The million-peopled city
Garwood, John
1853
The Emigration of the First Missionary, and the Appointment of his Successor, with Review of his Efforts and Success.
After had emigrated, for some short period no one discharged the duties which he had relinquished. But late in the year , the appointed a successor, who is to this day engaged in the work. He was not, like his predecessor, originally in the trade him- self, and for some time he had a difficulty in learning the ways of the particular class for the promotion of whose benefit he was appointed to labour. But he made it his business to acquaint himself intimately with their habits, and he is now everywhere received as their friend. The access which he has obtained to them admits of scarcely any exceptions. It is fully equal to what is ordinarily expe- rienced in district visitation. Although suspicious at first, kindness goes very far with cabmen, they meet with so little of it in general. His influence also increases materially each year, as he becomes better known. The instances with which he meets of good effected by his predecessor is also very encouraging. His qualifications for, and his interest in, the particular work assigned him by the Society with which he is connected, are probably fully equal to those of Mr. Adams, although those were considerable. In the year , he reported that he had made 14,638 visits to cabmen, of which 329 were to the sick and dying. He distributed among them 15,062 religious tracts. He also read the Scriptures in his visitation that year (notwithstanding all the unfavourable circumstances which are connected with the doing so) 555 times. 14 cabmen had that year been through his instrumentality brought to attend public wor- ship, and 3, the fruits of his efforts, had become communi- cants. He does not visit south of the river, nor further east | |
192 | than Blackfriars. But there are, nevertheless, about 100 stands which he systematically and regularly visits. He also finds numerous profitable opportunities for religious conversation with cabmen, while they are kept waiting, sometimes a long time, for ladies and gentlemen at their own doors. He also to some extent visits their wives and families, although not very much, as they receive the visits of his brother missionaries and of other religious visitors, from which many of them have derived much benefit. Probably no class of men receive religious tracts more readily, or more generally read what are given them. This partly arises from the time on their hands, while waiting about. Some persons who ride in cabs are accustomed to leave a tract on the cushion inside. It is a very easy mode of doing good. Very few persons hiring cabs appear, how- ever, to speak much religiously to the drivers. |
Most cabmen, on becoming religious, relinquish the trade, and enter some other, which prevents so much fruit appear- ing from the efforts made as would otherwise be the case. There are, however, probably as many as 150 cabmen who, from religious principle, do not take out their cabs on Sun- days. Many others only do so occasionally, and especially to oblige regular customers. And others refrain from Sun- day work at the times of year when only little is to be gained by going out on that day. The cab missionary of the considers that 100 of the London cabmen might be found who give every evidence of being truly religious men. This is probably more than many of our readers would have supposed. It has been brought about by various means, but the efforts of the have most materially aided in it. | |
A letter was received from on , dated Biminyong, . It is the first intelligence which the Society has received from him | |
193 | since his emigration. And the letter manifests that, although so many thousand miles distant, having been prospered by the Lord, he has not forgotten his former work. The following is an extract: "I intend shortly to send a draft for 100l., in favour of the City Mission, as a small thank- offering to the Lord, for not only the mercies I now possess, but in remembrance of those blessed seasons I once enjoyed in communion with the City Mission. I trust the day is not far distant when I shall again be privileged to make known the Saviour's love, in London, to poor sin-sick sinners." |
Case of Usefulness through a Scripture Reader. Although no other Society employs an agency exclusively for the benefit of cab-drivers, still they are met with in ordinary visitation here and there, and important results have often accompanied efforts made on their behalf. The following case is an illustration. It is taken from the | |
"-- (cabman), whose case I before reported on, is now so far restored to health as to enable him to follow his em- ployment. When he was first able to do so, he had great difficulty in procuring any; but that being accomplished, another presented itself. In the days of weakness and pain he had openly declared himself on the Lord's side, by par- taking of the sacrament, and vowed from thenceforth he would lead the life of a Christian, and let his light shine before men; but how was this to be accomplished? If he took a cab, the master did not understand letting his beast rest in compliance with God's command; but I am happy to say that, without any prospect of assistance, he has hitherto rested on the Lord's-day, and has paid 5s. to be allowed to do so. To those who ' seek first the kingdom of God and | |
194 | his righteousness,' all needful things are promised. The woman told me to-day how rejoiced her husband was that God had strengthened him to put into practice that which he had resolved, trusting to Him so to command his blessing, that the remaining 6 days might prove sufficient to maintain his family." |