ue and Godly life。 These tell their mates how this has come about； and urge all who hear them to try for themselves and see whether it is not a good and happy thing to be soundly saved。 In the intervals of testimonyand these testimonies； as every one will bear me witness who has ever attended any of our meetings； are not long； sanctimonious lackadaisical speeches； but simple confessions of individual experiencethere are bursts of hearty melody。 The conductor of the meeting will start up a verse or two of a hymn illustrative of the experiences mentioned by the last speaker； or one of the girls from the Training Home will sing a solo； accompanying herself on her instrument； while all join in a rattling and rollicking chorus。
There is no compulsion upon anyone of our dossers to take part in this meeting； they do not need to come in until it is over； but as a simple matter of fact they do come in。 Any night between eight and ten o'clock you will find these people sitting there； listening to the exhortations and taking part in the singing； many of them； no doubt； unsympathetic enough； but nevertheless preferring to be present with the music and the warmth； mildly stirred； if only by curiosity； as the various testimonies are delivered。
Sometimes these testimonies are enough to rouse the most cynical of observers。 We had at one of our shelters the captain of an ocean steamer； who had sunk to the depths of destitution through strong drink。 He came in there one night utterly desperate and was taken in hand by our peopleand with us taking in hand is no mere phrase； for at the close of our meetings our officers go from seat to seat； and if they see anyone who shows signs of being affected by the speeches or the singing； at once sit down beside him and begin to labour with him for the salvation of his soul。 By this means they are able to get hold of the men and to know exactly where the difficulty lies； what the trouble is； and if they do nothing else； at least succeed in convincing them that there is someone who cares for their soul and would do what he could to lend them a helping hand。
The captain of whom I was speaking was got hold of in this way。 He was deeply impressed； and was induced to abandon once and for all his habits of intemperance。 From that meeting he went an altered man。 He regained his position in the merchant service； and twelve months afterwards astonished us all by appearing in the uniform of a captain of a large ocean steamer； to testify to those who were there how low he had been； how utterly he had lost all hold on Society and all hope of the future； when； fortunately led to the Shelter； he found friends； counsel； and salvation； and from that time had never rested until he had regained the position which he had forfeited by his intemperance。
The meeting over； the singing girls go back to the Training Home； and the men prepare for bed。 Our sleeping arrangements are somewhat primitive； we do not provide feather beds； and when you go into our dormitories； you will be surprised to find the floor covered by what look like an endless array of packing cases。 These are our beds； and each of them forms a cubicle。 There is a mattress laid on the floor； and over the mattress a leather apron； which is all the bedclothes that we find it possible to provide。 The men undress； each by the side of his packing box； and go to sleep under their leather covering。 The dormitory is warmed with hot water pipes to a temperature of 60 degrees； and there has never been any complaint of lack of warmth on the part of those who use the Shelter。 The leather can be kept perfectly clean； and the mattresses； covered with American cloth； are carefully inspected every day； so that no stray specimen of vermin may be left in the place。 The men turn in about ten o'clock and sleep until six。 We have never any disturbances of any kind in the Shelters。 We have provided accommodation now for several thousand of the most helplessly broken…down men in London； criminals many of them； mendicants； tramps； those who are among the filth and offscouring of all things； but such is the influence that is established by the meeting and the moral ascendancy of our officers themselves； that we have never had a fight on the premises； and very seldom do we ever hear an oath or an obscene word。 Sometimes there has been trouble outside the Shelter； when men insisted upon coming in drunk or were otherwise violent； but once let them come to the Shelter； and get into the swing of the concern； and we have no trouble with them。 In the morning they get up and have their breakfast and； after a short service； go off their various ways。 We find that we can do this； that is to say； we can provide coffee and bread for breakfast and for supper； and a shake…down on the floor in the packing…boxes I have described in a warm dormitory for fourpence a head。
