Chapter XV: Other Institutions Connected With The Tabernacle
Chapter XV.
Other Institutions Connected With The Tabernacle
Tabernacle Building Fund.—Up to Jan. 1876, this fund stood at £4300, but by the generous offer of an anonymous donor it has just now been raised to £5000. The capital is lent out without interest to chapels in debt, to encourage them to clear themselves of their liabilities. Thus this capital remains and continues to benefit one church after another. The fund was originally raised in order that the Pastor might feel that in case of his death there would be money available to pay for the completion of the studies of the men in College: to do this, however, would now require a large amount.
Mrs. Spurgeon's Book Fund.—The Pastor's beloved wife, touched with the poverty of many ministers, commenced this fund to supply the most needy with books. She makes this the pleasant business of her life, when she has respite from pain, and sufficient strength. Already (March, 1876) she has received and expended £300, having by prudent purchasing been able to give at least £500 worth of books to brethren whose libraries are scantily furnished.
Mr. Oncken's German Mission.—The church supports two missionaries in Germany—at Templin and Hamburg.
Mission to the Jews.—There is a small auxiliary to this mission, of which Miss Higgs is the secretary.
Mr. Orsman's Mission in Golden Lane, City, one of the most useful in all London, is an entirely independent enterprise, but Mr. Orsman, as still a member at the Tabernacle, would be unhappy if we did not mention him. All the arrangements of an active church, and all the necessary adjuncts of a vigorous mission, are to be found under the supervision of this honoured brother, who deserves all the encouragement and assistance that can be rendered him.
Richmond Street Mission and Schools, Walworth. President J. T. Dunn.—In 1875 new premises were erected for this mission at a cost of over £900 which is all paid. Sunday and Ragged Schools, and adult classes. Children in schools 650. Preaching, tract distribution, Band of Hope, Evangelistic work, &c.,—all in active operation.
Green Walk Mission, Bermondsey.—President, W. Olney, Junr. A mighty warfare against sin has been carried on here, and very many brought to Jesus and added to the Tabernacle church. Hall thronged to hear the gospel. About 350 children in the schools. Mothers meetings, Band of Hope, Tract Society, Open air mission, Bible and singing classes, and Children's special service. All at work and all alive. Here a good hall must be built. If some generous friend would build a place for this mission, the money would be well laid out.
James Grove, Peckham.—Here a chapel has been built and a congregation gathered, with schools. Our Elder, John Field, has just left it for a pastorate, and matters are in a transition state. It is a fine property, and much good has been done in it. Many members have been added to the Tabernacle church, and we hope ere long to form them into a separate community, and let them run alone.
Mr. Hampton's Blind Mission.—Established four years, for the evangelization of the poor blind. For this we need a hall, for at present we are cramped for numbers, and the overcrowding of very poor people is most unhealthy, and indeed unbearable. There is a Sunday-school for blind children. Tea is given on Sunday afternoon to the blind and their guides, and then service is held. Two hundred blind and guides attend. £148 expended in 1875, and much more is needed: but a hall near the Tabernacle is our greatest necessity. Remittances can be sent to C. H. Spurgeon, president. Mr. Hampton, a working painter, is the right worthy conductor of this work of mercy.
Mrs. Thomas's Mothers' Mission.—Our afflicted friend carries on this work with the help of some of our members, and it is a great success. Seventy women are on the books. £70 expended per annum. Clothes, loan-boxes, &c, provided for poor women.
Other mothers' meetings are held by various ladies of the church.
Tabernacle Sunday School.—Superintendent, Mr. Davis. Held in the Tabernacle schoolroom and in the College. Children, 1,000 in regular attendance; 150 in senior classes, which each one deserve separate mention if we had space; 37 joined the church in 1875. Young Christians' Association, 216 members. Children's and teachers' Library. The school raises from £50 to £60 per annum for the Baptist Missionary Society. There is a Band of Hope, and a working class.
