AFTER DARK IN LONDON.

Colonist, Volume XXVII, Issue 3880, 29 March 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

AFTER DARK IN LONDON.

> On March 23rd the Theatre was well filled to hea*, the lecture on the above subject by Mr Marsh. Mr Holloway occupied >the chair, and on the platform were the Eevß P. Innea Jones, Calder, Lee, Nightingale, and Cato (at the org<tn). After a hymn: had been sung, and prayer had been offered by the Rev W. Lee, the Chairman said that Mr^Marsh was simply travelling for the benefit of his health, but his heart was so much in his work that he could not be : idle. He then called on Mr Marsb, who;was received with loud applause, and who* said that before he commenced his lecture he would like -to~6ay a word or two about the Nelson Young Men's Christian Association. When he landed in Nelson he thought there was very; little life in it, but on Sunday afternoon! when he saw the large congregation and the energetic young men he thought there was a little, whilst on Sunday night, after the services in the Churches, and when ; he saw these young men very busy fijling; the Theatre with forms from the Churches he thought there waa as much life in it as there:was in any,and he wished to thank them for their assistance. ;He then started with his lecture r -referring first to London JBridge,; giving a description -of the' same, and saying how. he had dreamt what it was, and how different it was to; all that he had imagined. Heunext took;his audience with him td the Tower of London, and spoke; of this wonderful place, and tho quaint beef -

eaters there. The Crystal Palace was the next place of interest viewed, the lecturer speaking in, the highest praise of the place, and the things shown there, for the amusement and education of the British workman1.: The underground railway, Cheapside, and theBank of England followed, and speaking of Cheapside. be -said that if anyone going to London wanted to find a New Zea, lander or Australian, ,he only had. to go there, and he .would meet more than one along, this thoroughfare. He had so far shown them the bright side of; 'London, he now took them to the dark or east side. The first he saw was a blue house where a great blue ribbon meeting was being held in Huckson Hall, Commercial road, Spitalfields: There were that evening he said plenty of honest, though poor,and starving'people, and it only, wanted a second: Garibaldi to arise, and; the populace iwould rise: as; one > man to. d.ernanfl tOybe better- housed and fed. .-bin the, course of this; part of his lecture^ne; spoke, strongly,of the British workman sticking out for, his right of the Sabbatn' r and said if wealth had its. way it. would make men _work the seven days. He^poke of the public (houses,:, and the cold and cheap lodging houses in St; Giles,, and the good and noble work done there by a lady, Miss M'Pherson,, and of the work done by Bj Barnado, in .Whitechapel. Mr Marsh; kept the attention of; his audience rivited, during the two and a .half, hours'in, which, he spoke, ■ometimes creating' roars; of laughter, .and at others almost drawing ,te^rs from ijheir ,eyes,;byr thejiwretched- state ;of poverty and; misery, iwhich he pictured. At the conclusionjOf the lecture, the. Eev; E.i I. ■loneS; proposed a hearty vote, of thanks ito Mr > Marsh,.rwhich, was carried amidst immense applause, ■ ' .KiS ■ :i".. ■•■'