Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-21
AT WORK AMONG CHILDREN,
Dr.. Stephenson Tells How the Missions A
Managed In England

Managed in England.
Many people who have but slight acquaint-
ance with the Rev. Thomas Bowman Stephen.
son, president of the English Wesleyan confer.
ence, know him as a preacher and an author,
but they are not aware Of the fact that his great
hobby rs the physical and moral salvation Of
children.
In response to a request that he say some
thing about his personal and best beloved work
DR.. Stephenson said to STAR reporter: "For
twenty years past have really been devoted to
the care of orphan or. otherwise destitute and
neglected children. That has not, however,
prevented me from taking my full share oil
other work in the church. We are now dealing
with over 900 children every year-children
VINO come from all parts OF the country and
even from foreign lands Applicants need but
one ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS circumstances must
snow absolute need. OF course, we consider
That those who are exposed to evil influences
nave very great claim upon us. Children who
i've In low neighbOrhoods must be cared for if
they are to be saved for society. We began by
taking few poor children in one cottage. Now
we nave seven branches in various parts Of the
country, and great good is resulting.
INDUSTRIAL TRAINING.
There are some estimable peculiarities about
the work, which, we are glad to see, are being
adopted in connection with similar work in
America. One of these is that all the children
receive technical instruction. We not only
give them a good elementary education. but
we teach them some good, useful occupation.
we have large printing establishment, two
farms, model dairy and all the neediul appli-
ances, so you see we are training children for
practical usefulness in after life. Another
matter on which we insist pretty strongly is
that children should not be dealt with in large
masses should not be crowded in one great
institution, but should be divided into groups,
each group having all necessary family sur
roundings. Each group has its own buildings
and play grounds-eyerythfng that is needed
for comfort and physical welfare.
Another feature Of our effort is the extent
TO which Christian women are employed in it;
it is form Of deaconess work. The women
who live with and care personally for these
children are educated women. They are
trained and placed upon probation and if found
to be fitted for the task, are recognized as
deaconesses qualified to work among children.
some OF these deaconesses are possessed Of in
dependent means and these care for their own
supports others have an allowance made them
for necessary expenses. The work is not taken
up as a profession, but from interest in it and
purely religious motives.
THE FAMILIES.
each house, or family, contains about
twenty-five children. These are looked after by
two sisters. A group of these houses consti-
tutes branch and at the head of each branch
is gentleman devoted to the work and di-
rectly responsible to me.
II need hardly say that it is distinctly re-
llg1ous work. Our great anxiety is that they
should be true Christians rather than that they
should attach themselves to any particular
church. Naturally many of them become MEM
bers OF our church because they are trained
under its influence.
hau -ho1f IL,
this does not happen until they have been
thoroughly trained. Very many Of them are
in the United States and they are in Canada in
large numbers. Many have risen to positions
OF responsibility and considerable comfort.
DO we have to look for children? Not now;
they come to us in unbroken stream. In
the early days OF the movement I used to 20
out and spend nights in hunting for them. but
now We have more than we can accommo date
We avoid all that is unnatural and have
nothing that would mark the children as mem
beers OF an institution. We don't dress them in
uniform and we aim to supply the comfort Of
the best family life. The Christian family is
our model throughout
HOW THE WORK Is SUPPORTED.
"Our work is supported by voluntary contri-
buttons from charitable and Christian people.
We make no personal appeals; We have no
agents begging for subscriptions. We publish
monthly paper and we hold public meetings.
In those ways we reach the public
I'VE have one line of work which closely re-
sembles that done by your fresh air funds
Children are boarded ont in the country, and
camps OF boys are formed near the sea shore
THESE camps are generally managed by the
boys OF great public schools, such as Clifton
and Eton. The rich and poor are thus brought
together, to the advantage of both. Our
children do not find permanent homes in the
country, as many of the little ones do in New
York and New Jersey. The conditions are very
dissimilar. In England the rule is large fam
iiies and the members Of the family stay more
closely at home than do those of families on
this side OF the Atlantic. Here the young peo-
pie move into the cities and out to the far west.
inat leaves vacancies which might naturally be
hfied by bright boy or girl to whom the old
folks took fancy. Then most of your farmers
own their farms. The conditions are decidedly
different in the two countries"