An Archdeacon Breaking Stones.

Evening Star, Issue 7496, 14 April 1888, Page 1 (Supplement)

An Archdeacon Breaking Stones.

Forty-two of the unemployed in Sheffield, have been engaged by the Highway Committee at the Corporation Stoneyard, and as these men are mainly cutlery artisans they complain that they have suffered severely from the work. Archdeacon Blackensy, D.D., the vicar of Sheffield, accompanied by the Rev. F. W. Goodwyn, vicar of Sharrow (where the unemployed marched in procession to worship on Sunday, February 12), proceeded to the stoneyard to see for himself the nature of the work. Having watched the men for some time, he asked to be permitted to try his hand at the task, and Mr Goodwyn and himself set to work at stone-breaking. The men ceased their work to watch the archdeacon and his brother clergyman, their verdict being "that the archdeacon passed frame well, one of them undertaking to give him. *' &■ character " i£ he required it. The archdeacon and Mr Goodwyn afterwards joined the men at dinner at the WolstenholmHall. The archdeacon told them that if possible his sympathies had been quickened by what be saw in the stone-breaking yard. It touched his heart to see some of their hands blistered and bleeding from the nature of the work in which they were engaged, though he rejoiced to see their willingness to accept any honest labor to provide lor their wives and children, although some of them could only earn about 8d a day. He had " tasted "it a little, and he found it hard work; but he was encouraged by the man he was assisting promising him " a good character." He would be proud to possess such a document, and would have it framed and put up in. his study. He encouraged them to persevere, and hoped the time would soon arrive when the men would find employment at their respective trades.