Dr Barnardo's Homes.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 385, 17 July 1889, Page 3

Dr Barnardo's Homes.

Wb.haye to acknowledge the rbceipt ot the Mai oh number ol Nujhl and Day^ a publication issued in the interests of Dr Baunardo's Homes foi' Destitute Children, Stepney Causeway, London. We have been much struck from time to time bv the publ'shed recoids of the-heroic work of human lescue wtuch is being carried on -through the medium ot these Hornet. We have personally bub small sympathy with well-meaning but unsystematic and pauperising forms of charity. Indeed, any eilorts, however well organised and energetically conducted, to lessen the diearliul efrepts of the abject poverty ami consequent vice of great cities can but touch the uttermost fringe of the tembk, e\il. The realistic ] descriptions published -in recent yeara ot -"'the conditions ot life enduied by millions ', 'of • tellow creatures in London, wlulo arousing Jtfcce- deepest feelings pi com passion in c\ cry .ti[u<ly human soul,' turn the heart sick with an overpowering feeling ot helples&nebb to do any appreciable good by mere charitable giving even if in suppoil of organised systems of relief. It is the deep social causes ol all this shameful misery that one anxiously yearns to get at and remove. As long as 1 ' 1 we .only deal with the conse-'t|uencesr'-of'sdcial wrong, benevolently rubbing out Its w of ul enects in a certain number ot individual 'cases,, we shall not appreciably lea- en -the veaily hideous growth, of human. wiebchedness, that spends up to Hea\en- the, wailing, "bitter ciy of outeabt London." Cloud men and true, like Dr T. J. Barnard o, maj . like ministering angels of good, snutclf from death and moral destruction thousands ol their suiienng fellow creatures,' but still, year alter year there a'ie other • thousands being bred to wallow or writhe in this frightful grief of iniquioy and sorrow, this veritable pit of Tophet of all that is 'abominable and unclean , Yet -no would not be understood to dis countenance &uch divino woik a-s that in which Dr Barnardo and bit suppoi ters are engaged. Because &ome one's caieless&nesss or crime is responsible ioi the shipwicck we must not refuse to the diowning, but count it one of the greatest o{ human privileges to be enabled to aid in the blessed work ot rescue. The best feature about the working of the Barnaido Homes it, that the rescues it effects are in the great majority of cases real and permanent deliverances from evil. The boys and girls admitted to the Homes are not only clothed and fed, but al. c o taught and trained so as to bring out the best side of their characters,, and finally they, are put -in the way of obtaining an honest livelihood either in Great Britain or in Canada. Merely to supply the immediate animal wants of a certain number ot poverty stricken individuals shows a kindly natural impulse, but Dr Barnaido's system achieves far moie valuable Jesuits than can be expected from any such superficial attempts at alleviation of want. Actual destitution is the only qualification required for admission to the lip in eg, which ar,e absolutely unsectaiian in character. "We only ask," says 1 Dr Barnardo, " 'Aie these chikh en "destitute?' If they are, our doors ni'e flung wide for their reception." During the year ending December 31st, 1888, destitute children tb ' the number of 1,758 wtre admitted to the Homes, the total number ot applications having been no less than 7,295. To show the amount of labour entailed by the cairying on of this work it is mentioned that of these applications 2,214 were personally investigated by officials of the institution, and a large number of 'the applicants assisted to make a start in life besides tho c c taken into the Homes. During the past winter up to the beginning of March last the number of free, hot meals given at the Homes amounted to. 33,798. These meals are given during the winter season to the half-starving children who attend the free sdiools established at Copperiield Road by. Dr Barnardo and. his helpers. Six hundred children are thus fed on the a\ eraere ■ every day at a cost of'X4, each 'breakfast only costing one halfpenny, and' each dinner"one' penny. An Industrial Farm lias been started in j connection with these Homes in A'lanitdba, Canada, to which selected lads are sent out. Energetic efforts ate boing made to make this farm more than, self-supporting and- . thus a financial as well ,«s moral aid to the work ol human rescue. Both girls and bojs ,are also sent out to .Canada as funds are available to take service with Canadian colonists who may apply for such young emigrants. But we must refer our reader to the publication from which we have been quoting tor information as to the - amount of good work 'being done, and the need ot funds for extending its beneficial results. In another column we print ono.ot many true stories related in Nifjhl and Day of misfortune, want, and wretchednoss and ultimate rescue by means of the Barnardo Homes. " New Zealand Farmer. "