Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1889-03-23 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

MISSION WORK IN LONDON.  The seventh conuersazione of the friends and subscribers to the London City Mission has taken place at the Mansion House, where the visitors, to the number of several hundreds, were received by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress. After refreshments had been served, a meeting was held in the Egyptian Hall, the Lord Mayor presiding. In opening the proceedings the Chairman said all who had looked into the conduct of the society must feel that it was an excellent institution doing a noble work, far reaching in its influence not only in the City but throughout Greater London. The mission was worked entirely through the agency of laymen, and its great success was due to the fact that it was altogether unsectarian. Commenting upon the vast changes which had come over London during the lifetime of the Mission, his Lordship reminded them that the death-rate had been reduced from 25 to 19 per 1,000 per annum, while the average duration of life had risen from 30 to 49 years. The brutal practice of duelling had disappeared, and heavy blows had been dealt against the drink demcn. Common lodging-houses had been overhauled, regulated, and improved. Great strides had been made in the housing of the poor, while crime had considerably diminished. London was growing at the rate of over 100,000 a year, and if the society was to extend its beneficent work in a similar ratio it must receive increased support, which he hoped it would get.—Mr. F. A. lievan (treasurer) said the society shewed evidence of life and power because it was a growing society. Each missionary cost the society £lOO, and they needed £so,ooo.—The Lord Chancellor proposed "That this meeting recognises with profound thankfulness to Almighty God the increased and everincreasing interest manifested by the wealthier and mole cultivated classes of society in the social and religious condition of their less favoured fellow citizens, living for the most part in the Central and Eastend districts of this great Metropolis, and cordially acknowledges the efforts of the London City Mission is constructing a bridge of practical sympathy between the rich and the poor." While not wishing to „limit-list' the effect of the picture which the Lord Mayor had drawn of the changes which had come over the Metropolis during the last half-century, he desired to call attention to the fact that there was another side to the picture. One of the most serious questiow was the growth of population. Everyone, he saYs came to London with the idea of making money. And it unfortunately happened that through the mere power of accumulation the rich became richer and the poor poorer. No greater danger could exist ir:any country than to have a population out of eyinpatiy with those who were better off than themsel yes, and it was by teaching them that the more fortunate ware not out of sympathy with them but looked ors fthem as brethren that the danger could be averted.—The resolution was adopted, and other addresses followed.  At the Maiylebone Police-court a servant named Woodley has been charged with theft and committed for trial. She had caused another woman to be dismissed from her situation on the suspicion of having stolen a watch and chain which were found in Woodley's possession whcn she was apprehended. She also robbed a friend who had given her shelter for the night.  At Bishop Stortford, Wiliam Shambrook, of Newton Tracey, Devon, haa been charged with attempting to commit suicide in a Cambridge express train by cutting his throat. The reason assigned for the act was that he had Relected to leave Bury for Aldershot with Captain Dean's (of the Suffolk Regiment) horses at the proper time. Shambrook, who had hitherto borne a good character, and exhibited no signs of intanity. was handed over Iv hie brother.