The Express.
London, England, 1865-03-23 00:00:00

PREACHING TO THIEVES.

lasting character of sudden conversions, in the face
of such an announcement as this. These criminals
have been assembled together by an earnest-minded,
zealous man, who speaks to them in their own
jargon,
jargon, and illustrates his arguments by pointing
out members of his flock who, now happy and res-
pectable, were formerly outcasts too. -aim hearers
are first astonished, then startled, and finally
alarmed. For it should be mentioned that
there is none of the reticence or restraint called
for by refinement and _
_prescribed by good
taste in such preaching as Mr. Carter gives to his
audiences. "Eternity" is frequently repeated in
the most solemn accents, and with every accessory
of horror that tone and gesture can give, and when
dwelling with minute and, as it seemed to us, shock-
ing particularity on the horrors of the crucifixion,
ha stood with outstretched arms and head, lounging
on the right shoulder, as if he himself were on the
nom. By these expedienta, conjoined with great
fluency and dramatic power, he rouses even the
opaque natures of the New Cut and Borough
thieves, and he now proposes, on his health being re-
staged, to open an establishment within an easy
distance of town, where a given number of the men
and boys willing to be reclaimed by him, shall be
taught some useful calling or fitted for an honest
trade. The first coat of such an establishment as he
daggigns will be about 5,0001. ; and a query as
16 bow the money would be raised, promptly
received for answer--" It is Gads work,
and He will provide it." This kind of reply
is by no means an unfrequent one, for on the con-
gregation clustering round their preacher to shake
hands and wish birn speedy noovery, the answer, It
is God's work, and He will see to it," was given with
sack calm and unvarying confides** as to remind
one as much of Mahoinetan fatalism as Christian
resignation. Carter, at all events, has no doubt
either as to his mission or to the certainty of his
being enabled to carry out his plans for the benefit
and reformation of his fellows, and it is easy to
see from the demeanour of his disciples that this
belief in himself and cause is shared in by them.
While thieves are anxious and willing to
turn their hands to honest work ; while harlots
are reclaimed from the street% and burglars, pugi-
lists, and skittle-sharpen are to be seen joining in
public worship and reputably employed; and while
we learn that these people owe their change of life
to the stirring exhortations of such mea as Carter,
we may safely accept the good which it tangible
and real, without inquiring too closely into their
chum to the title of "saints," and without criti-
cising the spiritual machinery by which their
reformation has been brought about.

