DR. BARNARDO'S HOMES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 109, 10 May 1909, Page 3

DR. BARNARDO'S HOMES.

» 'REV. W. J. MAYERS'S (MEETING. iLast evening the Rev. W. J. Mayers, accompanied by ten of tho boys belonging to the London Homes founded by tfie late Dr. 'Barnardo, held a rally in the Town lHall. The building was crowded. Mr. J. G. W. Aitken introduced Mr Mayers, after an opening prayer by Dr. Gibb. The speaker mentioned a former visit to Wellington, seventeen years ago, when he had been accompanied by other boys who were now out in the world, honourably doing their duty. Mr. Mayers dwelt on the Christian aspect of the mission, and drew a graphic picture of the late large-hearted chief and founder of the institute. Dr. Barnardo loved all children, and that none the less that he had been -called upon hii.iself to part -with thrdfe of his own by death. In the Homes there is a family of 8000 to be provided for every day ; many are infante, and a large number afflicted. They are not sent out seeking situations, but every child is trained to a trade or profession. Thu lecturer showed photographs of various children who had passed through the Homes, and compared the original pitiful objects with the radiant little people when they had found home and friends. Mr. Mayers said that his tour had been undertaken at the earnest desire of Mr. 'Howard William?, son of Sir .George Williams— the 'Williams family is well-known in Y.M.CA. circles — and the former gentleman, who was secretary to the V.M.C.A. in London, had promised to defray the whole cost of the mission. Mr. Mayers made an. tirgent appeal for hearty contributions by the meeting to the funds of the Homes. The large audience paid very close attention to the remarks of the reverend gentleman, and manifested much interest in his young fellowtravellers. The boys gave various simple musical solos on bells, etc., which were received with applause. The meeting, said iMr. Mayers, was the largest yet held in New Zealand. Mr. Mayers preached at the evening service in St. John's Presbyterian Church. The text of his discourse was taken from the Hook of Ecclesiastes ix. , 10, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with 'thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou goest." The preacher said that if ever a man worked with all his might, that man was Dr. Barnardo. He was preacher, father, and friend to "all the large family of children he had gathered together. He had commenced his great work in the first place in a stable. The immediate object of the present mission was to obtain funds for a girls' hospital — a scheme which had been much cherished by the late chief. -Mr. Mayers wished the girls' hospital to be an Australasian memorial to Dr. Barnardo. 'He had been travelling over a year, and that was the one hundred and forty-third Sunday service he had conducted during that time, irrespective of many other meetings. Before reaching Wellington, the largest collection taken at any one meeting of the mission in New Zealand was £38. The collection at Wesley Church, Taranaki-street, yesterday morning, was £11, and at St. John's in the evening £31. The collection at the meeting in the Town Hall last evening reached £60. The sum needed from Australasia for the purpose previously stated is £20,000. The sum so far raised is £10,000. TO-NIGHT'S LECTURE. The Rev. W. J. Mayers, who will lecture in the Town Hall this evening on "Tragedies of Child-life," is one of the best known of Dr. Barnardo's fel-low-helpers, and he has been long associated with the work. The British Weekly recently said : "Mr. Mayers's oratorical gifts, his intimate acquaintance with every detail of the organisation, and his deep love and long-stand-ing friendship for Dr. Barnardo will commend his arguments to the Australasian public." The striking pictures of the Homes and life-sized photos of the rescued children render Mr. Mayers' addresses particularly attractive and impressive. Considering their former circumstances and early surroundings, the musical attainments of the Barnardo boys is most noteworthy. Their repertoire contains over one hundred selections, and they show great skill in their work on the handbells, bagpipes, mandolines, ocarinos, and many other instruments. The programme is advertised as "one yard long," and the boys and their instructor (Mr. Aaron) have won golden opinions all along the lino. A wellKnown Lincoln minister recently said : "I always feel, when I listen 'to Mr. Mayers and watch him with h"is boys and at his work, that. I have never known a more conspicuous instance of the right man in the right place. It is evident that the child qua child is in his heart, and he speaks for them, not so much as an advocate standing outside their actual life, but as one who lives, suffers, and laughs with them." There should certainly be a full audience at the Town Hall to-night, when his Excellency the Governor will take the chair.