THE SUBMERGED TENTH

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 150, 21 March 1921, Page 8

THE SUBMERGED TENTH

LIGHTS AND SHADOWS DOWN EAST LECTURE BY LONDON MISSION WORKER The cause of East London’s "submerged tenth” was eloquently pleaded last night by Sister Kathleen, of the West. Hara Central Mission, before a large audience in the Town Hall. Mrs. A. R. Atkinson presided over the meeting. Associated with Sister Kathleen was Madame JesßidTStrathearn, A.R.A.M., of London, who is interested in the work of the mission. Entitled. "Lights and Shadows Down East," Sister Kathleen’s lecture, which was profusely illustrated with lantern slides, dealt with the great work undertaken amongst the poor of London's East End by the West Ham Mission. Sister Kathleen, who is a gifted speaker, spoke with simple directness and~ conviction on tho plight of the 300,000 people—mostly casual labourers at the docks—who are crowded into ilio two square miles comprising West Ham. People living under such favourable conditions as . obtain in New Zealand could not realise, she said, jjho hopeless outlook of the people among whom she worked. The latter had nothing in front of them except the thought of growing old. With the aid of lantern slides she depicted mile after mile of narrow street’s of squalid tenement®, into which the poor were herded. She told of tho great poverty and distress with which the mission workers had to deal, and emphasised how the mission’s sphere of activities was refOlricted through lack of sufficient funds. "It is,” she said, “pathetic to have to deal with the little children, knowing, that they want food, yet having, alas too often, none to give them.” She went on to point out the measure of relief ilhnt had already been affoi'ded by the mission the good results attained therefrom, and the pathetic circumstances of the great majority. Hunger was the chief affliction of these East-enders, and once this was allayed the rest was comparatively easy. This was the keynote of the mission—saving bodies as well as souls. At the head of the mission was that great social worker, tihe Rev. R. Rownhee Clifford, who had laboured amongst the poor of West Ham for 24 years. Concluding with a spirited appeal for monetary assistance for the work, Sister Kohlileen remarked: "It has been asked why do we come out here for support. It is because we have already given- to the point of sacrifice.” During the evening a collection was taken up and Madame Strafhear.n, who was in excellent voice, contributed three swered numbers, “Rost to the Weary,” “For He Shall Feed His Flock," and "Nearer My God to Thee,” her singing being marked with singular beauty and pathos.