Rescue Work in Preston [SSM21_1899]

Abstract

News article taken from the Preston Herald in 1899.

Transcript below:

RESCUE WORK IN PRESTON

SHEPARD-STREET MISSION

A purely undenominational organisation to help des-

titute persons and neglected children – these few words

describe the objects, ends, and aims of Shepard-street

mission. There are few inhabitants of Preston but

know that Shepard-street and its environs from one of

the poorest and perhaps the most degraded portions

of the Proud Town, so that any attempt to carry know-

ledge and temperance and substantial assistance where

ignorance, brutality, drunkenness, and squalid misery

have prevailed must enlist sympathy for those who have

sufficient self-sacrifice in their natures to take part in

such a work of rescue. This rescue work is what the

members of the Shepard-street Mission and their friends

have devoted their energies and finances to for the

last thirteen years, and they have done it in a quiet, un-

assuming way, without any of those sensational methods

which have grown into so much favour among followers

of religion. There are no bands of music, noisy drums,

flaunting colours, or exciting harangues, used to further

the aims of the mission; all outside show is tabooed, and

reliance is placed on nothing else but pain teaching and

preaching to fallen men and women, with timely assist-

ance where such is required. That the workers are re-

spected for their endeavours has been frequently proved.

the distributors of tracts in lodging-houses – where are

gathered all sorts and conditions of men – and those

who venture with words of hope into domi-

ciles which must be nameless appear to have

a halo of protection around them such as can

only be secured by the wearers of the Red Cross

on a battle-field. Even one of the lowest of men, an

ordinary loafer, has been known to protect the mission

workers against interference with the gallantry of a

knight errant, while the lowest of women show the

greatest respect and gratitude to those from whom they

receive no words but those of pity and kindness in a

career so terrible in its results. “It is surprising,” says

one of the visitors, “How you can talk to these

people if you go in a right way, but you must not

go in a commanding sort of spirit. Some years ago a

lady – a novice at mission work – entered one of these

dens, and opening the cupboard door rather unthink-

ingly inquired how they could afford to buy such

superior provisions. She was at once ordered out of

the house, and told never to enter it again. If they

discover that you are earnestly endeavouring to help them

and to be their friends, they will never say a wrong word

to you, or molest you in any way, but will listen respect-

fully and quietly to all you have to say.” Such is the power

of kindness over the very lowest and most vice-striken.

of human beings. It is about thirteen years since this

mission work was originated, in all honour be it said, by

three some of the young men who attended Lancaster-road

Congregational Chapel. About a dozen of these earnest

youths commenced their task by distributing tracts in

such neighbourhoods as Spring-gardens, the Old Vicar-

age, Black-land, Water-street, Shepherd-street, Leeming-

street, Library-street, Rose-street, &c. This method was

followed for some time, and then a free tea was given

to as many of the poorest and most degraded class as

cared to come. Gaining courage as they went on the

missioners begun to hold meetings in a house in Rose-

street on Sundays, after ordinary service time; and the

one room became so crowded that a wall had to be

taken down to provide more accommodation. Determined

to still further enlarge their sphere of operations, they,

with the aid of some willing friends, were enabled to

rent those old well-known premises in Shepard-street,

which were occupied for three years or more as a Sun-

day school for poor children and a mission-room. This

place became uncomfortably crowded, and had to be en-

larged by the removal of a division wall. At last these

premises were wanted for other purposes, and the com-

mittee were enabled to purchase the present premises,

which, if we mistake not, were one time used as Preston

Grammar School, and then as the home of Dr Shep-

herd’s Library. Latterly this building has been con-

verted into dwellings, but was easily altered to its old

form, and now there is a modestly large room

upstairs, with classroom on the lower storey,

where the children meet on Sunday nights

while service is being conducted upstairs. For

the last six years the work has been carried

out on thoroughly undenominational lines. For several

years two gentlemen on their sole responsibility took

upon themselves the providing of all the funds required,

but in May, 1887, it was found that some other arrange-

ment would have to be made, and a committee was

formed, as widely representative as possible. On it there

are now to be found members of the Church of England,

Wesleyans, Society of Friends, Congregationalists, and it is

needless to say that everything goes on in a very satis-

factory manner. Lodging-house meetings were inaugu-

rated some twelve years ago, and now every Sunday

night, previous to Divine service in the churches, the

residents at six lodging-houses simultaneously hear the

Truth preached, the various speakers being selected from 
members of all denominations. Those lodging-houses are