Mr. William Carter, the converted sweep wham
ministrations to fallen women have been previouily
described, has for some months past been elides-
',Touring to rouse the laroeaous claws to • mime of
their no and to persuade them of the spiritual and.
tens re:al advantage of the religion be expounds.
At midnight meeting of a few weeks bask, when
the ex-pies bible vendor bad to exercise
physical form to eject a noisy bully fro* the door-
' way, and when at two in the morning we left •
crowd of sobbing girls listening to the terribly vivid
descriptions of eternal pnuirthinent, and manifestly
appalled at the denunciations and appeals of their
preacher, Mr. Carter ultimately succeeded in
inducing twenty-three poor wretches to forsake
vice, semi-starvation and ill-triatmeut, for an im-
mediate refuge in the Homes of the Midnight
Meeting Society, and the prospect, nay, the
certainty, in the event of good behaviour, of • com-
fortable and respectable provision for life. It is
fair to add, that rap to two days ago all these women
had conducted themeless with propriety, and that
the honorary secretary to the Midnight Meeting
Movement confidently believes them to be reclaimed.
After undergoing the usual probation in the various
institutions to which they were relegated, they will
be provided with satiation' as domestic sersplairle I
and willsebsearaegrsdnally absorbed lathe c 1
currents of life. In estimating the results of
I
Carter's crumbing, who is undoubtedly a man of
exceptional originality and considerable power, it
is useful to note the thoroughness and zest with
which he and his little band of followers—the ex-
street conjurors, the ex-burglars, the el-pick
pockets, and the ex-skittle sharpers—throw tiara•
selves into the peculiar and exceptional religions
duties they have made their own. Not satisfied on 1
the occasion referred to with preaching to prostitutes 1
from 11 mat to 2or 3 p.m., the prooeedings were
continued throughout the night, and hymns were
sung, prayers offered, and exhortations made, until
breakfast time next morning, when hot tea and
coffee, cakes, and bread-and-butter, were served in
the hall or chapel; and preacher, leaders, and such of
the women as had remained, sat down to a plentiful
and comfortable meal. By this means, the harlots
who bad been " awakened "—we employ the
phrase used to us—were not sent home with cards
of invitation to call in Red Lion-square, and so
exposed to the chances of ridicule, and the cer-
tainty of corrupting influences, but were preached,
prayed, and sung to until it was time to call upon
the Midnight Movement secretary (Mr. Stabb),
when they were conveyed to the offices of the
society by the ex-pugilist Mr. "Ned" Wright.
Thus terminated a sufficiently remarkable scene;
and, though the promoters of these meetings aver
that they havehml as "interesting" evenings as the
one described—notably that of a week or two back,
when a "converted fiddler" sod his wife addressed
an sasembiy of prostitutes—we believe the night at
Victoria-hall ranks among the most successful of
their public appeals. This fiddler, we were told,
had not been sober for the five years preceding his
conversion in prison, had suffered from delirium
tremens for—though there is probably • little nu-
:IT ti
intentional e 'on here—two years without in-
termission, been a confirmed drunkard for
17 yeurs in all. tis this placid confession of mine
and view against which society is at open war that
is most startling to the inquirer seeking to gauge
the actions or estimate the character of such reli-
giouiats as these. On a recent Sunday, when Mr.
Carter bads farewell to his congregation for a
month, being about to visit Paris, we regret to say
for the benefit of his health, which has been seriously
impaired by his exertions, this out-spoken self-de-
nunciation, though less prominent than at the more
social tea-gathering, was still sullieently marked. It
must be mentioned, however, that the person and
character abused is always the " self of last
week, or last year,
and that to the self
of to-day is awarded an amount of com-
placent gratulation which perhaps condones
the outspoken *ensure oi the old and unregenerate
"self," and symbolises not inaptly the sort of feeling a
the

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BILL.
ETON REFORMER&

-
At a preliminary private meeting ot old Etonian
held yesterday, it was agreed to petition parliament
to appoint an executive commission somewhat on
the principle of the late University commissions,
with power to frame new statutes for the founds-
' tion, to remove, where necessary, what the report
calls the governing body of the school, and to
initiate in the meantime, in concert with the head
meter, any measures they may think it for the
introduction of new studies, and to make provision
for this pis out of the revenues. It will
be maim that last erasion parliament post-
poned its interference, in the belief that the Eton
authorities were preparing to carry out, in spirit at
least, the recommendations of the report It was
urged by the speakers at the meeting yesterday that
the changes already effected at Eton are inade-
quate to satisfy the just expectations of the
country, and therefore that some more stringent
soden was urgently required.

OPIMATITZ Bass s' INSTIVITIL—A public meet,
hag i• aid at the above institute was bad Oat treeing at
tbe Whittiagtos Club, Stroud, Ida Grace the Duke of
Argyll' is tioi chair. Amongst those most were the
Right Hoe. Lord Ebary, Mr. Leyard, lt.P., sod Rev.
H. Pay, esereeary a the Working Moen Club sad heti.