I propose to develop these Shelters； so as to afford every man a locker； in which he could store any little valuables that he may possess。 I would also allow him the use of a boiler in the washhouse with a hot drying oven； so that he could wash his shirt over night and have it returned to him dry in the morning。 Only those who have had practical experience of the difficulty of seeking for work in London can appreciate the advantages of the opportunity to get your shirt washed in this wayif you have one。 In Trafalgar Square； in 1887； there were few things that scandalised the public more than the spectacle of the poor people camped in the Square； washing their shirts in the early morning at the fountains。 If you talk to any men who have been on the road for a lengthened period they will tell you that nothing hurts their self…respect more or stands more fatally in the way of their getting a job than the impossibility of getting their little things done up and clean。
In our poor man's 〃Home〃 everyone could at least keep himself clean and have a clean shirt to his back； in a plain way； no doubt； but still not less effective than if he were to be put up at one of the West End hotels； and would be able to secure anyway the necessaries of life while being passed on to something far better。 This is the first step。
SOME SHELTER TROPHIES。
Of the practical results which have followed our methods of dealing with the outcasts who take shelter with us we have many striking examples。 Here are a few； each of them a transcript of a life experience relating to men who are now active； industrious members of the community upon which but for the agency of these Depots they would have been preying to this day。
A。S。Born in Glasgow； 1825。 Saved at Clerkenwell； May 19； 1889。 Poor parents raised in a Glasgow Slum。 Was thrown on the streets at seven years of age； became the companion and associate of thieves； and drifted into crime。 The following are his terms of imprisonment： 14 days； 30 days； 30 days。 60 days； 60 days （three times in succession）； 4 months； 6 months （twice）； 9 months； 18 months； 2 years； 6 years； 7 years （twice）； 14 years； 40 years 3 months and 6 days in the aggregate。 Was flogged for violent conduct in gaol 8 times。
W。 M。 （〃Buff〃）。Born in Deptford； 1864； saved at Clerkenwell； March 31st； 1889。 His father was an old Navy man； and earned a decent living as manager。 Was sober； respectable； and trustworthy。 Mother was a disreputable drunken slattern： a curse and disgrace to husband and family。 The home was broken up； and little Buff was given over to the evil influences of his depraved mother。 His 7th birthday present from his admiring parent was a 〃quarten o'gin。〃 He got some education at the One Tun Alley Ragged School； but when nine years old was caught apple stealing； and sent to the industrial School at Ilford for 7 years。 Discharged at the end of his term； he drifted to the streets； the casual wards； and Metropolitan gaols； every one of whose interiors he is familiar with。 He became a ringleader of a gang that infested London； a thorough mendicant and ne'er…do…well； a pest to society。 Naturally he is a born leader； and one of those spirits that command a following； consequently； when he got Salvation； the major part of his following came after him to the Shelter； and eventually to God。 His character since conversion has been altogether satisfactory； and he is now an Orderly at Whitechapel； and to all appearances a 〃true lad。〃
C。 W。 （〃Frisco〃）。Born in San Francisco； 1862。 Saved April 24th； 1889。 Taken away from home at the age of eight years； and made his way to Texas。 Here he took up life amongst the Ranches as a Cowboy； and varied it with occasional trips to sea； developing into a typical brass and rowdy。 He had 2 years for mutiny at sea； 4 years for mule stealing； 5 years for cattle stealing and has altogether been in gaol for thirteen years and eleven months。 He came over to England； got mixed up with thieves and casuals here； and did several short terms of imprisonment。 He was met on his release at Millbank by an old chum （Buff） and the Shelter Captain； came to Shelter； got saved； and has stood firm。
H。 A。Born at Deptford； 1850。 Saved at Clerkenwell； January 12th； 1889。 Lost mother in early life； step…mother difficulty supervening； and a propensity to misappropriation of small things developed into thieving。 He followed the sea； became a hard drinker； a foul…mouthed blasphemer； and a blatant spouter of infidelity。 He drifted about for years； ashore and afloat； and eventually reached the Shelter stranded。 Here he sought God； and has done well。 This summer he had charge of a gang of haymakers sent into the country； and stood the ordeal satisfactorily。 He seems honest in his profession； and strives patiently to follow after God。 He is at the workshops。
H。 S。Born at A…； in Scotland。 Like most Scotch lads although parents were in poor circumstances he managed to get a good education。 Early in life he took to newspaper work； and picked up the details of the journalistic profession in several prominent papers in N。B。 Eventually he got a position on a provincial newspaper； and having put in a course at Glasgow University； graduated B。A。 there。 After this he was on the staff of a Welsh paper。 He married a decent girl； and had several little ones； but giving way to drink