WORKING LADS' INSTITUTE & HOME Whitechapel, London, E. Established 1876 President The Right Hon. THE LORD MAYOR Treasurer C.R. Maynard, ESQ., Moorfields, Bush Hill Park, London, N. Founder Henry Hill ESQ., Trustees The Bourne Trust Corporation Ltd. Committee Revs. G. Armitage, J.T. Barkby, A. Baldwin, J.K. Ellwood, T. Jackson, Messrs. J.W. Hartley, A. Lee, C.R. Maynard Councillor W.E. Morse, J.P., S.A. Butt, and W Tyler. J.P. Solicitors Messrs. E.C. Rawlings, Butt & Bowyer, 2, Walbrook, E.C. 4. Auditor A.E. Turberville, ESQ., Chartered Accountant, 58-59, Carey Street, Chancery Lane, W.C. 2. Bankers Barclays Bank Limited, 234-236 Whitechapel Road, E.1 Superintendent and Secretary Rev. Thomas Jackson, 279 Whitechapel Road, London, E.1 Assistant Rev. Jas. E. Thorpe, 279 Whitechapel Road, London, E.1 Lay Assistant Mr. Wm. Jackson, 279 Whitechapel Road, London, E.1 Probation Officer Mr. H.E. Kinchin, 53, Carey Road, Leytonstone. E,
	Working Lads' Institute and Home Annual Report 1921
The Annual Meeting Held May 9th, 1921, was of exceptional interest and importance. In the unavoidable absence of the President, the Right Hon. The Lord Mayor the chair was occupied by, the Senior Sheriff of the City, Colonel (now Sir) Sidney Wishart, who was accompanied by Lady Wishart, and supported by M Henry Hill (the founder of the Institute), Alderman J.D. Kiley, M.P., Councillors H. Kosky, J.P., W. Haseldine Jones, A. Barber, Mr W. Tyler, J.P., Rev. J.A. Mayo (Rector of Whitechapel), Dr. J.J. Reidy, J.P., Mr C.R. Maynard, and other prominent supporters of the Institute. The crowded audience testified to the great local interest taken in the work, and the devotion of the Superintendent and his co-workers to the social and moral well-being of the lads of the district.
If the audience was inspiring, the report submitted by the Rev. Thomas Jackson was such as to create enthusiasm. Details were given of the miscellaneous operations of the Institute to interest the working "lads of the East End. Gymnasium, Library, Savings Bank, Swimming, Games, Drill, First Aid were among the means employed to interest, instruct, and benefit them. Appreciative reference was made to the commendable efforts of the lads in assisting to raise Money for the Hospital Sunday Fund, the Children's Fund for blinded soldiers and sailors, and for the Russian Famine Fund. They have also taken part in, and with the Scouts' Band supported,? several religious and philanthropic demonstrations in the East End, also given Concerts and Drill Displays. The moral influence brought to bear upon the lads was evidenced by the order and general good conduct. The district immediately surrounding the Institute was so benefited by the work of the Institute that hooligans were unknown. The poverty of many of the lads was obvious, but this only tended to deepen the care of the Management in their welfare. Lessons on Thrift, Industry, Temperance, Purity, and Morality were given from time to time. No sectarian teaching or conditions were enforced, but a steady endeavour was made to train the young to be God?fearing and worthy citizens. The Testimony of Old Boys Typical East End Lads Who had become Ministers of religion, Magistrates, prosperous business men, and. those who had attained to official rank in the Army and Navy, was an abiding inspiration to the present staff to persevere in the work. Alderman J. D. Kiley, M.P., who had to leave early in order to get to the House of Commons, "desired to heartily congratulate Mr. Jackson on the splendid work he had been doing for the last quarter of a century. It was work which was known throughout the City of London and highly appreciated and he was sure it would have a lasting effect on the lives of Many of the young people." The report made reference to the practical appreciation shown by the conductor of the Boy Scouts and the Gymnasium Instructor, who were old Institute lads, and were now giving their services gratuitously for the present members. The Summer Camp was held in a Berkshire village and passed off, in spite of unfavourable weather during part of the time, most happily and successfully. When closing his report of the Institute the Superintendent, the Rev. Thomas Jackson, said, "I have now completed a quarter of a century's superintendency of this Institute. For the sake of the work, and in order to perform our duties the most efficiently, my wife and 1 have been content to reside at the Institute and accept the minimum salary allowed to a married man in our denomination. On this occasion we feel deeply thankful to God for His blessing upon our labours, and grateful to all friends who have assisted and co-operated in any way to produce such cheering results as have been witnessed. As a thank-offering expressing their love for the work and deep interest in the poor lads of the East End, he and his wife had decided to give one pound for each of the twenty-five years they had had charge of the Institute, and he had pleasure in contributing £25 on that occasion." This statement not only occasioned surprise but excited applause.

