The reply
When I first began to recover the power of continuous thought,
after my illness, my mind naturally reverted to the kindness which
I had all my life long, received from our Heavenly Father. Truly,
He has been a Father to me, and I will praise Him still! Not only
has He been a Father Himself, but He has raised up around me,
from time to time, a host of friends, who have cheered me on along
the thorny paths of life, and have helped me to carry out designs
which, unaided, it would have been folly to have attempted to
accomplish. To those kind and good hearted friends I now, once
more, give my most grateful thanks.
The beautiful Address which you offer me, and the kind words
of that Address fill me with pleasure, and impel me (without any
affectation of modesty) to comply with the request which has been
made to recount some of those events of my Parish life which have
led up to our present happy meeting.
It is 32 years since my first Sermon was preached (March 15th,
1857) in Yardley Church; and in the following year (March 3rd,
1858), after my Ordination as a Priest the Members of the Congregation
attending the Church presented me with a Salver, a Tea and Coffee
Service and a Cake Basket, "In grateful recollection"
(as they were pleased to say) "of my services in the Church
and my general pastoral visits." Whilst in the year 1860
(March 19th) the Ladies of the Congregation presented me with
a full set of Robes, "As a small Testimonial of their respect,
and a record of my acceptable and highly valued services as Curate."
On that occasion the Vicar (who, on account of his ill health,
had left me for some time in full charge of the Parish) added:
"It is very gratifying to me that your preaching and intercourse
with our people are so much approved of, and I have much pleasure
in adding my expression of gratitude to you for your long continued
and gratuitous labours."
About this time the Parish Church required repairing and repewing,
and I was requested as Hon. Sec. to the Committee to issue an
Address (Feb. 14th, 1860), asking for help. Help also was required
in the outlying parts of the Parish. Houses were being built on
Spark Hill, by means of a Freehold Land Co., and Mrs. Thomas Lloyd
(then of the White Chains) with her usual liberality, opened a
School for the Children of the Poor dwelling on the Hill, and
offered its use to us for the Services of the Church. Mr. Humphrey
Davis of Showell's Green gave us a little Prayer Desk, in remembrance
of his boyhood days at Hall Green, and on February I2th, 1860,
I took my first Afternoon Service there; and continued the Services
occasionally, in conjunction with those of the Parish Church,
till the middle of the following year. The Easter Services of
the year (1861) were taken with great heartiness by the People
of Sparkhill, and I continued there until May 26th, when I was
called off to look after the Services at Hay Mills, where Mr.
Horsfall had generously built a Room for our purposes.
In the midst of all this activity we were wanted at the Parish
Church, which, after repewing, repairing and restoring "at
a cost of £867, was reopened July 12th with full Cathedral
Service and a sermon by the Rev. Richard Postance of Liverpool.
But I was mostly wanted at Hay Mills where my chief work then
lay.
The works had been under my pastoral care for some time. At
first Mr. Horsfall placed one of the rooms in a cottage at our
service, for the use of our Scripture Readers; then, as the work
grew, he made the Cottage into a Room, and when that proved not
large enough he made two Cottages into one; and then turned the
two into a Lecture Room in which I took the Services on Sunday
Evenings. Lectures were also given to the workpeople on week-day
Evenings during the Winter Months. The Room soon proved too small,
even for his own workpeople; whereupon he pulled it down and built
a little Chapel, in which I continued the Evening Services for
a time, and then changed them (November 2nd, 1862) for a Morning
Service, which was continued until I was called away in the Christmas
of 1865 to look after the work at Acock's Green.
We had a very happy time of it at Hay Mills. Mr. Horsfall placed
at our service any money we might require, gave us an Organ instead
of the Harmonium, and enabled the workpeople to have full Choral
Services at Easter (1863).
