Before the usual hour for
morning service, two of the lady-workers start for the Fenchurch
Street Station, to hold a Bible-class with the railway porters;
others at the same time leave for Bird Fair. Bird Fair would he a sad
sight to witness on any day in any place, how humiliating it is to
behold on that which is called the Lord's Day in a so-called
Christian land. Here, from eleven till one, dog-stealers parade their
ill-gotten prey, and crowds through which it is scarcely possible to
make one's way, are occupied in gambling and betting on them, and on
the beautiful pigeons here made such an instrument of sin. The
character of the neighbourhood may be, known from the appeal made by
two poor boys who came on a week day to ask shelter from a blind,
Christian woman. They were locked out of their own home (a bird and
rabbit shop), for their parents were both out drinking, and they
said, "Father and mother keep sober only on Sundays, because there is
more business to be done." There, amid many interruptions, the Gospel
is preached to those who would never hear it elsewhere. The preaching
station on this occasion was in a railway-arch, here the harmonium
was placed, and two brethren, who came purposely from a distance,
gave the help so much needed; for the strain is great on head, heart,
and voice.
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