The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-01-09
A Life Worth Living.

Thirty years ago the region about
London docks contained as large a
heather population as any district in
Africa. Back of the huge warehouses
were innumerable courts and alleys,
filled with fog and dirt, and every hor-
ror of sight, sound and smell. 1t was
a rendezvous for the lowest type OF
humanity.-The wealthy and infiuen-
tial class in this settlement were rum
sellers and keepers of gambling hells.
Children were born and grew to mid
die age in these precints who never
had heard the name of Christ, except
in an oath. Thirty thousand souls
were included in one parish here,
but the clergyman never ventured out
of the church to teach.
A young man named Charles Lowd-
er, belonging to an old English fami-
ly, happened to pass through the dis
trict just after leaving Oxford. His
classmates were going into politics, or
the army, or to the bar, full of ambi-
ton and hope to make name in the
world; but Lowder heard, as he said,
"a cry of mingled agony, suffering,
laughter, and blasphemy coiuing from
these depths that rang in his ears, 60
where he would" He resolved to give
up all other work to help these people.
He took a house in one of the lowest
slums, and lived in it. "It is only one
of themselves that they will hear, not
patronizing visitors" He preached
every day in the streets, and for months
was pelted with brick-bats, shot at,
and driven back with curses. He had,
unfortunately, no eloquence with
which to reach them; he was a slow,
stammering speaker, but was bold,
patient and in earnest. Year after
year he lived among them.--Even the
worst ruffian learned to respect the tall,
thin curate, whom he saw stopping
the worst street fights, facing mobs, or
nursing the victims of Asiatic cholera.
Mr.. Lowder lived in London docks
for twenty-three years. Nightschools
were opened, industrial-schools, refu-
ges for drunkards. discharged prisoners
and fallen women. A large church
was built, and several missions chap
els. His chief assistants in this work
were the men and women whom he
had rescued from "the paths that abut
on hell" A visitor to the church
said: 1.-THE congregation differs from
others in that they are all in such dead
ly earnest"
Mr.. Lowder broke down under his
work, and rapidly grew into an old,
careworn man. He died in a village
in the Tyrol, whittier he had gone for
a months rest. He was brought back
to the docks, where he had worked 80
long. Across the bridge where he had
once been chased by furious mob
bent on his murder, his body was re-
verently carried, while the police were
obliged to keep back the crowds of
sobbing people who pressed forward to
catch the last glimpse of "Father
Lowder," as they called him. mo
such funeral" says London paper,
"has ever been seen in England.-.-The
whole population of east London
turned out, stopping work for that day.
The special trains run to Chiselhurst
were filled, and thousands followed on
foot---miserable men and women
whom he had lifted up from barbarism
to life and hope"
There are many careers open TO
young men on entering the world,
but there are none nobler or that lead
more directly to Heaven than that OF
this modern crusader 49, Youths Com
panion.