Chapter 11: "Providence House".
Chapter 11: "Providence House".
"I am glad to think
I am not bound to make the world go right;
But only to discover and to do,
With cheerful heart, the work that God appoints.
I will trust in Him,
That He can hold His own."
- JEAN INGELOW.
WHEN I COMMENCED my Mission at the prison-gate, I endeavoured to find work for my protégés by going with them to various manufacturers that were known to me, and to others who were not so well known. And I will say with gratitude, that I was received with uniform kindness; and in many cases every endeavour was made to help me. But it was not entirely satisfactory-partly because the heads of the firms left their departments almost entirely to their managers, with whom they did not care to interfere; and partly because it was often prejudicial to a workman to seem too entirely under the patronage of "a parson." Besides this, I had no opportunity of keeping in touch with men who needed my help and guidance. And, in addition, it consumed so much of my time to go round the town from one to another, waiting to see those who could help me.
Of course, there were a great many cases in which men who came out of prison went back to their former berths, or were able to find employment for themselves. I am not now speaking of these; but of those who had no employment to turn to-and perhaps no trade at their fingers' ends by which to support themselves. This latter was rather a numerous class; and I found it most needful to set all such to work as soon as possible before they relapsed, under the pressure of their companions, into their former sins.
This led me to wonder whether it might not be possible to start some kind of manufacture of my own, in which I could employ and supervise those who gave signs of being willing to help themselves if an opportunity were offered them. The first attempt was made in a cellar, where two men started chopping wood and making it up in bundles. The only outlay, so far, was in choppers, string, etc.; and I was encouraged to go forward. Next to this, a small factory was taken, with a room below and one above, where we were able to employ more hands, and began to do a much larger trade. One of my working men, who was a shoe-finisher, kindly brought his work away from his own home, and did it on the premises, looking after the men at the same time. The goods were taken out first in a truck, and then by a small pony-cart; and though I did not make any profit, there was no loss, and it seemed as if we were on the right track.
There was one lack, however-we had the men during the day, but we had not sufficient control over them at night; and it seemed that if only we could have a place where they might work during the day and sleep at night, without the necessity of going out for any purpose whatever, it might be the means of delivering them from temptation, and at the same time of instilling into their minds the principles of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus.
Whilst these thoughts were passing through my head, I happened to hear of a large disused yard and workshops, formerly occupied by a builder and contractor, and to be had at a reduced rent. I went to see them, and at once felt that this was the very accommodation we required. The premises were within a quarter of an hour's walk from my house. On the left hand of the entrance was a house which would suit well for the manager, and for the nucleus of a Boys' Refuge in the upper story. Going down the yard, on the right, was a stable with a loft, that could be adapted for a mess-room and sleeping-room; whilst at the end of the yard was a long workshop, open below, but closed in the upper room, in which I could carry on all my work. A long wall running on the right hand side of the yard, opposite the stable before mentioned, afforded ample opportunity for the erection of separate wooden workshops, as soon as all our space in the more permanent building was occupied. But the rent was £ 100 per annum.
It was vain to think of linking on so great a work to the Prisoners' Aid Society; nor did I feel able to form a separate Committee for this special agency. It was laid on my heart, therefore, to assume the entire responsibility, with no treasurer but the Lord Himself. I did not undertake it without much thought and prayer. Like Peter, I kept saying, "If it be Thou, bid me come!" Then I waited for His reply.
It came at last. I was in the train on my way to spend two or three days at Llandudno, when as distinctly as possible I became conscious of the impression that I was to go forward; and that my God would be my treasurer and guide, failing me in no good thing, but leading me forward a step at a time. It is a glad thing for a man when he receives such intimation as I did then. Nothing can hurt him, nothing daunt. All his need is met as it arises from those inexhaustible stores; and he realizes that the work is no longer his, but God's through him, and that the whole weight of the responsibility is on the shoulders that bear the worlds. This is my record to the glory of God-that He never failed me. I had to use some of my own capital for that business; I passed through some terrific difficulties; I had much to plan and arrange; there was a great expenditure of time and energy; but I never regret having gone into it. There are fruits of the work existing in many places; and when I left Leicester, it was so arranged, through the goodness of God, that every penny of my private income was replaced, so that I was not one tittle the poorer than when I started on an enterprise which to the eye of sense seemed altogether quixotic and absurd. If a man is sure that he is on God's plan, let him go forward, stepping down even on the waves-he cannot be ashamed. On my return from Llandudno-it was a Saturday afternoon, which I remember well-I sat down and wrote my acceptance of this big place, at this annual rental, for the term of three years; and also made an entry in my diary that I undertook it in partnership with God, as a member in a great firm or fellowship, in which the division was thus-He to find all the money and guidance necessary; I to yield my brain and hands that He might use them to execute His designs. That evening a friend gave me my first donation of £20. I received it with deep emotion. It appeared to be so evidently the Lord's assurance; and I determined to call the place "Providence House."
The process of adaptation took some little time. The drains of the stable were plugged up with cement, the stalls removed, and the place transformed into a comfortable mess-room and kitchen, with cooking range. The harness-room was turned into a lavatory. The hayloft was fitted up with nineteen beds, after necessary alterations and enlargement. A number of beds were also put into the upper rooms of the manager's house.
In the workshop a crank for hand labour was erected to turn the circular saw, with which it was connected through a fly-wheel and leathern bands. And along the wall a number of cosy wooden workshops were put up, in which men might sit, working alone, and tying the chopped wood into bundles.
The neighbours heard of my intentions with dismay. The idea that I should establish a settlement of gaol-birds in the midst of so respectable a quarter! Landlords wrote remonstrating with me for bringing down the price of property. Town councillors were urged to bring the matter forward in the municipal meeting. And locksmiths had quite a busy time of it in making good old and broken locks, fitting keys, and preparing against a siege, if the need should arise. Thank God, the event proved that none of these preparations were needed. No harm came of my little settlement. In time prejudice was disarmed; and the people would open their windows at our prayer times, that they might hear our men sing the praises of God.
But, on the other hand, my own people had begun to take an unexpected interest in the work. The ladies looked after the furnishing. One gave all the blankets, a second the sheets, a third the coverlets. Some gave one thing, some another, as the Lord prompted them. Difficulties were overcome with the sanitary authorities and others; and at last the opening day came, and the Dedication Service. This service was held in the upper room of the long workshop, and the place was formally handed over to God for His use and blessing; and He at least never forgot that it was from the first thus entrusted to Him. After the meeting, the people went all around, inspecting the arrangements, and full of interest and expectancy as to the results.
We then began to fill up the beds, and to take in likely cases. There was no difficulty in this, as we had a constant stream pouring out of the prison, besides many old hands. Our first idea was to feed the men as part of their earnings; but we found that each man preferred to be his own cook. So we ultimately arranged to pay about one shilling and threepence for hand labour in turning the crank, and about one shilling and sixpence for making up bundles. Out of this we expected fourpence to be returned to us for the bed, and the rest was largely used to provide food. If there were a surplus, we received it, allowing it to accumulate toward the purchase of articles of clothing.
Thus the men lived with us-working in the sheds during the day; sleeping under our roof at night; and constantly plied with those high and holy motives which come from repeated services and contact with Christian men. The latter is a principle of the highest importance in redemptive work; and it has been largely adopted by the Moravians, whose "brothers" work beside those whom they would save, esteeming it a sufficient reward if by their presence they can stay the spread of corruption, or instil the precepts of the Gospel of Christ.