinton, if the Lord were here upon earth, He would be at +the very work to which you, my friends, have been called, and in which +this great Society is commissioning and sustaining you. Therefore, with +very deep sympathy, I bid you God-speed, and rejoice with you in that +very affecting and even eloquent (not so much in words as in facts) +Report to which we have just listened. During the meetings of this week, +and of this month, I wonder how often our Lord's great commission will +have been quoted, "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every +creature." However often it may be quoted, it cannot be quoted too +often; and yet in this meeting especially, one cannot but remember that +there is a certain limitation imposed upon the disciples--"beginning at +Jerusalem." Why? It seems to me that almost every ground and reason +which prompted that limitation to begin at Jerusalem, may by fair +application and analogy, be brought to bear upon the work in which you +are engaged. Throwing out of account the special position of the Jewish +people, which, of course, entered into our Lord's consideration, what is +the meaning of that limitation as applied to us? I think, first of all, +it may teach us the duty of beginning the work which lies next to hand. +They were at Jerusalem, and they, therefore, began where they +were--began at once, and on the spot where the Master placed and found +them. There is a proverb often misquoted and mis-applied, to which, +however, I do attach extreme importance, that "Charity begins at home." +I would not give much for the charity which does not begin at home, as I +would not give much for the charity which ends there. The charity which +is good for anything, and which the Gospel inspires, and which the +Master teaches, is the charity that begins at our own door, and with the +work which lies next to hand. In this great mission work for the world +there is very much of romance; + + "Its distance lends enchantment to the view, + And gilds the mountain with its azure hue." + +And thank God for all that romance which prompts the imagination to +enlist itself on the side of conscience. In this work of ours, however, +there is little of romance; there is shown hard, terrible reality, vice +in all its gaunt, hideous, and repulsive forms, which has to be grappled +with; but, thank God, there are faithful men who will begin at London, +this million-peopled city, with all its manifold share of vice, as the +disciples began at Jerusalem. Then there is another point to which the +Lord Bishop, who has just sat down, has adverted--that Jerusalem was the +great centre of world-wide activity. "Parthians and Medes, and Elamites, +and the dwellers in Mesopotamia"--every nation on earth was there +represented; for at that time the Jew, as to-day, was the world's +banker, carrying on the commerce of the world, and found in every city +of the world. Is not that the position of London to-day? When the great +Jew banker, Rothschild, some years ago was under examination by a +Committee of the House of Commons, he was asked what was the influence +upon the exchanges of the world of an alteration in the rate of discount +in London, and he rose almost to a strain of poetry in his reply. +"Gentlemen," he said, "London is the heart of the world, and every pulse +and throb of the London market is felt in every part of the world." Why, +my Lord, wherever commerce is spread, the power of England is felt; +wherever trade is carried on, the sails of our ships whiten every sea, +and the agents and missionaries of commerce are found dauntless and +fearless in the pursuit of gain. Oh! what would the world soon be if +this great London of ours were converted to God, if from this great +centre of civilization and commerce there should go forth, not only men +seeking earthly gain, but men who would carry with them, in the +transactions of their lawful business, the love of Christ in their +hearts, and the message of salvation upon their lips! From this London +of ours an influence would spread over the whole world, and tens of +thousands of volunteer and unpaid missionaries would go forth, without +fee or reward, to carry the glad tidings of salvation. Then our Lord in +His ministry always appealed to kinship. Andrew findeth his own brother +Simon, and then they go and find their friend and fellow-townsman, +Nathaniel, and to each one the glad tidings are communicated, "We have +found the Christ." "Go, call thy husband, and come hither." This sense +of family relationship, friendship, and personal attachment is used to +spread the Gospel. And we, too, are to remember that our kinsmen and +brethren are, first of all, to receive from us the glad tidings of great +joy--the heathen not forgotten, but the heathen at our own doors, bound +to us by ties of brotherhood, are to have the first message of the +Gospel. Then there is patriotism. How proud the Hebrew has ever been of +his ancestor! With what pride the Apostle again and again boasts that he +is "of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin!" You look back +upon that long line of heroes, of whom the world was not worthy. My Lord +Kinnaird, we have a history behind us only second in nobleness to