God's Answers: A Record of Miss Annie Macpherson's Work at the Home of Industry, Spitalfields, London, and in CanadaLowe, Clara M. S.
Religion
God's Answers: A Record of Miss Annie Macpherson's Work at the Home of Industry, Spitalfields, London, and in Canada
Lowe, Clara M. S.
Canada -- Emigration and immigration; Church work with children; Home missions; Macpherson, Annie
"Little did we think, a month ago, that it would be possible in so
short a time to select, teach, and outfit seventy boys, and to soften
their manners, even if we had the necessary money for their expenses.
But the Lord has most wonderfully brought it all about in His own
way. The money was sent, boys anxiously in search of employment came
beseeching help, the needful work for their outfits was accomplished
in far less than the usual time by faithful widows, who sewed away as
diligently as though each had been making garments for her own son.
An active, earnest, clever teacher was also provided by the Lord, to
give to these rescued ones that punctual and diligent, daily
attention that seemed to us so important. Even the postponement of
their sailing from the 14th inst. to the 21st inst. was overruled for
good; Mr. Merry was enabled to become more personally acquainted with
each, and we know that 'the good seed of the Word' was sown in many
hearts, we trust to bear fruit. On reaching the ship, we were told
that our band would have the benefit of a place set apart for
themselves, whereas, had they sailed the previous week, they would
have been crowded up with other emigrants. After three days' rest we
return, the Lord willing, to the Refuge, to select and prepare a band
of young girls. Our sister Miss Macpherson writes to us that she has
been besought most earnestly by the Canadian ladies to send them out
some little English maids; and that they promise to watch over them
and care for them as if they were their own."
After the arrival of Mr. Merry in Canada with the second party of
boys, Miss Macpherson returned to England and wrote as follows:--
"My BELOVED FELLOW-LABOURERS,--You will be surprised to hear that,
after a pleasant voyage, with renewed health, I am again in my
privileged place of service in the East of London. My song of praise
is very full. The Council of the county of Hastings has given me a
house capable of holding 200, free of all expenses, situated in the
town of Belleville, Ontario, leaving the management in my hands,
entirely untrammelled by conditions. Thus a work of faith is now
commenced on Canadian shores, where our little street wanderers can
at once be sent and trained under our own schoolmaster, Mr. Leslie
Thom. My friend Miss Bilbrough, assisted by the Christian ladies of
the town, has undertaken to furnish this Distributing Home in
readiness for Mr. Merry's arrival. There all will undergo a training,
and will be kept till suitable situations are appointed for them."
After remaining a short time in England, Miss Macpherson,
accompanied by her sister, Mrs. Birt, returned to Canada with the
third party of young emigrants, numbering over a hundred.
The following is an extract from Mrs. Birt's first letter after
their arrival:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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