A NOBLE WORK. OH! noble is the work for those Who set the fetter'd free! How great, how glorious is the day True souls can glow, and knowledge flow, To give the light-investing might Though born 'mid vice, though reared in sin, Though "vagrant" be their name, Their step to guide, though they may bide Notices of Meetings, etc. GOLDSMITH PLACE, HACKNEY ROAD. THE Fourth Annual Meeting of this School was held at Adelphi Chapel. Previous to the Public Meeting, a numerous company of friends took tea in the school-room. The Meeting was presided over by the Rev. W. Woodhouse, and addressed upon the necessity and importance, and good results of Ragged School operations in general, in plain and practical speeches, by the Revs. J. Vaughan, D. Katterns, E. Stallybrass, T. G. Williams, and H. Harrison; Joseph Payne, Esq., H. Althans, Esq., Mr. W. Ferry, and Mr. W. Brown, a fugitive slave. The Report stated, that the school had been in operation now five years, and that it had been the means of great good to numbers of children, who, but for its efforts, no doubt would have been entirely neglected. The operations of the school now consist of a Day, Infant, and Juvenile School, a Week Evening School, and Sabbath Evening School. In connexion with these, a Scholars' Saving Fund has been established, and the children's deposits during the past year amounted to £14 178. 5d., besides which the children have been encouraged to purchase by small savings, 29 copies of the Scriptures, 164 copy books, 48 hymn books, and 61 of "Our Children's Magazine." marked improvement is very apparent in many of the children, mentally, morally, and physically considered; and some pleasing instances have occurred, sufficient to induce hope, that a good work has been begun in their hearts. One youth, 14 years of age, who had been in the school from its commencement, had recently died, giving pleasing evidence that he had been taught of God. His teacher, who often visited him, was much encouraged by his A patient endurance of pain, and the expressions of confidence in Christ as his Saviour. A few moments before he breathed his last, he sang his favourite hymn, "Dear Lord, remember me." LAMBETH RAGGED SCHOOLS. THE Fifth Annual Meeting of these Schools was recently held, under the presidency of the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, in one of the rooms of that magnificent building erected a few years since by the late H. Beaufoy, Esq. The attendance on this occasion was very large, and on the platform were several of the most respectable and influential gentlemen of Lambeth. The Rev. J. Aldis having been called upon to engage in prayer, the Chairman rose amidst applause, and said, that there was a time when the term Ragged Schools appeared to be an illchosen one, calculated to deter many of those for whom the schools were especially established from entering them; but experience had shown that it was the best epithet that could have been applied; for in the first place, it indicated a regard for a neglected class of society, testifying that however deeply they may have sunk in misery, squalor, and wretchedness, they were not beyond the helping hand of benevolence; whilst at the same time, it was an admonition to classes more highly favoured and blessed, that they had been too long guilty of a dereliction of duty towards their unfortunate fellow-creatures. Since he had been called to sustain the office of chief magistrate, a large amount of misery and distress had come under his observation. His lordship then detailed a case: it was that of a family of five children, who at one time had been in a respectable sphere of life, but became subsequently so reduced, as frequently to be two days together without any food, and had parted with so many of their garments, that it was scarcely decent to enter their room. All the support they derived was from one of the children employed in a newspaper office at 5s. per week; but he having fallen sick, the officer found him laid upon a mat in a wretched plight, and the family cut off from all means of sup. port. Cases like that, his lordship observed, were not rare: but he trusted that the establishment of Ragged Schools was an indication that the public mind was turned to that class of persons. Would that some of the enormous wealth spent upon luxury in this great city were appropriated to reform the disease and destitution that abounded in its streets and alleys! He would earnestly impress upon the Meeting the fact, that it was not sufficient to build Ragged Schools, noble and praiseworthy as that was, but that the most strenuous efforts should be to fill them. Controverting the assertion sometimes made, that the class of persons invited to Ragged Schools were sunk too low to be raised and improved by means of instruction and kindness, his lordship related an interview that he had had with a prisoner to whom he was advised by an official of the prison not to go; kindness won the heart of the prisoner, and he was most docile and teachable. So, too, with the outcasts of society; let proper means be employed, and they will yield to their influence. It is true that many poor people are prejudiced against schools; but if they were able to understand that art and science teach persons to use their eyes; if that higher form of teaching were more generally aimed at-the discipline of the heart-making children more obedient to their parents, and more correct in their general behaviour, the prejudice of their parents would be greatly modified. If parents could be got to visit the schools, and mark the contrast between the children there and those in the streets, that would prove the most powerful argument and most successful inducement to send their own children. You have, his lordship feelingly observed, an admirable school, built by a generous benefactor whose name will live for ever. He regretted that the school was in debt; in a locality like the one in which they were assembled, the school ought to be amply supported by the sixpences and shillings of the inhabitants of Lambeth. He would especially beg the ladies to look to that matter, and trusted that they would not allow another month to elapse without visiting the establishment and taking their friends with them. No one could visit the Ragged School without learning something. He had often thought what he should have been if brought up in a garret, and sent into the streets to get a living as he best could. It often happened to boys who were allowed to wander about the streets, that if anything occurred, the police would catch hold of them just because they were in company with others, and so get imprisoned. Once there, they were sure to be corrupted. There were many boys who had been in prison between twenty and thirty times. He hoped, however, that the existence of Ragged Schools would exert a salutary influence upon the juvenile population, and make them better members of society. Mr. H. Doulton, the Secretary, read the Report, and the Treasurer stated the receipts of the year to have been £342. 