London (England) -- Social life and customs -- 19th century
served than are earned even by many of the industrious poor. I find
during the last year the 339 agents of the London City Mission had paid
1,528,162 visits during the year; 117,443 of these visits being to the
sick and dying. By their means a large number of Bibles and Tracts had
been distributed, 11,200 children had been sent to school, and 580 fallen
females restored to virtue. At the annual meeting of the Ragged School
Union it was stated that in 170 Ragged School institutions, there were
199 Sunday Schools, with 24,860 scholars; 146 day schools with 15,380
scholars, and 215 evening schools, with 9,050 scholars: of teachers 400
were paid, and 9,690 were voluntary. There were fifteen refuges in which
600 inmates were fed, lodged, clothed, and educated. The midnight
meeting movement, of which we have heard so much, and respecting which
opinions so much differ, according to its report, has been very
successful; through the instrumentality of the committee seven meetings
had been called; 1700 women had been addressed; 7500 scriptural cards and
books had been circulated; and 107 had been reclaimed and placed in
homes, through the agency of which, they would, it was hoped, be restored
to society. In addition to these five had been restored to their
friends, one to her husband, two placed in situations, and one had been
married. In the general charities of England London has its share. It
not merely takes the initiative but it subscribes by far the larger part.
When the Crimean war broke out a fund was raised for the wives and
families of the soldiers engaged in it, amounting to £121,139; £260,000
were subscribed for the relief of the victims of the Indian mutiny. Well
it was in London that the most liberal donations were made. Again, look
at the Religious Societies. In last year the income of the Church
Missionary Society was £163,629. 1s. 4d.; of the Bible Society £162,020.
13s. 5d. Of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, £141,000. 5s. 11d. Of the
London Missionary Society, £93,000. Thus gigantic and all-persuading are
the charities of London. The almshouses erected by private individuals
or public subscriptions are too numerous to be described, except we refer
to the London Almshouses erected at Brixton to commemorate the passing of
the Reform Bill; nor would I forget the Charter House with its jovial and
grateful chorus:—
“Then blessed be the memory
Of good old Thomas Sutton,
Who gave us lodging, learning,
And he gave us beef and mutton.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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