The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-09-12
JOURNAL NOTES OF DR.. Perrin.
ces at Social and Religious Work in London.
From "Every Day Church." Boston.

1T may be or some interest TO my
friends to follow my movements after
reaching London, marked by the passing
of the days. OF course l can give only
the barest outline sketch much of the
details. exceedingly interesting to me,
must Of necessity be left out. 1t must
not, however, be supposed that l have
espoused everything I have seen. l
came to Great Britain with the deter
mination to see all sides as far as l
could, first. of the conditions Of the peo-
pie, and second, of the working OF the
institutions which are trying to help the
poor and the needy and the downfallen
and the downtrodden. / have, there
fore, sought light wherever it could be
found. whether among the labor organ
izations, the Salvation Army. the Church
of England, or the Dissenters.
For the purposes OF study, have one
day been member of some social set
tlement, another day Salvationist,
another a Socialist. another Church
Of England man, and yet again Bap-
tist or Methodist. have been seek
ing light, and If cannot claim to have
seen anything better on the whole, than
the Every Day Church (which is really
true), I have nevertheless gathered
from various sources information which
will be valuable, and some lines of work
which are new to me may be practicable
for US at home. We shall see.
July 15. Arrived in London late last
night. Today has been spent in getting
my bearings and studying the city a
little from the top Of the buses. Called
upon a few gentlemen with letters of
introduction. Received cordially in
every case. Sent out several letters of
introduction, to hear from which l must
most probably wait few days. In rid
ing through Whitechapel at midday
saw very little of the so.called slums,
and yet when 1 remember that it was
in this neighborhood that Jack the
Ripper did his work several years ago,
l can easily believe the slums lie near at
hand.
July 16. Today has been rainy.
Prowled for time in Paternoster Row
among the book stalls, seeking for some
sociological books which might perhaps
contain guide to some things | want
to see. Called for moment at Toynbee
Hall, one of the East End social settle
ments. where l met Mr.. Billings, of the
Wells Memorial, Boston. A delightful
gentleman, who put me on the track of
many things / wanted to see. Thence
walked across. perhaps mile or more,
through the thick and thin of East Lon
don, to Oxford House. Did not succeed
in seeing the head of the house, Mr.. In
gram, but one of the residents gave me
quite an insight into its work. Very
alluring-shall visit again.
July II. Called today upon Mr..
Green, of the Peace and Arbitration
Society, who gave me cordial welcome,
and was full of suggestions as to what
I should see in my study Of the social
conditions of London. Gave me letter
to Tom Mann, John Burns, the Hon.
Philip Stanhope, the latter of whom l
hope is to introduce me to the House of
Commons. Thence called upon Mr..
Loch, Secretary Of the Charity Organic
alton Society. After half hours con-
versation with him. arrived at the
conclusion that this society was not un-
like our Associated Charities of Boston.
July IS. Called today upon Mr..
Vivian, Secretary of the Labor Associa-
tion for Promoting Cooperative Pro-
duction. based on the co.partnership Of
the workers. to whom l had letter of
introduction from Mr.. Pratt. Found
him greatly interested in the subject of
cooperation, and if possible the most
frank and cordial in the explanation Of
his speciality of anyone 1 have met.
Gave me much time, and furnished me
with ample documents. explaining the
workings Of his society in productive
cooperation. My impression Of our
American workmen is that they are not
stable enough either in character or
settlement to make CO operation success
full, and yet the experiment ought to be
thoroughly tried. Perhaps it has been.
Mr.. Vivian took me through the retail
depot for cooperative productions. in
which none but goods made by the Co.
operative Production Societies are kept.
All sorts OF things were there-pianos,
glassware, pottery. etc. Thence visited
the headquarters of the Salvation Army,
at 101 Queen Victoria street, where l
had long talk with one of the captains
of the army, who gave me card of in
PRODUCTION to various rests in the East
End and Whitechapel districts. Visited
first one Of the great lodging houses for
men. with accommodation for about $50
at night-bed, boxes two feet by seven,
rubber-covered mattress and covering;
the place full every night; also accom-
mediation for feeding. Thence visited
precisely similar place for women, called
a woman's shelter, where 300 women are
lodged and fed every night. Many of
the sorrowful creatures were already
beginning to assemble. We have, l am
sure, in Boston very small percentage