situate in some of the streets previously mentioned,

and at first the inmates were very suspicious

about being interfered with in their usual

Sunday avocations, but now they anticipate the meet-

ings with pleasure, and give a hearty welcome to the

visitors. Occasionally a meeting may be missed, owing

to the inability of one of the speakers to keep his en-

gagement, when they take no pains to conceal their dis-

appointment. As a rule the motley gathering to be

found in the large room of a lodging-house is very

civil and orderly; sometimes one or two may have had

a little too much drink, which will make them inclined

to interrupt, but in this case no scruples are made by

the other inmates about ejecting them until the pro-

ceedings are over. It is no uncommon thing to meet in

the lodging-house men, and women too, who have been

in far better circumstances – there are occasionally men

who have been Sunday school superintendents, and

teachers, local preachers, professional men, and trades-

men. Some of them are well educated, will ask rather

puzzling questions, and can talk on almost any subject.

A man who now attends the meetings occasionally

was formerly in a good medical practice, and is most

respectably connected. A man now working for a

neighbouring Corporation and conducting himself most

honourably, was found by the mission workers living in

a common lodging-house working wherever he could,

drinking all the money he could get, and separated from

his wife and family. A middle-aged woman in an East

Lancashire town got drunk, quarrelled with her land-

lady, soon found herself committed to Preston gaol

for seven days, and on the ensuing Saturday night was liv-

ing in a common lodging-house in the latter town.

However, on the Sunday she heard of the mission, sent

for some of the workers, requested the loan of a shawl,

and next morning looked out for work. Employment

was found for he by Wednesday, and she has been most

respectable ever since. No doubt she would

have gravitated to a still lower grade if

it had not been for the timely assist-

ance afforded. Only the other week a woman was

found lying in bed in a fireless room. She had not a

stitch of clothing to put on her back, and her two little

children were in a similar plight – all because the hus-

band and father had deserted the family some moths

ago and gone to America. Of course, clothing had to

be provided and temporary aid afforded. There are

many more cases full of harrowing details, which people

have no conception of who have never been brought

into contact with that class which a lately-deceased

statesman once described as the “residuum”. It may

be judged that the mission is in want of much more

assistance than it receives. In the first place about

£300 is required to clear off the debt on the new pre-

mises. Then there is an almost continual demand for

cast-off clothing of all descriptions, but more particu

-larly children’s shoes and stockings, for sometimes it has

been painful to see young children sent out with but the

scantiest of clothing. As may be judged, the work is

very difficult, harassing and in many cases disappoint-

ing. Great circumspection has to be used in the giving

of money and clothing, or everything will go for drink.

Even when bread has been given in relief it has been

known to be sold so as to get a copper for drink. It will

thus be seen that great care is required. There is a fair

amount of rescue work accomplished, and more than one

girl has been prevailed upon to return to her friends. We

believe we are within the mark in stating that the Ashton

Home had its inception in the mission, but the com-

mittee found they had too much on their hands, and the

work had to be carried on by others. At the rooms in

Shepherd-street school is held every Sunday afternoon, a

children’s service at night, and a service for adults at s

even o’clock; every Thursday night a tem-

perance meeting is held; on a Sunday morn-

ing, from half-past ten o’clock to twelve, lodg-

ing-houses are visited and tracts distributed.

About a dozen ladies and gentlemen assist in the distri-

buting of tracts, and on the plan there are some fifty

gentlemen who have promised to address the various

meetings. Many Several children have through the agency of

the mission been removed from their squalid surround-

ings, and by the help of Mrs. Birt, of Liverpool, sent out

to Canada. One boy there now, in a good home, was in

Preston shamefully treated by his mother, and she did

not care what became of him. He says in one of

his letters, “I like this country (Canada) better than Eng-

land, because in England I was starved.” Such are a

few of the details of the great and useful work which is

being steadily carried on among the poor and the outcast

of Preston, and it rests with the more prosperous

classes to say whether the noble and humane mission

shall in the future suffer either for want of funds and

material, or for volunteers to carry on the undertaking.