Not for absolution,but for sympathy and direction,do I propose to establish my Advice Bureau in definite form,for in practice it has been in existence for some time,and wonderful things have been done in the direction on which I contemplate it working.I have no pleasure in inventing these departments.They all entail hard work and no end of anxiety.But if we are to represent the love of God to men,we must minister to all the wants and needs of the human heart.Nor is it only in affairs of the heart that this Advice Bureau will be of service.It will be quite as useful in affairs of the head.As I conceive it,the Advice Bureau will be THE POOR MANS LAWYER AND THE POOR MANS TRIBUNE.
There are no means in London,so far as my knowledge goes,by which the poor and needy can obtain any legal assistance in the varied oppressions and difficulties from which they must,in consequence of their poverty and associations,be continually suffering.
While the "well-to-do"classes can fall back upon skilful friends for direction,or avail themselves of the learning and experience of the legal profession,the poor man has literally no one qualified to counsel him on such matters.In cases of sickness he can apply to the parish doctor or the great hospital,and receive an odd word or two of advice,with a bottle of physic which may or may not be of service.
But if his circumstances are sick,out of order,in danger of carrying him to utter destitution,or to prison,or to the Union,he has no one to appeal to who has the willingness or the ability to help him.
Now,we want to create a Court of Counsel or Appeal,to which anyone suffering from imposition having to do with person,liberty,or property,or anything else of sufficient importance,can apply,and obtain not only advice,but practical assistance.
Among others for whom this Court would be devised is the shamefully-neglected class of Widows,of whom in the East of London there are 6,000,mostly in very destitute circumstances.In the whole of London there cannot be less than 20,000,and in England and Wales it is estimated there are 100,000,fifty thousand of whom are probably poor and friendless.
The treatment these poor people by the nation is a crying scandal.
Take the case of the average widow,even when left in comfortable circumstances.She will often be launched into a sea of perplexity,although able to avail herself of the best advice.But think of the multitudes of poor women,who,when they close their husbands'eyes,lose the only friend who knows anything;about their circumstances.
There may be a trifle of money or a struggling business or a little income connected with property or some other possession,all needing immediate attention,and that of a skilful sort,in order to enable the poor creature to weather the storm and avoid the vortex of utter destitution.
All we have said applies equally to orphans and friendless people generally.Nothing,however,short of a national institution could meet the necessities of all such cases.But we can do something,and in matters already referred to,such as involve loss of property,malicious prosecution,criminal and otherwise,we can render substantial assistance.
In carrying out this purpose it will be no part of our plan to encourage legal proceedings in others,or to have recourse to them ourselves.All resort to law would be avoided either in counsel or practice,unless absolutely necessary.But where manifest injustice and wrong are perpetrated,and every other method of obtaining reparation fails,we shall avail ourselves of the assistance the Law affords.
Our great hope of usefulness,however,in this Department lies in prevention,The knowledge that the oppressed poor have in us a friend able to speak for them will often prevent the injustice which cowardly and avaricious persons might otherwise inflict,and the same considerations may induce them to accord without compulsion the right of the weak and friendless.
I also calculate upon a wide sphere of usefulness in the direction of friendly arbitration and intervention.There will be at least one disinterested tribunal,however humble,to which business,domestic,or any other questions of a contentious and litigious nature can be referred without involving any serious costs.
The following incidents have been gathered from operations already undertaken in this direction,and will explain and illustrate the kind of work we contemplate,and some of the benefits that may be expected to follow from it.
About four years ago a young and delicate girl,the daughter of a pilot,came to us in great distress.Her story was that of thousands of others.She had been betrayed by a man in a good position in the West End,and was now the mother of an infant child.
Just before her confinement her seducer had taken her to his solicitors and made her sign and swear an affidavit to the effect that he was not the father of the then expected child.Upon this he gave her a few pounds in settlement of all claims upon him.The poor thing was in great poverty and distress.Through our solicitors,we immediately opened communications with the man,and after negotiations,he,to avoid further proceedings,was compelled to secure by a deed a proper allowance to his unfortunate victim for the maintenance of her child.
SHADOWED AND CAUGHT.