that +of the Jew. We are born of earth's best blood, and have titles manifold. +Admitting all the crimes of which our nation has been guilty, I yet +thank God--and in that sentiment I but utter the feelings of every +British heart--that I am born a Briton. Therefore it behoves us, as +Britons, to spread far and wide throughout our beloved and honoured land +that which can carry on its liberties and its prosperity to a yet higher +height. Not very long ago I was standing before one of those meetings in +the Faubourg St. Antoine, organized by that wonderful man, Robert McAll, +who is carrying on that marvellous City Mission in Paris. I stood there +amidst a crowd of gaunt, hollow-eyed Communists and Red Republicans, +with their long dishevelled hair, and white, haggard faces, and I said +to them, "I come simply to tell you what it is that has made England +free and prosperous and happy. Our hearts have bled for you in the +calamities which you in these recent years have endured. What can lift +you up from this abyss of ruin into which you have fallen? What is it +that can make you partakers with us of those national privileges which +we enjoy? It is the Gospel, and nothing but the Gospel. Let London and +Paris be found side by side falling at the feet of Jesus, and these two +great master cities of the world will yet win the world for Christ!" +Then there is just one further consideration to which reference has +already been made why the Gospel was to begin at Jerusalem: it was the +city of profoundest guilt and deepest need. At the point where the Lord +Bishop left off in his touching allusion to Jerusalem, they were already +plotting and conspiring not only to reject but to crucify the Lord of +Life; and the agonies of His dying cries had scarcely ceased from the +hills of Jerusalem, and His blood was scarcely dry upon the stones when +He prayed upon the cross, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they +do;" and said to His disciples, "Go to these, my murderers, these men by +whose wicked hands I have been crucified and slain, and as they are +deepest in guilt and extremest in need, to them let the first offer of +salvation come." And may not this, in some respects, be applied to +London, too? Men may speculate as they will as to the future condition +of the heathen world, and of those who have never heard of Christ, those +who have been born in the deep, dense, awful darkness of heathenism, a +darkness which might be felt, which like the pall of death hangs over +those degraded nations; they may speculate as they will as to the future +condition of those to whom the Gospel has never come, but what must be +the terrible, appalling guilt of the millions of London who are living +within the sound of the Gospel, and side by side with Christian +influences and agencies, but who yet remain as utterly dead and as +absolutely heathen as the very idolaters of Central Africa! As to their +guilt and ruin there can be no doubt. We, therefore, who hold in our +hands the glad tidings of salvation, are bound first of all to offer +them to these first in guilt that they may be first in hearing the news +of the Saviour. I have looked through the list which summarizes the +action and agency of the Mission, and I see that nearly three millions +of visits have been paid to homes darkened by misery, ignorance, and +vice. Your missionaries have gone, for what purpose?--to dispel the +cloud, and to bring peace instead of discord, joy instead of sorrow. How +many visitors have gone to those homes on a different errand? Last night +a gentleman, speaking in this hall, told an anecdote rather droll in its +aspect, but which may yet illustrate the difference between the visits +of the missionaries and those of many others who go to them. A dead body +had been cast upon the sands, and at the coroner's inquest the persons +who found it were asked, "Did you do anything to resuscitate the +corpse?" They could not understand the question, and the Coroner +repeated it: "Did you do anything to resuscitate the corpse?" "Yes," +said the men; "We searched his pockets." Now, that does seem to me to +express, in a quaint and droll way, the purpose for which many go into +the homes and haunts of poverty and vice. Our friends, however, go to +teach them, first of all, how to turn a penny into a pound by +temperance, virtue, and religion; and then to give them the yet deeper +blessings of salvation. I cannot sit down without one word of personal +testimony to the work of this Society. I am one of the Secretaries of +the Religious Tract Society. It has been our happiness and privilege to +assist, year by year and increasingly, with large grants of tracts and +publications, the work of this Mission, and its results. I am bound to +say that amongst the most efficient coadjutors of the Religious Tract +Society is this City Mission. There is no quarter in which our tracts +are circulated with more entire confidence and satisfaction to +ourselves, and with a firmer assurance that they will be well and wisely +used, and productive of the best results. I feel, therefore, that while +thanks have been from time to time rendered to the Tract Society for the +help which we have rendered you, we should render you most hearty thanks +for the help which you have given to us; and in the name of our Lord and +Master we bid you God-speed. + +The Resolution was unanimously adopted. + + + * * * * * + +BY THE SAME AUTHOR. + +ROUND THE TOWER; + +OR, + +THE STORY OF THE LONDON CITY MISSION. + +With an Introduction by the Rt. Hon. the Earl of Shaftesbury, K.G. New +Edition. Twelfth Thousand. Superior Edition, 3_s._ 6_d._; Cheap Edition, +1_s._ 6_d._ 16 Illustrations. + +[Illustration: Byword Tower] + + "This story is well told, and is of the deepest interest. Not a + page will be regarded as dull or dry."