gloriously-winged butterfly uiiglit entertain for 1.,. /,
uaata• 14 /mem"'
+--
chrysalis-husk it had left. Thus, in his farewell tutu A 1015 "Part us She pie
the
exhortation, Mr. Carter referred to the men and Wu" wee reed by the reerttell• It stated that theme
women around him as " the saints of Victoria- Well .eat to work at ll °Week et sight, and ezetissea
hall," and declared —be it always understood `litho" tatealuluies seta le" the matt deg, end they
without the faintest intention of irreverence— anaemia that this system was cruel, unnecessary, sad
that "of all the /elute' company he had ever demoralising. A 1061t7 was formed a few Teem ago to try
enjoyed, there was none in which he had felt to shorten their lam" 'tad to 'mina"' saw sad ultif °rut
so 'appy as in those of Victoria-hall." Within a hoar. °I working Waugh*" the !Jade. hat although RI"
success had beam obtained the desired sod bed sot bees ar-
quartor of an hour of this statement, and after the need et. Thep had bet small ens to meet the peat is.
°occlusion of the service, he informed us that form whisk they oesteceplated,mbut they datertained to go
nearly the whole of his congregation had been what forward step by stop, rat
her than organise a strike. or any
the world would call bad characters, and that he mum Gelovieted to ormvulee tie trod* or. _ .eneiyq,ila gee
"knew more things about some of them than he The/ d!dmardluaaa aWsErli unto
i itsheze' nred.eiill
ever dare tell." It will be readily aeon, therefore, :17:1 'closing work, like other portion' of the workiog
that in appealing to harlots or thieves, preachers classes. They attached no blame to the employers,
who have, as it were, risen from the ranks, have a as they believed the system bad grows with them just
marked advantage over those whose experience is u woe as with the employed, but they sanartist that the
limited to the bon ester walks of life, and that the latahlashmetat of regular ss=re.liditshaue the Wilffsettderal.
sort of conversions claimed by Mr. Carter and his seams. The trade was 25 per wept. better than whew the
school are many of them neither difficult to oom- Earl of Shaftesbury presided ate meeting held is Rueter-
prebend nor hard to believe. For there is a very hall, is 1860 for the purpose of taking the abort-dm, move-
practical side to their theology, and having twat illW aisle' Warn hid improved leer. Dona
" awakened" a thief or a harlot, their next care is siondulue ssandesiortariessuathemudshhe, hudth.dear. abolished met4hedt p m1'14.4111 sod
t
to prevent their again lapsing into sinful slumbers. „end test sari,. for the %tett., ~„„u4sics sad casual...
This it is which induced them to keep of bskehousse was a most useful measure,, b
they believed
the prostitutes to breakfast at the hall, and that magistrates sad impactors were too limiest in almost
this it is to which the erection of the hall itself is •••go mss °a" wklek er:a °mile thak wahak "am most
due. After arousing a mob of people by a Sunday ~.,baking a Loads., end
12,av0 men wenEau
p-y--
always isn
plo ed • moile.
discourse delivered at the Victoria Theatre, Mr. Then was pc, home, er dub. wrist:of for
Carter experienced difficulty in subsequently deal- obtainiog employment but the public-home, and young mea
ing with those amongst their number who came to who mine from Germany and &othind mad elsewhere were
him for advice. The respectably clad ones readily left in a most lamenteble positios from this state of things.
consented to attend the Tabernacle of Mx. Spurgeon, A Om° had ha" 'Wad. up is Fetter-Las, bat they had
not sooegh aceoensiodatios to make it self eunemg. sad
but those shabbily dressed, or well known to the they sew wasted 250 i. to thoroughly essishiwfi's horse
polies, not unnaturally shrank from contiguity with club. They appealed to the public for aid is the azderter-
pious respectability. To meet this difficulty the log. Resolatioss is (avow of the objects of the meeting
Victoria-hall was opened, and has bad crowded !Tr__ !:... by Lord
vote !lid Stri__lnfartl. 11.P.Lar2i?
congregations ever since. Situate in a back street =4."''''''.,,,_,LLmrtt.l.;r22,7 h. ,rair...l,_, • -:°:
off the Blackfriars-road, and in the midst of low and ~,,,„:7,,,„ 7rtheeropemii,,r'"'wyn. whes7h`:7-.o::edieuse
debased surroundings, it yet assembles some bun- tortgbrst•t-a&
