[22] The following short extracts from reports by various Visitors will exhibit some of the difficulties with which they have to contend, as well as many grounds of encouragement and anticipation of better things to come.
“Of the persons in this district, there is much to be hoped from the gratitude of the families who have been relieved, and from the symptoms of self exertion that are beginning to exhibit themselves, shown by the subscriptions to the Coal and Clothing Funds.”
“The people have generally appeared quiet and cheerful, and have shown every outward mark of respect and gratitude for the assistance rendered them by the Society.”
“I feel convinced that the trifling assistance supplied during sickness or the temporary want of employment, has been in many instances of the greatest importance to the sufferer, sometimes saving his little all from the pawnbroker, and enabling him to struggle through his difficulties.”
“The District Visiting Society’s funds are highly beneficial in my district; and have been so especially in S’s case; also F’s, and B’s, M’s, and B’s. All has been most gratefully received. I feel great comfort in knowing much good has been done. . . . There is severe distress in my small district. . . . ”
“In a district,” it is reported, “where one day was remarkable if spent without some disgraceful scene of drunken brawling taking place, a day of brawls has now become the day to be remarked. . . . The most profligate characters have left the district, finding they have not the attention paid them that others have. . . . Christmas day (last) was spent without one drunken scene; a circumstance unknown for many years—almost within the memory of the ‘oldest inhabitant.’”
Several instances have occurred of famines of bad character having migrated first from district to district, and then, finding that each successive Visitor was aware of their character and withheld relief from them, have finally emigrated from the parish altogether. In two instances in particular, families of a very bad class left, giving out that it was in consequence of the inspection of the Visitor. It is needless to add that by all respectable poor, the attention and personal interest of the Visitor is invariably courted, and gratefully acknowledged.
[23] Individuals who desire to visit personally and to relieve from their own resources a small number of poor families, but who are unable to take charge of a District, are requested to communicate with the Clergy upon the subject. It will not be difficult to make arrangements by which such benevolent persons may be provided with a field of labour proportioned to the time and the funds at their disposal.