--_Record._ + + "This book should be read by all who labour among the masses. It is + a story of trials and triumphs."--_Word and Work._ + + "Lord Shaftesbury has written a good introduction to a graphic + story."--_The Christian._ + + "Every chapter will be read with satisfaction."--_Rock._ + + "In this volume the writer displays a thorough knowledge of London, + its poor districts, docks, and river. A vast amount of information + is condensed in its pages, and the style is racy and + pleasing."--_City Press._ + + "The author speaks with authority. If any one is ignorant of the + strange material that is operated upon by the agency of the London + City Mission, and the wonderful transformation brought about by the + same means, he ought certainly to read 'Round the Tower.'"--_Sword + and Trowel._ + + * * * * * + +_Supplied direct from the Author, post-free._ + + +[Illustration: Palace-like building with many people in courtyard] + +_Just Ready. Beautifully Illustrated. Price 5s._ + +A THOUGHT FOR THE WORLD; + +OR, + +THE NARRATIVE OF CHRISTIAN EFFORT IN GREAT EXHIBITIONS. + +_BY JOHN MATTHIAS WEYLLAND._ + +INTRODUCTION BY THE RT. HON. THE EARL OF SHAFTESBURY, K.G. + + * * * * * + + "We are informed that the Queen has graciously accepted a copy of + Mr. Weylland's new work, 'A Thought for the World,' and that Lady + Gainsborough has received Her Majesty's command to thank him for + it. Lord Shaftesbury has written a gratifying Introduction to the + book.... We notice in the Author's Preface a clever genealogical + sketch of national and international exhibitions, commencing with + the first, which was presided over by King Ahasuerus.... Scenes of + brilliancy and beauty are described with graphic pen. We consider + this a most valuable and well-timed publication."--_Record._ + + "This is a most interesting volume. In its pages we are told in a + very pleasing way, from personal knowledge and authentic sources, + the story of Christian effort in the Great Exhibitions of London, + Paris, Vienna, and of Philadelphia. There are good + illustrations."--_The Christian._ + + "His sketches are exceedingly interesting, and will not only serve + for the encouragement of others, but may prove very useful by + suggesting how those engaged in Christian work should go about it. + A recommendatory Preface is furnished by Lord Shaftesbury; but even + apart from this and on its own merits the book should find many + readers."--_The Rock._ + + "The work will prove suggestive and useful to Christian + workers."--_Watchman._ + + "The charm attached to the writings of Mr. Weylland has long been + acknowledged, and the power of description which have won such a + wide circulation for 'The Man with the Book,' and 'Round the + Tower,' appears again in his latest work. It is marked throughout + by a lively style, practical common sense, and the enunciation of + right principles."--_London City Mission Magazine._ + +_This Book is supplied to Subscribers of the_ LONDON CITY MISSION, +_direct from Bridewell Place, E. C., for 3s. 6d., postage, 4d._ + + * * * * * + + +MISSION TRACTS. + + +[Illustration: Street lamps and people in a fog] + +=IN A FOG.= + +A Tract for Sceptics. 2_d._ + +=LIGHT IN THE BARS.= + +For Publicans. One Hundred and Fortieth Thousand. + +=RINGING THE CHANGES.= + +For the Tempted. Fifth Thousand. + +=CRAPE ON THE WHIP.= + +A Sabbath Tract. Two hundred and Twentieth Thousand. + +=THE ROUGH POLISHED.= + +For Drunkards. Sixth Thousand. + +=THE SCENE PAINTER.= + +A Narrative of Grace. Seventh Thousand. + +_The above Tracts, in packets, selected. 7d._ + +=CARDS AGAINST SWEARING.= + +For Public and Coffee Houses. 2_d._ each; 1_s._ 9_d._ dozen. + + * * * * * + +A French Edition of "THE MAN WITH THE BOOK" has been prepared by Pasteur +Pallissier, of Paris, and revised by the Rev. Horace Noel. It is +designed for circulation upon the Continent, and among foreigners +resident in and visiting England. This can also be had at the Mission +for 2_s._ a copy, post free, with reduction according to the numbers +taken. A copy has been placed in each Public and Mission Library in +Paris. + + * * * * * + +Butler & Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Man with the Book, by John Matthias Weylland + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MAN WITH THE BOOK *** + +***** This file should be named 38330.txt or 38330.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/3/3/38330/ + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Lindy Walsh, Julia Neufeld and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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