THE PASSING OF A MISSION.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 13411, 1 May 1909, Page 8

THE PASSING OF A MISSION .

The decision of the subscribers to Herrick's City Mission to discontinue the work after the end of this month, was no doubt a wise on*. Mrs Herrick's regrettable retirement through ill-health would havo robbed the Mission of much of its distinctive character, for it is indissolubly connected with her cwn and her late husband's name, and in her absence it might have been difficult to carry it on. Then, too, the multiplication of charitable agencies lias to a large extent rendered the Mission superfluous. The subscribers had before them yesterday the twentieth annual report, but we believe the Mission itself goes back further than twenty years. It be pan indeed, unless wo are mistaken, in the private house of its founder, a man of wide sympathies, who. though in frail health and poor circumstances, eet himself during tho depression in the. latter eighties, when the city in common with tlie whole colony was suffering "bad times." to render what help he coukl to the unfortunate poor. Hi& faith in Divine assistance in his work was of that strong and simple character possessed by Pastor M-iller of Bristol, and in more recent times by Dr. Barnardo. After a time the work

of the Mission was set on an organised J basis, philanthropic citizens lent him valuable aid, and the building at the corner of Victoria and Montreal streets, »> long known as Herrick's Home, was taken and fitted up for tho reception of men who had no work, no money, and no home. Poverty-stricken families were also helped to tho best of tho Mission's ability, clothes and food being provided by the donations of charitably diepesed residents. For years the Home wnr> the centre of an agency for good that must have brought gladness into many hundreds of homes, and after Mr Herrick's death the work was carried on with undiminished zeal by Mrs Herrick. Some time ago the premises in Victoria street were relinquished, and Mrs Herrick, we believe, confined herself more particularly to work among women, while still looking after necessitous families, who will deeply regret the cessation of her labours. But whereas when Herrick's Homo wa3 first founded charitable agencies were few, to-day they are many, and the field covered by the mission, in which it has done much good work, is now occupied by other organisations. There is no fear that, with the Samaritan Home, the Nazareth Home, aud the various institutions under the control of the Salvation Army, who have so widely developed their social work in recent years, the beneficiaries of Herrick's Mission will suffer from its cessation. But ono cannot help regretting that one of the few purely voluntary charities existing should find it necessary to close its work. More and more the distribution of charity is passing into the hands of the State, and the tendency Ls not wholly for good.