WORKMEN'S EARLY SERVICES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 241, 4 July 1908, Page 12

WORKMEN'S EARLY SERVICES.

Canon Allen Edwards writes in tho "Southwark Diocesan Chronicle":—"! havo ofton said—if you cannot get men fo church at your timoß, you must try and do so at theirs. It was with this in mind that, ten years ago, I started in my parish church a workmen's, early servico .in tlio summer months at half-past five in the inorning for the special use of men on their r way to six o'clock work. The circumstances of' my parish particularly favour such''-'an effort. The church is within fivo minutes' walk of tho Loudon and South-Western Railway Works, and for many of the mentis on tho direct lino of route. I was, therefore, able to appeal to them with more 1 probability-of success than if the church had been loss conveniently placed to get up twenty'minutes earlier ana como into church on.; their way to work. I made a promise that Mf they carac the service should always, conclude sufficiently early to prevent all riskvdf their ever being late for their work. The 0 rosult is that we havo an average attondanco of about two hundred men in the navo and a hundred jWomon in the aisles, who reverently join us in prayer and praise, and • ehgerly listen to. a straight-forward messago: l ' Tho church bell rings, at ten minutes. td' 6ix. Then tho preacher understands .that'-Tio is to stop —ovon in tho middle of a. sentohco— and dismiss the men with the Blessing l ,*'for if once wo allow the men to be late for their work wo should wreck, tho service at ar. blow. Fifty of my country. friends supply 'ino weekly with consignments of fresh fiowsra, which aro scattered throughout, the.pews in .bunches, and taken away .by, tho men/ to whom thoy are a source,of unspeakable''dolight. You can call this a bribe if you liko; but when I toll my'men, as I did. once, that some, peoplo said this, they only, laughed at. tho thought that ' any orio ; could bo so foolish. . So far from the gift being a bribe," jts acceptance is almost a,witness for Chnat, inasmuch as the man .who goes to his work with a, bunch of flowers in. nis hands unuonsoiously advertises to the other men where lie has been first."