The Committee of the District Visiting Society, in presenting the SECOND
ANNUAL REPORT of their proceedings, feel that they have every ground for
renewing the congratulations which they were last year able to offer to
the Society, on the advantages which have accrued to the parish through
its instrumentality, and also, on the prospects of continually increasing
benefits, as its plans become more fully matured, and its operations more
clearly developed and in consequence more completely effective.
Since the last Annual Meeting changes have taken place in the
ECCLESIASTICAL ARRANGEMENTS of the parish, which, having the effect of
removing the Northern Districts from the superintendence of the Clergy of
St. Mary Abbot’s, render necessary an alteration in the Seventh General
Rule of the Society. The Committee accordingly recommend that the Rule
be now modified, so as to confine the future operations of the Society to
that portion of Kensington which is under the ecclesiastical charge of
the Vicar. It is right to mention that arrangements made by the Clergy
of St. John’s and St. James’s are expected to provide for the requisite
attention being paid to the wants of the poor within their respective
localities.
Having now had two years’ EXPERIENCE of the DIFFICULTIES which must beset
every endeavour to produce a substantial and permanent improvement in the
condition of so extensive a mass of population, whose individual elements
are so unsettled and fugitive;—the Committee have had a fair opportunity
of judging of the practical working of the Rules that were originally
adopted, and of the plan and operations which has from the first outset
been acted upon. The result, they are prepared to say, amply justifies
the discretion by which those Rules and that plan were dictated. It is a
sufficient confirmation of the opinion they hold, that throughout the
whole of the Metropolitan portion of the Diocese the same general system
of District Visiting, the same active co-operation of Laity with Clergy
in the work of charity, and the same general course of action, have been
acknowledged as the only effectual means of coping successfully with the
pressing evils arising from an overflowing population, from ignorance,
improvidence, and vice; and that, under the sanction and direction of the
Bishop, they have been almost universally brought into action. {10}
There is one point bearing strongly upon the difficulties the Committee
have had to encounter, to which they are desirous of directing especial
attention; namely, how much the endeavours of the Society to ameliorate
the condition of the poor would be facilitated, if greater care were
taken by the donors of charity to make full inquiry into the CHARACTER
and CIRCUMSTANCES of APPLICANTS, before administering relief.
It is found that applicants at the doors of residents belong in general
to one of three classes:—
The first class consists of PERMANENT MENDICANTS; who have a more or less
constant residence in this or other parishes, and are supported
exclusively by the donations of charitably disposed, but
undiscriminating, individuals. Instances can be pointed out, of persons
who it is believed have lived in Kensington for years, professing for the
most part to have some nominal occupation, yet in fact subsisting
entirely upon means obtained by such systematic mendicancy. As they
readily state their trade and abode when interrogated, their tale—which
is but too commonly a tissue of mere invention, or at best only partially
correct—is at once assumed to be true. In the event of further inquiry
being instituted at their abode, the same story of course is told; and
probably supported by the interested evidence of the other dwellers in
the same house, who generally derive their subsistence by similar means.
Relief is given; the idle and the impostor encouraged; and by so much the
industrious and respectable labourer discouraged and injured, the
suffering and the unfortunate deprived of their due.
The second class is that of VAGRANTS, or TRAMPERS. These have no settled
home, {11a} but sleeping at the nightly lodging houses, at some of the
various Refuges in London or elsewhere, or in the vagrant-ward at the
workhouses, wander about from parish to parish and from town to town
continually; frequenting the various watering-places in their respective
seasons, and succeeding ordinarily in reaping a rich harvest from the
ready liberality of visitants. The tale that is now most commonly and
most effectually pleaded by them is that of distress from want of work.
But though unquestionably there are cases of this description, it is yet
certain that whatever their assertions, a small proportion only of such
applicants are willing to work, even if the opportunity be offered them.
{11b}
To those wanderers, whose cases are really those of sickness or urgent
destitution, the humane consideration of the Board of Guardians of this
parish has provided that every care and attention shall be paid
immediately upon proper application being made to the Master of the
work-house.
