Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-29
THE LITTLE ALDERMAN.
Henry Phillips. the DOCTORS Par
son." and His Methods.
Uondon New BudgetD


In the dock strike of 1880 the restitution
was awful, and the workers were organ
lied by a young tradesman, who was APP
palle1 by the acute suffering he witnessed
His name was Henry Phillips. a pawn
broker Of Canning Town and Tidal Basin.
Day after day did ne organize the strikers,
and he contributed the first money to-
ward the large fund he collected to aid
in carrying to a successful issue one of
the greatest labor contests of modern
times.
il you were TO inquire who was the thin.
spare man preaching the Gospel outside
the dock gates on an early winters morn
ing. you would be told: THAT is the
Docker's Parson. alderman. and pawn
broker" For in the years that followed
the strike it has been his custom to go
down and talk 10 the disappointed ones,
TO gather them in 10 feed. and also TO a
service in the Mission church. Then back
TO business and municipal work.
Henry Phillips looks scarce more than
p years of age, but for many years he
has been a lay church preacher and an
enthusiastic total abstainer. My first
sight Of him was outside the East India
dock gates one Sunday-a cultured, earn
est, eloquent man-beleying with all his
soul in his mission--a fearless, hopeful.
inspiring man. l felt drawn to him, for
he looks what he is, one Of Natures aris-
tocrats. and as he faces the lockers he
offers them the power Of a weighty reli-
gous influence as the hopeful factor of
their social and labor movement. Not
extra wages. or shorter hours, or better
conditions-these he believes in--but his
message was Seek ye first the Kingdom
of God and all these things shall be add
ed TO you"
He tells the crowd 10 remember that
Jesus Christ was a workman, and that
the inspiration of Christ's spirit is the
greatest need Of the labor movement
The English Church, he tells you, might
be made the great labor church Of the
nation in a sense no other religious or
ganiz3tion can. Let the man preach who
can preach" he says. but the man who
can only read his essay on Christianity,
let him keep out Of the pulpit IL you
want TO draw workingmen to your
church" l remember the Alderman once
denouncing the awful stiffness and stand
ofishness OF the average churchman as
simply detestable." and once in a
church where il was especially marked
huNlSllS man u s.Ilohc HIS pipS Nuli!s
the sermon. as some one would be sure
TO speak to him then"
His Sundays are spent at the docks
denouncing the outrageous extravagances
Of the Socialists. getting hold Of boys who
go nowhere, and in the evening at the
Peoples church. No man Is more sought
after than this church pawnbroker, who
poor himself takes no money for his
work.
His weekday life Is n living protest
against idleness. In the morning he may
be seen. coat off. setting out his goods
and getting ready for business Later on.
he goes off 10 the docks. and then follows
probably, Town Council meeting. for
the Alderman is Deputy Mayor, and he
has declined the mayoraity itself Then
back TO work, and presently half
starved woman comes in TO pawn some
thing. But ne scents the drink. and be-
fore dealing with the pledge he quietly
pursuades the poor soul TO tell him all
about he bare. squalid home. with untold
misery ."'c cos she and the master drink"
on goes the Alderman's hat, and OFF he
starts to find the man and TAX to him
straight" The result Is both take the
teetotal pledge and are given fair start.
Nothing is taken in pawn, and the needy
sinner is helped as she never expected
TO be. lie viii trust to her honor and II
you ask him. he points to thousands OF
pledges who have stood firm and true In
this connection, I must mention the
simple yet practical missionary work he
has done 10 further the cause OF tenn