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Sick Visitors； and everyone else who care about the Salvation of the poor； may make up their minds as to that。 If these people are to believe in Jesus Christ； become the Servants of God； and escape the miseries of the wrath to come； they must be helped out of their present social miseries。 They must be put into a position in which they can work and eat； and have a decent room to live and sleep in； and see something before them besides a long； weary； monotonous； grinding round of toil； and anxious care to keep themselves and those they love barely alive； with nothing at the further end but the Hospital； the Union； or the Madhouse。 If Christian Workers and Philanthropists will join hands to effect this change it will be accomplished； and the people will rise up and bless them； and be saved； if they will not； the people will curse them and perish。
SECTION 4。SOME OBJECTIONS MET。
Objections must be expected。 They are a necessity with regard to any Scheme that has not yet been reduced to practice； and simply signify foreseen difficulties in the working of it。 We freely admit that there are abundance of difficulties in the way of working out the plan smoothly and successfully that has been laid down。 But many of these we imagine will vanish when we come to close quarters； and the remainder will be surmounted by courage and patience。 Should； however； this plan prove the success we predict； it must eventually revolutionise the condition of the starving sections of Society； not only in this great metropolis； but throughout the whole range of civilisation。 It must therefore be worthy not only of a careful consideration but of persevering trial。
Some of these difficulties at first sight appear rather serious。 Let us look at them。
Objection I。It is suggested that the class of people for whose benefit the Scheme is designed would not avail themselves of it。
When the feast was prepared and the invitation had gone forth； it is said that the starving multitudes would not come； that though labour was offered them in the City； or prepared for them on the Farm； they would prefer to rot in their present miseries rather than avail themselves of the benefit provided。
In order to gather the opinions of those most concerned； we consulted one evening； by a Census in our London Shelters； two hundred and fifty men out of work； and all suffering severely in consequence。 We furnished a set of questions； and obtained answers from the whole。 Now； it must be borne in mind that these men were under no obligation whatever to make any reply to our enquiries； much less to answer them favourably to our plan； of which they knew next to nothing。
These two hundred and fifty men were mostly in the prime of life； the greater portion of them being skilled workmen； an examination of the return papers showing that out of the entire number two hundred and seven were able to work at their trades had they the opportunity。
The number of trades naturally varied。 There were some of all kinds： Engineers； Custom House Officers； Schoolmasters； Watch and Clockmakers； Sailors； and men of the different branches of the Building trade； also a number of men who have been in business on their own account。
The average amount of wages earned by the skilled mechanics when regularly employed was 33s。 per week； the money earned by the unskilled averaged 22s。 per week。
They could not be accounted lazy； as most of them； when not employed at their own trade or occupation； had proved their willingness to work by getting jobs at anything that turned up。 On looking over the list we saw that one who had been a Custom House Officer had recently acted as Carpenter's Labourer； a Type…founder had been glad to work at Chimney Sweeping； the Schoolmaster； able to speak five languages； who in his prosperous days had owned a farm； was glad to do odd jobs as a Bricklayer's Labourer； a Gentleman's Valet； who once earned #5 a week； had come so low down in the world that he was glad to act as Sandwich man for the magnificent sum of fourteenpence a day； and that； only as an occasional affair。
In the list was a dyer and cleaner； married； with a wife and nine children； who had been able to earn 40s。 a week； but had done no regular work for three years out of the last ten。
We put the following question to the entire number： 〃If you were put on a farm； and set to work at anything you could do； and supplied with food； lodging； and clothing； with a view to getting you on to your feet； would you be willing to do all you could？〃
In response； the whole 250 replied in the affirmative； with one exception； and on enquiry we elicited that； being a sailor； the man was afraid he would not know how to do the work。
On being interrogated as to their willingness to grapple with the hard labour on the land； they said： 〃Why should we not？ Look at us。 Can any plight be more miserable than ours？〃 Why not； indeed？ A glance at them would certainly make it impossible for any thoughtful person to assign a rational reason for their refusalin rags； swarming with vermin； hungry； many of them living on scraps of food； begged or earned in the most haphazard fashion； without sufficient clothing to cover their poor gaunt limbs； most of them without a shirt。 They had to start out the next morning； uncertain which way to turn to earn a crust for dinner； or the fourpence necessary to supply them again with the humble shelter they had enjoyed that night。 The idea of their refusing employment which would supply abundantly the necessaries of life； and give the prospect of becoming； in process of time； the owner of a home； with its comforts and companionships； is beyond conception。 There is not much question that this class will not only accept the Scheme we want to set before them； but gratefully do all in their power to make it a success。
II。Too many would come。 This would be very probable。 There would certainly be too many apply。 But we should be under no obligation to take more than was convenient。 The larger the number of applications the wider the field for selection； and the greater the necessity for the enlargement of our operations。
III。They would run away。 It is further objected that if they did come； the monotony of the life； the strangeness of the work； together with the absence of the excitements and amusements with which they had been entertained in the cities and towns； would render their existence unbearable。 Even when left to the streets； there is an amount of life and action in the city which is very attractive。 Doubtless some would run away； but I don't think this would be a large proportion。 The change would be so great； and so palpably advantageous； that I think they would find in it ample compensation for the deprivation of any little pleasureable excitement they had left behind them in the city。 For instance； there would be
A Sufficiency of Food。
The friendliness and sympathy of their new associates。 There would be abundance of companions of similar tastes and circumstances not all pious。 It would be quite another matter to going single…handed on to a farm； or into a melancholy family。
Then there would be the prospect of doing well fo