Among London's Poor.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 15 August 1910, Page 4

Among London's Poor.

We studied recently (says Lloyus' Weekly Xews) the record of the career of that illustrious member of the Baptist community, Dr. Alexander .Maclaren. Xow there comes to us in autobiographical form the .story of a divine wihosc ministrations in a dit'fcient sphere of spiritual laboui have been no less eminent —Canon Arthur W. Jephson, present rector of Ki'ton, a delightful rural parish a few miles from Northampton. Canon .Jopilisoii's work in London as vicar of .St. .John's, Waterloo road, and of St. John's, Walworth, is still I're.sh in the memory, and let us hope that it is not entirely ended. T'horc aiv many districts in the metropolis where the sell'-sacrilicc and unflagging energies of such a man are the only kind of religion whh-ih is likely to appeal to tlie majority of the parishioners. In "My Work in London" (Pitman, .'is (id net) Canon Jephson tells us that die was ordained, in 187(i. "spent my whole CLERICAL LIFE

in the town, and it is about the town that I wiito." Hia first appointmeat was to a curacy at C'roydon Parish C'imrch. Tneludoil witih-in the bounds -of that parish wore palatial residences, where dwelt well-known people, such as the late Itorou float , !), the Italian Consul, Sir Thomas Edridgp, ami many others. I'll.so nil ore were to be found the lowest typo of lodging-houses, where the vory poorest lived. Canon .Jop'isnn devoted his attention almost entirely to ti'iu.so -lodging-hou-ses. Tfe visited thorn regularly, and obtained permission to say a low words of spiritual comfort to the company in the kitchen, general , ]} a largo r-rvim lighted witii naphtua lanil)s. It was a ourinus sight. Some wove asleep on the -benches, others wore eating, usually haddocks, bloaters, or kippers. Someuere cooking these things or frying ba'con. Some were drying clothes, and the smell and sleam. and frhe funics of the huge coke fire, the cooking, and the tobacco, were, almost overwhelming.. One day when Canon .Teplison was speaking ami; l , one of tJiie.se typical scenes, a voice at his elbrvw startled him in tlie, middle of his speech with a Latin ffiiotatio'n appropriate to the theme. He turned to t'he interrupter and said, "What, you know Horace, then " "Yes," was the re]>ly, "and a good deal else, too." After the service was over I spoke to the man, a poor, decrepit wretch o! over fifty, dirty, thin, and consumptive, and hoard part of ibis story. He had been educated for the army—had been an officer, and had ■dropped through from DRINK AXD GAMBLING. I tried all I knew to get him to eihango. "No," lie sairl, "it's too late now." He would not, or could not. quit the drink. On going to the parish of fit. -John's. "Waterloo road, in 1881, almost the first act of Canon Jephson was to distribute amongst a certain .section of his parishioners—probably t'he most hopeless class of person to lie found anywhere—scrubbing brushes and bars of soap. The gift, con ing from one of those whose ministrations are not always acceptable in such districts, was a hint as to what was desirable 'in the direction of that virtue which comes next to godliness. SEARCH YOU STOLIOX PROPERTY.

The extravagance and ii nth rift of the vciy poor was a source of much concern to Canon Jephson. 'J'he only matter in v, Jl >ioh he found them over-provident was in insurance foi funerals. They j)tA in premiums much more than what their relatives would receive in case of death, theii desire being to figure in a gorgeous pageant at the last. ■ Inability to make the poor understand ' the words of the Prayer Book was another difficulty. On one occasion, at a wedding, 'ho had said, "to have and to hold from this day fortnight." Instead of, "I give my troth," another young woman once .said, "I give thee my throat." "The climax of all my adventures in the marrying way," as Canon Jephson calls it, was readied when a young man put up the banns between himself (say), John Jones and •Mary Smith. He paid the shilling and departed. In less t'han two weeks lire was bac kagain. "I wants to see you about them banns." he said. "T wants the name of the young woman changed. I wants Alice Brown, not Mary.Smith, now." The Canon gave him a good talking to about the dignity and SOLEMNITY OF WEDLOCK, and blamed his fickleness; but the man was obstinate. "I wants the name changed," was all he replied. "Very well," said Canon Jephson ; "if you want to put the banns up between Alice Brown and you, that ear. be done." "What,"'answered John Jones, "pay another shilling?" "Certainly," answered the vicar. 'Oh, then. you. ihad better let it •be as it is." In spite of the varied duties Which Canon Jephson performed in connection with his clerical work, -be yet found time to serve on the Vestry, the Board of Guardians, and afterwards on the Borough

Council and L.C.C. He rc!nt<\s the following exciting experience wlucl. lie iliad in a search for sloven pro-pi-tty: T weul ivilh the con.-Li'nk , to serve the warrant. The 111 :• n wv wanted was in the Front room upstairs. 111 the kitchen <!owi:s!.:iirs, under a locso !)o:i; r l, wevo w:ilc!cs, opor.i gliisscs. jewellery of nil Jem's, blocks, and ■ovorcoais 3 t'he tresii!,Ls of burglaries nn;l potty Iheflr. On his coin'iftioii tlie follow h;ii! to <h hk eighteen months' 'linrd laljoiir nn the treadmill (long nltolishc! nnw). He refused to tre;vrl as the win-"' ci'.me round, ;uvl hxoho is leg. whri!. had to bo amputate;!. \\ !'-fii l;r ciiine out of prison lie i\'-:r.l U> fellow me.about and THRKATHX II l=3 with personal vic.lem-o. ! saw -t!:t poor soul only n few nio.il ';s pgo, ai d'ho glared at me Avith menning. if not vongeunce. oven then. Iwenivlive years after the iir.-ider.t. In the provision of futuls for his act: of benevolence Canon .lop'rion was fdrced tf) seek the a,i:i of those v;i!t; were willing to '-help in an unrisi-.vi-tatious way. On se\ - ei - p.l f:.c:a:uo - r--.. Mr Arthur Moyrl. to whom l!n Canon dedicates his book as ''.'. Tni! Krieud," came to his rescue, one ol his philanthrope dv(yl< being I'v, purchase of a site 'in whi'-b 'ie ore: t Oi , for Canon Jeplison's voniig mei. ai- institute at a ce.st of CHOnO.