dreds of worshippers, who in their own way are ROYAL Geooaarnicar, Socirrv.—At the even-
evidently both conscientious and sincere. The tone tin meeting iss Monday nark at St p:via., at Barllogtoo.
and atmosphere of this place are so peculiar, that it boom, Sir R. L Murchison, K.0.R., proudest, la de chair,
is necessary to suspend ordinary rules in attemptitg
eeoth. od PaP=olf4D7.ltear. ' —11.3 ti:°l4r:h RP. Polar
zoliPite."Di.
to form a judgment upon its working. From the co., a Labrador. by 0.06 h. R. F. Hmsgess. B.N. 3.
Thirs-Velk announcement Feasted °° the door-way, to Amount of the Mackenzie River District, by R. Y`Far-
the sacramental table bespread with loaves and 1,,,,,,, Erg.
wine every detail was of the most simple and primi- F.Arrsessa Woaemo Man's Cup.—The first
five character on the Sunday morning we describe. anniversary of this club was celebrated on Tneeday mules
At this table, which stands over the covered tank last by a eenoort, whisk tech plus ia L 1111111065410. Daring
wherein men, women, and children are on certain the letereel hetweee the Perla lir. Perbelll Peyton Au
days plunged bodily for baptism, stood Mr. Carter, Bev. H. from the Central yelgethiiii ems losse the mere eicii ttre
who, though much enfeebled simmer° saw him on the opening of aTZilub at Hanley SID 4d: the wino of the earl
night of the midnight meeting, was yet able both to of Lichfield), addmood the 'odious,. Mr. Nyton, refer-
pray, exhort, warn, and admonish with consider- ring to the prosperity of the dub, erred apes the members
able vigour. Six or eight
do
hick black bottles, tho ezetielleues of their steady support as trereerT to the
as many of the large and thick glass tumblers !?!..7.extteece_
___ef„relseva institutio
hearty n. Mr. veretLa
.„,:r.l'
known in City taverns as "pint stouts," and a well oe.''"' spoke upon '',r,, w,,:,,....7 Qs eish. The pZeZiEsse
stocked bread-tray stood before him. Wine dosed with the Natiosal Anthem.
was then poured out, and after being mixed with mRI i a .111811 PRIM AND TRZ Barest RIOTS.—
water, the large tumblers were passed from hand to A sensational applicatkie was made on Tuesday at the aid.
hand, and partaken of by the whole of the people fast seam, which, it Its,have no other effect, as is Ivry pro.
occupying the down-stairs' seats. After this came 1 bible, will, at ell fres relieve the del!. riaertelsw lei the
an address, wherefrom, by the numerous allusions 1 foe hT a
some illaly ePleada,e_r,i_Autla Q tj,
_lr° Lai e__
__
to wolves In the fold, to young saints likely to be isohniesTs7d.,,, the r was :;:te7d proprietor ".7",;;;;;;
led away, and to min-leaden who were presumptu- pe,,,,.Lette,„ in ,„,„,„.,,q„.„,, of s jeeartd mugs which
ously teaching salvation after a method of their appeared In the columns of our oonteasporarr ea Turley
own, we inferred that Mr. Carter had met with commenting upon the alleged fact—which. If telle. le oer•
the serpent's tooth of ingratitude, and that some i !ti,lirrial—kthl•--.tha„tth_th„._,lir_.tllmle,... f____e°o4,_ lif_„__elthth
quasi-follower had set up a creed'
or chapel of in:46„em.,,, wue;libeweva....,"l ".,..",'Tims."` e'et,"l7relii.
his own. But these are minor matters, and ,„„„co grategiatia. Ind where the pewee, was a ertinosirs
sink into insignificance beside the broad fact wore Roman satbolies. Mr. Batt moved epos tie amend
that out of thethieves' meetings held by this Victoria- that tbe artiste was adealated te prejudge the ede
trials
ma el
ball preacher has actually sprung a demand fora thßL.Parkelleee= M
Dsaqa
urimitteksiTiaaraLeithartlietbetr
DBIOCUABOIT, even from the men themselves. Week ehasht stewed et um don of the „me olds t
alter week have thieves, invited se such, been ...nisi. We don mete eesselssidiswersr, to lialthith
talked to, advised, and eaested as such, sad the the wise im mere indium - the seeeMetce haat et
result is that many of their numbers have come to peeemt Mt at WO* If the dastries
their spiritual guide for temporal aid to enable of viimAlosiba. Toweelearet elm, i• bo leolrAted is "ge •
U. wash me mdleelte la *badges
them to forsake their way of life. It is idle to T'us katitute far tbe shiest reedaemea—wiilf p „dasher,
criticise doctrine, to pass comments upon the style mon aA, mune ~,ty„, tin dinimpeist, 11. desso—
or taste of sermons, or to question •the depth or . -DstAn /spin.