The Press.
London, England, 1856-03-15 00:00:00

258

1. Sermons in Behalf of the Home for Outcast
Boys, in Belvedere-crescent, Lambeth. By
Henry Whitehead, M.A.
2. A History of the Home for Outcast Boys,
Belvedere-crescent, Lambeth. By the same
Author.
3. First Annual Report of the Committee of
the above Institution.
London : Hatchard.

TILE subject of juvenile reformatories is now
generally acknowledged to be of such vast
importanee, and Mr. Whitehead's name is so
well known to all those persons who are more
especially conversant with it, that we have no
doubt about the service we shall be doing to
our readers in introducing the results of his
experience to their notice.
1. Two points are dwelt upon by Mr. White-
head throughout as of primary consequence—
first, the obligation under which the inha-
bitants of this metropolis lie to adopt some
method of dealing with juvenile vagabonds
and criminals beyond the operation of the
police-court; and, secondly, the necessity of
not being too fastidious about what that
method is. It is, of course, highly to be
wished that extensive and well-organised
institutions, with large funds and a numerous
staff, should be established. But what in the
meantime ? Can individual exertions effect
nothing? Is every private enterprise of this
nature to be characterised as ephemeral? Mr.
Whitehead's whole life for the last four years
is a practical negative to these questions. An
immense amount of good has already been
effected by private exertions, but recently a
n source of discouragement has arisen in
consequence, ,strangely enough, of the en-
couragement given to the movement else-
where :

But now I have to acquaint you with one very natural
r .suit of this provincial movement a result which
t ireatens to imperil the very existence of our metropolitan
Reformatory Institutions. Whereas they once could com-
mand the support of philanthropists in all parts of the
kingdom, they cannot any longer rely upon obtaining the
same amount of assistance from remote quarters, now that
social reformers are busy with their own plans and schemes
in their several localities. Inquire of any London com•
mittee engaged in this work, and you will soon ascertain
tle truth of this statement. What is to be done then in
tiis emergency ? Are these pioneers of the movement to
b.) left to their fate ? to be discharged as no longer neces-
sary? to be complimented as having made straight the way
of reform, and then dismissed with an empty vote of
thanks? Why, surely this great metropolis will not thus
disgrace herself in the eyes of the nation ? She will be up
and doing, and say that, when God has assigned to her a
fireruost place in a great social and religious movement,
it shall never be said of her that she was unfaithful •o her
mission. Silver and gobl she has, enough and to spare—
even the wealth of many countries. Juvenile delinquents
you know she has plenty. In the name of Jesus Christ of
Nazareth, let her bid them rise up and walk. Peter and
John had neither silver nor gold; but there were other
Christi 'lll9 in those days, who had, and right nobly did they
give of their abundance, yea, in some cases, even to the
utmost farthing of their property, to the common 84)13)11
o• the Gospel brotherhood.
Many wellwishers to the movement, says Mr.
Whitehead, contend that it is " a fanciful idea
" to think of combining the energies of metro-
" politan districts." The difficulty he admits,
but trusts that the same enthusiasm which
originated the private institutions already
existing may be found powerful to combat the
supineness with which Londoners too gene-
rally view the hideous mass of youthful crime
and misery which surrounds their homes. In
the meantime these minor establishments will
act as admirable training schools for a body
of efficient superintendents such as possibly
the institutions of the future may require,
and on that account, if on no other, are de-
serving of sympathy and support.
2. Some of the particulars of the Berwick-
str•eet Reformatory—now removed to Lambeth
--are highly curious and interesting :

"In these boys there is a basis of shrewdness to go
upon." The great need was of moral and religious
training, with regular w.,rk. Industrial employment, no
matter what, was necessary ; so he lost no time in sup-
plying it. He set them to work making paper bags, of a
kind for which there is a large demand in wholesale
grocery establishments. Some idea may be formed of
their industry in this employment, when it is stated filet
twelve tons of paper were thus manufactured between the
11th of August and the 31st December, Ir+33. An I whilst
they were thus gradually acquiring habits to which they
had long been strangers, habits which told visibly upon
their moral improvement, they had the satisfaction of
knowing that their labours contributed materially to their