"They helped every one his neighbour, and every one said to his
brother, Be of good courage" (margin, be strong). Miss Macpherson
writes in February this year, the eighth anniversary:--
"As a band, we need to '_be strong_' for any emergency. At this
season we are surrounded by hundreds of men out of employment, and in
want of food, who say now to us--'We have listened to your Gospel;
we are in want; show us thy faith by thy works.' This we are
endeavouring to do by providing for them suppers of soup and bread
twice a week. The other evening a crowd had gathered outside the door
at the specified hour, when only 150 could be admitted. Did we but
know the gnawings of real hunger we should not wonder that the
unsuccessful applicants attempted to burst in; and one poor man
falling in the crush, broke his arm.
"We need your prayers while dealing with this class for another
month. Strong hearts quail at the sight of these hopeless looking
men. Our evening-school three times a week, taught by ladies, we find
to be the most successful plan of dealing with them. The being called
by their _own names_, man by man, wakes up an interest, and
causes the public-house life to go into the shade.
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