The third class, which may be designated as that of OCCASIONAL
MENDICANTS, is composed of persons included in the permanent population
of the parish; who, having always been accustomed to rely for their chief
or sole support during the winter upon the bounty they can obtain by
begging at the houses of benevolent individuals, are not, while still
encouraged to do so, to be diverted by any exertions of the Society from
a course which experience has proved to be so profitable. They feel, for
the most part, a very natural aversion from any system of discriminating
charity. They have, they appear to think, a kind of prescriptive right
to an equal portion with their neighbours of all relief administered,
irrespectively of their own moral or social character, and of their
circumstances and wants as compared with those of others. They are
urgent in their importunity to the Visitor, and instead of being thankful
for what assistance he has it in his power to afford them with justice to
more deserving and pressing cases, become loud in their murmurings and
expressions of anger; and in some instances have gone so far, after
insulting conduct to the Visitor, as to carry their complaints to various
residents, who, unaware of the true facts, have perhaps been led by their
statement to form very erroneous and unjust opinions of the working of
the Society. {12} The Committee, with accounts of the whole expenditure
of the Visitors, and the particular circumstances of the various cases
before them, together with many independent sources of information
respecting the character and habits of such applicants, have it in their
power to bear most ample testimony to the discretion and discrimination
with which the funds at their disposal have been administered. And they
confidently call upon the subscribers and the parishioners generally, to
support the Visitors in their arduous, and too often thankless, labours;
and to second them in their endeavours to bring about a permanent
amelioration in the condition of the deserving poor.
That a great and remarkable diminution has taken place in the number of
applicants of this class at the houses of the residents since the
institution of this Society, is felt and confessed in almost all
quarters. And if in any instances it has appeared, or has been thought,
that no such diminution has occurred, the Committee, from documents
before them, cannot help being satisfied that the cause and the remedy of
the evil lie equally in the hands of those who suffer from such
applications. So long as relief is given at the doors without full
inquiry, so long will persons of this class be found to ask for it: so
long as bounties are conferred without respect to character and
circumstances, so long will mendicants be encouraged to exist in the same
state of debased and dependent pauperism. {13}
It is evident that one of the first objects to be sought, both in respect
of time and importance, is to FIX and SETTLE the population. {14} The
means and measures which immediately present themselves are those whose
tendency is, on the one hand, to encourage and assist the laborious,
deserving, and permanent portion of it: and, on the other hand, to
initiate, and stimulate the growth of providence and industry in those
who have not yet learned the necessity and the duty of striving to help
themselves and to improve their own condition; and at the same time to
check the migratory and mendicant habits of that class of persons, the
term of whose residence in any one place usually depends exclusively upon
the limits of the indiscriminate benevolence of charitable individuals in
the neighbourhood. Such measures are those which the Committee have
taken; and in endeavouring by their means to attain the end desired, they
trust they shall in future receive the full co-operation of those
parishioners who, with every desire of doing good to the utmost of their
power, yet may have sometimes been unawares throwing away valuable
resources upon unworthy objects; upon persons, at all events, whose cases
are not THE MOST deserving cases of industry, respectability, sickness,
and distress.
These, then, are the classes of persons of whom it may be safely affirmed
that a very large majority of the APPLICANTS FOR RELIEF AT THE HOUSES of
the residents is composed. And this statement will, the Committee hope,
exhibit the strong necessity of discriminating inquiry being made
previously to relief being afforded, not only in order to avoid giving
encouragement to such persons, but also in justice to the really
deserving poor, in order that they (whose cases are for the most part
known only to the District Visitors and the Clergy) may receive that
assistance and relief which all will confess to be their due, and every
one desire that they should obtain.
Most earnestly do the Committee appeal to the Members of this Society and
the parishioners in general, to consider the importance—the Christian
duty—of administering the proportion of their income which they set apart
for charitable purposes, in such a manner as may produce THE GREATEST
amount of good. That duty clearly is, not only to “distribute,” but to
“distribute to the _necessity_” of their brethren. To perform this
effectually, a knowledge of that necessity, as it really exists, must be
acquired: which implies an intimate acquaintance with the habits and
circumstances of families, and with their various grades of desert and of
distress. This, again, can only be attained by a watchful
superintendence, exercised for a length of time over them by the same
persons—as by a permanent Visitor, or the Clergy. Of these, then, let
inquiry be made respecting such applicants; they will be at once willing
to state whether, in their opinion, they are or are not fit objects of
relief and encouragement. To these, who possess the most certain means
of information that are attainable, let any, {15} who are desirous of
affording assistance beyond a mere annual subscription, apply. They will
recommend to their notice, not the most importunate and clamorous, but
the most necessitous and the most deserving. They will point out as fit
recipients of encouragement not the professed beggar, nor the impostor,
nor the vagrant, nor the idle, nor the improvident, nor the drunkard, nor
the irreligious; but those, who are aged, or infirm, or sick, or “maimed,
or halt, or blind;” those, who are honestly and diligently striving, with
perhaps but a single downward step {16} between them and pauperism, to
maintain their position as respectable and profitable members of society;
those, who are anxiously endeavouring to avail themselves to the utmost
of their spiritual privileges and advantages, in order to fulfil their
duty in their several relations of life, to God, their neighbour, and
themselves.
