AMONG THE POOR.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1798, 22 August 1906, Page 2

AMONG THE POOR.

MISSION WORK IN TORY STREET. On August 16th a meeting of ladies and clergymen interested in the Tory street Mission of Wesley Church was held in a private residence in Lipman street. It took the form of an “at home,’ and Avas provided to enable Sister Isabel Sinclair, Avho came from England about eighteen months ago to take charge of the mission, to explain its Avork.

The Mayoress, Mrs T. W. II is lop, who presided, said it was not necessary lor a woman . to go on the platform to show what-, ought to be done in the community. They could use their influence far better by aiding hospitals, and helping their sister women along. There was also a great deal or good to be done in the homes of the poor aim among invalids, and girls who were living awav from their homes. One example of this noble work was that in which Sister Isabel Sinclair, the worker of the mission, was engaged. Sister Isabel said there was no part o' Wellington more in need of a mission than Tory street. The aim of this mission was to give every man and woman, however degraded or destitute, a eh a n in life. The work done was not only that of a church mission, but of a cit.. mission. She had worked in some the greatest slums of London, Manchester, and Leeds. In comparison wit.a these’ there were no slums in vv ellmg-ton-none, in fact, in New Zealand. But there was always work to be done among the unfortunate. In the 100 street. Mission they had thirteen meetings each week: The aim of these w.yo to promote preventive work, .rescue work relief work, temperance work, aim spiritual work. Buskin had said that ygreat, many,of those who tried to <i, good made a great mistake’m trying to lave those who had fallen meteau ot -trying to prevent others -rom astray—spending their on the worst material insceaa ox cue besr. The mission undertook chiefly the woik of. prevention. Consequently then efforts were mainly directed to helping women and children. -They Led a mothers-' meeting once a week. nady Piunket had remarked when visiting the mission last week that she considered the root of the work lay.in this department. They had established small sayings bank, which liad proved a boon to the mothers' In this hank they had accumulated about £2O last. year. Some ot the mothers had had to draw out then small savings; but if they had not had this fund they would have had to apply to the mission for help. For the purpose of encouraging thrift they had sales of left-off clothing. Even at the sales the garments were almost given away,

and many a man and Avoman avos fully clad for about two shillings. To the needy the old clothing was given away. She thanked the ladies who had helped m this direction, and appealed to them tor further help. The clothing cupboards AA’ere at present empty, and the needs of the people Avere now especially great. It Avas the same Avith house furnishings. It Avas remarkable how eager they were to obtain the smallest article that might add comfort to their homes. The demand for left-off clothing and old furniture always greatly exceeded the supply. Turning to another branch of the work, concerts Avere grteh in the mission room every Thursday evening. They were greatly appreciated. A number of Wellington people bad readily agreed to give these concerts. The latest movement' Avas an endeavour to raise an orchestra among the children of the mission. There was no human poAver more potent in attracting people .of this class than music. Local musicians had undertaken to train boys and girls for the orchestra free of charge. A temperance meeting Avas held every Saturday night. At these meetings sometimes thirty or forty drunkards from the publichouse- right opposite would wander in. When they came it was not easy for them to gel away. A free supper, was provided at-half-past nine," and an endeavour Avas made to keep the men there until the hotels closed. ''They had received much help from the public in this department. To Dr Chappie and Dr McGavin they were specially thankful for their medical services. A good deal of rescue Avork was done among drunkards, mostly among men. She quoted several striking instances of conversions. Another branch of their \A’ork Avas to give relief to the unemployed, and at times they avere able To get employment for men and Avomen. There was great scope for work among invalids. She appealed to the ladies present for help in giving attention to an old larb', Avho Avas both blind and deaf. She asked them for help in extending the work of the mission, and making it more efficient than it had hitherto been. Rev. P. W. Fairclough, pastor of Wesley Church, said Sister Isabel Avas goingon the right lines in undertaking preventive Avork among women,and children. Efforts in this direction AA’ere far more fruitful, though they appeared less heroic, than the work of rescuing drunkards.

Eev. J. H. Williams also spoke in appreciation of Sister Isabel's Avork. He had been pleased to hear that there Avere practically no slums in Wellington. Eev. C. Porter agreed that there -was no slum life in Wellington, though the germs of it existed here, as everyAvhere. He contrasted the conditions prevailing in Noav Zealand cities -with those of Melbourne. ,v

Several musical and elocutionary items were given during the afternoon by friends of the mission.