Page:Distinguished Churchmen.djvu/370

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322 DISTINGUISHED CHURCHMEN

poor. These are so well visited chiefly by our excellent staff of ladies and their needs so well- known that we are able to avoid pauperising, and give only where we know it will do good and not harm. The most deserving cases, we find, are those who never beg or complain, and who are only discovered by diligent visiting. The best way of relieving the poor is to make them good Christians. When they have learnt the love of God, and are really trying to serve Him, they become sober and industrious, and, in most cases, can earn their own living. You see, while we centre all our efforts on religious work, we are, at the same time, doing our utmost for the social elevation of the people. Not a day or night passes but meetings of one sort or another take place in connection with societies attached to the Church times being arranged for temperance gatherings, social gatherings, etc. Healthy recrea tions are encouraged, particularly among the young people, and everything done to help to make their existence bright and cheerful. And please don t omit to say that I think the secret of the success of the work is to be found in the devoted and untiring staff of workers around me. My brother (the Rev. Richard Wilson) joined me a year after I came, in 1883, and he and a succession of curates have thrown themselves heart and soul into the work. The lay workers and lady workers have been unfailing in their efforts, too. The

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