Chapter III: Preface: To the Tenth Edition

The favour accorded to this book has taken the author by surprise, as the issue of nine editions of a thousand copies rapidly succeeded each other. The truthfulness and simplicity of the narrative has no doubt promoted this result, but the secret of its success is not in the book itself, but in the deep interest taken by Christians generally in effort to evangelize the people of London.

To many the difficulty of uniting disciples of various names in hearty co-operation appeared to be insurmountable; and the gaining of access to and influencing the "lapsed masses," the ungodly and criminal, to religion and virtue seemed all but hopeless.

This simple record of mission work has had its influence in removing such difficulties from the minds of many, and in enlisting the sympathy of persons who were previously uninformed as to a Christian union which is auxiliary and helpful to all the Churches.

At the time the narrative commenced there were only one hundred and twelve city missionaries employed in London; but, through the blessing of Almighty God and the confidence of His people, the increase of their number has been steady and support increasingly generous. The mission staff now numbers 448 effective men with 30 veterans upon the retiring fund; these, with the committee and their officers, examiners of candidates and local superintendents, number upwards of one thousand men, who prayerfully and with great activity seek the spiritual good and general uprising of the poor of the great Metropolis.

Much remains to be done. In many parishes extending to the distant suburbs there are numerous poor districts, inhabited by myriads of perishing souls, to each of which the appointment of "A MAN WITH THE BOOK," charged to read and bring its life-giving power to bear upon each man, woman, and child within his influence, would indeed be a blessing conferred.

Charged with the duty of providing for many of these "waste places" in the east and west of the City, the writer will gladly welcome the friendship and aid of those who, realizing the preciousness of personal salvation, from the abundance of the heart deviseth liberal things.

With the committee there is one strong conviction, and it is this, that their work, which commenced in obscurity and feebleness, by three men without name, influence, or money, but who were strong in faith, prayer, and holy zeal--that the effort though now exceeding large--can only be continued and extended in the same spirit of simple trust and devotion, "glory" being rendered "in the Church by Jesus Christ, unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us."

LONDON CITY MISSION HOUSE,
BRIDEWELL, E.C.
_May, 1878_.

CONTENTS.

THE BOOK IN THE COURT.

ITS INTRODUCTION.

PAGE

Description.--The strange visitor.--Translators.--The chanter
and dog-nurse.--Thieves.--Beggars.--Prize-fighter.--A
widow indeed.--The power of prayer 3

THE BOOK IN THE COURT.

ITS INFLUENCE.

A fight between women.--Turning the fever out.--Speech
from a barrow.--Drunken Sammy.--A Wonderful tea-pot.--Dust-man
and scavenger.--Lady power 25

THE BOOK IN THE COURT.

ITS POWER.

Black Poll.--Niggers.--Rescued.--Tom and Bess.--Costermonger's
wedding.--A baptism.--Pledge taken.--The
prison gate.--The Bible on the housetop.--The convict's
widow and son 43

THE BOOK IN THE COURT.

ITS AUTHORITY.

A black leg.--Miniature altar.--The peacemaker.--The wafer.--An
animated sandwich.--Saved from error.--The
travelling tinker.--The dying child 65

THE BOOK IN THE COURT.

ITS TRUTH.

Roley-Poley's opinions.--The bus-washer.--Communism. An
infidel club-room.--Philosophers.--Conflict with infidelity.
The 'strology woman.--Bible answers.--Imp woman.--The
converted infidel 81

THE BOOK IN THE COURT.

ITS CERTAIN GOOD.

A praise meeting.--Death of the widow.--Joy of the blessed.--Out
of the prize ring.--A farewell speech.--A fagger.--A
strange preacher.--Dusty and the fiddler.--Praying in the
cell.--Indian girl.--Genesa.--Infidel society dissolved.--Works
following.--The banner of love 103

THE BOOK IN THE BARS.

ITS LIGHT.

Between the barrels.--The true light shining.--A danger.--Light
in the club-room.--The change wrought.--Victory
gained.--Evil resisted.--Good advice.--A white sergeant.--A
wise removal.--The good increased 129

THE BOOK IN THE BARS.

ITS SPIRITUAL POWER.

The clock going wrong.--Men of the fancy.--The rat-pit man.--Child
on the barrel.--Ticket of leave man.--A rough.--A
drunkard's home.--A fall and rise 151

THE BOOK IN THE BARS.

ITS RECEPTION.

A strange request.--Touching the sceptre.--Sunday drinking.--Closed
on Sunday.--Pleasant opposition.--Guilty tongues.--A
sharp rebuke.--Uglier than a gorilla.--A knotty question.--Potman's
letter.--The pugilist's ring.--The beauty
of age.--Resting in peace 169

THE BOOK IN THE DEN.

ITS MAJESTY.

The sleepless city.--Teddie's den.--A strange invitation.--The
tea.--A midnight visit.--A visit to Rag Fair.--Many
rescued.--Smashers.--The better part chosen.--Dreadful
death-bed scene.--A stronghold destroyed 195

THE BOOK IN THE STREETS AND NIGHT-HOUSES.

ITS SILENT FORCE.

A gilded saloon.--A pigeon plucker.--Discouragement.--The
Coffee Man.--Destitute.--The solitude of the city.--Madness
of disgrace.--The beggar and his boy.--The "Traveller's
Rest."--The sleepless Church.--Coffee stalls and
booths.--The covert from the storm.--Bible power 219

THE BOOK IN THE HIGHWAYS.

ITS FETTER-BREAKING.

To and from the city.--Our omnibus.--Box and monkey board.--The
lost day.--Crape on the whip.--Night gathering of
bargemen.--Fetters broken.--The silent water-ways.--Bible
in cabin.--The bargeman's hope 247

THE BOOK FOR ALL.

ITS UNIVERSAL GOOD.

Christian responsibility.--Faith.--The machinery man.--Man's
inner world.--Sin reproved.--Converse upon an omnibus.--The
influence of truth.--The Bible only.--Communication
established.--Brought nigh, very nigh 267