UNEMPLOYED AT ST. PAUL'S.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 294, 5 September 1908, Page 10

UNEMPLOYED AT ST. PAUL'S.

SERMON TO THE "HUNGER MARCHERS."' A deputation of "Hunger Marchers," led by Mr. Stewart Gray,- attended at tlio afternoon service at St. Paul's Cathedral on July 19, and • Archdeacon Sinclair announced their presence to tho congregation-. The deputation, ho said, numbered about forty mon who woro endeavouring to find work for soino of tho men in the country districts. Those who were in such conditions of distress deserved tho most brotherly and Christian sympathy. ' ' .

After preaching from tho text' I. Thess. v, 23, tho Archdeacon of London concluded with further references to tho unemployed. Unomploj'ment was, alas! no hew problem. Twenty-eight years ago, when ho was appointed vicar of a parish in Westminster whoro evory -winter them was considerable unemployment, poor men would' go out at four o clock in tho morning and walk miles and miles in search of work, and return at midday—after which it was no good looking any more for work. Soup kitchens and other forms of relief were organised, but it was melancholy that every winter tho same state of things recurred, and now in tho Last End, even in this summer weather there was serious lack of employment. . Lot people think what long, summer days meant undor theso circumstances—no thine in tho clipboard, and everything, up to tho last shilling's worth, iu pawn. Somo of. tho unemployed present that afternoon had been sleoping out in the rain. Such a problem as tins desorred tho whole attention of a civilised community' until tho caso was prpbed and remedies discovered and applied Tho ArcUdcacon urged tho men not to say to the public, "Hero wo aro, so many hundrcds or thousands of unemployed," as that bowildcrcd tho public with a sonso of the hopolossacss of tho caso. He ulso advised them not,to oncourago in their ranks those who wero known to drink to excess. "Never doubt," said the preacher, "the protecting love of God or tho sympathy of your fellow-men. In tho house of tho Lord rich and poor meet together, and all aro equal in His sight." A collection was made for tho " Hunger Marchers," and 'tho amount realised was £32 145.-Gd. Outside tho cathedral wore three vohieles with tho words painted upon thom "Hunger Marchers.'i