Wash you, make
you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease
to do evil; learn to do well; seek judgement, relieve the oppressed,
judge the fatherless, plead for the widow."
I have been asked to plead to-day for the mission of the Good Shepherd in
Portsea.
I am informed that Portsea contains some thirteen thousand souls, divided
between two parishes. That they, as I feared, include some of the most
ignorant and vicious of both sexes which can be found in the kingdom;
that there are few or no rich people in the place; that the rich who have
an interest in the labour of these masses live away from the place, and
from the dwellings of those whom they employ--a social evil new to
England; but growing, alas! fearfully common in it; and that vice, and
unthrift, uncertain wages, and unhealthy dwellings produce there, as
elsewhere, misery and savagery most deplorable. I am told, too, that
this mission has been working, nobly and self-denyingly, among these
unhappy people for some years past. That it can, and ought to largely
extend its operations; that it is in want of fresh funds; that it is
proposed to build a new church, which, it is hoped, will be a centre of
civilization and organization, as well as of religion and morality, for
the district; and I am bidden to invite you, as close neighbours of
Portsea, to help in the good work.
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