The Committee turn with pleasure to the notice of the BENEFITS which have
been permitted to flow from the exertions of the Society. And here they
naturally begin by adverting to that IMPROVEMENT in the TEMPORAL
CONDITION of the poor, which all experience proves to be an indispensable
preparation for the higher and more important advantages. For it is
almost universally found that, below a certain point, the moral and
intellectual are absolutely concurrent with, and vary as, the physical
wants of a population. The miserable effects of too long continued toil
and exertion without adequate repose and nutrition, with insufficient
clothing, exposure to cold, damp, and deficient ventilation, and other
privations to which the poor are too often subjected, invariably extend
their influence over their social condition and habits, and affect
materially their position as moral and intelligent beings; bearing
powerfully upon matters with which at first sight they might appear to
have little connexion. {17a}
The anticipation expressed last year of an increased appreciation of the
PROVIDENT FUNDS by the poor, has been more than justified. The number of
depositors to the COAL FUND, which in 1844 was 388, in 1845 has been 581.
The sum deposited in 1844 was £160; in 1845 it amounted to not less than
£263. In the St. Mary Abbot’s division the amount of deposits has
actually been doubled. The total value of coals dispensed has been £320,
instead of £200 as in 1844. The most remarkable increase is in the
districts of Jennings’ Buildings, among the Irish; of whom, in 1844, 14
depositors laid by £6; in 1845, 68 have deposited £33. In another
district, in Charles Place, the number of depositors has increased from 3
to 17. In Campden Place 73 out of 125 families, and in Southend 36 out
of 50 received coals at Christmas, averaging in quantity from three to
four sacks each:—the fruits of their own industry and providence. {17b}
CLOTHING FUNDS have been established in eleven districts. The number of
depositors has been 100; and the amount distributed in articles of
clothing to them, £33. It is confidently hoped that a considerable
increase in the number of Subscribers and in the amount of Subscriptions
to the District Visiting Society may enable the Committee to establish a
general measure; which for want of sufficient funds has been hitherto of
necessity postponed.
The above facts speak for themselves. That in the second year of its
establishment upwards of ONE-THIRD of the whole poor population—and
consequently a much larger proportion of the permanent and industrious
part—should have been persuaded and encouraged and enabled, by the means
of this Society, to lay up for themselves a winter provision of what is
so essential to the comfort and health of their families, would
demonstrate at once, even were this the only point of attention, and
these the sole benefits caused to the parish, that neither have the
Visitors been inactive, nor their exertions and the plans of the Society
unproductive of valuable results. If these facts proved nothing more,
they would at least prove this, that the respectable and industrious poor
are willing and anxious to help themselves if encouraged to do so; that,
unless when their ignorance has been insidiously imposed upon, they are
desirous of considering the rich as their friends, and indeed look to
them to give that encouragement, and that, if it be given, they will
return the fullest and most desirable reward to their benefactors, by
proving that their help has been of real benefit to them, not only in
their outward circumstances, but also in their improved moral and
intellectual tone of feeling and habit of life. These facts give an
earnest that each succeeding year will continue to add materially to the
efficiency of the Society, and to the amount of good produced through its
means. The most difficult and most important step is secured; the
CONFIDENCE OF THE POOR in the Visitors and in the Society. {19} And thus
a foundation is established for a superstructure of operations, the fruit
of which, under the Divine blessing, will assuredly be that of
continually increasing advantage, temporal, moral, and spiritual; and
whose effects will be found in the present and future happiness of both
him that giveth and him that receiveth—of both Visited and Visitor.
Other POINTS OF CONGRATULATION which last year offered themselves to the
Committee have this year not less of prominence.
The large number of BAPTISMS which was then exhibited, 100 above the
ordinary average, has been in 1845 scarcely diminished. It is believed
that very few above the age of mere infancy now remain who have not been
baptized.
The TRIENNIAL CONFIRMATION which will in the present year (on the 9th of
June) be held in Kensington Church will, there is good ground for
believing, be attended by a large number of persons who through the
exertions of the Visitors and the Clergy have been brought to feel an
anxious desire to avail themselves of this sacred rite.
