Chapter 6: Our System of Relief.
Chapter 6: Our System of Relief.
"Such mercy He by his most holy reede
Unto us taught, and to approve it trew
Ensampled it by his most righteous deede,
Shewing us mercie, miserable crew!
That we the like should to the wretches shew,
And love our brethren."
SPENSER.
IT IS NOT enough to meet a discharged prisoner, and speak kindly to him, or give him a breakfast. If this is all, as soon as he leaves you, and the gnawings of hunger return, he will be very liable to be seduced from his new-formed resolutions by mixing with old companions, and to relapse into his old courses.
It is often weary work for men of good character to obtain employment. It is a common experience to meet men of irreproachable character who have spent week after week in fruitless search, willing to take anything that offered, but meeting with constant disappointment. How much harder then must it be for men who have a fatal stigma on their character, or bear the brand of the prison! Very often their experiences in gaol will make them more reliable and steady than others who have never fallen into the clutches of the law; but this is not considered by employers, who, for the most part, have no time or interest for such questions, their one aim being to get as much work done in as short a time as possible.
A man comes out of gaol, resolved to reform. He has made up his mind not to drink or mix with his old mates. He intends to go straight; and as soon as he has had his breakfast he starts in pursuit of employment. The air is fresh, it is a delight to be free, his hopes are high; let him but have work, and all will be well. But the day's search is in vain. He goes to his home, or some shelter, for the night; and yet surely to-morrow will bring better fortune. But to-morrow comes and goes, and many such days, all full of fruitless search. Every door is closed, and some rudely and roughly. Want stares him in the face. His resolution and sense of independence die down. He begins to "shack" about the streets again, and to go with the men who do not mean to work so long as they can sponge on others, or get drink. And sometimes, in sheer desperation, the man, who started a week ago so well, is back again in nearly the same position of drink and crime as before.
It is the good custom of our present prison system to allow prisoners to earn "mark-money." By attention to prison discipline, by prompt obedience to all rules and regulations, and especially by good behaviour, a man wins a certain number of marks, which, if the maximum are gained, will procure him the sum of ten shillings at the end of six months, or a proportionate sum for any less time. Thus those who leave after a long term may have two or three pounds to receive, whilst those who have been in gaol for only a few weeks will not be without a few shillings.
This may be a great blessing to those who do well. It provides them with a little capital to start with; or, at the least, finds them shelter and food whilst they are considering their next step. Where there is a Prison Aid Society properly established, at the discretion of the Governor and the agent, the Government, in really deserving cases, allows an additional grant to be made to the mark-money, so that there may be an even larger "nest-egg" for starting the new and better career.
This mark-money may, however, prove a great curse. Before I began my work, it was the habit of a large number of loafers and ne'er-do-wells to gather near the prison gate, opposite to which was the public-house; and they would do their best to entice those who were leaving the prison to come across for drink, with the almost positive certainty of spending the whole of the precious money, so hardly earned, but so lightly and foolishly squandered in treating the entire party. In such society the weak resolution, hardly consolidated as yet, will soon break down; and within an hour the whole fabric of the new and better life rudely and irretrievably demolished.
It was always therefore my plan to get hold of this mark-money, and keep it until I knew how it was to be spent. All agents of the Prison Aid Society have a right to this, and the prison authorities are only too glad to entrust it to their care. Besides, there is an advantage to the prisoner; because his meagre earnings may be augmented, partly from the Government funds, already alluded to, and partly from the funds collected locally for the support of the branch. Many a time have men been thankful that the spending of the money was not left to them; and that they could say truthfully to friends and others that they had not a penny in their pockets.
This money, and the other money at my disposal, enabled me to solve some of the difficulties about work, to which I have alluded. It enabled me to set up several on their own account. Many times did we spend five shillings in a hawker's licence, with another two shillings-worth of stock. Often we started women with materials to make fire-screens, or to do wool and fancy work. Those were times when I knew all the kinds of fish that were in season, and their prices; and enabled my poor clients to start selling fish, or oranges, or other market commodities. But I confess that these latter were not very satisfactory; as there was such a temptation to live out of the total receipts, instead of laying aside a certain proportion of the takings for a renewal of the stock.
Perhaps the most useful ways of expending the money were in getting new boots, or strong serviceable clothes, or warm shawls for the women; and in procuring tools for the men. The understanding always was that they should get the work first, and bring us word to that effect on a paper bearing the name of the firm engaging them; and that then we would provide them with necessary implements. A riveter's kit would take a few shillings only; whilst a finisher's would cost a pound or more. A spade or pick-axe would be serviceable to navvies.
At first I used to go round to employers of labour soliciting employment, and often it took a considerable slice out of my morning to go from one factory to another; for this reason I was finally obliged to relinquish the practice, except in special cases. It really was better to promise men to support them for a day or two whilst they were looking for work for themselves. It encouraged their self-reliance, and they were generally better able to ascertain where they were wanted. I urged them also to come to see me at the coffee-house each morning to tell me how they were going on, that I might hearten them up, and inspire them with fresh courage, or even pray with them. Sometimes I would write a letter for them to take to some friendly employer. It was a matter also of distinct faith on my part in my Heavenly Father, that He should help me and co-operate in the saving of these men from relapsing into their old ways. Perhaps it would be better and more correct to say that I co-operated with Him. When at last the happy moment came that work had been obtained, the necessary tools were purchased, and I felt thankful that one more discouraged soul had the chance of climbing back to respectability and honour.
It was always most interesting to watch the different use men made of the help afforded them. Sometimes one would hear nothing at all of them for months; and then suddenly they would appear one morning in the coffee-house, looking happy, smart, and respectable, with a grand story to tell of returning prosperity. In one or two such cases, subscriptions were handed over to me to repay anything which had been expended. And, of course, warm words of approval and encouragement were given and received.
Once as I was walking through one of the principal thoroughfares, a man stopped a dashing pony-trap, and leaping down, shook me warmly by the hand, saying, "Look, sir! You know what you did for me at a certain place: this is what it has led to." He was engaged in a flourishing business, to prosecute which he had bought this neat little conveyance.
Frequently men were too shy to come to me, lest it might revive the memory of their fall; but I would hear that they were doing well, and freely forgave them for not wishing to identify themselves with me too closely.
But, of course, there were many disappointments. Sometimes it would be almost more than I could bear; and had it not been for the perpetual remembrance of the much patience which my Lord had had with me, and how His love had conquered, I could not have borne the terrible disasters with which some of my most hopeful cases met. A man might go on well for a time, and then break out drinking, and undo everything, losing situation, self-respect, clothes -everything. In all such cases it was useless even to seem to lose one's temper, and rate the delinquent. To do so would be, perhaps, to drive the tempest-tost bark from its only haven. Besides, conscience had already used its scourge pretty severely. And so I always endeavoured to restrain any feeling of natural resentment, and allowed my poor protégés to see that their fall had caused me real personal sorrow. The grief of the Christian soul for another's sin is a Divine alembic for purging out the grosser elements from that other soul. It is in the tears of Jesus that we best discern the unutterableness of Jerusalem's sin and doom.
Love alone will save the world. As it is with God, so, in our measure, it is with us. Our methods, and prophesyings, and machinery, will fail, if they are substituted for love. But where holy love is, if it can endure, at last it wins. Probably there is no criminal, however debased, who is not susceptible to love, and might not be saved by it. Not our love; but the love of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost.