THOMAS J. BARNARDO

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 47.

THOMAS J. BARNARDO

(From Our London Correspondent)

THE death, September 13th, of Dr. Thomas J. Barnardo brought to its close a life of high Christian endeavor and singular fruitfulness.

On a certain evening about forty years ago there entered one of London's ragged schools a bare-headed, shoeless, shivering lad who begged the privilege of spending the night before the fireplace. "O, no! run away home," replied the teacher, a young medical student. "Got no home," retorted the lad. Further questioning revealed that he was one of a number of friendless waifs who "lived nowhere."

The young teacher was still somewhat skeptical. Would the lad show him his comrades?—Certainly. So, fortified with a warm supper, Jim led the way to where eleven boys lay in the gutters of an iron roof, exposed to the cold winter wind. He offered to show more "lays" but the teacher, who was none other than Barnardo, had seen enough. He had found his life-work. Some months later he was called upon unexpectedly to speak at a missionary gathering, and told the story of "Jim."

The press took it up. Lord Shaftesbury learned of it, and asked Barnardo to dine with him. Naturally the conversation turned on "Jim." The guests were skeptical, and the host suggested that an investigation be undertaken. Cabs were accordingly ordered, and a large party set forth, guided by Barnardo, to a place near Billingsgate market. After a few minutes fruitless search, advised by a policeman, they offered a half-penny (one cent) each to as many boys as would show themselves, when forth from a pile of boxes, barrels, and crates crawled seventy-three homeless boys!

Homes for the Children

All great institutions begin small, and the Barnardo Homes for waifs were no exception. But the founder was an earnest, praying Christian, full of hope and energy, and, tho confronted with almost superhuman difficulties, his strong heart never wavered, while under his fostering care the work grew and prospered, till it assumed truly mammoth proportions. For something like a generation now Dr. Barnardo's name has been a household word in Great Britain, while the destitute children he has snatched from the slums and given a Christian home and a fair start in life number no less than 60,000.

Unique in extent (nothing on a similar scale has been attempted to the writer's knowledge), the homes are remarkable in other respects. They refuse no one—in general the more hopeless the condition of the child, the more heartily he is welcomed. But they do more than accept needy children—they hunt for them. Through some forty branch agencies search is continually made throughout the kingdom for homeless and neglected children. The sickly and deformed, even those with incurable diseases, are all sought after and placed under ideal conditions, either in the beautiful children's hospital connected with the institution, or in one of the numerous family groups. Then, again, the individual peculiarities of each child are studied, and the best opportunity afforded for his all-round development. Uniforms are eschewed, each child being tastefully dressed, and in general institutional methods are discarded, the children being surrounded, as far as possible, with the influences of a Christian home. Great care is also taken in getting situations for them, and an excellent system of supervision is maintained.

Fell in the Harness

Dr. Barnardo had been struggling for years with serious heart difficulty; but, tho urged by his friends to take a much-needed rest, he could not leave the work so dear to him. He died literally in harness, carrying to the very last a tremendous load of responsibility, but ever maintaining through it all the sweetness and beauty of a whole-hearted Christian life. He will be mourned by thousands of his boys and girls scattered all over the world, and by every lover of humanity; for he was indeed "The Father of Nobody's Children."