Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-12-03
The Real Toynbee Hall.

As far back as 1874 graduates of Ok
ford university, England, began to spend
part of their vacations working among
the poor in the parish of st. Jude's,
Whitechapel, London. Among the first
was Arnold Toynbee, young man be-
loved by all who knew him, He felt
profound interest in the scheme to re-
unite mankind in one brotherhood, de-
stroying mere caste and wealth distinc
tions. He believed that the means to
accomplish this was for men of educa-
ton and refinement, belonging to the so
called upper classes, TO take up their
residence in the slums of a city, not to
distribute tracts, or to be obtrusive OF
patronizing, or yet to dispense charity,
but simply to meet the inhabitants on
equal terms and by degrees to interest
them in the things thatinterest all clean,
well educated and moral individuals.
So the slum people would come gradu
ally to lead the lives of clean, well edu-
Gated, moral individuals. As to the per-
sons of the alleged upper classes, they
would gain in their knowledge OF life
among the poor and lowly, and in an
other way would be benefited almost as
much as the slum people themselves.
Such was the scheme that brooded in
the brain of the enthusiast, Arnold
Toynbee His enthusiasm was of that
catching quality which drew others
within its current and carried them,
both the rich and the lowly, along like
mighty river. At length it was found
best to have all the students gathered in
one house, where they might live to-
gether. By that time Cambridge gradu.
ates and those from other schools had
become interested, and there was a ris-
ing tide toward the "rediscovered power
of union" And at this time the gifted,
loving young enthusiast, Arnold Toyn-
bee, died, with his grandest work before
him. The college settlement plan was,
however, carried out, and the first house
for the student residents was named
Toynbee Hall.
Attached to the residential house are
now a library, social meeting rooms and
study rooms. There are thirty clubs of
men and women. They study natural
history, science, literature, civil govern
ment and political economy, There is
even Shakespeare class, and these
Whitechapel slum people know, some of
them, more about Shakespeare than the
intelligent American who reads this &C.
count of them.
The members of the travel club save
their money for excursions to the CONT
nent of Europe and elsewhere. One of
the trips of art loving members of this
club was to Florence and other cities of
Italy. There is little charity in the way
OF money giving outright in the Toynbee
Hall scheme. The poorest are taught by
force of example to plan to get the most
out of their money, and save and spend
it for the things for which persons of ed
ucation and refinement spend theirs.
The best lesson that can he learned in
this life is that there are always ways of
doing anything one wants to do if he
will set himself to find them.
Mrs. Adele NJ. Garrigues, who writes
of this noble enterprise i'll the Philadel-
phia Press, says:
East London is still-east London, and Toyn.
bee Hall is light in Il dark piace-a good deed
in a naughty world. The rays of this little
candle" are constantly increasing in their
number and in their power TO shine. For the
poor, whose long hours of labor and crowded
rooms leave them no hope of brightness in
their homes. hand is Outstrctchcd that
touches theirs with a warm human grasp. a
voice is heard that is strong in its sincerity
and cheering in its offer of such help as one
friend may give to another with mutual re-
spect and benefit.
Since talking with the young men who make
their homes in Toynbee Hall have thought of
names and careers that are familiar to the
worlds ear. but do not recall any that seem
more reasonable, more satisfying or more ten
derby human than does this one Of holding
"the lamp of human love arm high" until
those who have been walking in darkness shall
find the world brighter and more hopeful
place for themselves and for their children.