"Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour."

Superintendent's Notes.




Superintendent's Office.
 Our love for the work made it an enjoyable recreation to us, and the thanks and blessing of the poor and needy were a rich reward.

Father Christmas


The writer's 71st year did not lead him to forget that he was once a boy, and boys of the past as well as those of the present, as also girls, have a great liking for the visits of Father Christmas. We had much pleasure in welcoming the venerable Father on each of the three days during Christmas, 1920, to the delight of one thousand children. Smiling faces, lusty voices, and excitement, told of hearts made glad and juvenile lives brightened. The typical dress and adornments of Father Christmas were as attractive as ever, and the presents he brought, thanks to the generous supporters of Whitechapel Mission, were more numerous than in recent years. The respected Member of Parliament for Whitechapel, Alderman J. D. Kiley, and other friends, several from South Wales, were welcome and interested visitors.

Father Christmas at Brunswick Hall.

Christmas 1920


Our kind friends and contributors, to the number of nearly one thousand, expressed their good wishes that we might have a happy Christmas. Such wishes were realised to the full by us. Our Institute and Home Fund at the end of November last occasioned our prospects to look not a little gloomy, for our expenditure had exceeded our income by £700. We, however, kept responding to the appeals of the orphans and the Police Court cases and kept our doors wide open. We did not forget to lift up our eyes and hearts to the hills from whence had come help in time past. By Christmas Day our prospects had become much brighter and the means to supply seasonable cheer and assistance to some three thousand of the poor of East End slums were at our disposal. A busier or happier Christmas we never had. Long and active days had the effect of sending us weary to rest, but as our days, so was our strength, and each morning found us ready to receive the postman.

"He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord."
Suitable hymns were lustily sung by the children, and several speakers re-told the old, but ever new, story of the Infant Christ. The entertainments, which followed, afforded pleasure and amusement. The distribution was an exciting exercise. Each child was presented with a toy, a Xmas card, and a bag containing an orange, an apple, a mince pie, a rock cake, sweets, and nuts. The thanks of the little folk were expressed in rounds of cheering that were both loud and hearty. Some hundreds of slum homes had a little added happiness as the wonderful things associated with the visits of Father Christmas were related.

The Burden Bearers


It was no pleasant experience to hear the many sad details of hardship and suffering recited to us by the aged, the infirm, and the genuine unemployed. Much of their privation was known to us and called forth our pity and stimulated our endeavour. The scantily furnished room, the fireless grate, the larder nearly bare, and ordinary domestic comforts lacking, were scenes we did not shun, but were moved by them to do what we should have welcomed others doing for us had we been in such distressing circumstances. We knew that coal was three shillings and threepence per cwt., but this did not deter us from providing more than a hundred widows and old age pensioners with a week's fuel. To these and several hundred distressed families gifts of cash for grocery, bread, and clothing, were distributed, and by the time Xmas, 1920, had passed we had the delight of knowing that 3,000 of the East End poor had had a little help and cheer provided them by our Mission.

The Christmas Parties


The Poor Man's Dinner, the Women's Tea, and the treats given to the Home Lads, the Boy Scouts, the Wolf Cubs, and the Girl Guides made lively proceedings, and many workers joyful, though very weary. The Institute and Brunswick Hall were centres of unusual activity from early morning till late at night.
Applications for help from worthy and unworthy visitors had to be enquired into, tested, and responded to or rejected. By care and the aid of experience, imposition was reduced to a minimum. The Secretary of the Discharged Soldiers' and Sailors' Society brought to our notice a number of cases of distress, and these were assisted with gifts in kind to the value of ten shillings each. The Society expressed by letter from its Secretary gratitude for what we had done. All our activities were carried on by our staff in a

Headquarters of Whitechapel Mission.

"Every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts."

"Every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts."

"Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker."
CONSECRATION.

My every faculty
Of body, mind, and soul,
To Thee, 0 Lord, full heartily
I consecrate the whole.

My days, my months, my years
Shall gladly all be Thine
And be devoted zealously
To purposes Divine.

My talents, though but few,
And gifts and graces given
I consecrate these all to Thee,
Thou Lord of earth and heaven.

Whatever I can do
Thy kingdom to extend
With cheerful zeal I'll daily try
Until this life shall end.

And then before Thy throne
Adoring I will fall,
And thank Thee for the love which gave
Me life, and heaven, and all.

Chester.             Beresford Adams. 		where the Superintendent, after 4~ years of such work in East London, is as alert as ever, and now he is ably seconded by his colleague, Rev. J. E. Thorp, who not only in this, but in all branches of the work, is manifesting both ability and enthusiasm. The first Sunday in the month is always a special day, for then the Boy Scouts and the Girl Guides attend the service in uniform, who with the lads from the Institute, make a most interesting congregation, and causes the preacher to feel the possibility of some of them at least becoming eminent saints. The Christian Endeavour meeting is week by week well attended and sustained, so that the young "whose hearts have been opened" are afforded help in making their "calling and election sure." Whilst the older friends, chiefly wives and mothers, meet for Christian fellowship on a Thursday afternoon, and are met by one of the Ministers and the Sister of the People, who invariably feel that they have received as much help and stimulus as those to whom they have come to minister. The effect of the war conditions is still felt, but the future is full of hope, and in the meantime we "thank God and take courage." JAMES DOBSON.

Is it worth while?

By our Police Court and Prison Gate Missionary.

