The million-peopled city
Garwood, John
1853
Cases of Usefulness recorded by the Cab Missionary of the London City Mission, last Year.
The following 4 cases of usefulness, recorded by the cab missionary of the last year, illustrate the vast importance of such an agency, especially devoted to this class of men. | |
" Case 1.-Mr. --, No. -, -- yard, for 2 years placed himself under my instruction, and frequently have I seen him affected to tears. One morning he came to me in great distress of mind on account of his sins. I explained to him with much fulness the Gospel of Christ, and especially the doctrine of the atonement. Some time after this he found peace through believing. He attends the ministry of the, and lately he has become a member of a in the City, and bids fair to become an eminent disciple of the Lord. He drives his father's cab, and uses a stand, which for years had been admitted by the cabmen to be the worst in London, for the stands differ as much as the various localities of the poor. According to the old proverb,- | |
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Many of the men of this stand lived in the numerous courts close by with wicked women. I believe formerly they dreaded my coming on the stand. At one time they threatened to knock me down, and at another time to drive over me, but finding I was not to be thwarted from my duty | |
195 | they then tried to shun me, and would leave me in possession of their cabs. 'The wicked fleeth when no man pursueth.' For the last 12 months Mr. - has boldly confessed Christ on the stand, and I believe he has done more good than 20 policemen. It is now admitted without fear of contradic- tion that this is the most improved stand in London. |
" Case 2.-Mr. - , No. -, - street, has become converted to God through the Divine blessing on my labours, and his wife, who formerly opposed him, has also since become converted to God. I frequently see them going to John- street Baptist Chapel in company. It has pleased the Lord to place this man as waterman on another of the City stands. The class of men that use this stand are different altogether from those who use the former, but they are equally injurious to society, having among them two intelligent Infidels, who use all the means in their power to turn the Word of God into a lie. I once visited one of them who was sick, but he ridiculed all I said, and made use of awful expressions with reference to the day of judgment. For a time I appeared to go on the stand only to be made a laughing-stock of, and for a time Mr. -- shared no better lot. But his mild temper and Christian consistency have put to silence ungodly men, and they have been constrained to acknowledge to me that my visits are doing good. We are now quite masters of the stand. | |
" Case 3.-Mr. -- , No. -, was a so-called Latter-day Saint, but at the same time a great drunkard. He rejected my tract, and prejudiced the minds of the other men against me, being waterman at the largest stand in London. In the neighbourhood of the Opera-house he possessed great influence over the men; and made six proselytes. One of them was as great a fanatic as himself, and has since run away from his wife, and robbed his best friends of about sixty pounds. Ten months ago I went to see a sick cabman, and while | |
196 | there Mr. -- came in. To prevent disturbance, I com- menced reading the 15th chapter of , explained the nature of true repentance, prayed, and left the house. Three days afterwards I had a note, which informed me that Mr. - wished to see me. I called accordingly, and was happy soon to discover that the chapter I read had sunk deep into his heart. He at once saw his error, aban- doned his Mormonism, and succeeded in inducing his prose- lytes to do so also. He also became a sober man, and an example to the stand. This stand is used by many bad characters from , owing to its being so close to theatres. I trust soon to see it raised, and respectable. |
" Case 4.- - No.-, -buildings, had been a notorious drunkard, and when drunk he was very insolent, and quite a nuisance to the shops in Farringdon-street, so that helost his license. I had frequently spoken to him on the subject, but he regarded my words as an idle tale. Hearing he was ill, I went to see him. My first instructions had not fallen to the ground. As the tears ran down his cheeks, he said, ' Oh, Sir, I fear I shall drop into hell !' I regularly visited him, and another man, who died in the next room; and gave him a Bible and suitable instruction. He was soon able to get out. I induced him to attend the Meeting held by the missionary of the district, who afterwards visited him. He has got his license again, is now driving, and is quite a reformed character, abstaining altogether from intoxicating drink. I consider him under the power of the Spirit of God." | |
Great Importance of an Addition of Missionaries to Cabmen- Facility of its Accomplishment, and Concluding Appeal. What dispassionate reader can fail, in reading these short extracts, to perceive the benefit which even one cab mis- sionary, by the Divine blessing, has accomplished ? If, instead | |
197 | of one, four or six had been employed, how much more decisive might have been, and in all probability would have been, the benefit! And how small would have been the cost of this, as contrasted with the result ! How easily might it have been done ! About . a-year would have been suf- ficient. And what a trifle is such a sum for such an object! The per-centage of such a sum on the amount expended in fares, is such a fraction that it would be scarcely worthy of consideration. |
Lady collectors would probably find few objects in the promotion of which they would be likely to be more suc- cessful. For the claim for aid could not but be admitted by all their friends who are in the habit of availing themselves of the accommodation of these vehicles, and who must have observed for themselves the great need which their drivers have of religious counsel. Those who deprive the cabman of his Sunday and his religious privileges to drive them to church or chapel, must also surely see that the cabman's religious condition deserves their sympathy and aid. And to how many gentlemen, who almost daily ride in cabs for purposes of business or pleasure, might an eloquent appeal be made by fair readers, whose influence and whose power of persuasion and supplication are so great. The earnest desire and prayer to God is offered that this chapter may be made the means of stirring up a much greater concern for this somewhat ill-used and decidedly neglected, but most important and constantly increasing class of men, on whose moral and religious condition, moreover, the public at large, for their own safety. and comfort, are so much concerned. The Christian public, in particular, surely only need to know the greatness of the evil and the easy application of a remedy, to apply that remedy without further delay, in sure dependance on the Divine blessing. | |