Few points of attention are of more importance than that of obtaining
SITUATIONS or EMPLOYMENT by the Visitors for the poor in their respective
districts. Whether they regard the removal of young persons from vicious
associations to positions in private families where they may have not
only the advantage of advice and direction in the duties of life, but
also the forcible influence of moral and religious example; or whether
they consider the benefit derived from providing openings of honest
livelihood {20a} for those who perhaps have long been struggling against
bitter distress and consequent urgent temptation; the Committee feel that
it is impossible to overrate the importance of the subject. The
instances which have been reported tend strongly to confirm their
estimation of it, at the same time that they demonstrate the value of the
assistance given by the Visitors in this respect. {20b}
The opening of a new NATIONAL SCHOOL for boys in the Gravel Pits will, it
is hoped, have the effect of reducing the excessive pressure on the Town
Schools; the fulness of which has hitherto placed a considerable
difficulty in the way of the exertions of the Visitors and Clergy.
A somewhat similar difficulty has prevailed with respect to the
inadequate extent of ACCOMMODATION at Kensington CHURCH as compared with
the population. It is not easy or satisfactory to impress upon the poor
the duty of public worship, except in the anticipation of a more
proportionate amount of accommodation being before long provided.
The Visitors have been during the two years instrumental in circulating
upwards of 2000 TRACTS: and the Committee have the greatest satisfaction
in reporting that there is reason to know that of those families who are
in a position to avail themselves of the use of the Holy Scriptures and
of the Liturgy of the Church of England, very few are unprovided with
both Bible and Prayer book. {21}
In order to afford means of enabling the Visitors to carry out more
satisfactorily their endeavours to raise and improve the condition of the
poor parishioners, a LOAN LIBRARY has been just established, in
compliance with the fifteenth rule of the Society. But it being
necessary to reserve a certain sum in hand to meet extraordinary calls
upon the Treasurer, it has been found impossible to appropriate more than
a very small and inadequate portion of the funds to this purpose. The
Library has in consequence only been brought into action over a very
limited number of districts. The Committee trust that this
representation will produce a very considerable increase of DONATIONS for
the ensuing year, so as to enable them to bring so valuable and important
an institution to bear upon the whole parish.
In dosing their Report, the Committee are anxious to express their
cordial THANKS to those MEDICAL GENTLEMEN whose attendance and advice at
the Dispensary and attention to the wants of the poor at their homes, are
productive of so much important benefit to them. It is impossible to
speak too strongly of the advantage derived to the parish by their
arduous and exemplary labours; which, though gratefully appreciated and
acknowledged by the immediate recipients of the benefit, are perhaps not
sufficiently, as they cannot be too well, known to the body of the
parishioners.
And they desire to express most warmly the sense they have of the
assiduous and successful exertions of the LADIES and GENTLEMEN who have
taken the initiative in the work of charity as VISITORS of the poor. {22}
Under discouragements and annoyances of no trifling description—against
coldness and suspicion—in spite of fraud and imposture—they have yet
persevered in the exercise of their privilege as members of the Church,
in following the example of Its Divine Head, who “went about doing good.”
The Committee trust that as these labours, and the operations of the
Society in general, become year by year more effective, and their results
more fully ripened, there will be found to have sprung up a more intimate
connexion among the different classes of the community: one which,
founded on an interchange of beneficence on the one hand and gratitude on
the other, and supported and cemented on both by Christian sympathy and
love, cannot fail in being productive of important advantages to the
welfare of all concerned. If it be the ordinary duty of the Committee,
while administering the funds at their disposal, to adopt such measures
as shall enable the poorer classes to perceive and fulfil what is due
from them in this interchange; it is _now_ their office to point out to
the wealthier and educated classes, who may be anxious for the
opportunity, how they may perform their part.
A blessing is promised in Scripture upon HIM THAT CONSIDERETH THE POOR.
It is hoped, that every member of the Church who enjoys wealth, or even
competence, will ‘consider’ conscientiously in what manner his exertions
for the relief of indigence and the advancement of religious improvement
may be most judiciously directed; what talents he possesses, not only of
property, but of time, and influence, and connexion; and in what way
those talents may be most beneficially and effectually applied. {23} It
is hoped, that the necessary relation of Christian principles to active
charity will, from year to year, be more generally and more practically
acknowledged: that every one will learn to feel that for practice as well
as principle of Christian love he is absolutely accountable: that it is
therefore imperative upon him for the benefit of others, and at the same
time pre-eminently for his own, to take a lively personal interest in
concurrence and co-operation with the Clergy, in endeavouring to secure
the temporal, moral, social, and spiritual welfare of those who from
their position in rank and in neighbourhood are in a measure committed to
his charge and care.
The Committee can scarcely be wrong in entertaining the belief, that were
this personal co-operation effectually carried out, there would result,
under the blessing of God, a far nearer approximation than now exists, to
what every CHRISTIAN must anxiously and from his heart desire—UNITY IN
CHURCH AND NATION “IN ONE HOLY BOND OF TRUTH AND PEACE, OF FAITH AND
CHARITY.”