BRITISH COAL STRIKE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 13, 13 May 1912, Page 8

BRITISH COAL STRIKE.

AN APPEAL FOR FUNDS. The Rev. B. Metson has received tiie following letter from the Superintendent of tiie South-East London Mission, an undenominational institution controlled by the Primitive Methodist (Jhurch:— "In addressing this letter to you we are making an appeal for which wo June no precedent in the history < I this Miss.on; but unprecedented distress calls for unprecedented me:vs«r< a You, our friends across the seas, will nave learned long ere tin's, from daily cablegrams, of the great industrial crisis through which we are passing in the Old Country. The prolonged and universal strike among tiie coal miners has so paralysed the different branches of industry that everyone is feeling tne effects of the strike severely; an : now, as ever, it is the very poor \vi, • suffer most. "The South-East London Mission Is situated in the midst of a vast working class population, thousands m wuom barely exist in the best of times by casual employment; but just uc-.v many of the numerous factories around us have been compelled to close down through lack of coal to work their machinery, and others are daih reducing their "hands" by hundreds. Semi-starvation we are accustomed to deal with, but sheer starvation day alter day of little children, men and women, is a thing we are unable to face, and we are not ashamed to confess that it takes tiie heart out of us completely. "We have already exhausted our funds reserved for the winter and spring months, and at present aro overdrawing, believing that God will so touch your hearts that you will some to our immediate relief on-re-ceipt of this letter. Even if the strike comes to an end to-morrow, and we trust it may, we shall still be in great difficulty for a long period, and our poor people in continuous distress for montrif) to come. Every tiling aval able in their homes is being pawned for food, and the landlords art 1 pressing them for tiie rent which they can not possibly pay. . This great mission is supported en tirely by voluntary contributions, am! with a few exceptions these eontribul ions come mainly from the working classes of great Britain; needless U, explain this source of our revenue hatnow entirely ceased. We believe however, that there are many hearts in tiie colonies which will be touched In the distress of our poor folk, and will come to tboT speedy relief. Wo are feeding from three to four hundred children daily, in addition to giving numerous tickets for bread, and milk for the babies. All donations will be received with great thanksgiving as gifts from oui common Father, Who -has taught us the brotherhood of man in all countries, and under all conditions. The Rev. Metson has already received donations from various persons, and has posted thorn to London. He will bo pleased to receive large or small donations from citizens of all denominations.