In the East of London, situated in three parishes, and surrounded by a
dense population, are the various Institutions comprehended under the
name of the EAST-END JUVENILE MISSION. These include the Refuges for
Destitute and Neglected Children usually called after their founder, “Dr.
Barnardo’s Homes.”
The East-End Juvenile Mission was for many years under the sole direction
of its founder, but during the past few months a Committee has
undertaken, in conjunction with him, its financial control and general
administration.
As very few who have heard of the Homes can have any adequate idea of the
great variety of work comprehended by this Mission, or of its weighty
claims upon the contributions of the benevolent, we may be permitted to
briefly state its more important branches.
1. The old building known as the HOME FOR WORKING AND DESTITUTE LADS, in
Stepney Causeway, contains at present about 260 boys; whilst a new
building is being reared in the same locality, and when finished the
whole will accommodate 400 otherwise homeless or orphan boys.
2. DESTITUTE ORPHAN OR NEGLECTED GIRLS are also cared for by this
Mission, and are trained upon the _family system_, which is, in many
respects, preferable to the old method of massing together large numbers
of female children in one great Institution. In the VILLAGE HOME at
Ilford there are now twenty-four little Cottages, each detached from its
neighbours, and superintended by a Christian woman specially selected for
the performance of her important duties. These Cottages are intended to
contain respectively from fifteen to twenty little orphan or destitute
girls, who are being trained therein for domestic service. When the
VILLAGE is completed and fully occupied there will be thirty Cottages,
calculated to contain about 600 such children.
3. An INFIRMARY FOR SICK CHILDREN, containing thirty beds, has also been
opened in Stepney Causeway, and is worked in connection with the other
Institutions.
4. A most important and practical Temperance work has also been
established and carried on by this Mission. The first COFFEE PALACE in
the Metropolis, the “Edinburgh Castle,” was founded by Dr. Barnardo in
Limehouse, in February, 1873. The success which attended it and its
fellow, the “Dublin Castle,” situated in Mile-end, has, in a large
measure, led to the establishment of other Institutions of a similar
character.
5. The FREE RAGGED SCHOOLS of the Mission contained every Sunday about
1,700 children, gathered from the poorest streets of Limehouse, whilst
two LARGE MISSION HALLS, situated in the midst of the adult population,
and seating 2,500 persons, are on Sunday crowded by the working classes,
who throng to hear in them earnest evangelical addresses. These varied
religious and temperance efforts, among _adults_, as well as the
educational and refuge work among _destitute children_, need a
considerable sum of money for their support.
During the past year the pressing needs of these Institutions, owing to
extraordinary expenses in building, were only met by obtaining from the
bankers an advance of £6,000. The Committee are now most anxious to
repay that sum, and with this object appeal to the benevolently disposed
for assistance to remove from these valuable Institutions the burden of
debt under which they are labouring for the first time since their
establishment in 1867.
Contributions in response to this appeal may be sent to the Bankers of
the Institution, Messrs. Dimsdale, Fowler, and Co., 50, Cornhill; or the
London and South-Western Bank, Bow Branch; and will be gratefully
acknowledged by the Honorary Director, Dr. Barnardo, at the Office of the
Institution, 18, Stepney Causeway, E.
CAIRNS, _President_.
KINNAIRD, _Vice-President_.
W. FOWLER, _Treasurer_.
SAML. GURNEY SHEPPARD, _Chairman of Committee_.
_HOME FOR WORKING & DESTITUTE LADS_,
18 & 20, STEPNEY CAUSEWAY, LONDON, E.