Page:Memorials of Capt. Hedley Vicars, Ninety-seventh Regiment by Marsh, Catherine, 1818-1912.djvu/112

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THE WAR.
103

interest in what was said, and they took a most affectionate farewell of me.

"I went on Thursday evening to a meeting of the Ragged Church and Chapel Union, Lord Shaftesbury in the chair, where I met Mr. Blake, who showed me Clara's letter about the additional Testaments she is going to give to the men of the 97th. At the London Bridge Station I met William Gregory, one of Miss M—'s navvies, and we had a long talk, walking up and down, for a full hour.

"I went yesterday to hear Mr. Cadman preach at St. George's Church, Southwark. I setoff early to walk there, and arrived half an hour before the service began. So, having a little time to spare, I spent it in conversing with a cabman, I hope profitably. I heard a capital sermon from Mr. Cadman. He is an earnest, faithful preacher of Christ. He had invited me to luncheon at his house, and afterwards I went out with him to see the ragged schools, six in number. He seems almost weighed down under a sense of the great responsibility of his cure. His parish numbers 40,000 souls, mostly of the lowest poor. I said to him, 'You need Sir, often to have near and precious views of Jesus in your own soul to keep your spirit from desponding and your faith strong.' He said, 'Yes, it is only the thought of Him that supports us in our work; otherwise it would at times be overwhelming.' At parting, he warmly commended me to the grace of God. Would, dearest Mary, that both of us had the deep, unfeigned humility of this good man!

"In the evening I went to Park Chapel to hear Mr. Goodhart, of whose preaching Miss M— spoke in such very high terms. I found a nice walk through a shaded lane towards Chelsea. On emerging into the road I saw an old woman dressed in black, and asked her the way to Park Chapel. She said, 'Oh, Sir, I am going there; will you come