News Letter makes appeals to readers' Yuletide generosity
A CENTURY ago this week as the Province approached Christmas the News Letter reminded its well-to-do readership of those less fortunate than themselves. The paper reminded readers of the "waifs and strays", "the out-of-work class" and those made destitute by no fault of their own and homes where no fires would glow warm over.
Reflecting on the meaning of Christmas the News Letter editorial remarked: "It has now entered Christmas week, and the minds of all classes will be filled with thoughts of how the festive season is to be spent. It is pre-eminently a time of gladness, and in all Christian communities the feeling is based on the central event in the world's history which is commemorated.
"It is also a time for exercising some of the most important Christian virtues, such as unselfishness, thoughtfulness for others, and practical sympathy for the poor and suffering.
"It is the festival of the home, when families, whose numbers are separated by their various occupations are reunited temporarily, and when message of greetings and gifts of remembrance and affection are sent to those who cannot take part in the general homecoming of Christmas Day."
Christmas, noted the paper, was also very much a time for children: "It is also in a special sense the children's festival. They look forward to it with delight, knowing that their parents, relatives, and friends will be thinking of them, and trying to discover the gifts which they will most appreciate."
The editorial continued: "To the great majority of our readers of all ages Christmas is a season of exceptional happiness, and this comes to many of them through giving rather than receiving."
The paper reminded its readership of the charity organisations who were active in the city and urged those who had not given generously to do so. The paper remarked: "There are many organisations in our city which exist for the purpose of relieving the destitute and brightening the homes of the poor, especially at this season, and some of them during the last fortnight explained their aims and needs in our columns.
"We are sure that many of our readers have already sent their subscriptions, and our object now is to remind those who have not yet done so of their duty and their privilege.
"They will not have any difficulty in finding a way of spending money wisely, for it is well known that in the missions on behalf of which these appeals are made there is no waste of resources, the object of those who manage them being to make the best use of every penny that they receive."
The News Letter focused on the work of the Rev Henry Montgomery and his "band of helpers" at the Shankill Road Mission, work that the News Letter was at pains to commend to its readers.
"In the letter which we published a few days ago he gave particulars of four typical cases of poverty and wretchedness which are to be found in some of the houses in the poorer streets in his district. People who pass by vague and general descriptions of destitution which prevails are moved to action by plain statements of well-attested facts.
"Mr Montgomery's word will be accepted by everyone, and he states that the actual cases which he describes are typical of the twenty of thirty visits which he paid a week before he wrote the letter. 'Words seem utterly cold and inadequate,' he says, 'to convey any just conception of the condition that many families in the city at this time.'
"If there are any who are disposed to turn away from such appeals under the impression that all this wretchedness, however, real, is the result of intemperance or other fault of the sufferers, they are assured that in many of the houses visited the fathers of the families were steady and industrious men, who would willingly work if they had the opportunity of doing so.
"There is no case so sad as that of a man who wants to work, but cannot get it, and yet has a wife and children looking to him for food and clothes. Even very small sums from our readers will gladden the homes of such men at this season."
Then, noted the paper, there was the Belfast Central Mission, Grosvenor Hall and the charitable work of the Revs R M Ker and J N Spence.
"It is also known, and deserving of support," remarked the paper. "Last year 3,500 poor children were entertained and it is hoped that the same number will be made happy this year."
It continued: "Many of these children are waifs and strays without homes, or anything worthy of the name, and the annual treat to them at Christmas may give them not only a day's happiness but also be the means of helping some them grow up to be useful citizens."
Meanwhile, the Rev William Maguire had appealed on behalf of the poor of York Street, the News Letter observed: "He states that never was there more need to help in this locality." The Rev Maguire was issuing 1,000 tickets for a Christmas feast to children, and 500 to the out-of-work class. "Money is needed to defray the expenses and we hope that he will receive the required amount," noted the paper.
Appeals had also been made on behalf of the Cripples' Home in connection with the Peoples' Palace – "a most deserving institution" – the Home for the Blind, the Society to Brighten Workhouse Infirmary Life and the Salvation Army Distress Fund. Finally, there is the Coal Fund.
The paper remarked: "A generous response to it has been made already, but further subscriptions can be well spent, for cold and comfortless indeed are the houses in which there are no fires at this season of the year."
Concluding its appeal to its readers the News Letter declared: "With all these organisations willing to help the destitute and afflicted to the utmost of their means, it will be easy for our readers to select one or more of them as the channels through which they will do what they can to help those who are less fortunate than themselves."
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 11 C to 20 C
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Wind direction: South west