15s. 5d., and the balance due to him £79. 19s. 3d. The meeting was addressed by the Revs. W. Leask, Sparkes, Aldis, Ashmead, and T. Davies; also by Messrs. Richards, Gent, Corderoy, and Miller. BEDFORD STREET, COMMERCIAL ROAD, RAGGED SCHOOL. THE First Public Meeting on behalf of this School was held in the large school-room of Commercial Road Chapel, on Tuesday, September 20th. Previous to the Public Meeting, a very numerous company of the friends and supporters of the school took tea together. The Rev. G. W. Pegg, Minister of the Chapel, presided, and the meeting was addressed by Mr. T. L. Jackson, the Thieves' Missionary; Joseph Payne, Esq., Messrs. W. Ferry, J. B. Day, and H. J. Hollingsworth. Mr. Barnet, the City Missionary of the district, to whose indefatigable exertions this school owes its origin, stated, that it was opened on the Sabbath evening of April 24th, on which occasion there were 75 children and 12 teachers, and ever since the attendance of scholars and teachers had gradually increased. The children admitted were at first in a very ragged and dirty condition, and very noisy and troublesome; but already a great change for the better had taken place in their appearance. The rags were now mended, their faces and hands were clean, and they conduct themselves in an orderly manner. Many of them had been induced to purchase Bibles, hymn, and other good books. Very pleasing testimony has been borne by the neighbours, as to the improvement of the children. He considered the success of the school was greatly to be attributed to a good superintendent, and a band of pious teachers. The operations of the school had been greatly assisted by contributions of needful and useful books from private individuals, the Bible, and Band of Hope Societies, and also the Ragged School Union. The suc cess of the operations thus far had encouraged the Committee to resolve to open a Week Evening School shortly. There was a balance in hand of £1 8s. 9d. Papers, Original and Selected. REFUGES. THE subject of Refuges in connection with the Ragged School system, is one which, although it has excited interest in the minds of many, yet has not in our opinion received that general attention which its importance demands. It is manifest that Ragged Schools, however vigorously their influences may be brought to bear on the classes for whom they are designed, lose much of their moral power in consequence of the constant and daily antagonism which they encounter when the scholars retire from the scene of instruction, and come in contact with so much that is contaminating and vile. In addition to this, the education there imparted, however excellent in its present results, is often rendered comparatively useless, either from the children being driven, by starvation or the solicitations of wicked associates, to the commission of crime, or else from the want of a guardian care extended over them for a period sufficiently lengthened to qualify them by industrial education to obtain a livelihood by the labour of their own hands. Alas! how often have the hearts of many teachers and managers of our schools been wrung with grief in seeing too plainly that the children who waited on their instructions, were ready to perish for want of sufficient food by day or proper shelter by night, whilst, to supply the one or to furnish the other, there were no means at hand! The experiment of providing Refuges has been partially made in the metropolis, and also in various other cities and towns of the kingdom. These Refuges have been of two classes. The first is that of the ordinary Night Refuge. These are more especially designed for the houseless poor of both sexes. Where they exist, as at Field Lane and in other places in connection with the Ragged School, preference, we believe, is given to children attending it. In addition to shelter for the night and some food, all who enter the Refuge receive a certain amount of religious instruction. Many of the occupants of these Night Refuges are casual vagrants, or houseless and penniless strangers who here receive a temporary shelter. The second class is that for the permanent support and education, for a stated period, of young persons between ten and sixteen years of age. A separate building is provided for them, together with food, lodging, and religious and general instruction, besides which the acquisition of industrial skill is made imperative, and all are placed under the superintendence of a resident master or matron. With regard to the first of these two classes, it appears from a "Report of a Sub-Committee on Refuges" now lying before us, that the number of houseless poor of both sexes and all ages in London, does not ordinarily exceed 500 or 600 persons, and the Committee are therefore "of opinion that a very limited number of Night Refuges, judiciously situated, would meet its requirements." Perhaps many of our readers will be surprised to hear that the number of houseless poor, in a metropolis containing the vast population of nearly two millions and a half, is so small. Nevertheless, we believe that the statement has not been made without strict examination and inquiry. Still it is a lamentable fact, that even in a season of general prosperity, so many wretched wanderers should be found on our streets unable to procure nightly shelter. The approach of winter reminds us all the more forcibly of the intense misery which many of them must endure, and how important it is that very speedily there should be provided that ample accommodation for them all, which does not now exist. The Committee have thrown out important hints as to the