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THE KING’S BUSINESS
Conversion and Social Service. An article clipped from the Argus, of Cardiff, Wales, just received, gives another illustration of the well-known fact that the best way to stir men to effective and per sistent social service is to get them con verted. Organized by the Slum Workers’ Brigade and Gospel Street Preachers of Cardiff, Newport, and Barry, eighty inhabitants of Newport, described- as poor and needy, and thoroughly deserving of charity, went for an outing, thoroughly enjoyed and appre ciated, to Weston, on Tuesday. Their ages ranged from 30 to 85, and they were for the most part women—the larger propor tion of them with bent backs and bowed heads, with infirmities and afflictions brought about by the passage of years. There was one old man who hobbled along laboriously on a pair of sticks, and there was another, upon whom age did not weigh so heavily, of color. An Argus reporter accompanied the party on the trip, and from inquiries made by him, is able to give the following particulars of the aims and ob jects of the society known as the Slum Workers’ Brigade: It was founded in 1904, and two years later the trips and outings were inaugurated. What might be termed the preliminary work consisted of open-air Gospel meetings, held in various streets in Cardiff. From the commencement Mr. Syd ney Williams has been at the head of the movement, and he told our representative that in his younger days he had won con siderable fame on the running path, and was also well known as a boxer. On the occasion of Torrey and Alexander’s mission to Cardiff in 1904 he became converted, and determined to start work among the poor. From this resolve he has not departed, and with the formation of the Brigade, head quarters were established in Cardiff, the present address being 1 North Luton Place. Up to 1909 processions of poor children were held in that city under the auspices of the Brigade, and at the headquarters neccessitous cases, the Argus man was told, always receive prompt and adequate atten
tion, relief being given in money or kind. Mr. Williams said that he was employed as a coal trimmer at the Cardiff docks, and with so much experience of the work of the Brigade, spoke with depth of sympathy and understanding of the trials and troubles of the poor. The outing on Tuesday was the twenty- fifth treat and fresh air excursion organ ized by the Brigade. In the fields off Penarth Road, Cardiff, between 3000 and 4000 children have been entertained, and as many as 300 or 400 deserving persons have been taken from Cardiff and «Barry for a sea trip to Bristol. In addition, so far as Cardiff is concerned, Christmas treats are organized, which comprise the distri bution of liberal portions of beef and plum pudding to those whose festive season is brightened and made glad by the "dishing out” of such seasonable fare. So far the Brigade has not been able, to extend its full activities and advantages ' t p Newport for lack, so our reporter was informed,'of the necessary financial support. The meals were served at a large restau rant at Weston, and every pains was taken to insure the old people having a thor oughly enjoyable time.. In the course of a short address Mr. Williams said that the work of the Brigade had been commented upon by King George V when he was Prince of Wales. Mr. Beer and Mr. Pring had done much valu able work in connection with the Newport outings, and that was the fourth trip from Newport in four summers. The different Lord Mayors of Cardiff had taken a practical interest in the movement since 1906. That day they were able to entertain people from the four districts of Newport—Pill, Crindau, Corporation Road and Maindefe—and a little surplus now on the books of one of the stewards would be devoted to the purchase of boots for those in Newport most in need of them. (Applause.) Further, Bibles worth about 3s or 4s each would be given by the Brigade to anyone who applied for them. (Applause.) Concluded on page 552
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