The Account of the Year's Work of the Home And its Probation Officer was received with much interest and appreciation. "During the year we have paid *upwards of 800 visits to Police Courts, Petty Sessions, and Prisons, being an average of over 15 per week. 157 Lads have been admitted into the Home, and 33 Prison Gate cases have been dealt with, and clothing, food, lodging, or work provided, as the individual cases called for. Beside this, much assistance has been rendered to the various Courts in dealing with cases unsuitable for our Home. Our books show that we have dealt with cases ?from. the following Courts: -Old Street, 63 ; Westminster, 19 ; Thames, 12; Stratford, 11; Mansion House & Guildhall, 7; Croydon, 6; Woolwich, 5; and 4 each from West London, Lambeth, Clerkenwell, West Ham & Wimbledon; North London, 3 ; Grays, 2; Yarmouth, 2; and single cases have also been sent from Southend, Marylebone, Leicester, and Willesden. Of the 107 lads dealt with, 33 had lost both parents, 29 lost father, 28 lost mother, 31 cases where the parents were living apart. Ten boys have joined the Army, 17 gone to Sea, 5 to Coal Mines, 37 to Glass Works, 7 to Farms, 30 to Restaurants, and others to various forms of employment. it is not every lad that rises to the occasion, indeed we have had some great disappointments. But then we have had others that cause our hearts to rejoice, some who, to us, the Words of one such, "Are starving to do their duty to God man, and who daily thank 'God for the help of the Home which brought them to their knees before God and taught them the joy of carrying a cross for Him." With such testimony to encourage us, we go forward as workers together with Him who said, " I am come to seek and to save them that are being lost." The close of the war, the closing of munition works, and the return to civil life of our demobilised soldiers, together with the general slackness of trade have created a large increase in 11 juvenile Crime." Lads, who had been taking abnormal wages, find themselves out of employment, and still crave. for the pleasures and luxuries war-time wages placed within their reach. This has resulted in a great many lads getting into trouble, and being brought before the Magistrates, they were placed on probation. To play the part of Foster Parents, and assist them to climb to positions of respectability and trust, has been our constant endeavour, and we rejoice in having been able, after cleansing, feeding, clothing, and housing, to find them situations, and afford them an opportunity to successfully engage in the battle of life, which they never had before."

Two Homeless Wanderers.

Admitted on Probation.

The Chairman, Colonel Wishart, expressed regret at the absence of the Lord Mayor and congratulated the Superintendent and the workers on the success of the enterprise to which they had devoted their energies. Although work for elderly people was excellent, he thought they did better to begin at the other end of the ladder of life. The young had so much further to go, and it was a good thing to devote attention to them at the outset of their career. It was a most interesting report, and they might well feel proud of what they were doing.

Sample of Transformation.

Mr. H. Hill recalled how the work had grown since he started it 45 years ago. When they commenced, there were more lads employed in the City than there were to-day, but human nature was the same, and there were still multitudes of lads who needed a helping hand. Mr. Jackson was the man to give it, but money was needed, and in view of the example set by the Superintendent and his wife, he would, as he had been connected with the work for 20 years, give a donation of £20. He moved the adoption of the report. Mr. W. Tyler, J.P., seconded, and spoke of his 40 years knowledge of the Rev. T. Jackson. His services were highly appreciated by the Stratford justices, who realised that he supplied a want which was not being filled by the State. The Rev. J. A. Mayo, said he had been Rector of Whitechapel for 4.5 years, and there was no one for whom he had a more sincere affection and reverence than the Rev. Thomas Jackson. He lived on the spot, and it was only 'those that did so, who fully realised the problems and difficulties which had to be faced in Whitechapel. Councillor. H. Kosky moved the following resolution: "That we congratulate the Rev. Thomas Jackson upon his completion of 25 years Superintendency of the Institute and Home, and express to him our warmest appreciation of the great public service he has rendered in befriending 2,300 orphan, destitute, and necessitous lads in connection with this Home We wish for him and his wife health and strength to continue for some time to come their beneficent labours." He said it was with a feeling of gratitude that he moved the resolution, the more so because he belonged to that ancient faith which had brought many good things into the world. He had been brought up in the East of London, not many yards from that Institute and Home, which he remembered being opened. The Rev. Thomas Jackson had always appealed to him as a man of noble character. He had on many occasions befriended and helped those of all faiths. He would like to supplement his donation by making it up to the same figure as the number of Mr. Jackson's superintendency - £25, Mr. Maynard seconded the motion in a few well chosen words, and a vote of thanks to the Chairman was passed on the motion of Councillor Hazeldine Jones, seconded by Councillor A. Barber. The prizes, some thirty in number, were presented by Lady Wishart to the successful competitors in games and gymnastics, also to members for good conduct. In acknowledge a hearty vote of thanks passed to Lady Wishart and himself, the Sheriff expressed their great pleasure at making a more intimate acquaintance with the excellent work Mr. Jackson and his helpers were doing, and on behalf of his wife and himself gave the Institute Boy Scouts an invitation to hold their summer camp in the grounds of his country residence. The singing of the National Anthem closed one of the most successful and encouraging Institute Annual Meetings held during the past 45 years.