management of such Night Refuges : I. "Much additional care is required to prevent the serious evils of encouraging a tendency to idleness and vagrancy. II. Such Refuges should be furnished with ample means for enforcing frequent attendance at school, and for industrial training, cleanliness, and discipline; and should be under the direct superintendence of the school authorities, as well as in the same building as the school. III. "Persons directly responsible to the Committee of the Institution, should superintend the admission of the inmates." These suggestions are so judicious and excellent that we are persuaded they will commend themselves to the approval of all who take an interest either in the establishment of additional Night Refuges, or in the increased efficiency of those already opened. We pass now to the other class of Refuges, which bring a number of young persons under the continued operation of a system by which they may, under the Divine blessing, be permanently benefited and blessed for both worlds. From the Report to which we have already alluded, it appears that there are thirteen of such Refuges in London. From three of these no account has been received, except as to the average attendance; while from the others we have information furnished not only as to "attendance," but as to "food, clothing, rent, salaries, and sundries." The result appears to be that the average cost per year is £13. 11s. 5 d. for each inmate. The number of inmates in attendance amounts to two hundred and fifty-one, the total cost being upwards of £3,400 per annum. On the question of making grants in support of this class of Refuges as important auxiliaries to Ragged Schools, the Sub-Committee are of opinion "that the Managing Committee is autho rised to aid them out of the General Fund of the Union." And having thus disposed of a preliminary question, they give the following recom. mendations: From the results of the inquiries made, and from the experience of those who have had the management of the Westminster Juvenile Refuge, as supported by the Union, we do not at present think it desirable to establish a Central Refuge under the management of the Union. We recommend that the three following Rules be observed with respect to all Refuges: 1. That in making Grants reference should be had only to the number of inmates who are between the ages of ten and seventeen years, without reference to adults. 2. That where in any case a Refuge is not in immediate connection with any particular Ragged School, the Union should assist the Refuge only with reference to inmates received from Ragged Schools; and care should be taken that the general management of the Refuge is accordant with the purposes of Ragged Schools. 3. That in making Grants reference should be had only to those inmates gratuitously admitted, without reference to those inmates who pay for any portion of the accommodation afforded them. We are of opinion that Refuges for girls should be as distinct as possible from those for boys; and we recommend that they should be in distinct buildings. We are of opinion that it is of the highest importance for the due management of Refuges, that the master or mistress should in all cases reside on the premises; and we recommend that the Managing Committee should always ascertain that the effective superintendence of the several departments of the Institution is adequately provided for. Having ascertained that the practice of placing out homeless children to lodge in private families has been adopted in Edinburgh, Dublin, and London, and considering that such arrangements may be accompanied with many domestic and kindly influences, we recommend that the attention of persons contemplating the establishment of Refuges be called to this plan. We have in the statistics already furnished, sufficient evidence that one of the main obstacles to the extension of a class of Refuges the necessity for which cannot be disputed, arises from the cost of their maintenance. The Committee of the Union can only make grants in aid of local efforts, and even when both are combined, existing agencies have many difficulties to struggle with. It is plain, indeed, that the means for larger grants might be supplied by the religious public, and it is one object of our present remarks to urge an increase to the revenue of the Union, in order that the difficulty may in part at least be overcome. When it is remembered that by the increase of these Refuges, as well as by the extension and more generous help to those already in operation, there is a moral certainty of thus accomplishing, in the case of a definite number of the young, the grand and beneficent objects which the founders of Ragged Schools contemplated, namely, the prevention of juvenile crime, the instruction of the ignorant and the neglected, and the elevation of the outcast and degraded to positions of social usefulness, as well as of spiritual privilege and blessing; surely the urgency of the question is too apparent to require further enforcement. There are those who have done much for the general cause who, with this special object now brought before them, will, we trust, be prompted, both by the sense of duty and the yearnings of Christian love, to abound yet more in the "riches of their liberality." Offered in faith, and with cheerful self-sacrifice, the smallest gift will be as acceptable as the richest, and both combined will furnish a fund by which Refuges shall no longer be confined to "the day of small things." We confess that it is our most anxious desire, to draw the attention of those whom God has blessed with abundant means to the question, whether the establishment and support of such Refuges is not worthy of their prayerful consideration. We believe, that oftentimes large sums are annually distributed by wealthy Christians among objects of secondary value, which, if concentrated in the support of one or two plans of pre-eminent importance, and yet such as have not received general attention, would fill their souls in a dying hour with thankful joy, that they had not lived in vain. And there are other professing Christians of large possessions, who have not yet acquired the blessed habit of giving, and who either expend their wealth on luxuries, or hoard it, to the grieving of the Holy Spirit and the injury of their |