3 o8 DISTINGUISHED CHURCHMEN
months amounted to .350. The following year they exceeded ,1,200, and you will see how vast have been the growing needs of the parish when I tell you that for many years now our regular expenditure has been at least ^3,000, and we could find use for a good deal more if it were sent to us. Some of the help, I may tell you, has been forthcoming from the East London Church Fund, and the Additional Curate Society. Becken- ham assisted us liberally at one time. St Aug ustine s, Queen s Gate, has several times sent us offertories ; Brighton College used to keep up a Lads Club and help to pay for a curate, and some other churches sent us offertories. Alto gether, the income from these sources is about .400. The remainder of the .3,000 odd is made up of subscriptions and donations, principally from personal friends and friends of St Augustine s."
Of the subscribers the Vicar has told a story almost as curious as the one told by Dr Barnardo about a mysterious lady visitor who, at a time when the Doctor was most anxious to get away from his office to attend to other important en gagements, asked all sorts of matter-of-fact questions in relation to the Barnardo Homes, and then, without giving her name even, took her departure, leaving behind a gift of no less than .3,000 as the Doctor afterwards discovered to his surprise. Perhaps Mr Wilson s greatest financial supporter was Lady Elizabeth Clements, whose acquaintance
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