Almshouses.—The day schools are as full as they can hold, and under Mr. Johnson's care provide a superior education. Here there are Sunday-schools, and an adult class of 120 members under Mr. Daniel. Mr. Bartlett's children's service is held in the evening, and he also conducts a young Christians' meeting.
Orphanage: here, too, Sunday-school work goes on vigorously.
Several schools in our neighbourhood are wholly conducted and many more very nearly so by our members, but as they nominally belong to other churches, or are quite independent, we do not mention them here, though we furnish teachers for schools all around us.
Mrs. Bartlett's Class.—This famous class, since the decease of its invaluable leader, is now presided over by her son Edward, who is an indefatigable labourer in many ways. The class is well attended, numbering from 500 to 700; it carries on many meetings and works of usefulness, and manifests a right royal liberality to the College, for which it raises a large amount annually. Very many have come into the church from this class.
Mr. Perkins' Bible Class.—An earnest, united band of young men, who meet on Sabbath afternoons in the Vestry of the Tabernacle. They carry on different works of usefulness and aid the College.
Mr. Bowker's Bible Class is of the same character, and meets in the Octagonal Room of the College. It is an earnest class, helps its own poor, works for Jesus, and aids in supporting the College.
Mr. Charlesworth has a Ladies' Bible Class, on Thursdays before the service, and a Young Men's Bible Glass on Sabbath afternoons—both prospering. The two classes support a Bible-carriage.
Baptist Country Mission.—President, Mr. Bowker. A small society, but full of life. It seeks to evangelize the villages by open air preaching and opening rooms for services. With small funds, it has during the last year carried on three promising interests—in Putney, Walthamstow, and Carshalton. Others in past years have become self-supporting churches, and so will these. It is making attempts in villages further afield, and Christ is preached faithfully. It is an evangelistic effort for the suburbs and country. Its expenditure was only £60 last year. It could economically use ten times as much.
Evangelists' Association.—Secretary, Elder Elvin. Is fully at work in halls, lodging-houses, street corners, the Tabernacle steps, &c. Services have been successfully carried on at Dunn's Institute, and Tabernacle Almshouses, and in various chapels where the ministers have allowed evangelistic meetings to be held. This society sends brethren to any church needing such assistance. Expenses in 1875, £40.
Loan Tract Society for Tabernacle District.—Secretary, Mr. Wood. Tracts and the pastor's sermons are lent out and 2,000 families visited every week. Several conversions have resulted.
General Loan Tract Society.—Secretary, Mr. Cornell. Supplies the pastor's sermons in free grants to poor districts, where friends arrange for their loan. With the very best results this work has been carried on in seventeen counties of England, and had we more money and more applicants this agency would become a great power. Income £45.
Another society, called The Rock Loan Tract Society, lends sermons chiefly in country villages. Secretary, Mr. Hawkins. The Ordinance Poor Fund distributes among the poor members of the church about £800 annually.
Ladies' Benevolent Society.—Secretary, Mrs. Potier. For making clothing, and relieving the poor. A very useful society. Income £105.
Ladies' Maternal Society.—Secretary, Mrs. Jenkins. For the aid of poor women in their confinements. 162 boxes of linen lent during the year. Income £56. A society which ought to be seven times as large.
Mrs. Evans' home and Foreign Missionary Working Society makes up boxes of garments for missionaries, and also for poor ministers and their families at home. This is a blessed work, and has made glad many a poor servant of Jesus. Friends who wish to aid poor Baptist ministers cannot do better than give their money to this society, which, by the willing work of its young members, turns the money into useful articles.
Two Benefit Societies hold their meetings in the rooms of the Tabernacle—"The United Christian Brothers," and "The United Christian Sisters." For the payment of 6d. per week, 10s. a-week is provided in sickness, and £10 at death of member or member's wife. These societies are not a part of the church work, but we believe that they do much good.