I was at Hay Mills on what may be called active duty as well
as assisting in the Afternoon Services, etc., at the Parish Church,
for somewhat more than three years, and upon my departure they
presented me with a Silver Inkstand and Paper Knife, a Gold Pencil
Case, and a cheque for £15; whilst Mr. Horsfall gave me
(as his private gift) a handsome Diamond Ring. The presents were
accompanied by an Address, in which, amongst other words of kindness,
were the following:- "If encouragement be wanting to sustain
your efforts and nerve your energies in your new work, you my
with all truth find it in your late congregation at Hay Mills.
There the well-filled seats and attentive occupants betokened
the general acceptance of your ministrations, and the altered
character of the Sabbath with many of your resident flock argues
a cheering change in habit and feeling. It is evident to all that
your faithful and earnest labours amongst us have done much to
produce and preserve those steps towards a new life, which, from
the first erection of the Chapel have been slowly but surely promoted.
In your new duties you may see in some an absence of gratitude,
but this one of your brightest jewels in your crown of rejoicing
will at once rise up before your remembrance - that wherever you
may be, no matter how many years may have elapsed, our love and
esteem, our best wishes and prayers, will be ever round and about
you."
When I took my farewell at Yardley (December 14th, 1866) the
same kind and generous tone was manifested as at Hay Mills. They
gave me a handsome Silver Salver and a Purse of Gold, a very costly
set of Robes, and a beautiful Morocco Sermon Case, "In recognition
(as the Vicar and Churchwardens were pleased to say) of my gratuitous
and valued services as Senior Curate for the last ten years and
in testimony of their personal esteem and regard." In their
address they added: "Your unwearied zeal, your untired diligence,
and your willingness at all times, notwithstanding the distance
of your residence, and frequent inclemency of the weather, to
sacrifice your own leisure to the faithful discharge of the various
duties of your office - these and many other considerations demand
from us the deepest feelings of thankfulness and respect."
On October 13th, 1864, the Foundation Stone of our Church here
at Acock's Green was laid, and the first Sermon preached November
4th, 1866. In my Christmas Address, 1867, I was able to report
that the Church, in the first year of its official life, was unfettered
by debt of any kind. The Building Committee, the Church Wardens
and the Choir were all out of debt; and the Services fully carried
out in accordance with the Regulations of the Education Commissioners
for the Chapel Services of our great Public Schools. This last
was done in order to avoid being mixed up with any of the parties,
which exist in the Church. We claimed to be sound Churchmen and
nothing more.
But the work of assisting at Hay Mills, Spark Hill, and occasionally
at Yardley, as well as looking after Acock's Green, has undermined
my strength, and during the prayers in the Evening Service on
November 10th I broke down and was unable to resume my duties
until the 9th of February following.
Notwithstanding this drawback it gave me great pleasure to
say in the Address for the following Christmas (1868): "There
are more applicants for Sittings than there are Sittings to let;
and success has also attended the pecuniary matters connected
with the Church."
"When the building was commenced it was doubted by some
whether we should be able to raise more than £2,000 to supply
our wants. Instead of that we have received up to the present
time £6,350, besides the presents of Communion Chairs, Plate,
Linen, etc., and the two acres of land which were given for the
Church and Vicarage. We have had also £400 promised towards
the Vicarage and £165 towards the Schools, so that we have
good grounds for rejoicing during the second Christmas of our
Ecclesiastical life, and great cause for thankfulness to Almighty
God for the blessings which He has conferred upon us."
The Vicarage was soon built, at a cost of £2,191, and
I took possession of it after my marriage in February, 1871. Then
we busied ourselves in preparing for the building of our Schools.
In the next year (December 13th, 1872) we set about the work and
asked the parishioners for help. They speedily responded to the
call, and the Schools were formally opened March 10th, 1874, at
the cost of £1,595.