Jan. 1st to Dec. 3ist, 1920. We go through our books. Boys in residence on Jan. 1st, i6; admitted to home during year, 147; Lads over iS dealt with outside, 36; total, 199. Visits to Police Courts and Prisons over 8oo, besides visitations at the homes and places of employment. Quite 85 per cent, of these lads were first offenders, handed over to our care by magistrates, after we had interviewed them in prison, court cell, or missionary's room, and obtained from them a promise to run straight and make good. "But how can I do this? I have no home, no friends, no work, and now I have been here, no one will employ me." Thanks to the life work of Thomas Jackson and his Home for destitute and friendless lads, a door of hope is opened for such as these, and so we take charge of them, cleanse, clothe, feed, and shelter them, and then seek to place them in employment, putting their feet upon the first rung of the ladder, and encouraging them to climb. The question of finding employment is a great problem, and at times this forces the question at the head of this article, "Is it worth while?" So many of these boys have never done any regular steady employment. Casual work in markets, newspaper vendors, bookmakers' runners, and the like have been their occupation. So that to get them to settle down even when work is found for them is difficult. But they are not all of this class, neither are they all disappointments. Some of our lads do very well

Friends, Please Note

As our financial year closes on March 3 1st, will those friends who have not as yet sent their Annual Contribution, but intend doing so, kindly note that our books close for audit on April 1st. We shall much appreciate any such donations as may be sent before the above date. THOMAS JACKSON.

Evangelism

Amid the multifarious work of the Whitechapel Mission, there is nothing which is more to the fore than the proclamation of the evangel, and the strengthening of the spiritual life of the members of the Church. The former is chiefly on the Sabbath in Brunswick Hall, but in the summer, when weather permits, it is carried into the openair

Rev. J. Dobson.

"Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker."

H. E. KINCHIN.

Rev. J. E. Thorpe

I was born in Primitive Methodism; count it an honour to serve the Church, which was the instrument in my conversion; and have ever felt, since the doors of its ministry were opened to me, that mine is a privileged vocation. I remember the great names of Primitive Methodism better than the list of Plantagenetor Tudor Kings. My wife and I spent our honey moon in visiting places and churches of connexional fame. This brought us to Whitechapel and to our first contact with the honoured founder of this unique Mission and with his devoted wife. There was no idea then, 15 years ago, that one day we should be invited to share its anxieties and toils, but time holds the unexpected in her hands, and after these months experiences the dominant feeling is that of pleasure at being associated with the one and only Free Church ministry existent in this densely packed and badly reputed Whitechapel.


Rev. J. E. Thorp.

We have the worst type of slums about us. We have two Sundays in each week- the Jewish and the Christian,-unfortunately neither are characterised by Sabbath peace or holy calm. Our cosmopolitanism can be seen and smelt. My boy attends the neighbouring Secondary school, and out of 300 boys 7 only are of British palentage. This, however can never be urged as an apology for slackened effort or for deserting the fort; they are rather a challenge to continued endeavour. As one sees the outer life of this district and gets to know its underworld, Prof. Seeley's words come back to the mind, " Christianity, surely, is in the world to cure all this."
According to its resources, this Mission has pursued the Christian curative process. it has behind it more than 20 years of RESULTS as well as efforts. SURSUM CORDA! At present it bubbles with activities and plans its future, believing in a salvation for the worst and a service rightly demanding the best.
indeed, especially in the coal mines of Yorkshire and glass works of Lancashire. We have made several visits to these areas and have been delighted with the marked physical and moral improvement shown by many of our old boys. Then during the year 25 have either joined the army or gone to sea; others are doing well in different situations in London; above all some are showing a keen desire for the best things. Last evening it was my joy to sit "at the Lord's Table" with one of our last year's boys-his first Communion. A letter received last week says, "The influence of the Home has not been lost on me; I am striving to do my duty to God and man; I am not an angel, but I am trying to be good. My best wishes to Messrs. Jackson and Thorp, and all connected with your splendid Home which brings bad lads to their knees before their Creator, and makes them realize the joy of bearing a cross for Him." So we take heart. God is with us. We seek your help, your prayers, and your sympathy in practical form to enable us to go forward in the great work to seek and save those who are being lost.

Yours in the joy of service,
H. E. KINCHIN.


The Homeless Orphan

"Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker."
There is no eight hour and five days a week policy here. Every day has its Spiritual and Social ministries. I have conducted four services indoors and finished up with another in the open air on several occasions. The type of religion which sings- Oh to be nothing, Only to sit at His feet," will "butter no parsnips" in our parish. The contemplative Christian can only justify himself by sending a little money this way that we may keep moving (in their stead) "in His steps," Who went about doing good. I heard a speaker say recently that " \Ve need a conception of Christianity which goes higher than the mere feeding of hungry children." He probably knew what he meant, but frankly I did not. I have seen the religion at work which clothes the naked, feeds the hungry, and preaches the Gospel to the poor. I always believed it was according to the New Testament pattern; I now know it to be both needy and worthy. Thank God, so many others believe this too. This Christmastide, day unto day uttered speech in notes, cheques, and postal orders. The rich out of their opulence, the poor out of their slenderness, were saying, " We believe in the Gospel of the 'Inasmuch.' You are where it can be preached and practised, we will help you. Go and do this for us-in FTis Name." It was a joy to 9hare in acknowledging these gifts. It has been an equal joy to help in using them: to see the widow's heart rejoice, to see the dull care's heavy burden made a hit less, the father's anxie~y relieved, and tF~e little child in the midst of goodwill and good cheer. The Whitechapel Mission-Your Mission AND MINE-is taking some sting out of the sneer :- -" Oh, the rarity Of Christian Charity Under the sun." Rev. J. E. Thorp.