Report of a Recent Inspection. In September last the Probation Officer reported as follows: "It is a cause of deep gratitude that we have been enabled to place so many lads into situations, many of which offer a real opportunity if taken advantage of. That our lads are doing this is abundantly proved. We have recently visited all our lads who are working in the Coal Mines in
What he was.	Yorkshire, and, with one or two exceptions, all are doing well, both at their work and in their homes. A high moral and religious tone pervaded almost every home we visited. I asked every lad, "Do you still keep your Temperance Pledge?" and the answer was 'Yes" in each case.	What he is.
I urged the importance of abstinence from gambling and was well pleased with the lads' response. That our lads have made an impression upon the district was evidenced by the cordial greeting I received from entire strangers. Oh! you are from London, the Home that sent "Little John" and "Toby Timson" down here. Aye, they be grand lads, and then "Alec" and "Tim" they be good ones, and what about young "George S." (a lad sent back on account of physical infirmity), we were sorry, "he were a grand un," and the practical testimony was that we were able to place seven other lads in homes and work in the area, giving them a new outlook upon life, and such prospects for their future that London could never offer to them. Then a tour through the Weaving and Spinning districts in Lancashire revealed to us untold possibilities for our lads, if only homes could be found for them. What we need is some friend in each of the great centres, who would act as our representative, to whom we could send a list of suitable lads work for them, and who would try to find homes and work for them. We have great cause for thankfulness that so many of our lads, working at> various callings in London, are giving such satisfaction ; the cases of failure during the last six months have been far below the average. Our Prison Gate work has well repaid the attention given to it. A few examples of this work may be worth reciting.
"T.B.," aged 56 years, cabinet maker, discharged soldier, temporary pension, time limit having expired, being out of work. Wife and four children dependent, lost heart, fled to drink, then attempted suicide. He was rescued, and placed under our care; both he and his wife induced to sign the pledge, and he has joined Men's Brotherhood. Was found work, Mr. Jackson loaned him tools to start with, and he still keeps his pledge, and is making good, and putting away a few, shillings weekly to replace the tools.		His First Offence.
" W.E.," an ex-soldier, committed to our care from West London, suffering from shell shock and loss of memory ; cared for, accounts straightened out and settled, placed on a farm;. now fully recovered, having secured for him nomination for free passage and employment in West Australia. His former Commanding Officer has written a very appreciative letter of our efforts on this man's behalf. "L..," "H.,"and "M." Three young men, probation cases from Old Street, all three of them being sons of 1 widows, destitute, unable to find employment. "L." and "H." were provided with stock to resume street hawking. "M." placed in employment, and is still doing well. "L." and "H." soon pulled themselves around and at the end of the first two weeks returned to repay in part the cash we had expended for them, this being quite voluntary on their part. Trade having fallen off " L." has joined the Army and " H." the Navy, in both cases allotting part of their pay to their mothers.
Col. Sir S. Wishart and Lady Wishart with Whitechapel Institute Lads. Summer Camp, August, 1920.
"W.S.G." A homeless wanderer, a problem both to Magistrate and Missionary at Westminster, in a most wretched condition. We talked with him in his cell, and promised to help him, if he would try to help himself. We took him to our Home, where we cleansed, clothed, and fed him, and after a week's care he left us to join a ship as stoker. "Fred S." Was an old scholar in one of our Sunday Schools in Lancashire,, was affected with the wander lust and found his way to London. We found him in an awful condition in Whitechapel. He had tried to enlist, but was rejected by both the Army and the Navy. We took him into our Home, cleansed, clothed, and fed him, and got in touch with our Minister, who sought out his parents, and made the way possible for us to take him back. We interviewed both his parents and former employers, and had the joy of seeing him re-instated both to his home and work. The foregoing particulars supply evidence to the friends and supporters of the Institute that a most useful work is being conducted by the present devoted Superintendent. 'At would be difficult to exaggerate its importance in respect to the future well-being of the hundreds of lads that enter share in its influence and benefits. Many of the lads that this Home have known little, if anything of a clean, comfortable, and respectable home. From their infancy they have been familiar with scenes of squalor and wretchedness, and inducements to evil habits have been many and strong. To this class of unfortunate lads specially sympathetic attention has been
Morning Drill Exercises. Institute Scouts' Band.
paid, and many have responded to the kindly human touch and entered upon a respectable and useful career as citizens. There is a most hearty and willing co-operation between the Institute-Home staff and the Metropolitan justices and Probation Officers in seeking to rescue and reform the youths who have lapsed into the position of First Offenders, or who are the victims of privation and destitution. The Mansion House and City Authorities will ever deserve to be remembered with deep gratitude by thousands in the East of London, specially for the generous support and patronage in the inauguration and maintenance of so useful an Institute and Home." The Committee gratefully appreciate the support the subscribers have rendered during the past year, and respectfully solicits a continuance of their sympathy and aid in the future. On behalf of the Committee, THOMAS JACKSON, December, 1921.