In my Address (Christmas, 1873) I said: " The religious
opinions of the parents will be fully respected by a 'Conscience
Clause,' and the teaching of Dogmata will be confined to our Sunday
Schools. For these we shall require some voluntary help in the
shape of Teachers, and I wish those only who are willing to teach
honestly the large-hearted, noble gospel principles of the Church
of England; and who, in teaching them, will feel fully persuaded
that they are teaching the truth. I want no narrow-minded ignorant
bigotry taught in our Schools; and, as far as I can prevent it,
there shall be no party crochets taught either."
But the heavy work began again to tell upon my health, and
our medical advisers ordered me to take absolute rest or I should
lose my voice altogether. The greater part of the last sixteen
years of my life had been fully employed. During the first ten
years I had taken only two months' leisure, and had no time for
reading. Indeed, during the whole of the sixteen years I was not
able to get through one book a year. Then I retired for rest,
and returned, after a time, with the cheering assurance that the
"Institutions of our Parish were in good working order,"
and would not hereafter require much constant labour.
This happy conclusion, arrived at doubtless under the influence
of the invigorating sea air of Hastings, was speedily dispelled.
For in my next Address (Christmas, 1874) I find the following:
"The School Buildings are not yet free from debt, and the
School Managers will have to ask you for further assistance. It
has been suggested that a new Subscription List should be opened
for paying off the balance, and that 1 should head the list with
a 'good round sum.' This I would do with the greatest pleasure,
if I had the money with which to do it; but I have it not. Last
year the expenses connected with the Schools and Church compelled
me to overdraw my Church Account, and this year the Account (of
which the Schools have had the lion's share) is, I am sadly afraid,
in the same unfortunate position. I have not had one shilling
for myself. Indeed, during the eighteen years in which I have
been a Minister of the Church I have not had the privilege of
using any of its income for my own private advantage. Whatever
I have received, whether directly or indirectly, from the Church,
or from matters connected with the Church, has been given back
again; and at the present moment (as far as the Church is concerned)
I am a poorer man than when we began. This being the case, you
will, I am sure, with your usual kindness and candour, allow that
it would be wrong in me to set an example of out-running my income,
merely to have my name appear as a large contributor to your Subscription
Lists."
But, besides the progress of the Church and Schools, the hard
work and close attention which had been given to the wants of
the Parish were not without their beneficial results.
In my Sermon on the Anniversary of the Consecration of our
Church (October 17th, 1875) I was able to say: "This is the
first of our 'Scarlet Days' - a day when the Church of England
took in hand to dispel the darkness in which the neighbourhood
had been left, and to bring it into the light and benefits of
our Parochial System. That the district has been materially, as
well as spiritually benefitted by the event which we now celebrate
cannot for one moment be doubted. Both land and house property
have risen 20 per cent. since we met nine years ago to dedicate
this Church to the Service of our God; and this 20 per cent. has
been over and above the value in which property has risen in the
neighbourhood from other circumstances. Every owner of house or
land here, then, has cause to be thankful to those who, for no
private gains of their own, laboured hard and long to bring the
benefits of the pure and reasonable Services of our Church to
the doors of the people; and many have learnt that when the Services
of the Church of England are carried on in their integrity - when
they are honestly interpreted, without any truckling to the narrow-minded
or interested disputants of the hour - they are the noblest and
the most sublime Services which are to be found on the earth ;
and they have associated themselves with them accordingly."
But there was not much time for rejoicing. The sounds of work
were soon heard again; and in the Notice for the Harvest Festival
of September, 1877, we read: "The Offertory will be given
for the enlargement of our Schools, which require an additional
Class Room in consequence of the great augmentation in the number
of Scholars"; and on March 8th, 1878, we find one of our
helpers employed in sending out Rules of a Needlework Society
- "For the building of the Chancel of the Church." The
new Class Room at the School was finished in 1879 at a cost (including
Fittings) of £345 and in the following year a Penny Savings
Bank was opened in the Schools, and proved a great success.
But much of the time of the years 1878-9 and 80 were occupied
in carrying out the suggestions for the Needlework Society; and
by it the Ladies raised £878 towards the enlargement of
the Church.
