New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-18
EAST LONDON ANOMALIES.
COMMERCIAL ROAD AND STEPNEY
EEN-INDEPENDENCE DAY AT A
STRONGHOLD OF ENGLISH
NON CONFORMITY.


prises for those who do not know II well. one
OF these revelations is the decency of its poverty.
II is not in that quarter that begsars are seen
Haunting their wretchedness and rags az in
the West End. where they are always hanging
on TO the fringe Of wealth sweeping crossings
and picking up pennies 10y mental Offices. on"
NAV 60 miles in the East End without seeing
a heggar Everywhere there Will he indications
of extreme poverty and narrowness of life. but
there will be no signs Of squalor and crime
The toilers OF the East End are decently
clothed quiet and orderly. Their faces may
reveal the pathos Of their lot. but theirs is
Poverty not without self-respect and sturdy
qualities
Another surprising feature of Darkest London
is the evidence OF systematic work for It's en-
lightenment and regeneration Commercial
Road is a dull. dreary thOrouGhfare opening out
of Whtechape near Aldgate and piercing
swarming Hebrew quarter. At every turning
of the street there glimpses Of board schools
mission chapes and churches. A short distance
from the top is a strong working church sup
ported by the oxford Christ Church Mission.
In Philpot-st there is landmark eating from
1G42-the famous WyclHe Chapel, great cen
ire Of evangc!!stic work and adjoining it is the
new Midrlav Central Hall. where mission ser
vices are conducted for Hebrews. There Is
medical mission here. and higher up Is St.
Philips Church
Further down Commercial Road is Watney
Street Market. once notorious for It's Sunday
revels and its filth and degradation but now
quiet spot where street preaching is carried on
where a chapel and mission hall have been es-
tabshed among the stalls and where the vicar
and three curates OF Christ Church are conduct
ing wonderful parish work. Lower down is
Stepney Temple a centre Of the Wesleyan Mis-
sion It is Darkest London but there are
CLEANS OF light everywhere.
Stepney Green is the strangest surprise OF this
benighted section of the East End 1t Is A
beautiful old churchyard eight acres in ex-
tent in the heart Of the Hebrew quarter
gray church tower stands among sycamores
and Is surrounded with leafy verdure. 1t is
cd Stepney Church. with a sweet chime Of bells,
melodous as the birds among the trees Flank
ING the Green are rows Of rusty. red-brick
houses built as long ago as the time OF the
Georges and Queen Anne. These were once the
suburban homes Of prosperous London mer-
chants who drove morning and evening to
and from the City. This oasis Of verdure in the
centre OF the dull ard unpicturesaue East End
Is a strange survival of village life Stepney,
with Its ancient church and quaint mansions
facing the Green, once a rustic village,
tenanted by rich men ard people OF quality. II
was the mother church OF the vast area. with
its swarming hives Of dense population. now
known as East London. Where one least ex
poets to find traces Of rustic beauty and VII
lage environment IS this lovely Renaissance OF
bygone age.
Within few yards Of the gray parish church
Is Stepney Meeting House. with sacred tradi-
lions Of Non Conformity and rights Of conscience.
CONGREGATIONAL services have been conducted
on this ground since 1G4o. and 1t has ever been
a stronghold Of independent religious BELIEF.
For nearly two centuries a square, brick II eet-
ing-house, built Ike a Colonial mansion. with
dormer windows In the tiled roof, was base
Of religious activity in old Stepney. outside
the lines Of the venerable parish church. Thir
ty-hve years ago II a crumbling ruin be-
yond the reach OF repair. II torn down
and a handsome Gothic church substituted for
it. with schools classrooms and assembly halls
on adjoining ground The most cherished
memories Of London Non-Conformity centre
about this spot bold stand was made here
against persecution and religious bigotry in the
time OF Archbishop Laud. and there was
long succession Of faithful pastorates With loyal
support Of Congregational usage and polity.
The district has been transformed into He
brew quarter, but the work goes on with una
bated ardor. Stepney Meeting House ministers
to the decent artisan class. among whom much
solid and useful work is done.
AN INDEPENDENCE DAY SERVICE.
This was the scene last Sunday Of service
as anomalous as any Of the East End sur
prses which l have been describing. The
Mems Sunday Union decided TO celebrate the
American Independence Day twenty four hours
in advance The pulpit was draped with
American and English flags, and Il Fourth OF
i~ly celebration was announced for the after
Dyon The meeting house at the appointed
hour was filled with foremen and skilled work
men, neatly dressed ir black and betOkenng
their intelligence by their thoughtful faces and
quiet demeanor. They had assembled to cele-
brate In their own decorous but discriminating
way the birthday of American liberty and as
sturdy Englishmen they could perceive no I'M
propTiety in rejoicing over successful revolt
against the mother country a century ago. In
deed. the traditions Of Stepney Meeting House
seemed to justify the celebration for they were
on ground where the associates OF the Pilgrim
Fathers met for weekly worship two hundred
and fifty years ago. and made courageous
stand for religious independence and conscience
against persecution.
The chairman Of the mems union. Mr.. II. A.
Kennedy. did not find Il difficult to explain why
this service of praise for American liberty was
held under its auspices. Their union was
brotherhood based on love to God and love to
man. and no greater or more useful cause could
enlist It's sympathetic support than good feeling
between England and America. and the CO.
operation Of two fraternal nations in the high
ends of civilization. He paid hearty tribute
TO the sterling qualities OF the American people.
and declared that II Of the utmost I'M
portance that England and the United states
should be brought into closer union. As for the
war in progress ne considered that It would in
evitably lead to beneficial results In the West
Indies and in the Philippines. He contrasted
the vigor of America in redressing wrongs and
Furnishing evildoers with the cowardce and