THE REV. WILSON CARLILE 181
downright evangelistic work was quite possible on strong and broad Church lines. At the close I would appeal to those who wished to decide for Christ to kneel at the old magistrate s table. Night after night, at the prayer-meeting which followed, we had the joy of pointing many to the Saviour, and of getting that individual touch with hearts which is so desired by every earnest clergyman. Rarely did a night pass, however, without some agnostic or sceptic attempting to upset the whole proceedings, denouncing them as bosh or rot. But happy thought on several occasions many who came to scoff remained to pray, and have con tinued earnest mission workers even to the present day."
"In course of time you left St. Mary Abbot s ? " Mr Carlile replied in the affirmative. " It was in August 1882. I did so with regret, but with the goodwill of my vicar, and under the advice of Dr Wilkinson, the present Bishop of St Andrews, in order to commence the Church Army under the auspices of the Church Parochial Mission Society. After various Church Army missions in Walworth, Marylebone and Bristol, we inaugurated a year s campaign in the back slums of Westminster the darkest spot in London at that time. The consent of the vicar of the parish was obtained, the Port cullis Hall was taken, and then broke out one of the most remarkable religious movements among tramps and thieves, costers and the like that I have ever
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