In the November of the year 1879 the scene of operations was
somewhat changed. From bricks and mortar, and things spiritual
and mental, we had to turn our attentions to things bodily. The
Diptheria had appeared; and in my Address to the parishioners
upon the subject I said: " Whilst following the duties of
my daily calling I found that Diptheria was spreading rapidly
amongst us, and that it was necessary to take prompt measures
to put a stop to its ravages. I sent my wife and child from home,
in order that the Vicarage might be open to all comers, without
their having (in the goodness of their hearts) any dread of bringing
the disease with them, and that I myself might go wherever it
seemed necessary without dread also. I then applied myself to
the business, and found that the rapid spread of the disease must,
in some way, be
attributed to the main drains of the place." I inspected
the Ventilators and then called in Dr. Wilson to my help. We found
their caps choked with leaves and dirt. They had never been opened
since they had been built; and as soon as they were opened the
disease vanished.
On November 8th, 1880, the Churchwardens and myself appealed
for help to enlarge the Church, so as "to provide accommodation
for the people, who, notwithstanding the building of the new Church
at Olton, are more than can be seated at present, and are increasing
monthly throughout the district."
In December the pressure for Church accommodation became so
great that, although the School Managers had held Services in
the Schools for the Sunday School Children, the Rev. W. K. Cox,
who had been for nearly two years holding Services in a room in
Spring Lane, issued a circular asking for help "to erect
immediately an Iron Mission Room large enough to accommodate about
100 persons." It cost £110, and was opened by the Rev.
gentleman January 30th, 1881.
In the same year the Church was enlarged at a supposed cost
of £2,500, but which ended in being £3,136 ; and to
help us out of debt a Bazaar was held in the Town Hall, Birmingham,
which, with after Sales, produced £1,400. After the Re-opening
of the Church 47 Sittings were let. On the Easter Day following
600 persons attended the Morning Service, and 75 of them remained
for the Second Celebration.
But although the Church was enlarged and paid for, our work
was not yet finished. In 1885 the Mission Room had to be enlarged
so as to accommodate 100 more persons. This was done, and the
Room re-opened July 23rd at a cost of £162; and in the following
October there were opened, in Spring Lane, a working men's Reading
Room and Club at an expense of £57.
Thus have we been engaged almost up to the present time in
building our works, and strengthening our borders. The cost of
our labours has reached the respectable sum of £13,964;
and if you add to this £500 a year for other matters connected
with the Church and Parish, you will see that we have raised and
spent some £24,964; whilst at the same time the Spiritual
wants of the people have not been neglected. Upon this subject
it will be sufficient to say that in 1867 there were 205 inhabited
houses in the District, and only 88 of them occupied by Churchmen,
whilst in January, 1888 there were 307 Churchmen out of 470 inhabited
houses.
But, Ladies and Gentlemen, all this heavy, expensive and satisfactory
work has not been done by myself alone. I have been assisted all
along by a band of most devoted adherents, inside and outside
thc Parish, who have laboured in the cause as heartily as myself,
and have spared neither time nor trouble to bring to a successful
issue all that we have undertaken.
To them let us give the praise. May our Heavenly Father bless
them in all things temporal and spiritual; and you also, who have
come forward to lighten and console my labours in this hour of
need.
God has most graciously raised me, as it were, from the bed
of death, and has given me some little strength to take a part,
once more, in thc Services of our Church; but that little strength
I must husband, because my physical powers are not - and perhaps
never will be - what they were. I am not allowed even to walk
about the Parish, nor go upstairs to a bedside, and must delegate
these duties to others; but I feel quite sure, from the kindness
which I have received from you all, that you will accept and excuse
my shortcomings and give me credit for doing all that may lay
in my power to do, whilst being amongst you.
Accept, then, my most grateful thanks; and as coming from myself,
the words of St. Paul recorded in the Epistle for the 22nd Sunday
after Trinity.
THE SCHOOLROOM,
January 2nd, 1890.
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